Revelation 6:9-11

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“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, do You 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

Who are the “souls under the altar” in this heavenly picture?

Some cite these verses to validate both the immortal soul doctrine and that the saved go to heaven. First, recognize that this description is not literal, but rather is symbolic, as is much of the book of Revelation. Then notice the four horses (of the apocalypse) described earlier in this same chapter. No one believes that these horses are literal, but rather that they are symbolic and part of a vision seen by the apostle John. A consistent standard must be used, without randomly picking and choosing which should be considered literal and which should be considered a vision.

In vision, John saw before him a book or scroll sealed with seven seals. As Christ opened each seal (Rev. 5:5), John was shown a preview of a future event (“hereafter” [Rev 4:1]). Since John was “in the spirit” as the seals were opened (Rev 4:2), the events he witnessed were not actually occurring when he saw them. They were heavenly previews of things that would happen later on earth. Recognizing this is absolutely crucial for proper understanding.

Upon opening the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9), John “saw under [at the base of] the altar the souls of them that were slain.” In Matthew 24:9-28, Christ had shown the meaning of the seven seals. He explained that the fifth seal symbolizes the coming Great Tribulation, which will occur on earth.

In the vision, John was shown the future, with a long period of martyrdom having taken place (up to and through the Middle Ages), and a later one (the Great Tribulation) that is yet to happen in our time. The souls who were “slain” (martyred Christians throughout the ages) were told (Mt 24:11) to “rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

All lukewarm, but still true, Christians will have to suffer this martyrdom (Rev. 3:14-22). Those who have previously died will continue to “rest” (remain “asleep” in their graves—Eph. 5:14; I Cor. 11:30) until others are also martyred.

The “souls” (dead saints) crying “avenge our blood” (Eph 5:10) is akin to Abel’s blood (his life—note Lev. 17:14) crying to God from the earth (Gen. 4:10). Obviously, since neither blood nor the dead talk (Psa. 115:17; Ec. 9:5, 10), the meaning must be symbolic, not literal. Therefore, the “souls under the altar” represents a future martyrdom of lukewarm saints.