Great Is the LordGreat is the Lord, He is holy and just; By His power we trust in His love.Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true; By His mercy He proves He is love.

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!Great is the Lord and worthy of praise. Now lift up your voice, now lift up your voice:Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

Great is the Lord, He is holy and just; By His power we trust in His love.Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true; By His mercy He proves He is love.

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!Great is the Lord and worthy of praise. Now lift up your voice, now lift up your voice:Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

Great are You Lord and worthy of glory!Great are You Lord and worthy of praise. Great are You Lord, I lift up my voice,I lift up my voice!Great are You Lord! Great are You Lord!

Personalities of the Apocalypse

The MartyrsLesson 2 07/05/15

Thutmose I

Haman

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Herod the Great

Stephen

James, son of Zebedee

Polycarp

Antipas of

Pergamum

Emperor

Domitian

Souls of the Martyrs under the

altar

The Context of Their Martyrdom

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 testimony which they held.

Revelation 6:9

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM

Who are these martyrs?

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM

Who are these martyrs?

• John places them in the future, after Jesus has raptured the church and the dead in Christ have been resurrected. So these martyrs are not from the church age we are living in now.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• John places them in the future, after Jesus has

raptured the church and the dead in Christ have been resurrected. So these martyrs are not from the church age we are living in now.

• Since the martyrs ask for judgment on their oppressors on earth, their murderers are obviously still living. This strongly suggests that these martyrs are faithful saints who are killed during the Tribulation period.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• Since the martyrs ask for judgment on their

oppressors on earth, their murderers are obviously still living. This strongly suggests that these martyrs are faithful saints who are killed during the Tribulation period.

• After the church is taken away, God will once again turn His attention to the nation of Israel. During the Tribulation many Jews will turn to God and be saved.

I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery … that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.”

Romans 11:25-26

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM

If no believers will be left on earth at the beginning of the Tribulation, how will people be saved?

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• God will send forth His two witnesses into the

world to prophesy and perform mighty miracles.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• God will send forth His two witnesses into the

world to prophesy and perform mighty miracles.

• There will also be 144,000 Israelites who are sealed for God’s service during this period.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• God will send forth His two witnesses into the

world to prophesy and perform mighty miracles.

• There will also be 144,000 Israelites who are sealed for God’s service during this period.

• There will be the silent witness of the Bible.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThose who trust in God during this time will be called upon to demonstrate their faith – often with their very lives.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThose who trust in God during this time will be called upon to demonstrate their faith – often with their very lives.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Revelation 12:11

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMAlthough believers during this period will experience intensified persecution, this is not a new thing for God’s people.

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMAlthough believers during this period will experience intensified persecution, this is not a new thing for God’s people.

For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Psalm 44:22

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThe book of Revelation identifies the enemies of God as those who have shed the blood of His people.

I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.

Zechariah 13:8-9

I. THE CONTEXT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThe book of Revelation identifies the enemies of God as those who have shed the blood of His people.

All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

Matthew 24:8-10

The Cause of Their Martyrdom

I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.

Revelation 6:9

II. The Cause of Their MartyrdomThe martyrs of Revelation 6 were slain for the same reasons John was exiled:

II. The Cause of Their MartyrdomThe martyrs of Revelation 6 were slain for the same reasons John was exiled:

• Their adherence to the Word of God.

II. The Cause of Their MartyrdomThe martyrs of Revelation 6 were slain for the same reasons John was exiled:

• Their adherence to the Word of God.

• The boldness of their testimony and preaching of repentance and judgment.

Samuel

Elijah

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Jonah

Jesus

The Consequences of Their Martyrdom

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 testimony which they held.

Revelation 6:9

III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR MARTYRDOMHere John sees a vision of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ. They are “under the altar,” which is where the blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was poured out.

III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR MARTYRDOMHere John sees a vision of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ. They are “under the altar,” which is where the blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was poured out.

The word John uses to describe the death of these martyrs is unique. It is translated as “slain” but could also be translated “slaughtered” which is a sacrificial word that speaks of the nature of these Jewish witnesses.

The Cry of Their Martyrdom

They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Revelation 6:10

IV. THE CRY OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThe martyrs’ cry for vengeance is more evidence that they are not church age sufferers. The cry of the church age martyr is the cry of Stephen: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” (Acts 7:60)

IV. THE CRY OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThose who are persecuted and martyred during the Tribulation will be able to call for God’s judgment in perfect propriety. The age of grace has ended, and this is the day of the judgment of God.

The Comfort of Their Martyrdom

A white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were was completed.

Revelation 6:11

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThe Lord provides five comforts for these martyred souls:

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOMThe Lord provides five comforts for these martyred souls:

• A Refuge: these faithful servants under the altar, conveys their redemption and persecution.

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• A Robe: God, in His gracious love and mercy,

rewards each martyr with a white robe.

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• A Rest: When the martyrs ask how long it will

be until their deaths are avenged, they are told to “rest a little while longer.”

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• A Retribution: an angel with a sharp sickle.

The prayers of the martyrs are answered as God tramples the wicked.

V. THE COMFORT OF THEIR MARTYRDOM• A Reward: during the Millennium, these

saints will experience justice and peace that eluded them during their lifetimes.

VI. THE COURAGE OF MARTYRDOM

Vibia Perpetua

Carthage203 AD

VI. THE COURAGE OF MARTYRDOM

Lipial MarandiTapan Kumar

RoyBangladesh

2005 AD

VI. THE COURAGE OF MARTYRDOMStudies from several organizations show that in our world today, a Christian is martyred every four to five minutes.

VI. THE COURAGE OF MARTYRDOMAs we can see from history and from current events, persecution and martyrdom are the norm for Christians; and as Revelation 6 shows us, it is also the norm for the future.

VI. THE COURAGE OF MARTYRDOMAs we can see from history and from current events, persecution and martyrdom are the norm for Christians; and as Revelation 6 shows us, it is also the norm for the future.

These martyrs – past, present, and future – provide ample examples of courage that should inspire us to a deeper commitment to Christ and a determination to stand strong for Him, no matter what the cost.