(Rev 6:9-11 NKJV)  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. {10} And 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?" {11} Then 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.

My Approach to Prophecy:

 1.   Accept statements as literally as possible.

2.   Interpret things figuratively when that is the only way that will make sense.

(Gen 4:10 NKJV)  And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

We all know that blood cannot speak, but we also understand the way this expression is used.  The same is true for the case before us:

Rev 6:10  ‘And 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?”’

I also take this statement as figurative:

Rev 6:9 “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God.”

1.    How do you see “souls”?

2.    How big is a soul? How big would the altar have to be in order for all of the slain to be under it?

3.    These souls are apparently asleep, or normally would be because: “it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer” (Rev. 6:11)  If they are sleeping, or resting how are they speaking?

These were under the altar.  Altar stands for sacrifice.  They were covered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

For these reasons, I take this to be figurative, but a partial answer is given them and indeed, for our benefit—so we can understand:  “until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”  (Rev. 6:11) 

There is another passage that deals with this.

(2 Pet 3:9 NASB)  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

It is similar to the four we have already studied:

The 1^st four speak of things that we will suffer here on earth until the Lord takes over.  These included:

1.        White horse:  False teachers

2.        Red horse:  War

3.        Black horse: Famine

4.        Pale horse:  Death and persecution

To complete the passage:  “Then a white robe was given to each of them” (Rev 6:11) “given to each of them”  We are not told that they put them on.  They are at rest.  I take it they are “Asleep in Jesus.”

(Rev 7:13-14 NKJV)  Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" {14} And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

(Rev 6:12 NKJV)  I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.

(Mat 24:29 NKJV)  "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;

(Rev 6:13) And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

Matthew 24:29: “the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

(Mat 24:30)  "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(Rev 1:7 NKJV)  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

(Rev 6:12-17)  I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. {13} And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. {14} Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

{15} And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

{16} and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

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