The Fifth Seal

With the opening of the fifth seal we move from the four physical judgements on man to three spiritual. The seals are divided numerically and spiritually into 4 and 3. The four relates numerically and spiritually with earth. Four is the representation of earth and natural things, four being the basic elements of nature, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

Three is the number of God and the trinity. A more in depth study into Biblical numbering shows us this split is common in the Bible. The division between the two sets of seals is probably marked by a longer period of time as when we look at the fifth seal being opened we are faced with a time which, seems well into the Tribulation. Revelation 6:9-11 is where we find the opening of this seal.

9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
10. And they cried with a loud voice saying, how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11. And white robes were given unto every one of them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Initially it would seem that time has passed and we are well into the period known as the Great Tribulation. The judgements within the first four seals are well established and the Anti-Christ is in total control, with the aid of Satan.

We now see a view in heaven and more specifically under God's throne, where a special place has been reserved for the souls of those who have been killed for their belief on God. More than that though they have been killed for their testimony and their faith in the Word of God.

People during this time will put their faith in the Anti-Christ and so Satan. Not that many will believe in God and be willing to die for Him. Their total commitment to God is classed as a sacrifice to Him and as such they are blessed and take position in their rightful place. In Leviticus 4:7 we are reminded of this fact in the Jewish dealings with sacrifice and alters, as laid down by God.

7. And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the alter of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the alter of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

If you look at chapter four it deals with Israel's sin offering and how they can be cleansed by following God's rules.

Returning to these souls under the alter, we see that they are given 'white robes' which symbolise their purity and sinless state, they have been judged worthy to be accepted by God into His Kingdom. Revelation 3:5 and 19:8 also speaks of the 'white robes' and there meaning.

5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, bit I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.
8. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

We know then that because they died for the Word. Christ died for man and was rejected so now man must die for Christ to be accepted. It is this act that leads us to the next question, at what period did these people die?

One theory is that they are people from when the gospel was first preached and people died for their faith. The other is that these are all those who died in the period of Tribulation only. To gather more evidence we must look to Revelation 20:4 where we are told who will rule with Christ during the Millennial reign.

4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them and judgement was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshiped the Beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

There is no mistaking the time that these people were beheaded, by the mention of the beast and his mark. We are also told they died for the Word and for the witness of Jesus, as in our original verse in revelation 6:9. Another fact we also must recognise is that during the tribulation there will be only one gospel preached, the gospel of the KINGDOM. At present Christians are preaching the Gospel of Christ and the Spiritual eternity which He promises to all who will believe.

The Jews on the other hand are still looking for the physical Kingdom and the Messiah who will be their King. There is not unity in the gospel because we are dealing with two different dispensations. The church has to be called out (at the Rapture) before the gospel of the Kingdom can be preached. There will be many people left behind after the rapture who will realise their error and then believe.

They will look for the Second Coming and if they want to be saved will have to openly take sides with God which will mean not taking the mark of the beast immediately putting hem at odds with the authorities. They will then either preach or spread the gospel of the Kingdom or go to Israel to side with the Jews.

The gospel of Christ's church will have gone. It will have been fulfilled at the rapture. It will be this new gospel that will get them killed or beheaded. Their witnessing and faith in the Word of God will make them unpopular and in the view of others sympathetic to the Jewish race and Israel. As to the validity of the gospel of the Kingdom we just have to look to Mathew 24:14.

14. And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall come the end.

The order here is that the whole world will hear the gospel of the Kingdom, the truth that Jesus Christ will return to set up a Kingdom and rule on earth. Initially it will be done by people and then will be augmented by the two witnesses who God will send and will preach constantly until the message has been globally heard, then shall people see the Second Coming (Revelation 11:3-5).

Another point to note is that the souls under the altar (verse 10) cry out for vengeance on those living on the earth. If we are to assume they are people who span two thousand years it would be wrong for them to want vengeance on people who were not responsible for their death's.

Following on in verse 11 we are told that more have to die, in the same way before God will avenge their deaths. This is not the call of a Christian, one who is part of the body of Christ. Christians are taught to love their enemy and neighbour and to forgive and forget. This call is the call of the earthly voice, the teachings of God in the Old Testament. We are at present in the day of grace, a time of forgiveness but after the rapture and the dispensation of grace is over, the world will revert back to the days of the Law and the promise given to Israel by God in the Old Testament.

As with all things of God there are specific numbers involved and at the Rapture there will be called out a number of Christians. Likewise is the number who will sacrifice themselves for the Word as we are told in the close of verse 11.

11. .. until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

The time is dependant on the number God has foreseen and planned. One does not come before the other but also one is not dependant on the other. It is all part of God's plan and events will happen at their allotted time.

This seal then is not an event, which will unfold for the period of time until the next seal is opened it is an ongoing recruitment, that will overlap other seals that follow.