Revelation 6:9-11 The devil is not threatened by the church but by the believer’s life testimony of truth

Revelation 6:9-11 The devil is not threatened by the church but by the believer’s life testimony of truth

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

BACKGROUND

The fifth seal sees the persecution of believers at a level never before seen. The fifth seal presents a test that separates the goats and the sheep in time for the rapture. When all the believers are tested, the rapture will follow. The fifth seal teaches us that the only weapon that can conquer the devil is the believer’s testimony of truth. For it exposes the lies of the devil allowing people to come to know the truth and receive God into their lives. People, more than often do not believe what they hear, but what they see for themselves the testimony of truth.

OBSERVATION

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.

The fifth seal portents the persecution of those who stand for the truth. The persecution will be severe such that many will be put to death to shut them up. The word altar (thusiasterion) comes from the noun (thusia) which is sacrifice. In this case, the “altar” is the place where sacrifices are made. The martyrs sacrifice their possessions or themselves because they refuse to backdown from the truth on which they stand. They were martyred because of…

a. the word of God; the truth,

b. the testimony which they had maintained; they stand on the truth right to the very end.

And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Here, the appeal for vengeance is collectively uttered by the martyrs. This appeal can be understood in the light of Jesus’s teaching, “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?” – Luke 18:7. In the OT, the shedding of human blood is a crime that requires compensation, often the death of the murderer (see Genesis 9:5-6, Numbers 35:33). And Yahweh is depicted as the avenger of blood. 

“Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.” – Deuteronomy 32:43

And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

The martyrs are given white robes (see Revelation 3:18) symbolising a righteousness that befits their sacrifice. Rest (anapauo) is to achieve closure through the understanding that vengeance belongs to God who is righteous and just (see Romans 12:19-21). And this vengeance will take place after the full number of martyrs predetermined by God are killed. 

TRUTH

The devil is not threatened by the church but by the believer’s life testimony of truth

That is the reason why the devil seeks to kill those who stands for the truth. The church with its rituals and teachings pose no direct threat to the the devil, only the believer’s life testimony of truth can conquer him. Revelation 12:9 says,

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. – Revelation 12:9

• The believer’s testimony of truth exposes the devil’s lies.

The devil and his agents bore false witness against Jesus accusing Him of political and religious crimes (see Luke 23:1-2, Mark 14:55-58). But Jesus continued to stand for the truth refusing to recant the words He said concerning Himself while exposing the darkness of the Pharisees. When Jesus breathed His last,…

The centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” – Luke 23:47

Jesus’s death is evidence that all that He proclaimed and stood for is true, for no man will give his life for a lie. When the devil’s lies are debunked, people will come to know the truth and receive God into their lives. All that the believer needs to do is to allow the truth to speak through their lives. Here is where the word became flesh. We are not to go into an argument or to advance the truth by force. The believer’s testimony is the greatest weapon to expose the devil’s lies and destroy him.

Jesus proclaimed righteousness to the world by the way He lived, for He did not quarrel or raise His voice in the streets. Jesus quoted Isaiah 42:1-4 concerning His calling,

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” – Matthew 12:18-21

The above passage contrasts the Pharisee’s focus on religion against Jesus’s focus on living a testimony of truth to the nations. Therefore, believers must be discipled to live godly lives to testify to the truth. In so doing, they receive the Holy Spirit to transform their family, community and nation. 

• The testimony of truth invariably incur a price for the testifier.

Jesus’s own persecution attest to the price every true believer must pay. Jesus said to His disciples,

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. – John 15:20

The world hates Jesus because He is not of the world. Likewise, the world hates those who are not of the world. However, many in the church today experienced no such persecution. Even though they spoke about Jesus everywhere, they posed no threat to the devil’s cause. Paul said,

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. – 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Indeed, those who hear God’s word and whose lives attest to it will be persecuted by the devil and his agents. But God will rescue us and strengthen us to expose the devil’s lies and conquer him.

• The devil’s strategy is to keep believers focused on playing church.

The devil’s goal is to have as many people pack into churches to sing praises to Jesus without actually walking in the way of righteousness. Many of them passionately proclaim the name of Jesus with the purpose of securing God’s forgiveness to escape the retribution of sin. They proclaim the name of Jesus with their mouths but not with their lives. Such churches pose no threat to the devil and they exist for themselves. Only those who persevere in doing what is right, who love not their lives can conquer the devil.

APPLICATION

1. Do not quarrel or fight to justify the truth. But let your actions speak of the love, wisdom and power of God.
2. Do not fear losing what you possess for the sake of the truth. As you stand for God, God will stand for you. He will vindicate you, to conquer the devil and his agents.
3. Detach yourself from money and serve only God. How can you sacrifice your life to serve God when you can’t even sacrifice your possessions?

PRAYER

Dear Lord, strengthen me at the hour of testing so that I may be victorious at the proclamation my testimony. Amen.