A Revelation Invitation

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 witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:9-11 ESV)

With the sacrificial system having been canceled by the cross of Christ, it is a bit puzzling to see an altar reintroduced in this scene. Rather than the blood of sheep and goats, we see the blood of martyrs poured out at its base. Those martyrs are sheep, innocent sheep without defect because they have been made spotless by the blood of the Lamb. Heaven honors these who died for the word of God as worthy sacrifices for the witness they bore to Jesus. Even from the grave they cry out pleading with heaven for divine justice. Even in death their voices are heard in heaven. They long for the day when God will pronounce his final judgment against their murderers avenging their deaths.

One of the challenges of interpreting Revelation is in determining how literally to interpret John’s vision. In this scene did the Lord actually hear the voices of the faithful dead who had lost their lives in the present tribulation? Or are these souls merely a poetic, symbolic voice expressing the petitions of the living who were themselves enduring such persecution?

If the first option holds true, there is a sense that there is trouble in paradise as these martyred Christians continue to agonize over the injustice they suffered at the hands of their persecutors. These who were martyred cry out as if in desperate need. Even after their suffering has ceased, they hunger for the age to come. They ache for justice. They yearn for Christ’s return when they will rise from the dead with transformed bodies to reign with him. They know that the reign of Christ has already begun, so why the delay of final judgment? Though the martyrs rest, they are not yet satisfied pleading for Christ’s return and the glorious consummation of God’s ultimate plans.

If on the other hand this scene is symbolic, these martyrs certainly express the distress of the persecuted living. How much longer must we endure our present tribulations? When, God, will you set things right? Why do the wicked appear to be winning and and seem to oppress your people with impunity? When will we see justice served? These martyred souls certainly speak for the living who are being oppressed. Their hardship and hopes are shared.

Whichever way we are meant to understand this imagery, we notice that God esteems and assures these martyrs. They each receive a white robe and are told to rest a little longer. That white robe is an acknowledgment from God that their sacrifice was good, that it was appreciated, that they will be received with favor, that they are honored. The question that God’s people may ask themselves while enduring persecution is “Is it worth it?” Here is an answer from heaven: Yes! You know that the reign of Christ has begun, even if the end times are delayed. These martyrs have overcome and await the day that they will rise victoriously from their graves. They long for immorality and their incorruptible, radiant, glorious, transformed bodies. They look forward to the day of judgment when they will be vindicated and their tormentors will finally answer for their crimes.

In their cry to God we see the foundation of their hope—the sovereignty of the Lord! They have suffered enormously at the hands of evil men. Still they believe that the Lord is sovereign and just. They are confident that God is holy and true. Good will win out; their hopes will be rewarded. In this there is no doubt. God is sovereign even over evil. Not simply will he destroy evil in the end, he will use evil to accomplish his will. We are reminded that God is slow to anger, not wanting anyone to perish. His delay is an appeal to the wicked to repent and will mean salvation to many more. Not all suffering leads to death. Not all persecution leads to martyrdom. However, John’s vision assures us that our sufferings for Christ—even unto death—will be rewarded. Until then we are comforted wearing the white robes he provides.

O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, I have not been slain (not yet) for the witness I bear of your son. Help me speak boldly. Help me not shrink back. Give me confidence in the truth of your word and the holiness of your cause. Give me faith that your justice will ultimately be served. And if one day I face death for my witness, I will look to your son who went before me in death, assuring me that my death will not be in vain confident that he has also gone before me in resurrection. Amen.