In the sermon “Heavenly Observations of Earth” from the Revelation: Jesus Revealed – The View Behind The Veil series, we examine the opening of the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11. The Apostle John sees the souls of faithful martyrs — slain for the word of God and their testimony — gathered under the heavenly altar. They cry out with a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
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Revelation 6:9 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.
Revelation 6:10 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?”
Revelation 6:11 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.
Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be
hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
1) Is there life right after death?
2) Do people in heaven remember life on earth?
3) Do people in heaven see what is happening on earth?
The 5th Seal
I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls …”
Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
Exodus 40:5 You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark
of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:6 Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of
the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
Revelation 6:9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls …”
Revelation 8:3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the
altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the
the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints,
ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
II. THE CAUSE OF THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 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.
They were murdered for fulfilling the two greatest commandments–loving God and
loving people.
Revelation 2:13 “… And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in
the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you,…”
According to a report from watchdog group, Open Doors US, in 2025
“388 million Christians suffered persecution last year with 4,849 murdered and 3,632
churches and Christian properties were either destroyed or attacked.while 4,712
Christians were detained.”
With North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen being the top 3 worst countries
Satan past, present and future has always used an ungodly governments to be the
greatest persecutor of the church.
III. THE CRY FROM THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:10 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?”
Luke 18:6, “Jesus said, … Shall not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to
Him day and night, and will not God judge when His elect cry out to Him?”
Genesis 4:10 “…The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground …”
Revelation 6:10 “… will avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
IV. THE COMPLETION OF THE MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:11 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 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the
crown of life.
V. THE CONTINUATION AFTER THEIR MARTYRDOM.
Revelation 6:9 (VOICE) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the
heavenly altar the souls of those murdered for holding fast to the word of God and
their testimony.
Revelation 6:10 They cried out in a great, singular voice. Murder Victims:
1. Death is Not the End. Life goes on after Death.
John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him
who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed
from death into life.
2. The Martyred Souls Aren’t Sleeping.
Daniel 12:2 ‘And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,Some
to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those
who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the
body and to be present with the Lord.
Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better.
For unbelievers, death means everlasting punishment in hell (Luke 16:22–23).
Luke 16:22 “… the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, …”
3) People in Heaven Remember Life on Earth.
Revelation 6:10 (NLV) All those who had been killed cried out with a loud voice saying,
“How long will it be yet before You will punish those on the earth for killing us?
Lord, You are holy and true.”
4) People in Heaven See What is Happening on Earth.
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in
heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to
the Lord our God!
Revelation 19:2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged
the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged
on her the blood of His servants shed by her.”
Luke 9:28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He
took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
Luke 9:29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe
became white and glistening
Luke 9:30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Luke 9:31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about
to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Do you realize that we really don’t know one another here on earth?
1 Corinthians 13:12 “… Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
5. Don’t Forget The Fans In The Stands.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
The last invitation in the Book of Revelation is the last one in the Bible
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come…
