FIFTH SEAL carries on the story of the gospel era. Moving away from the Universal church that dominated the world for over a millennium, and focusing on the Protestant Reformation.

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FIFTH SEAL - HOPE OF THE MARTYRS

6:9 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:

6:10 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?

6:11 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 brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled

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The seals in Revelation 6 seem to parallel with the seven churches in many ways. Christ Himself gives the messages to the seven churches. While the seals, representing the Holy Spirits work and reveals how in tune with the Holy Spirit these churches were..

You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13,14)

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CHURCHES	...	SEALS
Ephesus, apostalic church. Well grounded, giving gospel, but beginning to lose their first love.	...	White Horse, giving gospel with arrows to pierce through selfishness, and pride, conquering
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Smyrna, persecuted church be faithful unto death I will give you a crown of life.	...	Red Horse, the church is giving gospel but suffering a lot of persecution.
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Pergamos Church, false doctrine creeping in They have a pagan throne in their midst, but still have those holding to the truth.	...	Black horse, God's Word getting scares and false practices creep in, but there is still some "oil and wine"
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Thyatira apostate church Ruled by Jezebel teaching and seducing with false doctrines. But there are some faithful who have not partaken of her false doctrine.	...	Pale Horse, The gospel of life turned into a counterfeit gospel of death.
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Sardis, protestant church. The truth of the gospel breaks forth, but faith and the power of the gospel weakens and dies when God's commands are rejected.	...	Fifth Seal, many martyrs during this period! But justice is coming.

In the fifth seal there is a dramatic change. All the horses are out riding in the world. There are no more horses being sent out.

Instead we see an altar, and the blood of the slain martyrs crying out from under the altar.

Rev. 6:9 "I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
6:10 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?
6:11 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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.



This symbolic language reflects back to the blood of Abel, which cried unto the Lord, in Genesis 4:10.
Every fallen saint of God is remembered by Him. And millions were martyred during those years when the horses began to ride.

But judgment has NOT YET BEGUN?
Daniel's prophecy has declared that the Ancient of Days would came and judgment would be made in favor of the saints and against the beast (Daniel 7:22,25) after the 1260 day/years. Jesus would stand before that heavenly court as "THE SON OF MAN" to receive the right to the dominion of earth, in mankind's behalf. Now the injustice done to the sheer number of martyred saints who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held, cries out:
"How long, O Lord, until You judge?"

Lord, YOU received the authority and power to bring salvation, why has this system, which goes forth in YOUR name, trampled upon YOUR people and preverted YOUR truth? Why don't YOU exercise your authority and judge?

BuT GOD WILL JUDGE-- from the middle of the fifth seal to the seventh seal God reveals HIS judgment.

Notice what happens next? "Then a white robe was given to each of them."

Judgment has NOT yet commenced, but it is promised in the fifth seal. The court is about to be seated and NOW their cases are investigated. They are judged and vindicated. The sentences of the carnal, earthly courts are reversed. They were declared righteous! But, notice, they are still dead.

For "it was said that they should rest a little longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed."

This shows that the investigative judgment began after the tribulation of 1260 years, those martyred during the ages past, are vindicated, but this is not the second coming. In the future there will be another time when the beast will put to death those who follow the word of God. In Revelation 13:15, 20:4 we read that people will be martyred during the time when the beast and his image try to force their mark on the whole world.

But when Jesus stands before that heavenly court He is standing there representing the human race. THe is the Son of man, the dominion He has won, He has won for the human race. He longs to share it with them.


Rev. 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. .