Souls under the altar (fifth seal)--6:9-11. The scene: Here is the first glimpse of the martyrdom pageant which was reopened in the twentieth chapter with the grand finale of victory. It is the tribulation of Matthew twenty-four in extended form, an enlargement of Mat 24:9 and Luke 21:16; depicting the supreme sufferings of those who were companions “ in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,” during the apostolic age, in the wake of the war on Jerusalem and the persecutions of Christians. The altar: The material altar was a structure appropriated exclusively to the offering of sacrifices. (Genesis 8:20) Spiritually it is applied to Christ as the Christian’ s altar upon which spiritual offerings are made. (Hebrews 13:10) The souls of slain: In this martyr-scene the victims were sacrificed on the altar of the cause of Christ for which they were offered or slain. The word slain is connected with the offering of victims (Acts 7:42); and is descriptive of Christ (Hebrews 13:1-25 :1 O-12); and of the Lamb in chapter 5, verses 6, 9, and 12 of this vision. John saw souls of the slain. In the Old Testament the blood, which was the life (Genesis 9:4), was poured at the base of, or under, the altar (Leviticus 4:7); and it stood for the offering of life which is in the blood ( Leviticus 17:11). The souls of this altar scene are represented as the sacrifices of life in the aggregate slain for the word of God as the victims of the testimony which they held. The souls under the altar: As the figurative altar of this vision signifies martyrdom, the phrase under the altar describes the scene of defeat. The cause for which they were offered was represented as being despised and defeated. But it was temporary, because the same souls were removed from beneath the altar of chapter 6, and elevated to the thrones in chapter 20, signifying the resurrection of the cause for which they had died, by the victory of the white horse and its rider over all the portents of the seven seals. They cried with great voice: It was the voice of righteous blood rising up to heaven, to be heard throughout the whole earth, as the blood of Abel cried to God “ from the ground” (Genesis 4:10) , and representative of “ all the righteous blood shed upon the earth from the blood of Abel,” to include the blood of all the slain and martyred victims of the impending persecutions, all of which was predicted in Matthew 23:35; Matthew 24:9, and here depicted in the fifth seal of Rev 6:9-11. How long, 0 Lord how long: The word “ lord is variously applied to kings, (Daniel 1:10; Acts 25:26); to rulers with authority (Daniel 2:10); to princes and nobles (Daniel 5:1; Mark 6:21); to tyrants (Isaiah 26:13); to a husband (Genesis 18:12); to masters (John 15:15); to Jesus Christ, as Lord of all (Psalms 110:1, Acts 10:36); and to God, who is over all (Psalms 100:3). It is used in this scene as a master, the ownership of a servant; and refers to God. This prayer of the martyrs is addressed to God for judgment against persecutors, asking here for what they received in the scene of Rev 20:4. Dost thou not judge and avenge our blood: This was not a vindictive outcry, but a judicial petition, calling on the Judge of all the earth, whose prerogative it is to exercise avenging judgment (Romans 12:19), and who surely will “ avenge his own who cry unto him.” (Luke 18:7-8) On them that dwell on the earth: The earth of these visions is the place or location of nations; it is not a reference here to the people of the earth, upon whom no vengeance was asked, but specifically those persecuting nations personified in their rulers. Compare Zechariah 12:9; Matthew 24:29-31 and Luke 21:25-28, in specific reference to the post-destruction period of Jerusalem--the redemption and the retribution of history presents a convincing parallel on the period of the Revelation visions. The white robes were an assurance of victory--chapter 9:7; 13:7. The word rest means to wait in patience and hope-- Luke 21:19; Luke 21:28. The expression little season (time) limits the period, and compares with Matthew 24:22, "except those days should be shortened” ; also Luke 21:22 on the “ days of vengeance.” The time was extended to include that part of their fellow servants and brethren that should be killed in the later successive events. There could be no premature act of divine interposition. It should be fulfilled according to seals--that is the events of the vision completed. Again, the apocalypse is parallel with Matthew 24:34 : “ This generation shail not pass till all these things be fulfilled” ; and Matthew 23:36 : “ All these things shall come upon this generation” ; and Luke 21:22 : “ For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” The identity of the period of the seals of Rev 6:1-17 with the events of Mat 24:1-51 is unmistakable, as referring to, symbolic of, and fulfilled in, the destruction of Jerusalem.