Revelation 6: 9 – 11
Christian Buds[eal] Training
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. 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?” 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.
A few years ago our country finally found the #1 terrorist who masterminded the 9-11 attack on the US. The Special Forces unit that was called upon to do this mission was the Navy Seals Team 6.
In order to become a Navy Seal you must first be enlisted in our military. Then you must apply and be approved to attend their Buds training. Buds stands for ‘Basic Underwater Demolition Seals [SEa, Air, and Land] training.
The last week of this excruciating testing is called ‘Hell Week’. If you are on of the few who can endure this physical and emotional painful testing then you are selected to continue in future intense training. If you can ‘cut the mustard’ of the additional advanced training then and only then are you acknowledged as a Navy Seal.
After Jesus spoke of the coming Messiahs, the coming wars, the coming famines, the coming plagues and earthquakes, He spoke of those who would be delivered up to tribulation and would be killed for His sake.
We learn these things from three Gospel writers. This is what they had to say;
. Matthew 24.9-14 “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. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Indeed, as Luke tells us in verse 12, He says this will happen first, for they will happen ‘before all these things’. And, as we know, they did happen from the very beginning.
From chapter 24 we see these things happening;
. False Christ's [Antichrists] (v5)
. False prophets (v11)
. Wars (v6)
. Famines and earthquakes (v7)
. Apostasy (v10)
. Increased lawlessness (v12)
. Worldwide preaching of the gospel (v14)
. AND HATRED OF CHRISTIANS BY ALL NATIONS (v9)
That is why we see here, not a description of persecution following the riding of the four horsemen, but the results of previous persecution. Even before the horsemen have ridden the people of God have been attacked and persecuted, and have suffered tribulation and death right from the beginning in Acts and onwards. And this has been because they held to the word of God, and because they believed in it and fearlessly witnessed to it.
In America we do not understand tribulation. Unlike many other people in foreign lands we still have the right to worship our Holy Adoni El Shaddai, Almighty God, and study His Word without fear of being killed. However, this blessing may soon be coming to an end as we now see incidences of terrorists attacking American churches.
We must therefore also now sign up for Christian Buds(eal) Training. In this case Buds stands for ‘Basic Understanding Determines Sacrifice Everyone Allows Leveled. In other words folks it means how much are you willing to endure to not deny of Holy Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Would you be willing to be a martyr for our Holy God? That is a shocking question, isn’t it? You see in other parts of the world people are dying for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact more people have died for their belief and trust of our Lord Jesus Christ in this century than any other time.
Here are some statistics relative to this condition;
. More Christians were martyred in the 20th century than in all other centuries combined. 45.4 million Christians were martyred in the 20th century
. It is claimed that 105,000 Christians are martyred for their faith each year
. Currently over 100 million Christians are being persecuted worldwide
. 70 percent of the world's population lives in a religiously intolerant environment. North Korea: in 2014 it continues to be the worst country in the world for persecution
We read in today’s Scripture Saints who paid the ultimate price for their faith. These great heroes are described as being ‘underneath the altar’. Underneath the altar was where the ashes and remains of sacrifices and offerings went, including the drink offerings. So these martyrs are seen as sacrifices and offerings, not propitiatory, for only Christ’s sacrifice was that, but offerings to God in praise and thanksgiving, for their deaths have brought great glory to God.
The idea behind it is that their deaths have been worthwhile, and pleasing to Him because of the faith they demonstrated. So being underneath the altar is a special and privileged position.
How about the term ‘lawlessness’? Look at the statistics of ‘major crimes since 1960. Please notice the increase.
Population Major Crimes
1960 179.323.175 3.384.200
2013 316.128.839 9.795.658
Now, this picture needs some intense review. We cannot just say a few words and move on. This is why today’s study if focusing of this 5th seal.
First of all let us take a look at the statement ‘I saw under the altar the souls…’ Say what? Without being a wise guy, I would ask, ‘How did John know what a soul looks like?’ If you think about this picture it is almost like Dante’s Inferno. Underneath the altar are millions of souls crying out. To me this is a scary scene.
What verse do you hear many Christians comment to other believers regarding the death of a believer – ‘Absent from the body, present with the Lord.’ We are going to come back and speak about this verse shortly. However, it would seem to me that those who become martyrs lose out. If we believers die and go to Heaven and be with the Lord those who died as martyrs are not doing so well being under the altar crying out for the Lord.
Some teachers have commented that the word ‘soul’ means ‘person’. They are depicted as speaking and receiving white clothes, yet they do not yet have their resurrection bodies.
The bible teaches that we are made up of a body, soul, and spirit. In the book of Genesis chapter 2 verse 7 we see all three, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground [body], and breathed [spirit] into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being [soul].
Since our great ancestors Adam and Eve sinned than we all face death. The question for you to consider is how many of the three things we are made up of can die? Many will say that the body dies but the soul and spirit live on forever.
In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 we read “6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”
We see that the perishable body is the only thing that anchors us to this earth. For when we die the body turns back to dust of the earth and our spirit returns to God.
So, what is the ‘soul’ doing after we die?
When we look again at our Scripture we read, ‘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?” 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.’
Please notice the comment to the ‘souls’ that ‘it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer.’
Let us look up some Scripture references relative to the word ‘rest’ and possibly see what is going on here.
. Deuteronomy 31: 16,” And the LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.”
. Job 3: 13 “For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest.
. Job 17: 16 “Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?”
. Psalm 116: 7 “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you”
There are a lot more but let us look at just one more.
. John 11: “1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” 17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who Is to come into the world.”
So, what happens to people when they die? The body returns to the earth, the spirit returns to our Holy God, and your soul is asleep waiting for the Lord to wake you up at His Second Coming.
Now what about the statement that is in my opinion not used correctly in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 5, “1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
You are probably thinking ‘there you go, it says it right there that when we die our souls go to heaven and the Lord Is going to clothe our souls with a temporary outfit.’ My answer is ‘No it doesn’t!’ We will be clothed for eternity no temporarily.
We know that our Holy God is Omnipresent. It means that He Is Everywhere. In Psalm 139 we read about our Holy God’s Perfect Knowledge of us, “1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. 5 You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. 19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. 20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
You see Paul in 2 Corinthians is speaking about our assurance of the Resurrection. Paul’s is sharing with us the Hope of Eternal Glory.
To show you that this is speaking about the Resurrection let us take a look at Revelation 19 and 20 which covers the souls receiving the new clothes at the First Resurrection as we will also.
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. 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?” 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.
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! 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.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, bothfn small and great!” 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, freefn and slave, both small and great.” 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,fn and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Any questions?
