The
Souls Under the Altar
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Let's pray before beginning this lesson:
Lord God,
We now wish to continue our study of the seven seals, not only to satisfy our curiosity,
but rather to learn how we can better love and serve You.
Today, we will turn our attention to the fifth seal.
We humbly ask You to guide us through the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that we may
properly understand the valuable message You want to give us.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray.
Amen.
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Revelation 4:1
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing
open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying,
«Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.»
Revelation 5:5
Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.
The opening of the seven seals, which Jesus made possible, reveals to us «things which must take place after this».
Now, let's study the fifth seal.
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Revelation 6:9
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they
held.
From the fifth seal onward, there is neither rider nor horse any more.
The apostle John witnessed the sad scene ensuing from the previous seals: after centuries
of terrible persecutions, he saw the altar of sacrifice. Under this altar were the souls
of all the faithful believers who died for God and His cause.
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Revelation 6:9
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been
slain.
Leviticus 4:7
The priest (...) shall pour the remaining blood of the
bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the
tabernacle of meeting.
In the lessons «How to Study Prophecy»
and «The Sanctuary», we saw that prophecy often
refers to the symbolism of the sanctuary.
The fifth seal indeed presents the souls of the faithful believers as the blood of
sacrifices which was poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
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Philippians 2:17
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on
the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service.
In his letters, the apostle Paul also uses the picture of sacrifice to
represent the believer who remains faithful to God until death.
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Revelation 6:9,10
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of those who had been 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, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell
on the earth?»
The continuation of the fifth seal presents the cry of the souls under the
altar, asking God to avenge their death.
Does this mean that the dead are still able to talk to God?
Let's allow the Bible to explain this passage.
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Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10
For the living know that they will die; but the dead know
nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have
a share in anything done under the sun. (...)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or
knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
The Word of God is very clear: the dead are in a state of total
unconsciousness.
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The dead are in a state of unconsciousness, and cannot talk to God:
«The dead do not praise the Lord, nor any who go down
into silence.» (PSALM 115:17)
«His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he does not
perceive it.» (JOB 14:21)
«Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your
grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this
place.» (2 KINGS 22:20)
«For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot
hope for Your truth. The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day.»
(ISAIAH 38:18,19)
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John 11:11-14
[Jesus] said to them, «Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I
go that I may wake him up.»
Then His disciples said, «Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.»
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest
in sleep.
Then Jesus said to them plainly, «Lazarus is dead.»
The words of Jesus are in complete agreement with the teaching of the Old
Testament about death: when a man dies, he falls into a state of sleep, of
unconsciousness, quietly waiting for the day of his resurrection.
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The Word of God describes death as a state of sleep:
«Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I
came from the womb? (...) For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have
been asleep; then I would have been at rest.» (JOB 3:11,13)
«Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of
death.» (PSALM 13:3)
«They have sunk into their sleep (...). At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot
and horse were cast into a dead sleep.» (PSALM 76:5,6)
«Then [Stephen] knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge
them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was
consenting to his death.» (ACTS 7:60 to 8:1)
«But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen
asleep.» (1 THESSALONIANS 4:13)
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Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood
is the life.
Genesis 9:4
But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its
blood.
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood.
Since the dead are sleeping and unconscious, what does the cry of the souls
under the altar mean?
The Bible indicates that «life» (or «soul», as indicated
by the Hebrew word «nephesh» used in these verses) is synonymous with «blood». So, is blood able to cry out to God?
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Genesis 4:9,10
Then the Lord said to Cain, «Where is Abel your
brother?»
And he said, «I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?»
And He said, «What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from
the ground.»
Hebrews 12:22,24
But you have come (...) to Jesus the Mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Yes, blood indeed cries out to God: when spilled on the ground, it witnesses
that believers paid with their lives for their faithfulness to God.
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Revelation 6:10
How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
Psalm 74:10
God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Psalm 94:3
Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked
triumph?
The cry «How long?» of the fifth seal is often
repeated in the Bible, asking God to put an end to the injustice on earth.
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Daniel 8:11-13
[The little horn] exalted himself as high as the Prince
of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His
sanctuary was cast down.
Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily
sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (...)
«How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of
desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?»
The «How long?» of the fifth seal reminds us of
this passage in Daniel, as the little horn, the power of the Middle Ages, is working.
Covering the period from 1517 to 1755, the fifth seal too describes the deeds of this
horn.
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Daniel 12:6,7
«How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?»
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held
up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it
shall be for a time, times, and half a time.
The answer to the question «How long shall the
fulfillment of these wonders be?» (the same «How long?»
as in the fifth seal) accurately corresponds to the period of the little horn's reign,
that is, «a time, times, and half a time» (Daniel 7:25),
meaning 1260 years, from A.D. 538 to 1798.
For more details about this, please review the lesson «The
Four Mythical Beasts».
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Revelation 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying,
«How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell
on the earth?»
The fifth seal corresponds to the letter to the fifth church, Sardis, from 1517
to 1755.
The little horn having reigned from 538 to 1798, its work of persecution of the saints
wasn't yet finished when the souls cried under the altar.
The answer given to them indicated that the persecution would still continue for a
while...
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Revelation 6:11
And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was
said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their
fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
This last verse of the fifth seal indeed confirms that the persecution will
continue.
However, the Word of God tells us that this persecution didn't disappear forever with the
end of the little horn's reign in 1798. We too will have to face very difficult times.
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Revelation 13:15
[The beast coming up out of the earth] was granted power
to (...) cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 20:4
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for
their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his
image.
In future lessons, we will see that, shortly before the return of Jesus, God's
people will once again have to face persecution.
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Daniel 12:7
[He] swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for
a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely
shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Revelation 6:11
And it was said to them that they should rest a little
while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would
be killed as they were, was completed.
We can see here that after the period of 1260 years, there will be a second
difficult period for God's people, and «when the power of the holy
people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished».
We will soon study how these things will happen.
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Revelation 6:11
And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was
said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their
fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Revelation 7:14
[They] washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb.
The souls under the altar were given white robes, symbolizing the salvation
granted to them by the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
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Revelation 7:9
I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one
could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes.
Romans 13:14
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The white robe Jesus promised is the robe of righteousness He offers to the
sinner, so that he may be able to stand before God, and inherit eternal life.
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Revelation 3:4,5
You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.
The gift of the white robe to the souls under the altar, in the fifth seal,
reminds us of what we learned in the letter to Sardis, the fifth church.
Jesus offered the white garment to him who overcomes, just as He promised it to those who
remained faithful to Him, while the rest of the Church, symbolized by Sardis, was in a
pitiful spiritual condition.
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Revelation 6:11
And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was
said to them that they should rest a little while longer.
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, «Write:
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.
- Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow
them.»
The souls under the altar must «rest a little while
longer», thus confirming that the dead are really in a state of sleep, of
unconsciousness.
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Daniel 12:7,13
[He] swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for
a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely
shattered, all these things shall be finished. (...)
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance
at the end of the days.
Again, the fifth seal reminds us of Daniel chapter 12.
Just like the souls under the altar, Daniel learns that the end will come «when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered».
Then he is told that, after his death, he will rest, waiting for the day of resurrection.
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Revelation 6:11
It was said to them that they should rest a little while
longer.
Hebrews 11:39,40
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through
faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they
should not be made perfect apart from us.
The fifth seal teaches us that no one receives his reward right after his
death.
Only at the return of Jesus will the righteous dead arise, receiving at the same time as
the living righteous their inheritance: eternal life.
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Revelation 16:5-7
And I heard the angel of the waters saying:
«You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have
judged these things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have
given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.»
And I heard another from the altar saying,
«Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.»
The return of Jesus will also answer the question of the souls under the altar:
«How long?»
The wicked will, at long last, be punished by the seven final plagues, a part of God's
judgment which we will study later.
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The return of Jesus will at last answer the question «How long?»:
«Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with
tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the
Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ.» (2 THESSALONIANS 1:6-8)
«The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they
should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the
earth.» (REVELATION 11:18)
«Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord."» (ROMANS 12:19)
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Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? As it is written:
«For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.»
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
The blood of million of martyrs has been spilled at the foot of the altar
throughout the centuries, and still many others will die for their faith.
But Jesus will remember each and every one of them.
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Revelation 20:4
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for
their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his
image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.
And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
All the Christians who have, throughout history, defended their faith with
their lives, are for us a precious source of inspiration.
Difficult times await us, but let's remain hopeful because Jesus is truly coming quickly.
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Let's conclude this lesson with a prayer:
Our Lord,
Many of Your faithful people have faced the enemy's attacks, but «they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not
love their lives to the death.» (Revelation 12:11)
May we always remember this advice of Paul to Timothy: «Therefore
do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me
in the sufferings for the gospel.» (2 Timothy 1:8)
We sincerely ask You to help us to persevere in the faith, so that our names may remain
written in the Book of Life of the Lamb, our Savior Jesus Christ.
In His precious name we pray.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: Photo in: «Master Clips 500,000» by IMSI, CD #17,
15090070.JPG. Screen 2: BURGKMAIR, Hans. «Saint John the Evangelist on
Patmos» (1518), Alte Pinakothek, Munich. In: «Revelation - Art of the Apocalypse»
(GRUBB, Nancy), Abeville Press Publishers, 1997, p.11. Screen 3: MANISCALCO,
Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software,
JM249.BMP. Screen 4: In: «The Bible for Children - Retold by Bridget
Hadaway & Jean Atcheson», London, Octopus Books Limited, 1973, p.78. Screen
5: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (November 1, 1998), New York, Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society, p.17. Screen 6: EL GRECO. «The Opening of the
Fifth Seal of the Apocalypse» (v.1608-14), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Picture
from the Web site: http://www.navigo.com/wm/paint/auth/greco/greco.5th-seal.jpg
Screen 7: Picture from the Web site:
http://bellalunadesigns.com/vincentgallo/media/funeral8.jpg Screen 8: GHIRLANDAIO,
Domenico. «The Funeral of St. Francis» (1485). In: «Illustrated Lives of the Saints»
(McNEILL, John), Bison Books Ltd., 1995, p.62,63. Screen 9: BLOCH, Carl.
«The Raising of Lazarus». Frederiksborg Slotskirke; Hillerod, Danemark. Screen
10: FRA ANGELICO (1400-1455). «Burial of Saints Cosmas and Damian», Museo di
San Marco, Florence. Picture from the Web site:
http://sunsite.sut.ac.jp/cgfa/angelico/p-angeli23.htm Screen 11: MANISCALCO,
Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software,
JM038.BMP. Screen 12: In: «My Book of Bible Stories», Watch Tower Bible
and Tract Society, 1978, p.19. Screen 13: THORKELSON, Gregg. In: «Signs
of the Times» magazine (July 1999), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.31.
Screen 14: Unknown source. Screen 15: STEEL, John. In: «God
Cares, volume 2» (MAXWELL, C.Mervyn), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1985, p.268.
Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 16: STEEL, John. In: «The
Triumph of God's Love, volume 1» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association
and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.204. Screen 17: BISHOP,
Tom. «Fifth seal of Revelation 6». In: «New Pictoral Aid For Bible Study» (BREADEN,
Frank), Australian Division of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1970, chart #17. Screen 18:
In: «La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower
Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.193. Screen 19: GREENE, Nathan. In:
«Signs of the Times» magazine (unknown date), Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Screen 20: In: «La Révélation - le grand dénouement est proche», New York,
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.103. Screen 21: RUDEEN,
Herbert. In: «The Bible Story, volume 8» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1956, p.146. Screen 22: HEASLIP, William. In: «The Bible
Story, volume 8» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1956, p.124.
Screen 23: Picture collection «ClickArt 65,000» by Broderbund, CD #4,
RELCL033.JPG (detail). Screen 24: BERRAN, Robert. In: «My Bible Friends,
volume 5» (DEGERING, Etta B.), Pacific Press Publishing Association & Review and
Herald Publishing Association, 1977, p.45. Screen 25: HEASLIP, William.
In: «The Bible Story, volume 10» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1957, p.200. Screen 26: In: «La Révélation - le grand
dénouement est proche», New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1988, p.233.
Screen 27: PROVONSHA, Clyde N. In: «Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Press Publishing Association, p.333. Screen 28: In: «The Watchtower»
magazine (February 1, 1986), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.16.
Screen 29: REMMEY, Paul. In: «The Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957, p.181. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry.
Screen 30: Photo in: «Master Clips 500,000» by IMSI, CD #17, JJ000306.JPG.
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The test of Lesson 35
is waiting for you!