Revelation 6:9-11

Revelation 6:9-11

And when he opened the fifth seal I looked underneath the altar at the souls of the ones who have been slaughtered for the sake of the Word of God and for the sake of the testimony which they have.  And they called out by a great voice while saying “How long, holy and true Lord, do you not judge and avenge our blood out of the ones who dwell upon the earth?”  And a brilliant flowing robe was given to each of them and He said to them that they will be refreshed in yet a small time, until they should be fulfilled by even their fellow slaves and the brothers – the ones who are about to be killed just as them.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Do you hear where these martyrs are located?  They are at the base of the altar.  In the Old Testament, this is a substantial location.  Leviticus 4:7 tells us that the blood that is poured out for the sacrifices is poured out at the base of the altar.  What does this mean?  All of these martyrs, who are killed for God’s Word and their witness towards it, are a sacrifice for God.  These martyrs are pleasing in His sight.  Granted, He’s not too happy with the people who martyred them.  In other words, god isn’t pleased that the world rejected them and killed them.  But their death is a pleasing sacrifice to God.  The fact that they are willing to forfeit their life is pleasing in the eyes of God.

What are you willing to give up for God?  What priority do you place on God’s Word and your own testimony?

Second Thought:

These martyrs call for justice.  They ask God how long they will have to wait.  Do you notice God’s response?  God essentially tells them to wait. God doesn’t hear their cry and immediately obey them.  Instead, God reminds them that it is His will, not their will that is obeyed.  This should sound familiar.  The Hebrew people were in oppression in Egypt between the time of Abraham and Moses.  More than 400 years after they went to Egypt, God brings about Moses to lead His people forth.  It is God’s will that is important.  It is God’s righteous timing that we should obey, not our own limited will.

Do you ever have problems being patient and waiting for God?  When are you least likely to be patient?

Third Thought:

Notice the other part in God’s reply to these martyrs.  God tells them that there are more to be added to their number.  In other words, when we believe in something firmly enough, we will be persecuted for it.  Persecution is to be expected, not avoided.  Following God and His ways will put us at odds with the world.

Where have you felt persecution?  Has it come at expected times?  Has it ever come at unexpected times?

Passage for Tomorrow: Revelation 6:12-17