ANOTHER PUZZLING PICTURE!
How can souls of martyrs, Christian killed for their faith cry from “under the altar.” Is John saying that these individuals, although dead, continue to speak?
This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.
Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.
But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again.
From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)
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Let’s invite the Spirit of God
Heavenly Father, open our understanding so that we may fully comprehend your divine word and not be deceived by false teachings.
In Jesus’ Name Amen
What does John mean when he says that the souls of martyrs (dead Christians) cry under the altar? How can the souls of the dead cry if they are asleep and resting in the grave?
Revelation 6:9-11 describes an unusual scene in which Jesus, the Lamb of God, opens the 5th seal on a roll of paper. This scene metaphorically describes the souls of martyrs, (Christians killed for their faith in Jesus) crying to God for vengeance.
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.
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?”
11 Then 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 6:9-11)
Some might think that the altar is the same altar of incense described under the 7th seal in Revelation 8:1–6.
Revelation 8:1-6
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.
3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.
6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. (Revelation 8:1-6)
Different from this, the 5th seal is talking about blood and not incense. So, here John is referring to the altar of burnt offerings where the blood of animal offerings was poured at the bottom of this altar as in Leviticus 4:18, 30, 34.
Leviticus 4:18
18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Leviticus 4:30
30 Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. (Leviticus 4:30)
Leviticus 4:34
34 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. (Leviticus 4:34)
So, the blood of these animal offerings was sprinkled around the altar. Like the blood of the animal sacrifices sprinkled out around the altar, in the same way, the blood of the saints was symbolically poured out at the bottom of God’s altar when His people are killed because they remain faithful to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus as in the following text:
Revelation 6:9
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. (Revelation 6:9)
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)
These people lost their lives because of their faith.
As with much of Revelation, the souls under the altar are symbolic.
For if it was not symbolic and they were literally real people, then we must accept the idea that these people aren’t happy, fully enjoying life in heaven.
Why? Because they continue to cry out to God for revenge on the ones who killed them. This could hardly sound like they are enjoying their reward of salvation. The desire for vengeance can make life miserable.
Here, we must remember that John was not given a view of heaven as it actually is.
“There are no white, red, black, or pale horses in heaven with warlike riders. Jesus does not appear there in the form of a lamb with a bleeding knife wound. The four beasts do not represent actual winged creatures of the animal characteristics noted. . . . Likewise, there are no ‘souls’ lying at the base of an altar in heaven. The whole scene was a pictorial and symbolic representation.”—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 778.
So, the dead souls that John saw under the altar don’t show us what happens after we die. The dead souls crying out under the altar are symbolic of the Christians who have been killed for their faith in God and are crying out for justice.
Who (especially of those who have been victims of injustice) hasn’t cried out for justice, and it has not yet come? It seems as if the world is on a moral decline.
The whole system of religious principles and doctrines, which should form the foundation and framework of social life, seems to be a wobbly mass, ready to fall to ruin. The vilest of criminals, when thrown into prison for their offenses, are often made the recipients of gifts and attentions as if they had attained a desirable distinction. Great publicity is given to their character and crimes. The press publishes the revolting details of vice, thus initiating others into the practice of fraud, robbery, and murder; and Satan exults in the success of his hellish schemes. . . .
Courts of justice are corrupt. Rulers are actuated by desire for gain and love of sensual pleasure. Intemperance has beclouded the faculties of many so that Satan has almost complete control of them. Jurists are perverted, bribed, and misled. Drunkenness and festivities, passion, envy, and dishonesty of every sort, are represented among those who administer the laws. “Justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah 59:14.—The Great Controversy, pp. 585, 586. Adapted
In the meantime, we must, by faith, trust that ultimately the justice so lacking in this world will come.
For,
There are limits even to the forbearance of God. The boundary of His long-suffering may be reached, and then He will surely punish. And when He does take up the case of the presumptuous sinner, He will not cease till He has made a full end.—Ellen G. White Comments, in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1166.
I want to be on the right side of God’s Justice, how about you?
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