9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.
Revelation 6:9-11
Before we analyse this portion in detail I need to take you back to Gem 2248 where I gave you the overview of this portion of Revelation which deals with the Seven Seals. We are only just over halfway through the opening of the seven seals. A glance at Gem 2248 will show you the opening of the Fourth and Fifth seals are covered in 6. Then we have an interlude in Chapter 7 and return to the opening of the Seventh Seal with the first five verses of Chapter 8.
I wonder if you have similar thoughts to me. These moments of revelation which John has been dramatically building toward are brief and general. I think most people on reading the Letter of Revelation are wanting to know the details about the future and what is in these seven seals. But when the seals are opened there is precious little detail given. All we have thus far are a series of short statements about the nature of the judgements associated with the Four Horses of the Apocalypse and their horsemen. Seriously, do you really want all the detail related to these judgements across time? Remember Revelation is past, present and future combined. It is just as relevant to the Christians of the First Century AD as it is to us here in the 21st Century AD as it will be in the future when the consummation of the details you crave are present tense.
Do you see clearly what happens with the glimpse we are given into the Fifth and Sixth Seals? The two seals divide the population of the world into two groups. Well the 75% of the population of the earth which remains after the first four seals. Is it clear to you who these two groups are? Take some time to read what John saw at the breaking of these two seals. Notice too, neither of these two seals have been opened yet. The seals have merely been broken. The Lamb hasn’t divulged the details of this portion of the Scroll.
For your convenience, here are the given details of the Sixth Seal. Although you could do what I do and have multiple Gems open at the same time to enable you to switch back and forth between them.
12I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. 15Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?” . . .
Revelation 6:12-17
The two groups I am referring to are:
- 1. Those who had been martyred for the word of God AND those faithful in their testimony.
- 2. Everyone else still on the earth: the kings, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person – Everyone!
Do you see what is most important to glean from each group? There is a question posed from each group.
- 1. How long before You judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?
- 2. Who is able to survive the wrath of the One who sits on the throne and the Lamb?
These two questions are crucial to your understanding of the rest of the Letter to the Christians of the Roman Province of Asia in the First Century AD and for us now and all who will be born on this earth until the Day of His Coming. All readers of this letter need to pause and ponder at this point. That includes those who first received this letter when it was delivered to the seven churches at the end of the First Century AD. It includes all who have lived on this earth until now, 2024 AD. And it includes all who will still be living on this earth on the Day of His Coming. There is a Day of Reckoning coming.
- Read these two passages again and consider which group you find yourself in.
- Take the time to pray and reflect. Ask God which group you are in if you are in doubt.
Consider again the concluding message of the Letter to each church: Let everyone who has ears, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches and having heard persevere until the end. Remember the number Seven carries the symbolism of Completion, Consummation and Perfection. All churches over time and in every location. Read again and take note of the message of Hebrews.
Now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:26-28
Allow me to spell it out to you as clearly as I can:
- Bible Gem 1423 – No other name – An introduction to Allos and Heteros (Acts 4:12)
- Bible Gem 1424 – One Way Jesus (Acts 4:12)
You are either in Group One (the group covered by the Fifth Seal) or you are in Group Two (the group covered by the Sixth Seal). In the terminology of Revelation it is either / or because there is no other Saviour of the similar kind (allos) and no other Saviour of a different kind (heteros). There is only one Lamb of God who is worthy to open this Scroll and break the seven seals.
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Jesus said to him, ”I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6
There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans – a human, Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins. This message is valid for every era.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Once again I ask you, which group are you in? Those who had been martyred for the word of God, have or are being persecuted for their faith because they are faithful to their testimony? Or those who will cry, “the great day of their wrath [God and the Lamb] has come, and who is able to survive?”
Ian
Just a thought. When I saw the resent attack on TV of missiles into Isreal and back into. Iran I couldn’t help but think that they looked like the stars were falling .
Probably nothing
Kevin
The point of all of this Kev is that every generation, every person born on the earth face their last days. So yes we are living End Times now just as those in each of the 7 churches were, and in those same cities century after century. That is why Revelation is past, present and future all at the same time. When Jesus said “If they persecuted me they will persecute you too”, He was serious. The challenge for all of us is to persevere until the end.