Revelation 6:9

Revelation 6:9

In Revelation Chapter 6 we have been introduced to the time of the Great Tribulation, a time of sorrow and woe that will come upon the earth just before the return of Christ. It will be a time of trouble and death such as the world has never seen. This teaching about the future Great Tribulation has several practical implications. Of course, it is a warning for those who will be alive during the Great Tribulation so that they can understand what is happening to them, and so that they can turn to the Lord before it is too late. It also has a meaning and a lesson for us who are alive today. If the worst time for the earth is not going to happen until the Great Tribulation comes, then we can expect positive things and good things in the time in which we now live. The judgment of the Lord will come to the earth some day in the future, but right now we live in the age of grace. We live in an age when God has showered upon us blessings because of Christ.

In Revelation 6:9-10 the Bible says, "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Another group of people who are in heaven and who are close to the throne of God are those who had been slain, that is, martyred for their faith. Obviously, those who love God so much that they are willing to die for their faith, are people who have gained a special place in God’s heart and who will gain special rewards in heaven. Since the time that Jesus was on the earth, His followers have been subjected to persecution. The Bible says that those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Jesus Himself said that the servant is not greater than his Lord.

There is a spiritual warfare going on in this world, and the enemies of God will sometimes resort to violence; but the servants of God have been called to follow the example of Jesus and to not use violence against their attackers. We should always remember the example that Jesus gave when He hung on the cross and he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." That is the attitude that we are supposed to have, but there is a day when judgment is coming for those who do not repent. Many times there is not justice in this life for wrongdoers, but there will eventually be justice because everyone will have to give an account to God. The earth cries out for justice, according to Revelation 6:10 the martyrs in heaven cry out for justice, and justice will come to the earth one day.

This is one of the reasons that God told us not to be vengeful against those who do us wrong. Remember that the Bible says, "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay." Justice is inevitable. No one is going to get away with anything. The reason that justice and judgment are inevitable is stated by the martyrs in Revelation 6:10 when they addressed God and said, "How long, O Lord, holy and true…" God is holy and true. He must judge sin because He is holy, and God will judge the right judgment for every person because God is the truth. That is one of the reasons that we need a Savior. In Christ sin was judged and condemned and paid for. Happy are those who are in Christ, because they will not be held accountable for their own sins. But eternal woe will be the fate of those who are not in Christ. It will be a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God without a Savior to intercede for you.

Many things will be done for those who believe in Jesus Christ. They will be given what they could not have earned on their own merits. The goodness and righteousness needed to enter the Kingdom of God will be given to them freely. That is why the first part of Revelation 6:11 says, "And white robes will be given unto every one of them..." These are white robes because white is symbolic of goodness and purity. Most people in the world are not good or pure because of their own actions or because of what has happened to them in their lives, but whoever believes in Jesus will have goodness or purity restored to them. When they are in heaven, they will be good and pure in a way that they may have never thought possible. When Jesus forgives you, He forgives you all the way. It is important to notice how the people in heaven have gained their goodness and purity, how they gained their white robes. They did not gain them by their own works or by their own efforts. The word that is used in Revelation 6:11 is the word "given." The white robes were "given" to the souls in heaven. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

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