WEEK 16
“ The Cry of the Martyrs”
Date: October 2, 2002
Place: Allendale Baptist Church
Text: Revelation 6: 9-11
Introduction
As we looked last week, we saw what is the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
The 1st seal was opened and the white horse is seen with the rider we said is the great Deceiver. He will come in peace not revealing his true identity
The 2nd horse is the red horse, which will bring forth Great War.
The 3rd horse is the black horse, which will bring about famine. We are told that worldwide war will destroy the food supply.
And the 4th horse, which is pale, will bring about death. I stand corrected from last week that pale is not a color. John MacArthur says this color is “the Greek word from which we get our word chlorophyll, and describes the pale, ashen-green, characteristic of the decomposition of a corpse.
The rider of the 4th horse will was given power. How gave him this power? Christ did. Remember in revelation 1:18 Jesus said; “I have the keys to Hades and Death.”
He will kill with
1. The sword which is the symbol of war
2. Hunger which is starvation & famine
3. Death some see this as natural causes. Some say there will be those during the tribulation that will just die because of unknown reasons.
4. The beasts of the earth. Some say there will be a revolt of the animal kingdom during this time. Others believe this to be referring to other nations.
Whatever the interpretations, this should remind us that no one will escape the judgment of sin.
Verse 9
The 5th seal describes the force of the saint’s prayers for God’s vengeance. It’s events will be in the first half and mark the mid-point and following events following, in the 7 year period, which is called the Great Tribulation.
“I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God”
This is referring to those who were martyred, slain during the tribulation because of their faith in the Lord Jesus.
The word testimony always refers of those stating that they have witnessed something.
These have been killed because of speaking the truth, saying, “Jesus is the way the truth and the Life” and also “There is no other name given to man by which you must be saved.”
Verse 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 earth.?”
These are not the voices of the redeemed or the voices of those from the Old Testament as some say
These are the voices of those whose lives were taken during the tribulation, crying out to God for vengeance.
Three truths we need to see hear about heaven
1. We will see and recognize people in heaven.
2. Our voices will be heard in heaven
3. And we will know how we got there
Verse 11
“Then a white robe was given to them”
Remember the white robe speaks of righteousness, holiness and purity
This also show they are justified and accepted by God.
White robes were worn in celebrations and festivals.
“And it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer.”
There will be worship and praise in heaven but this implies we will all have rest from the burdens of the world in heaven
Nowhere can I find any rebuke for their requests.
God just says “In my time”
“Until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who will be killed as they were, was complete”
Some say there will be no one saved during the tribulation
But I believe we see here final judgment will not take place, the world will not be destroyed until the last saved person is in heaven.
