Revelation 6 09 11
The Seal Judgments Continue
The Martyred Souls
Rev. 6:9-11
Introduction:
Saw in beginning of Rev. 6 the scene shift from heaven to earth
Saw in verses 1-8 the opening of the first 4 seals
White horse: Victory, anti-Christ gave seeming peace
Red horse: War, terror, death: took away the peace
Black horse: Famine, suffering, death, world hunger
Pale horse: Death followed by Hades, power over ¼ of the earth
Sword, hunger, pestilence, wild beasts
Concluded Last time:
Thank God that we are believers
Need a passion to win the lost
Personal evaluation of our salvation and relationship to Lord
As we look at the 5th seal this would seem to be more of a glimpse of something that had taken place with a glimpse as well as of what was to come.
I. The Martyrs of the Fifth Seal
1. Who are they?
1) The Church has already been raptured
2) Seeing so far God’s vengeance on those still living v. 10
These have to be those martyred during the first 4 seal judgments
There will be those that are saved (define) during the tribulation period
Many believe that those who have heard of Christ now will not have the opportunity to be saved after rapture of the Church
2 Thess. 2:8-12
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2. How will they be saved if there are no believers on the earth to share?
1) God will have sent 2 witnesses: see that later in study
2) Rev. 7 talks about 144,000 witnesses: not sure but what they come later
3) Word of God that will remain after the rapture
*shows the power of God’s Word: Salvation has always come
through the preaching of the Word: power never in messenger
but in the Word.
*Luke 16:20-30 story of the rich man and Lazarus
*Not hard to envision that many will turn to and read
-suddenly people are missing and judgments come
-people today in difficulty pick up Bible (9/11, etc.)
3. The price they will pay: their lives
Today many are not willing to pay with a living sacrifice let alone
A martyred sacrifice
My experience in Jamaica with Rastafarian on the beach
*after Ray Ackley had challenged several times
II. The Cause of Their Martyrdom v. 9
Same reason as John gave in 1:9 for his own tribulation
1. For the Word of God: There has always been a cost for standing on Word
2 Timothy 3:12 those who live godly will suffer persecution
In the midst of telling Timothy not to be ashamed and to stand, he is told
To preach the Word
Jeremiah in OT was put in stocks and bonds and thrown into prison
Believers in many countries today are severely persecuted
*More may be suffering today than every before
Young people today going off to colleges, etc. will face persecution if you take a stand on the Word of God
Why is that?
*Word of God is the truth and Satan works overtime against
*Word of God is sharp and powerful as two edged sword: cuts deep in the heart and soul
*Word of God shares the message not only of love but judgment and condemnation on a world that is in sin
**Notice that more sympathy for preaching of Islam today
than for Word of God
Does not mean today that we shouldn’t preach and teach the truth
But we do need to be aware of the consequences of it
2. For the testimony in which they held
What would that testimony have been? This is God’s wrath, repent
They were not tickling ears, they were testifying to the truth
Slain has idea of being slaughtered
III. The Consequence of Martyrdom
1. Note their position: v. 9 under the altar
Lev. 4:7 blood of sacrifices was under the altar
And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Perhaps this is a sign that the blood of Christ’s sacrifice is upon them
Could then be a sign of security in Christ: covered with the blood of Christ
As we are secure it Christ it gives us the courage to be bold
John 10:28-29
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
2. Their cry v. 10
1) Improper of the Church age martyrs: What was Stephen’s cry?
Cry of Christ on cross?
2) Cry was certainly in the will of God: seeking God’s justice
3) Wonder if the cry was a cry motivated by wickedness that will be evident during that time?
*How often today do we see wickedness of abortion, homosexuality, selfishness, etc. and cry, “How long”
*If we see those things and do not cry out for justice then why not?
IV. The Comfort of their martyrdom v. 11
1. Comfort of their refuge
1) In the refuge of God
2) Secure: no one can get at them
3) See John 10:28-30 – does that motivate us in service?
2. Comfort of their rest
1) Revelation 14:13
2) 6:11 just rest: had a pretty rough time on earth
3. Comfort of their robes
1) Robe given to each one
2) Shows their purity in Christ
3) Shows their identity with Christ: They belong to Him
V. Application Points
1. God has a plan that includes each detail
1) No such thing as soul sleep or annihilation, God will reward and God will judge
2. God will give every opportunity for men to repent and come to Him
1) God does not leave Himself without witness
2) God’s greatest witness is not us, but His Word