A Witness

Read This Week: Revelation 6

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true until you judge the inhabitants of the earth?” Then each of them was given a white robe and told to wait a little longer. – Revelation 6:9-11 NIV

Martyr. The word itself evokes a deep, emotional response. In the context of faith and living for God, it also brings to mind and heart those who have gone before us and given their lives for the cause of Christ, those who have suffered physical, mental, and spiritual anguish because of their love for Jesus and the Gospel. All it takes is a cursory glance at the men and women throughout history and today that serve the Lord without fear and with courage and boldness in the face of real persecution to feel overwhelming humility and inspiration.

In Revelation 6, we see the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God (v.9) under the altar, and they are honored as those that gave their lives sacrificially for God’s glory and the furtherance of His kingdom on earth. These particular Christians died by the forces of evil that hate the truth of God’s word and want to continue following the lies of the Enemy. But God honors these fallen servants. He holds them under the altar for the time He will give them their just reward. The word martus in the original language means “a witness,” and the word martyria in verse 9 is “what one testifies or a testimony.” Father God rewards faithful witnesses of His name and honors those who testify to the truth.

Verse 11 indicates that more brave and devoted individuals would perish for their testimony and stand on God’s word. It says that the martyrs would have to wait until the total number of their fellow servants, brothers, and sisters were killed just as they had been. This is not ominous but an encouragement to all those called to follow in their footsteps. We see that the souls of the witnesses have a place of high honor in Heaven. They are at peace and encircling the throne as those robed in glory and adorned with esteem worthy of Christ.

This scene in Revelation 6 of the martyrs should urge us to be a witness in our day and age. It should motivate us with the spiritual fortitude and courage to proclaim the good news and the truth amid whatever “persecution” we may face. Even as God urges us to endure and wait as He did those in this passage, we are hopeful because we know God is in control and rewards those who faithfully seek and serve Him. We have nothing to fear with the Lord on our side. There is no measure of persecution on earth that can overcome His power or overshadow what glory awaits us if we remain in Him.

God is calling us to be a witness, to testify of His love, mercy, grace, and salvation in our corner of the world in this moment of history. He calls us to share our testimony of how He changed our lives and not to be afraid of the repercussions that will come as a result. He will protect us. He never leaves or forsakes us. There were no heroes around the throne in chapter 6. They were just steadfast followers of Jesus who didn’t flinch in the face of opposition or evil. God is not calling us to be a hero, just a witness to His great name in our age.

7 Comments

  1. Javaid Ahmed on March 15, 2023 at 1:36 pm

    This is an incredibly dynamic chapter! God focused me on Revelation 6 Verse 15 (AMPC):

     “Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen and their magnates and their military chiefs and the wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave or free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,”

    God said to me: “My son you could be a king, or a human legend, a ruler, the most powerful man on earth; but when your time comes to be with Me there is nothing in the earthly realm that prevents you from being with Me. Under a falling sun everyone is exactly the same from a physical standpoint. It is those who know Me, truly know Me, that are beacons of light in a darkened world.”

    This means so much to me. What I took from this is that is that when we look at who we are under clothes, money, possessions, and everything else related to the world, if the sky was literally falling, we are exactly the same physically. What separates us from being generic and worldly is having a strong relationship with God and knowing exactly what we need to do to be closer with Him and help others do so as well.

    • Terri on March 16, 2023 at 1:25 pm

      Well said! Being generic without God spoke so loud to me. Thank you.

  2. Trina on March 16, 2023 at 8:51 am

    Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 3
    And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, Come!

    Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 4
    And another horse came out, flaming red. And it’s writer was empowered to take the peace from the earth, so that men slaughtered one another; and he was given a huge sword.

    War Of Red Vs. Red

    God Is Saying To Me:
    The time has come for you to see more clearly the chaos around you. (red) I’m a god of peace, blessings and goodness, not division, strife and war. A sword is two edged. One edge can represent the chaos taking place right now all around you and the other edge can be used to cut through all that which evil and the world has created.

    What This Means To Me:
    Whether we are actively at war as a nation, in our religion as false teachings come against us, in our relationship with people, in our job or even struggling with basic endeavors here on earth, I still have the opportunity and power to stop the negativity by using the blood of Christ (red) thus, remaining in peace and harmony with God all of the time and securing my place for eternity at Heaven’s Alter.
    Thank you God for always being omnipresent and being my rock and protector! I love you God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit! ❤️❤️❤️

  3. Alma on March 17, 2023 at 10:44 am

    This week in Revelation chapter 6 I got a song

    Worship
    We worship you, we worship you we worship you our Lord we honor, give you all the glory because of you we have victory You give us the strength to change the things we thought we couldn’t the strength to stand in our faith, the strength to know the truth, you are our king, the one, and only you conquered death so we could be set free your spirit lives in us we worship you we worship you worship and adore you amen.

    Father God is so wonderful he can give us the power to change the things we need to change To stay focus on him. Always put God first .

  4. reachchurch on March 19, 2023 at 12:39 pm

    This Week in the Life: Revelation 6

    For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.

    1. Sunday Worship – First Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-0319-Worship1.wav
    2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-0319-Message.wav
    3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-0319-Worship2.wav

    Join the Party Line Live – Schedule: https://reachchurch.org/connect

  5. Heidi on March 19, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    This it great song for those who know God loves them!
    There is another version you can listen to, the link is above
    There is always going to be something going on while we’re here until we go to heaven
    While we’re here we can count on Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit surrounding us with His Love ❤️
    God was showing me He has plans for us everyday! We’re all on His team and we have a job to do with Him!
    We’re His children and He loves to bless us, He can speak to us like He was speaking to John and showing Him what’s to come. He is alive and can help us too see what’s next for us, it’s always going to be about Love His Love and helping Him to spread the good news! Jesus is the one who saves us thank you Father God for Jesus and for loving us so much!

    It’s all about Love and worshipping our Lord, praising Him, that’s how we fight our battles speaking good about Him, knowing He surrounds us with His Love, we can pray, talk to Him and He will help us through whatever we’re going through

    Thank you Father God for always looking out for us because You love us and we love you❤️

    There’s a table that You’ve prepared for me
    In the presence of my enemies
    It’s Your body and Your blood You’ve shed for me
    This is how I fight my battles
    There’s a table that You’ve prepared for me
    In the presence of my enemies
    It’s Your body and Your blood You’ve shed for me
    This is how I fight my battles
    And I believe You’ve overcome
    And I will lift my song of praise for what You’ve done
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    In the valley, I know that You’re with me
    And surely Your goodness and mercy follow me
    So my weapons are praise and thanksgiving
    This is how I fight my battles
    And I believe You’ve overcome
    And I will lift my song of praise for what You’ve done
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    Oh, Jesus
    Oh, Jesus
    Calling on Your name is how I fight
    Ooh
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    This is how I fight my battles
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You
    Oh, but I know the truth
    I know the truth
    When my enemies seem to be around

  6. Kathy on March 30, 2023 at 5:41 pm

    The white horse with the rider is the Antichrist. This dictator will be more terrible than any other dictators were. He will rule over man as a false messiah, leading man in organized rebellion with Me. The fiery red horse is the one who takes peace from the earth. Peace is a gift from Me. Once this peace is taken, war and destruction comes. The black horse and rider has the scales which symbolizes the need to ration food. It will be a time of scarcity, and famine. The pale horse and rider represents death. Many will die from the dictatorship, war, famine. and other calamities. There will be much tribulation. I will still be very much in control. When the fifth seal was opened The souls under the altar emphasized their life blood was poured out as an offering to Me. This is the cry of all martyrs for My truth. When My people are persecuted, I will set it right. These saints were told to wait until all My appointed people who are martyrs are killed. It is the character, the way one lives, that makes a martyr. When the 6th seal was opened, celestial disturbances will happen that are connected with the coming of the Messiah. It is a day of wrath, devastation, and desolation. It is the wrath of the Lamb. Only the believer can stand before this great judgement because Jesus already bore the wrath, that all believers deserved. You are justified by faith though your Lord Jesus Christ.

    What this said to me was I have to keep spreading God’s love to others. I have to be a witness for Him, so I can help bring others to Him. No matter what comes, I have to trust God, as He is in control.

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