"And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain on account of the word of God, and on account of 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 those, who dwell on the earth? And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a short time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that were to be slain as they were, should be filled up." -- Rev.6:9-11.

This symbolized a period intervening between the time of the martyrdom, of those whose souls are seen in vision, and another time of persecution to follow. Consequently, the symbol represents the disembodied spirits of those who had already been slain. They symbolize the souls of martyrs who counted not their lives dear unto themselves for the sake of Christ; and being faithful unto death, were in expectation of a crown of life. Says Mr. Lord: "The term {GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA} {GREEK SMALL LETTER PI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER MU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA} is used in the prophecy to denote the dead bodies of the martyrs (chap.11:9), and {GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA} {GREEK SMALL LETTER PSI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER PSI}{GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA} (20:4) to denote their disembodied spirits. They are represented as having been slain, and as uttering their appeal to God because of their blood having been shed." Also: "The martyr souls are exhibited in their own persons; and obviously because no others could serve as their symbol, -- there being no others that have undergone a change from a bodied to a disembodied life, nor that sustain such relations to God, of forgiveness, acceptance, and assurance of a resurrection from death, and a priesthood with Christ during his victorious reign on the earth," Ex. Apoc. p.155.

The altar, symbolizes the atonement made by Christ for sin; and, consequently, the position of the souls of the martyrs under it, indicates their reliance on him for an inheritance in his everlasting kingdom, -- when "he shall come to be glorified in his saints," and to "take vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel," 2 Thess.1:8, 10.

The presentation of white robes to them, symbolizes their acceptance and justification.

The declaration that they must rest till their fellow-servants are killed, as they have been, implies another persecution, to be subsequent to the period symbolized by the opening of this seal. The persecutions which followed the Reformation, in which the fires of Smithfield were lighted in England, the Huguenots were driven from France, and thousands suffered martyrdom, probably fulfilled this.

The interest taken by the souls of the martyrs in the avenging of their blood on the earth, shows that the spirits of departed saints look forward with intense interest to the time of their glorification. And although the dead who die in the Lord are blessed, the glories of the resurrection morn are not less desired by those who are absent from the body and present with the Lord, than by humble, devoted, waiting Christians here.

The opening of this seal evidently synchronizes with the commencement of the reformation, when they might have supposed the kingdom of God would immediately appear.