The Fifth Seal, Martyrs, Revelation 6:9-11

Revelation 6:9 (NKJV) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

Revelation 5 began with God seated on the throne with a scroll in His right hand. Revelation 5:1 tells us that the scroll was written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1 (NKJV) And I saw in the right [hand] of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

From the evidence in the passage, we concluded that this scroll is the title deed to the Earth. The Lamb, as our kinsman Redeemer, is the only One qualified to assume our debt and restore our inheritance. As the Lamb opens each seal, the stored-up wrath of God pours out on the world. As we watch the four horsemen, we see that the judgments that they bring are the consequences of humanity's actions. 

When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, no action is taken. God does not pour out wrath and judgment; instead, John sees “the souls who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” We are going to explore why this is the wrath of God. God judges the earth when His children are persecuted.

To understand these events, we must understand all the elements revealed. 

First, John sees “under the altar.” These souls are not on the altar. They are “under” the altar.

We must understand what this altar is. Revelation speaks of this altar several times.

Revelation 8:3 (NKJV) Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Revelation 8:5 (NKJV) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw [it] to the earth. And there werenoises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

Revelation 9:13 (NKJV) Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is beforeGod,

These verses show us that this is the altar of incense. 

Exodus 40:5 (NKJV) “You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screenfor the door of the tabernacle.

Notice the details. The altar is golden (Exodus 40:5 - Revelation 8:3). Incense is involved (Exodus 40:5 - Revelation 8:3). In Revelation, the golden altar is described as being “before the throne.” In Exodus, the golden altar of incense was in the Holy of Holies with the Ark of the Testimony. This holiest place represented the throne room of God and the “Mercy Seat,” which is another way of saying God’s seat of judgment. (God is merciful and offers forgiveness and restoration to all who call upon His name. He has done everything necessary for every person to inherit eternal life, but many reject His mercy.) 

Why would incense be used in worshiping God, and why would God put incense in His throne room before anything else? Revelation 5:8 can help us here.

Revelation 5:8 (NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Incense is the prayers of the saints. Psalm 141:2 and Luke 1:10 speak of incense in connection with prayer. The prayers of His people are a very high priority for God. He keeps them ever before Him and “in His face.” He is exceedingly intentional in this. He stresses to us that our prayers are incredibly significant to Him. Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do [it.]” (John 14:14 NKJV) 

The devil attacks prayer. He convinces us that it does not make a difference and is not the best use of our time. We are too busy to pray. This is a huge, huge, huge mistake. If prayer is one of God’s highest priorities, how significant is it for us? Prayer is the most world-shaping, changing, powerful tool available to us as God’s children. For this reason, it is crucial for the devil that he keep us from praying. For this reason, Satan has caused much confusion about prayer, ritualizing, and formalizing it.

The altar for sacrifice is unnecessary in God’s throne room because the Lamb is present there. But the prayers of the saints are always before God. The souls’ position under this altar gives them a place of extreme attention and focus for God. They have His full attention.

Who are these souls that have God’s full attention? When the rapture occurred before all these events started (Revelation 4:1), all the dead in Christ and all those who were alive and remained were caught up with Christ to meet Him in the air and were thus in His presence. However, the Bible speaks of many of Christ’s followers being killed by persecution during the seven years of tribulation. Revelation 7 speaks of 144,000 witnesses from the nation of Israel, and Revelation 11 speaks of two witnesses. The entire purpose of the Tribulation is to bring people to repentance so that they might live and not die. Many millions will repent and call upon the name of the Lord during this time, and they will pay for that decision with their lives. These brave people will value God above their physical lives. The tribulation will be a time of persecution against the children of God as there has never been before. Revelation 7:9 describes these martyrs as “a crowd that no one could number.”

As these souls are gathered in the presence of God, what are they praying in Revelation 6:10?

Revelation 6:10 (NKJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

They call upon the Lord, holy and true, to avenge their blood. 

Up to this point in the tribulation, God has been relatively passive, allowing what will happen to happen, but - no longer! 

However, once again, we see God’s mercy. He is waiting for more to repent and be saved. Verse 11 says,

Revelation 6:11 (NKJV) Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both [the number of] their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they [were,] was completed.

Because of the prayers of the saints, from this point on, God will act directly in judgment. The only reason the persecution and killing are not stopped immediately is God is patient and not willing that anyone should perish. He does not want anyone to go to hell. But unless one calls on the name of the Lord and accepts His mercy, hell is exactly where they are going. Physical death is preferable to going to hell, and many will make this choice, but whoa to the persecutors because the saints are before the throne of God, praying.