Under the Altar (Part 23)

Revelation 6:1–11 (ESV) — 1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. 9 When he 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 witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

---------------------------------------------------

The gloom and doom of the opening of the Seven Seals to the Scroll. How many movies have been made to portray “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” as they are called? I don’t watch such movies. I don’t recommend you do either. Their interpretation of the Scriptures and what we call the “end times” will no be close to accurate. So, we should leave them as fiction and leave them alone.

There seems to be a cultural obsession with the Four Horsemen picture in Revelation. I believe this stems from a love and curiosity of darkness, along with a fear of doom on the earth that we know is coming on this ungodly. Isn’t it interesting, but not surprising, that in this book of Revelation, which is full of symbolic pictures, people gravitate to the dark images. Those images that focus on destruction and death appeal to our carnal nature.

Before we look closely at the four horsemen, I have a challenge for you this week. This is a challenge to each of you for this week.

Sit down, in one sitting, and read through the Book of Revelation.  Then find time to read through it again in one sitting. But that’s not all of the challenge, just the setup to the challenge. As you read through the book, note the repeated keywords, phrases, and especially similar descriptions. I suggest noting in the margin of your Bible cross-references to repeated phrases or events.  Later in this message, you’ll get the opportunity to do.

By doing this, you should see the flow of this Book. You’ll notice overlaps of events and different views of some events. Most importantly, I hope you’ll notice the central theme of this book—God is orchestrating history, moving it forward toward His ultimate goal: the new heavens and earth. Ref. Rev. 21:1; Is.66:22; 2 Pt. 3:13.

Now let’s get to our text for today, and unfold it. The First Four Seals are grouped together, giving us a picture of the Four Horsemen -  Vvs. 1-8. Four horsemen are sent to the earth to wreak havoc. The fifth seal reveals that believers, saints, appear to have suffered under all four trials portrayed in the first four seals.

These four seals can be summarized as: 

• The first rider, on a white horse—Conquest, to conquer. Regarding the color of the horses, most scholars agree that the color of the horse corresponds to the WOE that they bring to the earth.

• The second rider, on a bright red horse--Civil unrest, especially for persecuted Christians.

• The third rider, on a black horse, leads to famine.

• The fourth rider, a pale horse—brings death. (Dennis E. Johnson, Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation)

Now we get to the Fifth Seal, which puts a pause on the view of the havoc caused by the four horsemen - Vvs. 9-11. The Fifth Seal pauses our view of what is happening on earth to look at what is happening in the Throne Room of heaven. This Seal gives us a symbolic picture of the martyred believers (saints) in heaven.

Verse 9, “When he 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 witness they had borne.” These are Christians who had been slain, slaughtered, and murdered for the word of God and for the witness of Jesus Christ they had borne to the world. The persecution and martyrdom of Christians are brought out throughout the book of Revelation. Also see: Revelation 11:7;  16:6; and 17:6. Other places refer to the persecution indirectly.

This symbolic picture in verse nine has the martyrs “Under the Altar.” These martyrs were not souls hiding or kept under a table. We have to examine the symbolism to understand the message being conveyed. In the Old Covenant, an altar was the place where the animal sacrifices took place, where blood was spilt, and where the death of the innocent took place. The symbolism is clear. These saints were innocently and sacrificially slaughtered by the enemy of God. The enemies of God murdered the saints because they worshiped another god. The other god may be their own pride and greed for power, or something. Their murder was intentional. The innocent blood of all martyrs was like Abel’s blood spilled by his brother’s murderous hand, and his blood cried out to God (Genesis 4:10).

The Old Covenant altar was also the place where the priests burned incense. Revelation 5:8 tells us that incense symbolized the prayers of the saints. We have that here in this symbolic picture. Incense came from that heavenly altar as prayers. We also have their prayer to their Redeemer in Verse 10:

Verse 10, “They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” They call Jesus, “Sovereign Lord” because He rules and reigns over all as He wills. When it’s time to act, He will. And nothing can hinder Him or thwart Him. This reminds me of Psalm 119:84, “How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?”

We read later that Jesus answers the martyrs' prayers and rewards them.

Revelation 19:1–2 (ESV) — After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Revelation 20:4 (ESV) —  … I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ.

Now look at verse 11. We have an astonishing statement about the Second Coming of Christ.

Revelation 6:11 — Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

When will Jesus, the Sovereign Lord, come and judge and avenge the blood of the martyrs? When will Jesus come in all His glory and set up His kingdom on this earth? It is when the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters should be complete/fulfilled, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. That response from Jesus should shake us. There is a definitive number of saints to be martyred. When that number is fulfilled, then enough is enough. Jesus will stand and gather the hosts of heaven and wage war on the unbelieving and rebellious nations.

This verse sheds some light on the well-known passage of Jesus’s return, Revelation 19:11-16.

Revelation 19:11–16 (ESV) — 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

This section of scripture describes Jesus’ coming. When he comes, what is the “flame of fire” in His eyes? I think it is anger towards his enemies who murdered His servants. He is waging war on those who attacked and murdered his bride, the Church. When you read this return on the White Horse, this is Conqueror with anger and wrath. Verse 19 says, “He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.” The unbelieving world will receive the full wrath of His anger.

A book that every believer should read is “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.” It is a record of martyrs through history. It begins with the Martyrdom of the 12 Apostles. It includes the great pastor Polycarp of Smyrna, who submitted to the fire rather than betray his Savior. It contains the massacre of the French Huguenots, who gained the blessed reputation as the Church Under the Cross.

Jumping nearly 1900 years hatred for Christ and His followers continues. I think of Chinese house-church pastors such as Allen Yuan and Samuel Lamb, who were imprisoned in labor camps for over twenty years, but immediately resumed preaching about Jesus when they were released. “The more persecution, the more the church grows,” Lamb stated.

Jesus told us that if we follow Him, the unbelieving world would hate us because it hated Him. John 15:18, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. The Apostle John wrote, (1 John 3:13), “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”

Derek Tidball comments, “The role of the church, then, is to be a faithful witness and to take an uncompromising stand for God, even to the extent of its members’ laying down their lives.”9 

There is the example of the Romanian pastor Joseph Tson, who was threatened with death by his Communist interrogator. While being interrogated, Tson answered, “Sir, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Sir, you know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me, I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, “I’d better listen. This man sealed it with his blood.” They will speak ten times louder than before. So, go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then.” How can Pastor Tson stand with such courage? He knows that this world is not His Home. We need this same conviction.

Hebrews Chapter 11 tells us about believers who endured in the faith against all odds. They would not surrender to deny their faith. Hebrews 11:24–27 tells us about the faith and conviction of Moses.

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.”

Three statements in those verses I want to point out. “choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” And “Those who do not belong to Jesus Christ, do not have a reward in heaven waiting for them. Because they do not have a Savior in heaven.”

Now jump down to Hebrews 11:32-39.

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,”

Here are some of the martyrs depicted in Revelation 6:9-11 and in Revelation 12:11, “… they loved not their lives even unto death.”

With this view, you continue reading into the next chapter of Hebrews.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

We endure IN faith. We endure THE Faith. We set our eyes on the one who is invisible to the naked eye, but is clear as the sun to those hearts who look intently to the Savior and trust in Him.

No wonder we look like religious crazies to those who do not know Jesus. We consider insults and sufferings for our faith as greater treasures than the treasures that this world offers. You and I may not face the choice of living or dying for our faith in Christ -deny your Christ or die, but I want our faith to be there. I want our hearts anchored in heaven so that our faith will not flinch in the face of adversity and persecution. We need to have a faith that is sold out, “Even Unto Death.” 

I remember reading the words of the 18th-century Evangelist, George Whitefield, when he was walking down an alley and confronted by a mugger pointing a knife at him. He laughed and asked the mugger if he was threatening him with heaven. Whitefiled understood what Moses and the other martyrs understood. What can the enemies of Jesus do to us but get us to our reward sooner than expected?

I will close with a second challenge. It is a challenge that will strengthen your faith and serve as a witness for your Savior and King. Our lives need to be seasoned with the goodness and kindness of Christ. We need our lives seasoned with the aroma of heaven.

So this is my second challenge: Become overly seasoned with the goodness and kindness of Christ. Be overly seasoned with heaven. Bring heaven to earth in your walk with Jesus. Your private life and public life. How do you do that? By abiding with Jesus Christ. If you want your chicken thoroughly seasoned, you soak it in seasoning and the chicken is flavored with a seasoning not of its own. That’s us. Soak yourself in the Word of God. Soak yourself in Prayer. Soak yourself in fellowship with Christians. Soak yourself in Jesus Christ.

Now I am going to “up” the challenge to this church. Picture a fellow believer visiting Muddy Creek. He/she recognizes that there is something different, something alive, and something sweet. There is a Christ-awareness in everyone and in everything that they see, hear, and experience. The seasoning of heaven will be so evident and awe-inspiring that they cannot wait to get back to their home church and tell them there is more of heaven to taste in this life.

Muddy Creek church should be a church where visitors, whether fellow Christians or agnostics, cannot help but inhale a part of heaven they have never experienced before. At the very least, the person experiences a keener awareness of the resurrected Savior. This awareness comes from an understanding of the Scriptures—God’s word, from the praise from our hearts, as well as from the prayer time. And then there is the joy in our fellowship that has no comparison to anything this unbelieving world has to offer.

Let’s put Jesus Christ as the Preeminent One, and when a person walks away from one of our services or events, they say to themselves, “Now that’s a Church! That’s a Jesus Church, for sure! You can definitely find Jesus there!” Let’s be Christians whom God will use to draw the broken soul to taste and see the goodness and kindness of God. And they will not be able to deny the reality of the goodness of Christ Jesus.

Let’s be a Church that God will use to spread the taste and aroma of heaven to other believers, other churches, and to broken hearts.

9 Derek Tidball, The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2001), 313.