Apr 17
2
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 79
“A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name! For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise” (Psalm 79, ESV).
New Testament Reading: Revelation 6:9-11
“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. 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?’ 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” (Revelation 6:9–11, ESV)?
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, there are three principles that arise from the text that we are considering today. First of all, we must come to terms with the fact that in this life there will be Christian martyrs – some Christians will indeed die for their faith in Christ. Secondly, Christians should take comfort in the fact that God keeps his martyrs – to die in Christ is really to live in his presence. And thirdly, we should remember that God will avenge the blood of his martyrs in the end – though the wicked seem to prevail in this life, they will not prevail forever, but will certainly face judgment.
Let’s take these principles one at a time:
In This Life There Will Be Christian Martyrs
First of all, we must come to terms with the fact that in this life there will be Christian martyrs. A Christian martyr is one who is killed because of his or her faith in Christ.It is the greek word μαρτυρία that is translated “witness” in verse 9. A martyr is one who is put to death on account of their witness to Christ. The opening of the fifth seal reveals that in this life – in the time between Christ’s first and second coming – there will be Christian martyrs.
Christ told us so.
“And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:4–14, ESV)
Here in the book of Revelation we see evidence of it from a heavenly vantage point.
In Revelation 6:9 we read, “When [Christ] opened the fifth seal, [John] saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.”
We should ask the question, what is the relationship between the first four seals and this fifth one?
Remember that when the first four seals were broken by Christ four horsemen were permitted to take peace from a fourth of the earth by way of wars and the resulting famine. The fifth seal describes, not activity on the earth, but activity in heaven.
With the breaking of the fifth seal John saw the souls of martyrs. Clearly these are the souls of Christians who had lost their lives in the wars and famines and persecutions symbolized by the four horsemen. The activities of the four horsemen are clearly seen on earth – we can see the death and destruction. But John, with the opening of the fifth seal, was given a glimpse into the heavenly reality that is hidden from our physical eyes. He saw the souls of those who had been killed “for the word of God” and “for the witness they had born”.
There will be martyrs in this age between Christ’s first and second coming – that is the first principle clearly communicated with the opening of the fifth seal.
God Keeps His Martyrs
Secondly, Christians should take comfort in the fact that God keeps his martyrs.
Notice that, though they these died, really they live.
And to only are they alive, but they are in God’s presence.
Notice what they call him! “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true.”
And do you see that they are clothed?
“Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4, ESV)
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5, ESV)
“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18, ESV)
When? Upon death!
Who? Only the martyrs?
How encouraging this must have been!
Remember the challenge to the seven churches.
To the church in Smyrna: “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, ESV)
To the church in Pergamum: “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” (Revelation 2:13, ESV)
How encouraging this is!
God Will Avenge The Blood Of His Martyrs In The End
Thirdly, we should remember that God will avenge the blood of his martyrs in the end – though the wicked seem to prevail in this life, they will not prevail forever, but will certainly face judgment.
“O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10, ESV)
“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.” (Revelation 6:11, ESV)
The sixth and seventh seals will describe the judgment, first from an earthy perspective, then from the heavenly.
This too is encouraging.
On the one hand, we do not take pleasure in the judgment of the wicked. “
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11, ESV)
On the other hand it is encouraging to the persecuted to know that the persecutor will indeed be judged, if he does not repent.
Application
Looking outward upon the world
We should not expect peace and harmony with the world.
We should not take vengeance into our own hands, but leave it to the Lord.
Looking inward and reflecting upon our own hearts
Are you living a life of martyrdom
“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34, ESV)
This scene of the martyrs alive in heaven should encourage all Christians to live for Christ in this world.
Put to death the desires of the flesh
Put away your love affair with the world
Stop living for the respect of man
Put away all selfishness
“Peter answered him, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’ And all the disciples said the same.” (Matthew 26:33–35, ESV)
Concerning our thoughts for those who have passed from this world
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, ESV)
