Please note that the
previous two posts, especially “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK & GOD’S
WRATH,” provide essential foundational information to understanding the
information presented as this series moves forward. With this post we have reached the opening of
the fifth seal.
Revelation 6:9-11 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw
under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for
the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and
it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until
their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
The
altar is recognized as the place of sacrifice, so it is quite fitting to find
that the souls of those that had died as martyrs for their faith under the
altar. This too fits into the sequence
of events taught by Jesus.
Matthew 24:9–10 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted,
and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate
one another.
Though there is specific address to the Jewish people as a whole
in some of the wording in Matthew, the principle of its truth is applicable to
the death of “God’s people” throughout history; however, I believe the
specific address is to the Lord’s disciples—true followers of Jesus. I
have most often heard these verses taught as representing those who have died
as martyrs during the first part of the tribulation, but I now believe these
are martyrs from the church age.
It’s
interesting that the martyrs are not rebuked for wanting God to take revenge on
and judge with condemnation those responsible for their deaths. Instead,
they are just told to rest and wait for a short period of time. What are
they waiting for? For the death of the final martyr of the church age.
The phrase “should be fulfilled” indicates that there is a number
that will make full or complete. As always, God knows the end from the
beginning—down to the final martyr of the church age.
I
was struck by the observation of Joseph Seiss regarding these souls under the
altar: “There are no voices of command from heaven under this seal, and
no messengers dispatched from the throne; for the reason, that bloody
persecutions of God’s servants come from beneath—not from above. It is
the devil who is the murderer from the beginning, and by him, and his seed, has
all martyr blood been made to flow that ever has flowed or ever will.”
The martyrs are given white robes to cover them while they
wait. The entry for “robes” indicates that it is a garment that is a mark
of dignity. They have been given a special position of honor in heaven,
and vengeance on their behalf will be God’s at the perfect time.
Romans
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord.
The fact
that they are referred to as souls seems to indicate that they have yet to
receive their resurrected bodies. I think they will join the body of
Christ before the throne that is referenced in Revelation 7:9 when their number
is complete and all believers are resurrected to their immortal bodies at the
rapture.
“they
should rest yet for a little season” – Once again we note that the perspective
of time from heaven is quite different from the perspective on earth.
Psalms
90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as
yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
2
Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one
thing, that one day is with the Lord
as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
(to be continued…)
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