Lesson Three

The Fifth Seal - The Martyred Saints (part 2)

Revelation 6: 9-11

a) Fifth Seal — Martyred Saints (v. 9-11)

- Verse 8: The slaughter of the saints occurs as a result of the slaughter of the first four seals.

- Verse 9: Heaven as the temple of God is a common Jewish thought (Ham 2:20; cf. Ps 18:6). “Blood under the altar” is reference to altar of burnt offering; prayers directed at the altar is a reference of altar of incense. Burnt offering had the blood poured out at the base of altar (Lev 4:7). The blood contained the life, or soul of the flesh (Lev 17:11). The souls of the martyrs were under the altar is a way of saying their ultimate deaths on earth are a sacrifice on the altar of heaven (from God's perspective). Paul followed this train of thought in 2 Tim 4:6; cf Phil 2:17. The martyrs had given up their lives because of the word of God and the testimony they had borne. Their testimony was not primarily their witness about Jesus but the witness that they had received from him (cf. 12:17; 20:4). They gave their lives in faithfulness to God as revealed in and through Jesus Christ.

- Verse 10: The question points how it is going to get worse before it gets better. In God’s own time table, he will pour out his wrath on the unbelieving who will call frantically on the mountains and rocks to hide them.

- From beneath the altar rises the plea for vindication. The idea of divine vindication of the people of God is common in Old Testament (Ps 79:10). This is not a personal desire for revenge but out of concern for the reputation of God. The real point at issue is not the relation of the martyrs to their accusers, but the validity of their faith. God is “holy and true” and he will vindicate with integrity those who have given their lives for the cause of righteousness. Vindication (not bitter revenge) is the theme.

- Verse 11: Each of the martyrs are given a white robe. Garments of glory as glorified bodies is used elsewhere (Ps 104:2, 2 Cor 5:1), but in book of Revelation it used a symbol of blessedness and purity (7:13-14; 22:14). You can’t buy glorified bodies (Rev 3:18). They are called to wait for the number of completion (not as an exercise of controlling their patience but) as to rest in the enjoyment of their blessedness. Jewish thought states that there is a predetermined time schedule God is using in which the world will come to an end (1 Enoch 47:4, 2). God allows this seal to be opened for a reason. Why? So that the blood of the saints can be spilled to save the world. We will speak more on this later.

b) Note that John knows nothing of a “rapture” of the church by which Christians are spared the tribulation that normally accompanies godly life (cf. 2 Tim 3:12). Rather they ascended to heaven through suffering and death as Jesus did.

c) Is there a rapture? When does it happen? (Three Views)

i. Amillennium (rapture happens at the second coming of Jesus)

ii. Pre-millenium (rapture happens before the second coming of Jesus)

iii. Post-millenium (rapture happens at the second coming of Jesus)