I. INTRODUCTION
A. Past Lessons
- John Taken to Heaven to See the 24 Elders (Rev 4:1-6a)
- John Take to Heaven to See 4 Living Beings (Rev 4:6b-11)
- The One Worthy to Open the Scroll (Rev 5:1-7)
- Why the Lamb Is Worthy to Open the Scroll (Rev 5:8-14)
- The Four Horsemen (Rev 6:1-8)
B. Text of Rev 6:9-17
“9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the Word of God and because of their testimony. 10Then they cried out in a loud voice: ‘How long, Lord—Holy and True—until you judge and punish those who live on the earth for our blood?’ 11Each of them was given a long white robe and was told they will rest a little longer until the number of their fellow slaves and brothers (who are about to be killed as they were) is fulfilled. 12Next I looked and the Lamb opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake and the sun became like dark sackcloth hair and the whole moon was like blood. 13The stars in the sky fell to the earth as a fig tree throws its unripe figs from a great wind which is stirring. 14The heavens separated like a book being rolled up and the mountains and islands were shaken from their place. 15The kings of the earth, dignitaries, military leaders, rich, strong, every slave and free person hid themselves in caves in the rocks of the mountains. 16They said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb.’ 17They said this because their great day of wrath has come, and who has power to stand?” (Rev 6:9-17)[ref]Unless otherwise noted, all translations are my own. Greek text is from Nestle-Aland 28
“The Opening of the Fifth and Sixth Seals” Matthais Gerung (1500-1570)
C. General Remarks
“The book of Revelation discredits those who teach that God is so loving and kind that He will never judge people who have not received His Son. Though the modern mind is reluctant to accept the fact that God will judge the wicked, the Bible clearly teaches that He will. The Scriptures reveal a God of love as clearly as they reveal a God of wrath who will deal with those who spurn the grace of Christ. The passage before us is a solemn word that there is inevitable judgment ahead for those who will not receive Christ by faith.” (Walvoord, Revelation
II. THE FIFTH SEAL’S MARTYRS (6:9-11)