Jubilee Community Church
Wednesday Night

  • The Fifth Seal – The Cry Beneath the Altar

    Revelation 6:9–11 KJV 1900
    9 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: 10 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? 11 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.

    INTRODUCTION – FROM EARTHLY CHAOS TO HEAVENLY COURT

    With the first four seals, John sees horsemen loosed upon the earth—conquest, warfare, famine, and death. The fifth seal changes the camera angle: from earth’s turmoil to heaven’s altar, from what is happening to the saints to what is happening before God.
    Here we are shown that behind martyrdom is not abandonment but audience—the saints stand before the throne, under the altar, crying out to a holy and true Lord. This session will linger over each phrase, drawing from Greek terms and cross-references to hear the theology in the martyrs’ cry.

    “I SAW UNDER THE ALTAR THE SOULS” – THE PLACE AND THE PEOPLE

    A. “Under the altar”

    John sees them “under the altar” (ὑποκάτω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου).
    Thysiastērion (G2379) means a place of sacrifice, an altar for offerings.
    In the Old Testament, the blood of sacrificial animals was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 4:7, 18, 25, 30).
    The image suggests that their lives were poured out like sacrificial blood, gathered by God at His altar.
    Cross references:
    Hebrews 13:10–13 – We have an altar; Christ suffered “without the gate,” and believers go forth unto Him bearing His reproach.
    Philippians 2:17 – Paul speaks of being “offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,” picturing his life as a drink offering poured out.
    Teaching point: The heavenly altar reveals that martyrdom is not random loss but sacrificial worship received by God.

    B. “Souls”

    John sees the “souls” (τὰς ψυχὰς) of those slain.
    Psychē (G5590) refers to life, soul, the self—the living person beyond the body.
    Used of life laid down (Matthew 16:25–26; John 10:11; Revelation 12:11).
    The vision affirms conscious existence of believers in the Lord’s presence after death; they are aware, vocal, emotional, and engaged in appeal.
    Cross references:
    Philippians 1:23 – Desire “to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.”
    2 Corinthians 5:8 – “Absent from the body, and… present with the Lord.”
    Luke 16:22–23 – Conscious existence after death in the presence or absence of comfort.
    Application: The saints may be silenced on earth, but their souls are heard in heaven; death moves them to a more immediate audience with God, not into oblivion.

    “SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD” – THE COST OF WITNESS

    A. “Slain”

    They were “slain” (ἐσφαγμένων), from sphazō, meaning to slay, slaughter, especially in sacrificial sense.
    The same verb describes the Lamb “as it had been slain” in Revelation 5:6, 9, 12.
    Their death is patterned after the Lamb’s; they share His sacrificial path.
    Cross references:
    1 John 3:12 – Abel “slew” (sphazō in LXX) because his works were righteous.
    Hebrews 11:4, 37 – The faithful who were “slain with the sword” and obtained a good report through faith.
    Teaching point: The martyrs do not just happen to die; they are “slaughtered” in identification with the Lamb’s own sacrifice.

    B. “For the word of God, and for the testimony which they held”

    They are killed “for the word of God (λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ) and for the testimony (μαρτυρίαν) which they held.”
    Martyria (G3141) is “witness, testimony.”
    Related to martus (G3144), “witness,” from which we derive “martyr.”
    They held (εἶχον) their testimony—they did not loosen their grip, even under pressure.
    Cross references:
    Revelation 1:9 – John is on Patmos “for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
    Revelation 12:11 – They overcame “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
    Acts 1:8 – “Ye shall be witnesses (martus) unto me… unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
    Application: Faithful witness to the Word places believers into conflict with the world system. To “hold” testimony is to accept the possibility of paying for it with one’s life.

    THE CRY – “HOW LONG, O LORD, HOLY AND TRUE?”

    A. “They cried with a loud voice”

    “They cried (ἔκραξαν) with a loud voice (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ).”
    Krazō (G2896) means to cry out loudly, to shout, often in urgent appeal.
    “Megale” (great) underscores intensity and corporate force.
    Cross references:
    Exodus 2:23–25 – Israel “cried” by reason of bondage; God heard their groaning.
    Psalm 34:17 – “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
    Luke 18:7–8 – The elect “cry day and night unto him,” and He will avenge them speedily.
    Teaching point: Heaven is not stoic—there is loud, passionate lament and petition for justice.

    B. “How long, O Lord”

    The cry is, “How long (ἕως πότε), O Lord…”
    The address is despotēs (G1203), “Master, Sovereign Lord,” emphasizing absolute authority.
    This “How long?” is a classic biblical lament, not unbelief but faithful protest rooted in God’s covenant character.
    Cross references:
    Psalm 13:1–2 – “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever?”
    Psalm 79:5 – “How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever?”
    Habakkuk 1:2 – “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear!”
    Application: Faith is allowed to question the timing of justice while still trusting the character of the Judge.

    C. “Holy and true”

    They address Him as “holy and true” (ὁ ἅγιος καὶ ἀληθινός).
    Hagios (G40) – holy, set apart, morally perfect.
    Alēthinos (G228) – true, genuine, reliable.
    They appeal to the One who cannot act unjustly or falsely; His delay must therefore serve a holy purpose.
    Cross references:
    Revelation 3:7 – Jesus described as “he that is holy, he that is true.”
    Revelation 19:11 – Heaven opened, and “he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.”
    Titus 1:2 – “God, that cannot lie.”
    Teaching point: The martyrs ground their lament in theology: a holy God must judge; a true God must vindicate.

    “JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD” – DIVINE JUSTICE EXPLAINED

    A. “Judge”

    They ask, “Dost thou not judge (κρίνεις) and avenge (ἐκδικεῖς) our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
    Krinō (G2919) – to judge, decide, pronounce sentence.
    Ekdikeō (G1556) – to avenge, exact justice, “to do justice for one,” related to ekdikēsis (vengeance).
    Cross references:
    Romans 12:19 – “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
    Luke 18:7–8 – God will “avenge” (ekdikēsis) His elect who cry day and night.
    2 Thessalonians 1:5–8 – It is “a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you.”
    Application: The martyrs do not seek personal vendetta; they appeal to God’s right to set things right, publicly vindicating His name and His people.

    B. “Them that dwell on the earth”

    “Earth-dwellers” is a technical phrase in Revelation for those fixed in rebellion and aligned with the world system.
    Appears in Revelation 3:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:8.
    Not merely people who live on earth, but those whose identity and hope are rooted in this present world.
    Teaching point: The conflict is between heaven’s citizens and earth’s system; martyrdom exposes that contrast.

    “WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN” – REWARD, PURITY, AND PUBLIC VINDICATION

    A. “White robes”

    “And white robes (στολὴ λευκή) were given unto every one of them.”
    Stolē (G4749) – long robe, stately garment.
    Leukos (G3022) – white, bright, radiant.
    Symbolizes purity, victory, and honor conferred by God.
    Cross references:
    Revelation 3:4–5 – “They shall walk with me in white… He that overcometh… I will not blot out his name.”
    Revelation 7:13–14 – Those in white robes “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
    Revelation 19:8 – The fine linen, clean and white, is “the righteousness of saints.”
    Teaching point: Before the world sees their vindication, heaven already clothes them in honor; God’s verdict precedes the final public judgment.

    B. “Rest yet for a little season”

    “They should rest (ἀναπαύσονται) yet for a little season (χρόνον μικρόν).”
    Anapauō (G373) – to give rest, refresh, cause to cease from labor.
    Chronon mikron – a short time, a brief season, from the vantage point of heaven.
    Cross references:
    Revelation 14:13 – “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
    Hebrews 4:9–11 – A rest remains for the people of God, and we labor to enter into that rest.
    Application: God’s answer to the cry of “How long?” is twofold: present rest and future vengeance. The delay is not denial; it is a scheduled pause.

    “UNTIL… SHOULD BE FULFILLED” – THE MYSTERY OF GOD’S TIMING

    A. “Their fellowservants and their brethren… should be killed as they were”

    They must wait “until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
    “Fellowservants” – σύνδουλος (syndoulos, G4889), fellow slave or bondservant.
    The phrase implies a known, divinely numbered group of future martyrs.
    Cross references:
    Revelation 11:7 – The beast shall make war against the two witnesses, overcome them, and kill them.
    Revelation 13:7, 15 – The beast is granted to make war with the saints and to kill those who will not worship the image.
    Matthew 24:9–10 – “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you… ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
    Teaching point: The church’s story includes a predetermined measure of suffering; God is not surprised by martyrdom—it is woven into His sovereign plan.

    B. “Should be fulfilled”

    “Should be fulfilled” (πληρωθῶσιν) means to be completed, filled up, brought to full measure.
    Speaks of God’s timetable reaching its ordained fullness.
    Not one life is lost accidentally; each martyr’s death is counted toward a divinely fixed completion.
    Cross references:
    Colossians 1:24 – Paul speaks of “filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake.”
    Daniel 8:23; 9:24 – Prophetic events occurring “when the transgressors are come to the full,” and “to finish the transgression.”
    Application: The apparent delay of justice is actually the filling up of a cup—of iniquity on the part of the earth-dwellers and of faithful witness among the saints.

    PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE – WHO ARE THESE MARTYRS?

    You may want to frame for your group how you see these martyrs within your eschatological framework; below are major possibilities you can teach through.
    Historic/Church Age martyrs: Those from Stephen (Acts 7) onward who suffered for the Word and testimony of Jesus, representing the persecuted church throughout history.
    Tribulation martyrs (futurist view): Those killed in the future great tribulation for refusing the beast and remaining loyal to Christ (Revelation 7:9–14; 13:7, 15).
    Representative picture: A symbolic, yet real, portrayal of all who suffer for Christ across ages, gathered in one scene to show heaven’s perspective on persecution.
    Whichever view you emphasize, the text clearly shows:
    They died because of God’s Word and testimony.
    They are consciously in God’s presence.
    They long for righteous judgment.
    They are honored and told to rest until God’s plan is complete.

    DOCTRINAL AND PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS

    A. Theology of suffering and martyrdom

    Normal, not abnormal: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
    Fellowship with Christ: To suffer with Him is to be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10).
    Missional witness: The blood of the martyrs is a witness that often advances the gospel (John 12:24; Revelation 12:11).

    B. Theology of time – God’s “little season”

    God has an appointed “little while” for suffering (1 Peter 5:10).
    He controls both the duration of tribulation and the timing of vindication (Acts 1:7).
    His delay displays long-suffering toward the wicked (2 Peter 3:9–10) and grants time to gather the full number of His saints.

    C. Theology of heaven’s awareness

    Heaven is acutely aware of injustice on earth; the martyrs cry about “them that dwell on the earth.”
    Prayers and tears are preserved before God’s throne (Revelation 5:8; 8:3–5).
    The saints are not passive; they are praying participants in God’s unfolding judgment.

    DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION QUESTIONS

    The altar: How does the imagery of being “under the altar” reshape your view of Christian suffering and martyrdom? In what sense is our obedience today “sacrificial”?
    The souls: What encouragement do you draw from the conscious, vocal presence of these souls in heaven? How might this comfort believers facing persecution or loss?
    The cry “How long?” Have you ever prayed a “How long, O Lord?” prayer? How does this passage legitimize that kind of lament while guarding it from bitterness?
    White robes and rest: What does it mean practically that God grants rest and robes before He grants revenge? How might that shape the way we wait?
    The little season: How should the knowledge that there is a fixed, but limited, season of suffering influence our endurance (James 5:7–8; Hebrews 10:36–39)?
    Fellowservants yet to be killed: How do you respond emotionally to the idea that future believers are appointed to die for Christ? How should that affect our prayer for the persecuted church today?
    Personal commitment: If the cost of holding the testimony of Jesus increased in our own context, what practical steps can we take now to be ready to “hold fast” even unto death?

    CONCLUSION

    Behind the veil of history, the fifth seal reveals that the blood of the saints has a voice, and that voice is heard at the altar of God. The Lord remains holy and true, even when justice seems delayed; the white robes and promised rest testify that heaven’s verdict is already in favor of the faithful.

      • Revelation 6:9–11KJV1900

Jubilee Community Church
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