Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

V. Martyrdom, v.9-11

The fifth seal:

This is different than the first four.

There is no horseman.

Instead the opening of the seal reveals

Underneath the altar the souls of those having been slain because of the Word of God and because of the testimony which they had

Some may ask why this apparent interlude is here.

It doesn't seem to fit the seals of judgment pattern.

However, it may be that it shows that Christians during this time of judgment will not be immune from the suffering.

They will be killed for their faith.

Patterson points out that this cannot be talking about all the martyred of all time, because their killers would already be dead.

It would make no sense to ask that those already dead be judged.

They are already experiencing that.

So this refers to those who are martyred during the tribulation.

'underneath the altar' has reference to the practice of pouring out the blood of the sacrifices at the base of the altar, Ex.29:12

some would say that this altar is actually the altar of incense where the High priest once a year would pour out the blood of the sacrifice on it and then burn incense on it, Ex. 30:1-10.

this then would refer not only to the sacrifice of the martyrs, but also the prayers of those same martyrs.

Lev.

4:7

This shows that these martyrs are like sacrifices to God.

They are acceptable sacrifices to God.

It is like Paul said, that he viewed his coming death as a drink offering to be poured out, 2 Tim.

4:6 for I am now ready to be offered; and the time of my departure is at hand;

Phil.

2:17 yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

The fact that they had been slain also brings to mind the same sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

So that those who follow Jesus in giving up their lives will also experience the same thing Jesus did turning defeat into victory.

These are slain during the tribulation for two reasons:

1. the word of God.

They proclaim, rely on and follow the Word of God.

They stand on that which changes not.

This obviously irritates those who do not wish to believe, listen to, or follow God's Word.

The use of the Word of God today is also turning heads.

There are those who are clearly rejecting the Word as nothing but myth.

Our universities and colleges have turned away from the Bible.

For the most part academia has outright rejected the bible as anything worth referring to.

Anyone who tries to use the Bible is mocked.

Sometimes when a person tries to follow the bible in their business or work they lose business or are reprimanded, even fired.

Like the Atlanta fire chief who was fired for teaching a bible study in his church and referencing homosexuality.

What is happening in our text is going to be far more severe.

Believers will be killed because of their practice of doing what the Bible says. .

The word of God has impacted and directed the lives of these believers.

It has led to the next reason:

2. their testimony/witness -actually the word we get 'martyr' from.

They testified to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It costs them their physical life on earth.

Here they live their lives based on the Bible and their faithful witness to the Lord, their refusal to recant or to compromise the truth leads to their death.

note Rev. 12:11 where it says the brethren overcame the accusers accusations by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.

Could it be that the word of God in this verse is the same as the blood of the Lamb in 12:11 and their testimony equal to that of 12:11.

The idea then that they may have perished in martyrdom but they really overcame the enemy by their faith in the Lamb and they demonstrated their love and faith in the Lamb because they were willing to give up their lives for the Lamb rather than to denounce Him?

I think that is a good possibility.

In other words, they gave their lives in being faithful to God by living for Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, "all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

John was suffering for his faith on the Isle of Patmos, Rev. 1:9.

others had been imprisoned, still others killed for their faith in Christ.

Now they cry out to God, v.10

There might be some who say, 'wait a minute, this isn't very Christlike.

Stephen prayed for those who were stoning him, "lay not this sin to their charge"Acts 7:60 and Jesus from the cross prayed "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Luke 23:34.

So isn't this prayer of the martyrs at odds with that mindset?

The answer is no.

We have to consider what they are actually praying for.

At first glance it appears they are praying for vengeance, but that would be a self-centered or focused prayer.

Instead this is a God centered prayer as I think you will see.

First of all, they are praying to the Lord/Master.

The word used here is despot.

it is one who has supreme authority, the master over his slaves.

One who holds complete power over another.

When Simeon the priest held baby Jesus he blessed God and said, "Lord/despot now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word."

Luke 2:29.

When Peter and John were released from prison and returned to their fellow believers they prayed, "Lord/despot thou art God, which made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them . . .

."

In other words, they address the one who has complete authority, the creator of the universe.

This despot/the Lord God is working His plan and purpose for His creation of which they, the martyrs are a part.

He has all power to be able to do what He wants with His creation.

However, His actions are always dependent upon His character.

We also do what is in keeping with our character.

And so they . . .

Second, they call attention to His character,

He is holy and true.

He is totally separate from evil. he is completely holy, there is nothing unholy in him.

He is totally true, nothing false in him.

He is what Holiness and truth is.

In other words, His judgments are based on holiness and truth.

God is the standard of holiness and truth and so his judgments stand that test.

They are calling for God to demonstrate holiness and truth by bringing justice upon those who persecute the saints.

In other words, they are asking God to fulfill His judgment as He said He would.

His judgment is in keeping with God's holiness and truth.

Rev. 16:7 and I heard another out of the altar say, even so, Lord God almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments; with regard to the third vial where the water is turned to blood.

19:1,2, I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Jesus is called “faithful and true and in righteousness he doth judge and make ward.”

v.11

So These martyrs recognize that God is all powerful.

He has absolute power over all creation.

He is 'despot'.

And He can only act in accordance with His character of holiness and truth.

They are then asking for God to act accordingly.

Then They ask 'how long?'

This alludes to the OT expression for questioning when God will finally punish the persecutors of his people and vindicate the oppressed: Ps. 6:3; 13:1 are just two of a dozen or so references in the Psalms that ask this question.

They are called imprecatory psalms.

Their intention is to appeal to God to act according to His holy Character.