Understanding the Souls Under the Altar in Revelation

Revelation 6:9-11

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:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

The souls under the altar represent the millions of faithful martyrs who were slain for their attachment to the Word of God and their testimony during past eras of persecutionEVRR208+1. These souls are not disembodied, conscious spirits in heaven, but are a symbolical representation of those who have fallen as victims to idolatry and superstition on the earthTBI 197+1.

The Meaning of the Souls

• A Symbolic Representation: The "souls" seen by John in vision are the persons of those who were martyred, particularly during the period of Papal supremacyDAR1909 438.4+1.

• Not Conscious Entities: It is a mistake to view these as conscious spirits; rather, they are represented as dead and resting in their graves until the resurrectionMPC 58.2+1.

• Biblical Idiom: In Scripture, the word "soul" often refers to the whole animate person or to life itselfARSH August 12, 1862, page 82.8+1. The life of the flesh is in the blood, and these souls are seen under the altar just as the blood of a sacrifice would be poured out at the base of an earthly altar Leviticus 17:11DAR1909 438.4+1.

The Nature of the Altar

• An Earthly Location: This is the altar of sacrifice, which is located on the earth, not in heavenTBI 197+1.

• The World as an Altar: Because Christ’s blood was shed on this earth, the earth itself became the altar; thus, the martyrs lie buried in the bosom of the earthSSP 117.1.

• Incongruity of the Popular View: It would be inconsistent with the joy of heaven to suppose that redeemed souls are "shut up" under an altar or that they are consumed by a desire for vengeance while in the presence of GodDAR1909 438.4+1.

The Cry for Vengeance

• Personification: The cry of these souls is a rhetorical figure called personification, similar to how the blood of Abel was said to cry to God from the ground Genesis 4:10ARSH September 22, 1859, page 138.2+1.

• Appeal for Redress: Just as the "hire of the laborers" or "stones of the wall" are said to cry out when an injustice is committed, the blood of the martyrs stands as a witness before God, calling for his righteous judgment upon their persecutors Habakkuk 2:11+1ARSH September 22, 1859, page 138.2+1.

• Vindication through the Reformation: The "white robes" given to them signify that their characters have been vindicated by HeavenMOI 64.1+1. During the Reformation, the infamy and black garments of "heresy" placed upon them by their persecutors were replaced by the white robes of righteousness as the world began to recognize them as true saints Revelation 19:8EVRR208+1.

The Little Season of Rest

• Waiting for the Full Number: The martyrs are told to rest for a "little season" until their fellow servants and brethren are also killed as they were Revelation 6:11ARSH September 22, 1859, page 138.2+1.

• Future Martyrdoms: This refers to a final period of persecution before the second advent, such as the time of Jacob's trouble or the enforcement of the mark of the beast, when a final group of faithful witnesses will stand for the truth Revelation 13:15EVRR208+1.

• Final Reward: The full avenging of their blood occurs at the end of time when God judge's the apostate powers and rewards his saints at the resurrection of the just Revelation 20:4-6ARSH April 22, 1858, page 181.12+1. 🕊️