The Fifth Seal: Life For Death

One of the most difficult books I have read is titled, “By Their Blood: Christian Martyrs of the twentieth century”. It begins by recounting the imperial edict in China that sparked the boxer rebellion: “By Imperial Command exterminate the Christian Religion! Death to the foreign devils! In June 1900, crazed mobs bannered this terrible proclamation as they rampaged through cities of north China, looting and burning churches and the homes of m missionaries and Chinese Christians. They were led by bare-chested fanatics called Boxers who brandished long-curving swords and cried for the heads and hearts of Christians and missionaries.”

In Manchuria a Chinese pastor refused to recant, and had his heart cut out. His fourteen year old daughter followed the example of her father.

· In Tsun-huia a Chinese pastor was left tied to a pillar where he preached all night as friends begged him to recant. The next morning a thousand men tore him to pieces, a female Christian teacher was wrapped in cotton, soaked in Kerosene and burned alive while she screamed to her students, “Keep the Faith!” [1]

In Tsun-huia a Chinese pastor was left tied to a pillar where he preached all night as friends begged him to recant. The next morning a thousand men tore him to pieces, a female Christian teacher was wrapped in cotton, soaked in Kerosene and burned alive while she screamed to her students, “Keep the Faith!” [1]

Global persecution of Christians is on the rise.[2] American Christians do not face much of this right now. But as groups like Opendoors remind us, our current task is prayer and assistance of those who do. Additionally, Since I believe that the return of Christ is at the end of the tribulation period – the church in the first century, like the church in the twenty-first century needs to be aware that life for Jesus may mean dying for Jesus. Let the stories of the martyrs and the promise of Jesus steel your heart and faith for the days that we are living in now. We don’t have to wait for the tribulation period, because just like the four horsemen of the apocalypse; persecution is happening even today.

At least 119 million Christians were martyred for Jesus in the twentieth century alone. [3] Conservative estimates today are that every day eight Christians are put to death for their faith in Jesus. Every day – four of them in Nigeria alone.[4]

In Manchuria a Chinese pastor refused to recant, and had his heart cut out. His fourteen year old daughter followed the example of her father.

The blood of the martyrs is a tide that has flowed from the beginning when our King himself was put to death. Yet while death pours out in waves upon the church, it does not conquer the church – for our King has already conquered death.

In the fifth seal of , Jesus sends a message of strange encouragement to the church in every age. As tribulation increases upon the world, as God begins to judge the world in order to woo some to repentance; the world will increasingly judge Christians. But God gives comfort to the afflicted. The fifth seal in Revelation speaks to that issue.

Would you read with me the words of God on the fifth seal?

Read

· In Tsun-huia a Chinese pastor was left tied to a pillar where he preached all night as friends begged him to recant. The next morning a thousand men tore him to pieces, a female Christian teacher was wrapped in cotton, soaked in Kerosene and burned alive while she screamed to her students, “Keep the Faith!” [1]

In Tsun-huia a Chinese pastor was left tied to a pillar where he preached all night as friends begged him to recant. The next morning a thousand men tore him to pieces, a female Christian teacher was wrapped in cotton, soaked in Kerosene and burned alive while she screamed to her students, “Keep the Faith!” [1]

Revelation 6:9–11 NASB95PARA

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Again and again in this section of the seven seals we see the reminder of Jesus being called the Lamb. This looks back of course to () of the Lion of Judah, looking like a lamb that had been slain. Don’t skim past the image, because for the Christian - this is where our hope lies.

Between humans and God there is an impassible gulf forged by our own sin. It is the Son of God who crossed that barrier to come to us, and who was slain so that we could cross that barrier and come to God.

The scene opens as John watches the Lamb break the fifth seal. There he sees an altar. In fact he calls it THE altar, in some way indicating that the Christians hearing the letter read to them should know what is represented. talks about Jesus as the high priest who ministers in the true tabernacle of heaven. It goes on to explain that Moses saw a pattern of the heavenly things on the mountain of Sinai ( (). So the tabernacle built by Moses and the later temple of Solomon, and the next temple that Jesus walked in was based upon a tour, if you will, of the temple in heaven. The first Christians reading Revelation would have pictured this altar as the altar of burnt offering which was the first major item seen as someone came into the temple or tabernacle.

Global persecution of Christians is on the rise.[2] American Christians do not face much of this right now. But as groups like Opendoors remind us, our current task is prayer and assistance of those who do. Additionally, Since I believe that the return of Christ is at the end of the tribulation period – the church in the first century, like the church in the twenty-first century needs to be aware that life for Jesus may mean dying for Jesus. Let the stories of the martyrs and the promise of Jesus steel your heart and faith for the days that we are living in now. We don’t have to wait for the tribulation period, because just like the four horsemen of the apocalypse; persecution is happening even today.

There as a sacrifice was slain the priest would collect some of the blood, and once certain ceremonies were fulfilled the remainder of the blood would be poured out at the base of the altar (). Pay attention to that as our passage opens.

As the seal breaks, John sees underneath the altar of heaven’s throne room all the souls of all the ones who had been slain as martyrs - witnesses by their faithfulness to Jesus of the precious gospel of Christ. The souls of the martyrs are gathered beneath the altar - where the priest would pour out the blood.

Listen to what this says to us as we see, with John, the souls of the martyrs under the altar.

God does not view the death of his saints as wasted. says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his godly ones.” Why is this? gives us a hint as God says he takes no pleasure in a wicked man dying, he would rather they repent and live. The reason that God views the death of his children as precious - is precisely because they have repented.

At least 119 million Christians were martyred for Jesus in the twentieth century alone. [3] Conservative estimates today are that every day eight Christians are put to death for their faith in Jesus. Every day – four of them in Nigeria alone.[4]

No martyr dies without God’s Holy attention. The Lord recognizes the sacrifice of his Saints as sacred. In the Old Testament, anything which touches the altar is considered holy, devoted to the Lord. These martyrs under the altar are not merely long ago ancient memories, they are living saints who have died for Jesus. As verse nine says, they had been put to death “because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.”

These martyrs under the altar are not merely long ago ancient memories, they are living saints who have died for Jesus. As verse nine says, they had been put to death “because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.”

When it was dangerous to preach the gospel and to stand firm in their faith, they refused to recant their faith even with the knife at their throat.

Even when it was dangerous to preach the gospel and to stand firm in their faith, they refused to recant their faith even with the knife at their throat.

The word “souls” especially when paired with the image of them being given a robe indicates more than disembodied spirits; but rather serves to emphasise that they are alive even though they had been put to death. From beneath the altar they ask the question we all ask: “how long, O Lord, holy and true, will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

The blood of the martyrs is a tide that has flowed from the beginning when our King himself was put to death. Yet while death pours out in waves upon the church, it does not conquer the church – for our King has already conquered death.

This is not an invalid question!

We often wonder about things like, “When is God going to do something about (Cancer, Childhood illness, abusive marriages, drug addiction, COVID-19, <insert your personal problem and struggle here>)”. In this fifth seal that question, like our own issues, is asked by those who have had to suffer. We must surely agree that as each martyr was lead to the gallows, or beheaded, or run through, or burned at the stake, or boiled by cannibals, or pummeled by rocks that every single one must surely have yearned as Christ did upon the cross -for the suffering to end.

In a just and good world, nobody would die for believing in Jesus. In fact, in a truly good world - there would be no crying, no pain, no hatred of man to man. But we live in a world entrenched in rebellion against the good that God created. That rebellion has consequences of suffering. Moreover in this world, any time we live consistent with what God has designed there are going to be negative consequences from the rest of the world.

Stand for marriage between one man and one woman: you are ostracized now.

In the fifth seal of , Jesus sends a message of strange encouragement to the church in every age. As tribulation increases upon the world, as God begins to judge the world in order to woo some to repentance; the world will increasingly judge Christians. But God gives comfort to the afflicted. The fifth seal in Revelation speaks to that issue.

· Stand for gender as designed by God, represented by science, and obvious at the merest glance: you are anathema to our society.

Stand for gender as designed by God, represented by science, and obvious at the merest glance: you are anathema to our society.

Stand for family over against the government: you have no place in this world.

· Stand for family over against the government: you have no place in this world.

· Stand for Christ and call sinners to repentance: you are labelled as judgmental and threatened with casting off.

Stand for Christ and call sinners to repentance: you are labelled as judgmental and threatened with casting off.

· Speak the truth amid an ocean of lies: be gone with you.

Speak the truth amid an ocean of lies: be gone with you.

Would you read with me the words of God on the fifth seal?

It has always been this way. There never was a day when it was not; as Paul told Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95PARA

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Finally, I want you to see the parallel to the four horsemen we noticed last week. As the four horsemen in many ways point back at Zechariah’s four horsemen who patrol the earth, those horsemen come back and report that all of the enemies of God’s people are at peace. To this, the question that comes is “How long?” (; ).

How long until God removes the peace of unbelievers and avenges the mistreatment of his people? God’s answer there is that he is going to both judge the nations and comfort his people. And that is exactly what God does here. Even as he promises that, I want you to notice three items here.

Read

Even as the seals are being opened God is actively refraining from rendering judgement and vengeance on those who murder his children because of their unbelief. Judgement belongs to God and his martyrs entrust themselves to Him. God’s judgement will be definitive and appropriate to the crime. He speaks elsewhere of differing levels of judgement for those who commit different levels of disobedience (see for example . ). That is God’s domain. But do not miss the highlight, that right now - indeed at the moment that these souls cry out from beneath the altar - God is still delaying judgement.

Revelation 6:9–11 NASB95PARA

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

We know why God is doing so. He tells us in 2 Peter that mockers will come saying “Where is the promise of his coming?” but they forget, God reminds us through Peter, that God is patiently giving time for repentance. ().

Listen to that and note very carefully the next point at what is hinted strongly at in the question and addressed in the next verse:

It has always been true that people will wait until the last minute if they can to repent.

It was observed long ago that there is in fact one deathbed conversion in all of scripture. The second thief on the cross beside Jesus began his day by mocking Jesus as his companion did. But as the day progressed, and the pain continued, and as the reality of death settled in - that second thief turned to Jesus and expressed a faith both infantile in understanding and mature in its apprehension. “Remember me Jesus when you enter your kingdom.” (). That day, a dying man received salvation and by the righteousness of Christ alone entered eternity.

Yes, it is rightly said that there is a deathbed conversion in scripture; but there is only one so that we do not get presumptuously arrogant.

The day will come when either death and judgement or judgement itself will come. For a person to think that they will accept Christ when they are good and ready means that they have already actively rejected him in the now. There is no guarantee of another chance.

[1] By Their Blood p 15-16.

Listen to me, if you are waiting to surrender to Jesus, you have already rejected him in the now. God’s call to you, at this moment, is to turn away from unbelief and sin, and to humble yourself before him in faith which leads to obedience.

Can you sense God’s urgency of the gospel here? Judgement is coming. But he waits because he is offering time for repentance.

The final point I want you to see in this is that God comforts his children.

Take a look at verse 11 () seeing God’s response. Each of them is given a white robe, which elsewhere in Revelation represents the righteousness of Christ. They are also told to rest a little while longer also which is a fascinating term in the Bible.

On the seventh day, God rested from all of his labors and that language of rest becomes not only the intended rhythm of life but also the goal of our life: to enter into God’s rest.

In the writer is speaking about the distinction between those Israelites who had faith and those who did not. Those without faith might have entered the land of promise, but they did not enter God’s rest because of their lack of faith.

Also see what God says in

[2] https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/ https://vimeo.com/384093254

Revelation 14:13 NASB95PARA

And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

But these martyred Christians are given rest - they have entered into God’s rest and are exhorted to rest a bit longer. That is, they are told to be patient. What is most shocking however, for the Christians who read this letter - ourselves included - is that they are told to rest because there is a number not yet reached for Christians who are to be killed even as they had. Martyrdom is not done yet.

But once again, look for the reason embedded in the delay. It’s not just to complete some number, but already we have seen in Revelation that God’s purposes until the end includes a call for repentance.

John’s vision of the fifth seal reminds us, that the martyrs from every age live on before God.[5]

What has the fifth seal to do with us on this Palm Sunday?

As Christians in every age have walked with Christ in persecution, so also might we. We do well as followers of Jesus to understand that dying for Jesus requires us first to live for Jesus. Living For Jesus will never be truly popular in this world. We are particularly blessed with the ability to lift up and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who face must stronger persecution than anything we currently face.Finally the seal continues to remind us of God’s purposes and challenges our own. Are we yearning for the salvation of the Lost?

Fellow Christians, Jesus told us that we would have to choose between living for this life, or living for Him (see and ). We cannot have both. Dying for Jesus requires living for Jesus first. Our challenge as Christians today is the same challenge of Christians always: Living for Jesus, no matter the cost. Share Jesus no matter the cost. Love, pray for, and witness to those who persecute you no matter the cost.

Benediction:

[3] By Their Blood, p 11

May the God who yearns for salvation cause your heart to yearn for salvation also. May the God who comforts his martyrs fill your heart with comfort in this trying days. Dwell in Grace, Trust in Christ. Go in peace.

Amen.

[1] By Their Blood p 15-16.

[2] https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/world-watch-list/ https://vimeo.com/384093254

[3] By Their Blood, p 11

[4] https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/every-day-4-christians-in-nigeria-die-for-following-jesus/

[5] Gregg p119

7 year old Imran.

Tabernacle graphic

7 year old

The Fifth Seal: Life For Death

Introduction

Precious In The Sight of The Lord

How Long O Lord

ONE: God is actively refraining from judging

SECOND: God’s patience will end.

Third: God calls his children to continued trust