The Fifth Seal: A Cry for Justice in Revelation The fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11 unveils a poignant scene in the cosmic drama of the end times. As the Lamb opens the seal, John beholds “under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne” (Revelation 6:9, ESV). These martyrs, sacrificed for their unwavering faith, embody the cost of discipleship and the certainty of God’s justice. Positioned “under the altar,” the souls evoke Old Testament imagery where sacrificial blood was poured out (Leviticus 4:7), signifying their deaths as holy offerings to God. Their cry, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10), is not a demand for revenge but a plea for divine justice. It reflects their trust in God’s righteousness amid suffering, echoing the lament of the psalmists (Psalm 79:10). Their question underscores a tension: God’s apparent delay in judgment versus His perfect timing. In response, the martyrs receive white robes, symbols of purity and victory, assuring them of their redeemed status (Revelation 7:14). They are told to “rest a little longer” until the number of their fellow martyrs is complete (Revelation 6:11). This divine instruction reveals God’s sovereign plan: justice will come, but only after His purposes are fulfilled, including allowing time for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). The delay is not indifference but mercy, yet it affirms that God will judge evil decisively. For believers, the fifth seal is both a sobering reminder and an encouragement. It warns that following Christ may lead to persecution, as the martyrs experienced. Yet their white robes and God’s response assure us that no suffering for Christ is unnoticed or unrewarded. The passage calls Christians to endure faithfully, trusting God’s timing for justice, even when evil seems unchecked. In a world where persecution persists, the fifth seal speaks powerfully. It urges believers to hold fast to their testimony, knowing that God hears their cries and will one day set all things right. Until then, we are to live courageously, clothed in the hope of Christ’s ultimate victory.