Word of Encouragement (11/09/2021)

“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 witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been” (Rev. 6:9-11).

Last time, we talked about the imprecatory nature of these martyrs’ prayer and how we should apply it to our situation in this redemptive era of grace. Today, let’s take a look at God’s response.

First, God grants each of them a white robe. The color of this robe represents purity and innocence. This is God’s act of vindicating their innocence in contrast to the false accusations of those who dwell on the earth, by which they persecuted these saints and put (some of them) to death. They will surely be punished for what they did to God’s people. For to persecute God’s people is to persecute Christ Himself (Acts 9:4). By this divine act, these martyrs are reminded of where their ultimate vindication comes—it doesn’t come from the vengeance carried out against their persecutors (which God promises will happen); it ultimately comes from God’s approval as it is symbolized by the white robes.

This is the most important and valuable vindication, isn’t it? What does it profit us to gain the approval of the whole world and found to be deficient in the eyes of God? This vindication is not for our achievements of any kind; it is simply for remaining faithful to Christ and His gospel. This doesn’t require special skills or talents; anyone born of the Spirit will persevere till the end by the grace of God. In the end, this is the only thing that will matter.

Second, God tells them to rest a little longer. Even though they suffered much in the world, they have finally entered eternal rest. They do not enjoy it fully because they are not yet united with their resurrection bodies but the time of their suffering and toil and fight against sin is finally over! Even though they cry out for vengeance for the sake of God’s honor, it does not seem to disturb the state of rest they are in since God tells them “to rest a little longer.”

Third, God tells them until when they must wait: “until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” By this, we see again that God’s plan is precise and perfect. As God’s judgment came upon the Canaanites when their iniquity was filled up to the full measure God determined (Gen. 15:16), so will the judgment come when the wicked fill up the measure of their sins (1 Thess. 2:16), which is also assigned by God. Rev. 2:11 shows us the other side of this equation: the suffering of the righteous must also be filled up to the measure before the end comes.

Here, we learn an important lesson about our expectation of God’s answer to our prayer. The souls ask God how long until God judges and avenges their blood. God’s answer? The righteous will continue to get persecuted and even martyred! It will seem like the opposite of what they are praying for is happening. But, in God’s wisdom and plan, that is all part of answering their prayer!

Don’t you find this so encouraging? Isn’t this what our experiences are like in our prayer life? We pray for something, and the opposite happens! We get so discouraged and stop praying. But how foolish! It may be all part of the way God is answering our prayer! Just because God's answer doesn’t follow the path we expect and hope for doesn’t mean He is not answering our prayers!

What are the things you are discouraged about? Have you given up on praying because it doesn’t seem to “work”? I hope this email encourages you to renew your prayers!