Title: The Martyr's Petition
Contents
2006' Lecture on Revelation from the pulpit of Kyunghyang (31)
"The martyr's plea"
Revelation 6:9-10
In Revelation 6:9-10, “… The souls that had been slain were under the altar and cried out with a loud voice, saying, How long will you not judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood, O Lord, holy and true.”
1) The place of petition was under the altar.
Revelation 6:9 says, “The souls that were slain are under the altar.” Its Old Testament meaning refers to the holiest place, the altar of incense. This means, in the case of the heavenly church, under the footstool of Christ.
(1) It is expressed as a place where prayers are received.
The altar is said in Revelation 8:3, "Another angel came and stood by the altar, and took a golden censer, and received much incense... ' he said. It is a place where the prayers of saints are accepted.
(2) It is expressed as a place where fire is poured out.
Revelation 8:5 says, “They were filled with the fire of the altar, and they poured it out on the earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake.” If so, it is also the center of the referee.
(3) It appeared as the source of the spirit.
Revelation 9:13-14 "The sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Release the four angels who are bound by the great river Euphrates." said It is the place where the voice of revelation comes from.
(4) It is the world of worshipers.
In Revelation 11:1, “… Measure the temple and the altar and those who worship in it.” It is the realm of holy worshipers.
(5) It is the place where the angel of judgment is sent.
Revelation 14:18 says, “Another angel who has control of fire came out of the altar and called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle… ' he said. This angel was sent as the angel of judgment.
(6) It is the center of justice.
Revelation 16:7 says, "And I heard the altar saying, So it is, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."
(7) It is a haven for martyrs.
In Revelation 6:9, “… There are souls under the altar that were slain for the word of God and the testimony they had.”
If so, it is a sanctuary. You are getting closer to God. It is a place of glory where we can face our Lord face to face. Those who could not find a place to set foot in this world because of the words and testimony of Jesus are now receiving glory before the throne of God.
2) The object of petition is God Himself.
In Revelation 6:10 it says, "Holy and true Sovereign... ' he said. ‘Great Presidency’ is the name of the true Trinity of God. He was 'true and holy'. This is his attribute. He is the living Father in heaven, who answers the cry of the elect day and night (Matthew 7:11). He is truly the avenger of His elect (Luke 18:7). He is our heavenly Father, who gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). He is the Father of lights, with every good gift and every perfect gift (James 1:17). He is a personal God, a living God, a God of salvation, a God of blessing, and a God of judgment. He is the God of glory. He is the eternal God.
3) The attitude of pleading is humility.
Revelation 6:10 says, “He called with a loud voice, saying, Holy and true Sovereign… ' he said.
(1) He pleaded loudly.
This is a hot cry, a plea for a servant to vomit in front of his master. This is a bloody scream.
(2) She was called the ‘Holy and True Grand Master’.
This is the most respectful word used by slaves to address their masters. They were as humble before God as I was before God, paying the martyr sacrifice for Christ's sake.
4) The content of the petition wanted God's justice to be realized.
(1) He asked that those who dwell on the earth be judged.
In Revelation 6:10, “… Those who dwell on the earth” are those who live in a place called “Egypt” and also called “Sodom” expressed in Revelation 11:8. The people here are the ones who crucified our Lord. Our Lord died on the cross here.
In the case of Revelation 18, it refers to Babylon.
Those who dwell on this earth are those who do not know the Lord (John 3:10). ② The basis of belonging is this world (John 8:23). ③ There is no light in them (John 11:10). ④ They pierced Christ and his servants (Revelation 1:7). ⑤ These are the governors, kings, and Gentiles of the earth who delivered Jesus' disciples to the council and whipped them in the synagogue (Matt. 10:18). ⑥ They are liaisonists who worship the Empress (pleasure), materialists (supervisors of tycoonism), rulers (earth kings who are supremacists of kingship), and science supremacists (various craftsmen), unitedly and allied with each other to help the saints. They were soul traders (Rev 18:13).
Judging from the fact that Revelation 18:24 says, “In this city the blood of prophets and of the saints and of all who were slain on the earth was seen.” You can really guess that he was killed. Numerous and numerous witnesses of Jesus were killed in this land (city).
Revelation 17:6 says that the Babylonian woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. Then, the reason the martyrs here ask for judgment on those who dwell on the earth must be because they are enemies of God, enemies of the truth, and enemies of the church. They are the achievements of heaven. Thus the martyrs pleaded for revenge on God's enemies. It is the content that God's justice wants to be realized. For he knew that God's justice would never leave the evildoers of this earth to be kings forever or persecutors of the church forever.
(2) He pleaded for the vindication of the blood of the heavenly saints.
The second half of Revelation 6:10 says, “How long will you not avenge our blood?”
This is a personal expression of the souls of the martyrs crying under the altar, just as the blood of Abel cries from the ground. This can also be seen in the Old Testament. This is the fact that Psalm 79:10 says, “Let the revenge of the blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.” Psalm 119:84 says, “How long are the days of your servant? Will you ever question those who persecute me?” In Psalm 94:2-3, it says, “Arise, O Lord of the world, and give a fair punishment to the proud.
What kind of blood was shed by the souls who were killed here?
① It is the blood shed because of right faith and right worship (Hebrews 11:4, Genesis 4:8, 1 John 3:12). In other words, it is like the blood of Abel. ② It is the blood that was shed while speaking the right words and prophecies (2 Chronicles 24:15~22). In other words, it is like the blood of Zechariah. ③ It is the blood that was shed while keeping the commandments of Jesus (Revelation 13:15, 14:9~12). ④ It is the blood of true testimony (Acts 7:54~60, 12:1~4). For example, the blood of Stephen and the blood of James. ⑤ It is the blood of justice that condemns sin (Matt. 14:10). For example, the blood shed by John the Baptist. ⑥ It is the blood of loyalty (Rev 2:10). It is like the blood shed by the leaders of Smyrna. ⑦ It is the blood shed while hating sin to the point of death (Hebrews 12:9). ⑧ It is the blood that was shed while loving Jesus Christ to the point of death (Revelation 16:5-6). This blood does not fade, it does not burn, it is alive.
This blood must be identified. As long as God lives, this blood cannot be in vain. The reason is that the living God is a God of justice, a God of recompense and comfort.
The incorruptible and incorruptible blood is the blood shed by the martyrs. Therefore, even in the ruins of Babylon, which had become ashes, was not the blood shed by the martyrs not burning and shining red in the city (Rev 18:24)? Indeed, it is the petition of the living martyrs. Judgment on the wicked on earth! A reward for the blood shed by the saints! Isn't this something that only God's justice can answer!