The Fifth Seal: Prayers for Vengeance
Revelation 6:9-11
Introduction
The book of Revelation unveils the mysteries of God’s divine plan for the end times. Each seal that the Lamb opens reveals a part of this divine unfolding. When we reach the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11, we encounter a scene that is both powerful and sobering. It presents the souls of martyrs crying out to God for justice. Their voices echo throughout history, reminding us that faithfulness to Christ often comes at a cost. Yet, their cries do not go unheard. The passage assures us that God is not indifferent to the suffering of His saints, and His justice will be executed in His perfect timing.
Today, as we explore this passage, we will reflect on four key aspects: the cry of the martyrs, God’s timing in judgment, the reward of the faithful, and the call to endurance. May this message encourage us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that our God is both just and sovereign.
The Bible teaches that God is loving, merciful, and gracious, offering salvation to sinners. However, one truth that many people do not like to acknowledge is that He is also a God of justice who takes vengeance on those who reject Him and His Son. The Bible makes this clear in many passages.
In Deuteronomy 32:35, God says, “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution.” This means that He will bring justice in His own time. The book of Psalms contains several prayers, called imprecatory psalms, where people ask God to punish the wicked.
For example, in Psalm 64:7-9, David describes how God will strike down the wicked, making them fall by their own words, causing others to fear and recognize God’s power. Psalm 79:10 asks God to show His justice among the nations for the blood of His servants. In Psalm 94, the writer calls upon God as the Judge of the earth to punish the proud and bring justice against evildoers.
1. The Cry of the Martyrs and the Plea for Justice
Scripture: Revelation 6:9-10; Psalm 79:5-6; Luke 18:7-8
When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony they had upheld (Revelation 6:9). These martyrs cry out 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 6:10).
This cry for vengeance is not rooted in personal revenge but in a longing for God’s righteousness to prevail. The martyrs are calling upon God to fulfill His promise of justice.
• Psalm 79:5-6: "How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You." This echoes the plea of the righteous throughout history, who suffer at the hands of the wicked but trust in God’s justice.
• Luke 18:7-8: Jesus teaches that "God will bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night." The parable of the persistent widow reminds us that God is aware of every injustice and will act at the appointed time.
The prophets also spoke about God’s vengeance. Isaiah wrote:
"Come near, O nations, and listen! Pay attention, all you people of the earth. Let the whole world hear what God has to say. The Lord is angry with all the nations, and His wrath is against their armies. He has completely destroyed them and given them over to slaughter. Their dead bodies will be left unburied, filling the land with a terrible stench. The mountains will be soaked with their blood. … For the Lord has set a day of vengeance, a time of justice for the cause of Zion." (Isaiah 34:1–3, 8)
Isaiah also described God's judgment with powerful imagery:
"He put on righteousness like a breastplate and wore a helmet of salvation on His head. He clothed Himself with garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal like a cloak. He will repay His enemies according to their actions, bringing wrath to His adversaries and judgment to distant lands." (Isaiah 59:17–18)
One of the key messages of the Servant (Jesus Christ) is to declare "the day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:2). In Isaiah 63:4, God Himself says, "I had planned a day of vengeance in My heart."
These passages show that while God is patient and merciful, He is also a righteous judge who will bring justice in His perfect timing.
Illustration
Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:54-60), is a perfect example. Even as he was being stoned, he looked to heaven and prayed for his persecutors, just as Jesus did on the cross. Though his life was cut short, God did not forget him. His blood became a seed for the early church's growth. In the same way, the cries of the martyrs in Revelation remind us that suffering for Christ is never in vain.
2. God’s Timing in Judgment - The Sovereignty of Divine Justice
Scripture: Revelation 6:11; Romans 12:19; Ecclesiastes 3:17
The response to the martyrs' cry is significant: "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 6:11).
This teaches us two key theological truths:
1. God’s justice will come but in His perfect time.
2. God’s plan is still unfolding, and more will be called to suffer for the faith.
• Romans 12:19: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord." This reminds us that God alone has the right to judge, and His justice is perfect.
• Ecclesiastes 3:17: "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work." This affirms that every injustice will be accounted for in God’s divine calendar.
John’s first reaction to the judgments described in the little book was both sweet and bitter. It was sweet because he realized that God would be vindicated, and His glory would be revealed. But it was also bitter because he understood the terrible suffering that would come upon unbelievers.
God is patient with sinners who repent and accept the gospel. However, there will come a time when He will no longer hold back His judgment on those who reject it. Before the Flood, God gave the sinful world 120 years to turn from their wickedness (Genesis 6:3). He sent Noah to preach the message of salvation, but when the time was up, the Flood came and destroyed them all.
In the same way, a day will come when God's grace will end, and His judgment will fall on the world. The apostle Paul warned the philosophers in Athens:
“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30–31)
This passage reminds us that while God is merciful, His justice is certain, and the time to repent is now.
Example
In Noah’s time, God delayed judgment while warning the people (Genesis 6-7). Though evil was rampant, God waited for the appointed time. Similarly, today, God’s delay is not a sign of inaction but of patience, allowing more people to repent before judgment comes (2 Peter 3:9).
3. White Robes of Victory - The Reward of the Faithful
Scripture: Revelation 6:11; Revelation 3:5; 2 Timothy 4:8
In response to their plea, each martyr is given a white robe, symbolizing purity, victory, and eternal rest. This signifies that while they suffered on earth, they were honored in heaven.
• Revelation 3:5: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life." This emphasizes the ultimate reward of faithfulness.
• 2 Timothy 4:8: Paul declares, "There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day." The sufferings of this present time are nothing compared to the glory awaiting us (Romans 8:18).
Illustration
The Apostle Paul, who endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment, looked forward to his eternal reward. He remained faithful, knowing that God’s justice and reward were sure.
4. A Call to Endurance - Faithful Until the End
Scripture: Revelation 6:11; Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 10:36
The waiting period signifies that the battle is not yet over. More believers will face persecution before Christ returns. But God calls His people to endure.
• Matthew 24:13: "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." This is a call to perseverance in times of trial.
• Hebrews 10:36: "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise." Patience and faithfulness lead to reward.
The fifth seal reveals the anticipation of God’s great day of wrath, known as the Day of the Lord. This will take place during the seven-year Tribulation period (also called the Seventieth Week of Daniel, from Daniel 9:27). The most intense part of this period will be the final three and a half years, which Jesus described as “the great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matthew 24:21; cf. Revelation 7:14).
The first four seals—false peace, war, famine, and death—will unfold during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation. Jesus referred to this period as “the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8). Just as labor pains grow stronger as birth approaches, God’s judgments will intensify as Christ's return draws near. The second half of the Tribulation will bring the full force of God’s wrath, leading to unparalleled suffering on earth.
The fifth seal marks the midpoint of the Tribulation. It serves as a bridge between the early judgments and the final outpouring of God's wrath. Like the four horsemen of the previous seals, this seal also represents a significant force—the prayers of God’s saints, crying out for vengeance against a rebellious world.
As the fifth seal is revealed, three key elements emerge:
1. The persons involved—those who cry out for justice.
2. The petition they make—their plea for God’s vengeance.
3. The promise they receive—God’s assurance that justice will come.
This passage highlights the certainty of God’s judgment, the power of His people's prayers, and the ultimate fulfillment of His justice.
Application
How do we remain faithful in trials?
• By fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
• By standing firm in God’s promises, knowing that suffering for Christ is never wasted (1 Peter 4:12-13).
• By trusting in God’s justice, which will come in His perfect time (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
Conclusion
The Fifth Seal reminds us that God is just, and every tear, every cry, and every drop of blood shed for His name is accounted for. Though persecution may increase, God will bring judgment in His time. The white robes remind us that victory belongs to those who remain faithful.
Final Challenge
Are you willing to stand for Christ, no matter the cost? Will you trust in His justice and remain faithful until the end? Let us press on, knowing that the sufferings of this world are temporary, but God’s justice and glory are eternal.
Prayers for Vengeance: The Fifth Seal
Speaking of a time when God would take vengeance on Israel’s enemies Jeremiah declared, “For that day belongs to the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes; and the sword will devour and be satiated and drink its fill of their blood; for there will be a slaughter for the Lord God of hosts, in the land of the north by the river Euphrates” (Jer. 46:10). The prophet Micah records God’s promise to “execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations which have not obeyed” (Mic. 5:15), while Nahum 1:2 describes God as “a jealous and avenging God … the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.”
In the midst of judgment, God spares those who are His. Malachi 4:1–2 says,
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff, and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”
Isaiah comforted the fearful among his people by urging them, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you” (Isa. 35:4).
Nor is God’s vengeance limited to the Old Testament. Jesus described the future time of God’s judgment during the time of Tribulation as the “days of vengeance” (Luke 21:22). To the Thessalonians Paul wrote,
For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. (2 Thess. 1:6–9)
Both Paul (Rom. 12:19) and the writer of Hebrews (Heb. 10:30) quote Deuteronomy 32:35, which affirms that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
God’s vengeance is not to be equated with petty human vindictiveness and bitter desire for revenge. God’s holiness, righteousness, and justice demand that He take vengeance on unrepentant sinners. Vengeance belongs to God alone because all sin is ultimately against Him and an offense to Him (cf. Ps. 51:4).
The knowledge that God will one day execute vengeance on those who reject Him does not justify any personal vengeance on the part of believers. Proverbs 25:21 commands, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.” Paul echoed that thought in Romans 12:19–20: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ ” Neither Jesus (Luke 23:34), Stephen (Acts 7:60), nor Paul (1 Cor. 4:12) sought personal vengeance on their oppressors. Even God Himself declares, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11), because “The Lord … is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
The realization that the Day of the Lord is coming and that God will take vengeance on the wicked is bittersweet for believers. On the one hand, we rejoice because God’s glory will be put on display, sin will be done away with, the world will be taken back from the usurper, Satan, and God will be vindicated. But on the other hand, that day will bring about the destruction of the ungodly and their sentencing to eternal punishment.
That bittersweet, almost ambivalent attitude toward God’s judgment is pictured in Revelation 10:8–10:
And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth, it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
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Blessings,
Pastor JM Raja Lawrence
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
email: lawrencejmr@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9933250072
