The fifth seal
The Martyred Souls under the Altar
One doctrine I have always questioned is the intermediate state. I can't find any scripture that say's that when we die we go directly to heaven. I have tried over and over again to see this in the light that most Christians do, and failed every time. I believe things haven't changed since Christ ascended. I have always stood by paradise as being the resting place where the dead in Christ await the resurrection.
Rev 6:9-11 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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their bretheren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Christ chose to show us in the fifth seal that the martyred saints are waiting in paradise and that His vengeance will soon come on those committing these crimes. They are told to wait a little longer as paradise fills even more. Altars are symbolic of paradise in more than one instance in the bible. Paradise is waiting for Christ return too! They're anxious for an end to things and know their redeemer is coming! As you read this passage, you can sense their anticipation and are told to expect an influx of martyrs, and then the Lord will avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth.
A few things to consider.
altars...metaph., the cross on which Christ suffered an expiatory death: to eat of this altar i.e. to appropriate to one's self the fruits of Christ's expiatory death.
Altars are symbolic of the cross and Christ death.
Rev. 6;9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar 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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should REST yet for alittle season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Now why would they be crying out for God to, "judge and avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth," if they were already in heaven? This indicates the resurrection comes at a time of judgment and Gods vengeance. More important. Why would God tell them to REST a little while longer UNTIL the rest of their fellowservants and brethren should also be killed? Why would they have to wait? They have to wait for the paradise to completely fill will all the righteous dead THEN comes the resurrection, the consummation of things, and the return of Christ.
Another thing to notice is THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE!
WHY WOULD THEY DO SUCH A THING IN IF THEY'RE ALREADY IN HEAVEN? It's because they were confined in paradise petitioning God to take vengeance. As opposed to what Protestants teach...these martyrs are PRAYING to God!
I believe the incense of Rev 8 represents the prayers of these martyred saints in paradise. Luke 16 also explains paradise some too.
Remember the altar of incense???
The Martyred Souls under the Altar
One doctrine I have always questioned is the intermediate state. I can't find any scripture that say's that when we die we go directly to heaven. I have tried over and over again to see this in the light that most Christians do, and failed every time. I believe things haven't changed since Christ ascended. I have always stood by paradise as being the resting place where the dead in Christ await the resurrection.
Rev 6:9-11 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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their bretheren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Christ chose to show us in the fifth seal that the martyred saints are waiting in paradise and that His vengeance will soon come on those committing these crimes. They are told to wait a little longer as paradise fills even more. Altars are symbolic of paradise in more than one instance in the bible. Paradise is waiting for Christ return too! They're anxious for an end to things and know their redeemer is coming! As you read this passage, you can sense their anticipation and are told to expect an influx of martyrs, and then the Lord will avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth.
A few things to consider.
altars...metaph., the cross on which Christ suffered an expiatory death: to eat of this altar i.e. to appropriate to one's self the fruits of Christ's expiatory death.
Altars are symbolic of the cross and Christ death.
Rev. 6;9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar 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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should REST yet for alittle season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Now why would they be crying out for God to, "judge and avenge their blood on them that dwell on the earth," if they were already in heaven? This indicates the resurrection comes at a time of judgment and Gods vengeance. More important. Why would God tell them to REST a little while longer UNTIL the rest of their fellowservants and brethren should also be killed? Why would they have to wait? They have to wait for the paradise to completely fill will all the righteous dead THEN comes the resurrection, the consummation of things, and the return of Christ.
Another thing to notice is THEY CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE!
WHY WOULD THEY DO SUCH A THING IN IF THEY'RE ALREADY IN HEAVEN? It's because they were confined in paradise petitioning God to take vengeance. As opposed to what Protestants teach...these martyrs are PRAYING to God!
I believe the incense of Rev 8 represents the prayers of these martyred saints in paradise. Luke 16 also explains paradise some too.
Remember the altar of incense???
