Title Fifth Seal: Martyrs under the Altar
Contents
2006' Lecture on Revelation from the pulpit of the tendency (29)
"The Fifth Seal: Martyrs under the Altar"
Revelation 6:9-11
1. It is a revelation revealed to the evangelist and apostle John.
Revelation 6:9 says, "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw", "Souls that were slain were under the altar."
In Revelation 6:10, it is said that the slain souls heard a loud voice supplicating God. And in Revelation 6:11, he said that he saw God answering the petitions of the souls who were slain.
2. The scene of the fifth seal is heaven (heaven).
Revelation 6:9 says, “The souls that were slain are under the altar.” In the Old Testament, the altar signifies the burnt offering where the blood of animals was slaughtered and sacrifices were burned. However, it is said that under this altar are the souls of the slain, not the sheep. “Souls that were slain” here also mean martyrs. Here, ‘soul’ can be translated as life. Blood is life (Leviticus 17:11). The life (soul) that was killed means the blood shed by the martyrs. To be ‘under the altar’ refers to the most holy place in heaven.
The fifth seal, then, shows that the persecuted church on earth is in tribulation, producing martyrs. Let them know that there is comfort and encouragement that comes with this. It is the fact that the souls who were killed on earth because of Jesus are greatly welcomed in heaven.
3. Reasons for Martyrdom
In Revelation 6:9, “… I saw because of the word of God and the testimony they had.”
1) He was martyred because of his faith in the Word of God.
‘Because of the word of God… ’ (Rev 6:9) is correct. Then the word of God is the cause of martyrdom.
What is God's Word?
(1) It is the true word.
soon it is the word of truth. God's word is truth. It was said that the Lord spoke the truth (John 8:45-46). Truth means truth. Although there are errors or errors in the history of mankind, there are no errors or errors in the Word of God. There are lies in people's history, but there are no lies in God's Word.
Creation is the truth. Salvation of life through Jesus Christ is the truth. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ itself is the truth. The Bible is the truth. The Bible revelation (word) that records the events of Jesus Christ is the truth. The true church of Jesus Christ is the body of this witness of truth.
(2) These are the words that make us true disciples of the Lord.
In John 8:31, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples… ' he said.
It leads us to follow only Jesus. In other words, make them a disciple. The road to discipleship leads to martyrdom. The reason is that the Word is the subject of the disciples' life. Therefore, they were always the ones who could do nothing against the truth (the Word). It was only for the truth (2 Corinthians 3:8).
(3) It is the word that purifies.
John 15:3 says, “You are already clean by the words I spoke to you.” The word of the Lord has a personal activity at work in us. Therefore, to say that the saints abide in the Lord means to abide in his word. To abide in the Word means to hear the Word, read it, and keep what is written in it. At that time, the word will strengthen God's children. This is the reason why they even reached martyrdom. It was because they did not want to be deprived of the word of purity that was at work in their characters. Why did you try not to lose it? It was because he felt that he would soon become unclean if the word was taken away.
(4) It is the word that sets you free.
John 8:32 says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That very word (truth) is the power that sets us free from death. It is liberation from sin. It is the light that moves from darkness. It is a victory that allows us to overcome the power of Satan.
Therefore, they regarded the word they had as life itself, which cannot be changed even if given the world. That's why I thought I would die if the Word was taken away.
(5) The Word has a character that is hated in the world.
In Matthew 13:21, it is said that tribulation will come because of the word, and persecution will come because of the word. The peak of persecution or tribulation will lead to death. The reason is that this verse condemns worldly events as evil. However, this is because the martyrs considered the persecution, tribulation, and even death that came because of the Word rather glorified.
(6) The promise of the Word is so glorious.
In John 6:68, it is called “the words of eternal life.” This is because faith in the Word has to do with the eternal life of Christian believers. So it is immortal until death.
In John 5:39 it says, “You search the Scriptures, thinking that you have eternal life, and these are the scriptures that testify of me.” Those words promised us eternal life.
In 1 Peter 1:8, it is said that it is “a glorious joy that cannot be described.” The Word of God teaches us the salvation of eternal life, a glorious joy that cannot be described.
The promise of eternal life if you believe is the truth that only the Bible says to you. We are being confirmed in the Word of this sure glory of glory (John 14:1~3). It promises that if you keep that word, you will receive countless blessings in the present and in the future. The martyrs did not want to lose sight of the Word of God, which was portrayed in countless glory because of their short physical life.
(7) The word of God is the command of God Himself.
Revelation 2:10 says, “Be faithful unto death.” Biblical truth is not a document containing the opinions of any individual. It is not the advice of any lawyer. Not even a psychologist's opinion. It is not a philosophical liberal arts document. It's not even the results of scientists' experiments.
It is the living command of God Himself. It is the command of the Supreme God, that if you obey you will be blessed and if you do not obey you will be punished. Therefore, those who believe that God's commands are the truth are more likely to follow God's commands than Satan's words.
The problem is that the main reason for their martyrdom is not their own. It is never meant to enjoy one's own claims, stubbornness, or ideals. for objective reasons. The reason is that it is because of the Word of God Himself.
Elijah, Micaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, John the Baptist, Peter, Stephen, Paul, John, Polycarp, Ignatius, Tertullian, Augustine, Wycliffe, John Huss, Calvin, and many other messengers of the truth. Aren't they all imprisoned and immortal because of God's word?
They are all the commandments of Jesus (Word