Read & explore together
The Fifth Seal: The Martyrs
This vision shows what John sees when the fifth seal is opened. It focuses on people killed because they held to God’s word and the Lamb’s testimony, and it records both their cry for justice and the answer given to them.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, the fifth seal is opened and John reports a vision. He sees souls under the altar, hears their question to the Lord, and then describes what is given and said to them. The passage remains in the language of vision and reports only what John sees and hears here.
Revelation 6:9–11Main takeaway
This passage shows that those killed for the word of God and the testimony of the Lamb are given a long white robe and told to rest for a while until others are also killed and complete their course.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The fifth seal opensJohn says, “When he opened the fifth seal”, marking this as part of a vision sequence. What he sees is “underneath the altar” the souls of people killed “for the Word of God” and “for the testimony of the Lamb”.
Explanation
John says, “When he opened the fifth seal”, marking this as part of a vision sequence. What he sees is “underneath the altar” the souls of people killed “for the Word of God” and “for the testimony of the Lamb”. Their deaths are directly connected with faithful witness to what they held.
02A cry to the LordThe souls cry out loudly to the Lord, calling him “Master, the holy and true”. Their question is, “How long” until he judges and avenges their blood on “those who dwell on the earth”.
Explanation
The souls cry out loudly to the Lord, calling him “Master, the holy and true”. Their question is, “How long” until he judges and avenges their blood on “those who dwell on the earth”. The passage presents a direct appeal for judgement and avenging from the Lord they address.
03Given white robesEach one is given “a long white robe”. The verse does not explain the robe further here, but it clearly says this gift is given to every one of them.
Explanation
Each one is given “a long white robe”. The verse does not explain the robe further here, but it clearly says this gift is given to every one of them. This happens before the judgement they ask about, so the vision records both a gift and a continued time of waiting.
04Told to rest a while longerThey are told to “rest yet for a while”. The waiting continues “until” their fellow servants and brothers, who would also be killed as they were, “should complete their course”.
Explanation
They are told to “rest yet for a while”. The waiting continues “until” their fellow servants and brothers, who would also be killed as they were, “should complete their course”. The vision states both the delay and the point up to which they are to rest.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why are the souls under the altar in this vision?
Look at the exact reasons given in the verse: they had been killed “for the Word of God” and “for the testimony of the Lamb which they had”.
02What do the souls ask God to do, and how do they describe him?
Notice both parts of their cry: they call him “Master, the holy and true” and ask how long until he judges and avenges their blood.
03What are they given, and what are they told to do next?
Read the whole answer in the verse: each receives a long white robe and is told to rest for a while longer until others complete their course.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 6:9–11
9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
10They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.