Revelation 6:9
And when the Lamb 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 they had upheld.
And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal
The "Lamb" refers to Jesus Christ, depicted as the sacrificial Lamb who is worthy to open the seals of the scroll, a symbol of divine authority and revelation. The opening of the "fifth seal" signifies a new phase in the unfolding of God's plan for the end times. The number five in biblical numerology often represents grace, and here it introduces a scene of martyrdom, highlighting the grace given to those who suffer for their faith.

I saw under the altar
The "altar" in this context is reminiscent of the altar of sacrifice in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, where sacrifices were made to atone for sin. The imagery of souls "under the altar" suggests a place of honor and protection, indicating that their sacrifice is recognized and valued by God. This aligns with the ancient practice where the blood of sacrifices was poured at the base of the altar, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice of these martyrs.

the souls of those who had been slain
The "souls" here represent the immaterial essence of the martyrs, emphasizing their continued existence and consciousness after death. The phrase "had been slain" indicates that these individuals were killed for their faith, echoing the historical persecution of Christians throughout the ages. This martyrdom is a testament to their unwavering commitment to Christ, and it serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship.

for the word of God
This phrase underscores the reason for their martyrdom: their steadfast adherence to the "word of God." It highlights the centrality of Scripture in the life of a believer and the willingness to suffer for its truth. Historically, many have faced persecution for upholding biblical teachings, and this passage honors their sacrifice.

and for the testimony they had upheld
The "testimony" refers to the witness of their faith in Jesus Christ. To "uphold" this testimony means to maintain it with integrity and courage, even in the face of death. This phrase reflects the call for Christians to be faithful witnesses, as seen throughout the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to stand firm in their faith despite trials and tribulations.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lamb
Refers to Jesus Christ, who is opening the seals of the scroll. The Lamb symbolizes Jesus' sacrificial role and His authority to execute God's plan.

2. The Fifth Seal
Part of the series of seals being opened in the Book of Revelation, each revealing a different aspect of God's judgment and plan for the end times.

3. The Altar
Represents the heavenly altar, a place of sacrifice and worship. In the context of Revelation, it symbolizes the presence of God and the place where the prayers and sacrifices of the saints are acknowledged.

4. The Souls
These are the martyrs who have been killed for their faithfulness to the word of God and their testimony. They are depicted as being under the altar, indicating their sacrifice and God's recognition of their faithfulness.

5. The Word of God and Testimony
The reason for the martyrdom of these souls. They were slain because they upheld the truth of God's word and bore witness to it, even unto death.
Teaching Points
Faithfulness in Persecution
The martyrs exemplify unwavering faithfulness to God's word and testimony, even in the face of death. Believers are called to stand firm in their faith, regardless of the cost.

Heavenly Recognition
The placement of the souls under the altar signifies God's acknowledgment and honor of their sacrifice. Our faithfulness on earth is seen and valued by God.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following Christ may lead to persecution and sacrifice. Believers should be prepared to endure hardships for the sake of the gospel.

The Power of Testimony
The testimony of the martyrs serves as a powerful witness to the truth of the gospel. Our lives and words should consistently reflect our commitment to Christ.

Hope in Justice
The cry of the martyrs for justice reminds us that God will ultimately vindicate His people. We can trust in His perfect justice and timing.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the depiction of the martyrs under the altar in Revelation 6:9 encourage you in your own faith journey?

2. In what ways can you prepare yourself to stand firm in your faith, even if it leads to persecution or sacrifice?

3. How does the recognition of the martyrs in heaven challenge your understanding of what it means to live a life pleasing to God?

4. What are some practical ways you can bear witness to the word of God and your testimony in your daily life?

5. How does the promise of God's ultimate justice and vindication influence your perspective on current injustices and suffering in the world?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus speaks about the blessedness of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, promising them the kingdom of heaven. This connects to the martyrs in Revelation 6:9 who suffered for their testimony.

Hebrews 12:24
Refers to Jesus as the mediator of a new covenant, whose blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. This can be related to the martyrs whose blood cries out for justice under the altar.

Psalm 116:15
Declares that the death of God's saints is precious in His sight, aligning with the recognition and honor given to the martyrs in Revelation.
The ConquerorW. M. Punshon, D. D.Revelation 6:1-17
The Development of Good and Evil in Human History D. Thomas, D. D.Revelation 6:1-17
The Future Triumph of Our KingJ. Clayton, M. A.Revelation 6:1-17
The Going Forth of the GospelJames Durham.Revelation 6:1-17
The Opening of the SealsS. Conway Revelation 6:1-17
The Redeemer's ConquestsJ. Parsons.Revelation 6:1-17
The Seven Seals; Or, the Development of Good and Evil in Human HistoryD. Thomas Revelation 6:1-17
Scenes of SufferingR. Green Revelation 6:3-11
Departed MartyrsD. Thomas Revelation 6:9, 10
Activity of the Souls of the DepartedC. E. Kennnaway, M. A.Revelation 6:9-11
Departed MartyrsHomilistRevelation 6:9-11
How LongH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 6:9-11
How Long, O LordJ. Trapp.Revelation 6:9-11
The Cry for VengeanceW. Milligan, D. D.Revelation 6:9-11
The Cry for Vengeance from Souls Under the AltarBp. Hackett.Revelation 6:9-11
The Cry of the World in OppressionA. H. Simms, M. A.Revelation 6:9-11
The Life of Faith in DeathT. Adams.Revelation 6:9-11
The Recompense of MartyrdomH. Bonar, D. D.Revelation 6:9-11
The Waiting of the Invisible ChurchArchdeacon Manning.Revelation 6:9-11
White RobesW. Birch.Revelation 6:9-11
People
John
Places
Patmos
Topics
Altar, Borne, Broke, Death, Fifth, Foot, Held, Kept, Killed, Lamb, Maintained, Opened, Sacrificed, Seal, Slain, Souls, Stamp, Testimony, Underneath, Undone, Witness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Revelation 6:9

     7302   altar
     8495   witnessing
     8498   witnessing, and Holy Spirit
     8730   enemies, of believers

Revelation 6:1-12

     5518   seal

Revelation 6:9-10

     7460   tabernacle, in NT
     8450   martyrdom

Revelation 6:9-11

     5568   suffering, causes
     8678   waiting on God
     9110   after-life

Library
"For if Ye Live after the Flesh, Ye Shall Die, but if Ye through the Spirit do Mortify the Deeds of the Body, Ye Shall Live. "
Rom. viii. 13.--"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Though the Lord, out of his absolute sovereignty, might deal with man in such a way, as nothing should appear but his supreme will and almighty power, he might simply command obedience, and without any more persuasions either leave men to the frowardness of their own natures, or else powerfully constrain them to their duty, yet he hath chosen that way that
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Departed Saints Fellowservants with those yet on Earth.
"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets." The revelation made to St. John in the isle of Patmos, was a comfort to the suffering apostle, and a blessing to the church. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the word, of this prophecy." The beginning indeed was dark; the prophetic sketch, was for sometime, gloomy: It unfolded a strange scene of declensions and abominations, which were to disgrace the church of Christ and mar its beauty; and dismal series of woes on woes,
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

God's Dealings with the Earth During the Tribulation Period.
The interval of time which separates the removal of the Church from the earth to the return of Christ to it, is variously designated in the Word of God. It is spoken of as "the day of vengeance" (Is. 61:2). It is called "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7). It is the "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world" (Rev. 3:10). It is denominated "the great day of the Lord" (Zeph. 1:14). It is termed "the great tribulation" (Matt. 24:21). It is the time of God's "controversy with the
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel T here is a species of the sublime in writing, which seems peculiar to the Scripture, and of which, properly, no subjects but those of divine revelation are capable, With us, things inconsiderable in themselves are elevated by splendid images, which give them an apparent importance beyond what they can justly claim. Thus the poet, when describing a battle among bees, by a judicious selection of epithets
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

An Advance Step in the Royal Programme
(Revelation, Chapters iv. and v.) "We are watching, we are waiting, For the bright prophetic day; When the shadows, weary shadows, From the world shall roll away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the star that brings the day; When the night of sin shall vanish, And the shadows melt away. "We are watching, we are waiting, For the beauteous King of day; For the chiefest of ten thousand, For the Light, the Truth, the Way. "We are waiting for the morning, When the beauteous day is dawning, We are
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

An Awful Contrast
"Then did they spit in his face."--Matthew 26:67. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away."--Revelation 20:11. GUIDED BY OUR TEXT in Matthew's Gospel, let us first go in thought to the palace of Caiaphas the high priest, and there let us, in deepest sorrow, realize the meaning of these terrible words: "Then did they spit in his face." There is more of deep and awful thunder in them than in the bolt that bursts overhead, there is
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896

"So Then they that are in the Flesh Cannot Please God. "
Rom. viii. 8.--"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is a kind of happiness to men, to please them upon whom they depend, and upon whose favour their well-being hangs. It is the servant's happiness to please his master, the courtier's to please his prince; and so generally, whosoever they be that are joined in mutual relations, and depend one upon another; that which makes all pleasant, is this, to please one another. Now, certainly, all the dependencies of creatures one upon
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

From the Supplement to the Summa --Question Lxxii of the Prayers of the Saints who are in Heaven
I. Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? II. Ought we to appeal to the Saints to intercede for us? III. Are the Saints' Prayers to God for us always heard? I Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? On those words of Job,[267] Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand, S. Gregory says: "This is not to be understood of the souls of the Saints, for they see from within the glory of Almighty God, it is in nowise credible that there should be anything without of
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Christ's Kingly Office
Q-26: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Let us consider now Christ's regal office. And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords", Rev 19:16. Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; (1.) he has a kingly title. High and Lofty.' Isa 57:15. (2.) He has his insignia regalia, his ensigns of royalty; corona est insigne
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Prophet Amos.
GENERAL PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will not be necessary to extend our preliminary remarks on the prophet Amos, since on the main point--viz., the circumstances under which he appeared as a prophet--the introduction to the prophecies of Hosea may be regarded as having been written for those of Amos also. For, according to the inscription, they belong to the same period at which Hosea's prophetic ministry began, viz., the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II., and after Uzziah had ascended the
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Seventh vision "In Heaven"
H^7. Chap. xix. 1-16. The final heavenly Utterances and Actions. We now come to the last of the seven Visions seen "in Heaven," which is the subject of chap. xix. 1-16, giving us the final heavenly Utterances and Actions which lead up to, explain, and introduce the five concluding judgments which close up the things of Time, and pass on to what we call the Eternal State. This last Vision "in Heaven" is divided into two parts, each having its own independent construction. The first contains the words
E.W. Bullinger—Commentary on Revelation

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

"There is Therefore Now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. "
Rom. viii. 1.--"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." There are three things which concur to make man miserable,--sin, condemnation, and affliction. Every one may observe that "man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward," that his days here are few and evil. He possesses "months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed" for him. Job v. 6, 7, vii. 3. He "is of few days and full of trouble," Job xiv.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
If in thy sickness by extremity of pain thou be driven to impatience, meditate-- 1. That thy sins have deserved the pains of hell; therefore thou mayest with greater patience endure these fatherly corrections. 2. That these are the scourges of thy heavenly Father, and the rod is in his hand. If thou didst suffer with reverence, being a child, the corrections of thy earthly parents, how much rather shouldst thou now subject thyself, being the child of God, to the chastisement of thy heavenly Father,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Meditations of the Blessed State of a Regenerate Man in his Death.
When God sends death as his messenger for the regenerate man, he meets him half-way to heaven, for his conversation and affection is there before him (Phil. iii. 20; Col. iii. 2.) Death is never strange nor fearful to him: not strange, because he died daily--not fearful, because whilst he lived, he was dead, and his life was hid with Christ in God (1 Cor. i. 31; Col. iii. 3;) to die, therefore, is to him nothing else in effect, but to rest from his labour in this world, to go home to his Father's
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
Let all the angels of God worship Him. M any of the Lord's true servants, have been in a situation so nearly similar to that of Elijah, that like him they have been tempted to think they were left to serve the Lord alone (I Kings 19:10) . But God had then a faithful people, and He has so in every age. The preaching of the Gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more exposed to the notice and observation of the world. But we hope
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

In Reply to the Questions as to his Authority, Jesus Gives the Third Great Group of Parables.
(in the Court of the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) Subdivision C. Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. ^A Matt. XXI. 33-46; ^B Mark XII. 1-12; ^C Luke XX. 9-19. ^b 1 And he began to speak unto them ^c the people [not the rulers] ^b in parables. { ^c this parable:} ^a 33 Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder [this party represents God], who planted a vineyard [this represents the Hebrew nationality], and set a hedge about it, and digged a ^b pit for the ^a winepress in it
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. F rom Mr. Handel's acknowledged abilities as a composer, and particularly from what I have heard of his great taste and success in adapting the style of his music to the subject, I judge, that this passage afforded him a fair occasion of displaying his genius and powers. Two ideas, vastly important in themselves, are here represented in the strongest light,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Being Made Archbishop of Armagh, He Suffers Many Troubles. Peace Being Made, from Being Archbishop of Armagh He Becomes Bishop of Down.
[Sidenote: 1129] 19. (12). Meanwhile[365] it happened that Archbishop Cellach[366] fell sick: he it was who ordained Malachy deacon, presbyter and bishop: and knowing that he was dying he made a sort of testament[367] to the effect that Malachy ought to succeed him,[368] because none seemed worthier to be bishop of the first see. This he gave in charge to those who were present, this he commanded to the absent, this to the two kings of Munster[369] and to the magnates of the land he specially enjoined
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Links
Revelation 6:9 NIV
Revelation 6:9 NLT
Revelation 6:9 ESV
Revelation 6:9 NASB
Revelation 6:9 KJV

Revelation 6:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Revelation 6:8
Top of Page
Top of Page