In order to gain a bit of insight into these next few verses, I will need to go back on another of my “sidetracks” and give you some background and some “explanation scriptures” in order to understand who these martyrs are. 

Revelation 6:9-11  “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: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” 

A lot of the book of Revelation is not in chronological order, however, the seals are NOT opened with #6 first, then #3, #5, #1, etc.:  They ARE listed in order!  The seals are opened sequentially!  (1,2,3,4,5,6,7).  During the previous 4 seals we see the Antichrist come under the guise of peace, we see an time of war, a time of famine and death as a result. 

It is my sincere belief that these are the times referred to by Jesus in Matthew 24:21! 

Matthew 24:21  “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” 

This is nearing the time when we will see Daniel 12:1 come to pass! 

Daniel 12:1 “ And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

As you read Revelation 6:9 again, note this significant statement concerning these “people of the 5^th 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:…” 

…and for the testimony they held.  What testimony?  Examine some other passages to see: 

Hebrews 9:16-17   “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”   

Without the death of the TESTATOR, there is NO TESTAMENT!  Note the statement concerning “fellowservants” and “brethren” in verse 11.  They had the testimony of Jesus Christ!  (Read that as them being New Testament Saints)! 

Their cry was “how long” will you not avenge us?   God’s answer was “wait a little longer”  God knows what he is doing and these Saints crying from under that altar understood one principle:  

Romans 12:19   “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” 

Upon examination of the 6th seal, we will briefly cover the 7th vial (or bowl of wrath) and I’ll explain my reasons for doing so as we move along. 

From Revelation 6:12-17, there are some major catastrophic events that occur.  Some have said there is “no way” these are literal events, but I honestly can’t see them being anything but literal!   

Revelation 6:12-17  “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” 

“…the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood”.   We have other places in the Word of God that describe this event.  There is no support for this happening over and over (or even more than one, actually!), so let’s examine the passages of scripture to see if we can determine the events surrounding the opening of this seal and/or the time frame of when this might happen.  I’ll highlight the timing phrases when possible. 

Joel 2:31  “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” 

Isaiah 34:4  “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.” 

Isaiah 13:10  “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” 

Isaiah 13:13  “Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” 

Matthew chapter 24 gives us the Words of Jesus concerning these very things and he gives a somewhat general timing of these things.  In the following passage, ask yourself “When will the sun and the moon be darkened, when will the stars be shaken, when will Jesus be seen, and when will the Saints be gathered?”  Upon reading these words of Jesus, you’ll see the specific order.  Notice the “THEN” statements!  They denote a sequential (first to last order) happening of events! 

Matthew 24:29-31: 

(29)  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  

(30)   And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  

(31)   And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

When?  Immediately AFTER the tribulation.  What happens next?  THEN shall the sign of the Son of man appear!  THEN shall he send his angels to do what?  To gather the elect!  So WHEN will the sun be darkened?  When shall the moon be turned to blood?  AFTER the tribulation, but BEFORE the day of the Lord!  This is consistent with Revelation chapter 6 and with other passages of the Bible!  Friend, those are not MY words.  Those are the words written in the Word of God. 

There is one other issue we must tackle and by doing so, we must get a bit ahead of ourselves in the study.  The reason will become apparent very quickly.   

Revelation 6:14 says:  “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places…”  This happens at the 6^th seal. 

Look now at Revelation 16:18-21.  The 7th vial sounds very close to the 6th seal.  It is entirely possible that these events may coincide with one another or run concurrent to one another.   

Revelation 16:17-21  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. 

Isaiah 40:4-5  “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”