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Daily Devotions

Revelation

Revelation 
Day 
Day 50

"When He opened the fifth seal"

Text: Revelation 6:9

FIFTH SEAL OPENED

The Lamb of God opened the fifth seal and John took careful note of what he observed. There was no need for an invitation to look.

“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.
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?’
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”.
Revelation 6:9-11

1. The souls of those who had been slain.

a) The souls were “under the altar”.

b) They were like sacrifices offered to the Lord in His service.

2. The reasons why they were slain.

a) They were slain for the word of God.

b) They were slain for the testimony they clung to:

i) That they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii) That they were faithful servants of God.

3. They cried out to the Lord.

a) They called God “O Lord, holy and true”.

i) They trust in His holiness.

ii) They trust that He is true.

iii) These are attributes of God that they were affirming.

b) They cried out to God for justice.

i) That He would judge the wicked who had caused them to be slain.

ii) That He would avenge them.

c) The phrase “how long”.

i) To express a sense of urgency.

ii) To ask that God hasten the day when He would judge the wicked.

4. God’s response to the martyrs.

a) They were given white robes.

i) To honour them for their purity.

ii) To approve of them as victorious believers.

b) The Lord urged them to wait patiently for a little while longer.

i) There would be other believers who would also die for their faith.

ii) They would be added to the souls under the altar.

iii) One day, the numbers would be “complete”.

iv) Judgment would then be meted out against the wicked.