Therefore, when the blood was poured out it was, in effect, offering the life of the sacrifice. Here we have in this imagery, what John sees when this fifth seal is opened, those lives which have been given, those lives which were, in effect, sacrificed for the Word of God. They are at the base of, they are under, the altar. This imagery here is something of a throwback to the Old Testament—the Old Covenant—and that system of sacrifices.

The souls which John saw beneath the altar were the lives of those who had been sacrificed for Christ. A derivative of the word that is translated “souls” is also translated “life.” Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many, Matthew 20:28 [“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”] And, the saints love not their life, even unto death, we’ll read when we get over to Revelation 12, and verse 11 [“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”].

These underneath the altar were those who had given up their own lives in sacrifice for the Word of God and the Testimony which they held. They were being sacrificed for the same reason that John had been exiled to Patmos. In Revelation, chapter 1, verse 9, it said that he was there—that he had been exiled to Patmos—for the Word of God and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ. [“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the Word of God, and for the Testimony of Jesus Christ.”]

This image of sacrifice which is being put forth here is further confirmed by the word “slain,” which is used here [verse 9]. They were, in effect, slaughtered in sacrifice. They were “slain” because of the Word of God which they had accepted, which they had believed and which was the basis for their faith, the basis for their hope; they were slain for the Testimony which they held—that is the Testimony to that faith confessed in word and in life.

Later, John points out that one reason for their “overcoming” was because of “the Word of their Testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death,” [Revelation 12:11]. “Martyr” is a proper word for these saints of God who were slain. In holding to the Word of God and to the Testimony of their faith, they had been “offered,” as it were, at the altar of sacrifice for His cause.

We might be reminded that the apostle Paul would use similar language to speak of his readiness to be offered as a sacrifice for the saints and for the cause of Christ. Look over in Philippians, chapter 2 and verse 17 for example. This is to help us confirm this point of what this image represents: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” He will say something similar in 2 Timothy, chapter 4 and verse 6. He will talk about, once again, his readiness to be offered as a sacrifice [“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”].

The cry of the souls under the altar is great, perhaps because of the number who where there, but possibly because of the importance of their cause and of their plea. They cry out, “…how long…?” The implication there is that this was not the beginning of the struggle, but that the struggle had been continuing for some time. Indeed, it had, virtually from the point of the Jewish persecution which began with the stoning of Stephen that we can read about in Acts, chapter 6, through the reign of the evil Emperor Nero and now the persecution that was continuing under the reign of Domician, the Roman Caesar at this time. When would it end? That’s their question. How long? But this question, we see, is not answered.

This same question or a similar question—this same plea—had been one that was fairly common that we can see from the pages of the Old Testament. It was often asked. Let me just give you some Scriptures to make note of: Psalm 6:3 [“My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD — how long?”]; Psalm 13: 1-2 [“How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?”]; Psalm 35:17 [“Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, My precious life from the lions.”] and several more in the Psalms; Isaiah 6:11 [“Then I said, ‘Lord, how long?’ And He answered: ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate….”]; Jeremiah 47:6 [“O you sword of the LORD, How long until you are quiet? Put yourself up into your scabbard, Rest and be still!”]; Habakkuk 1:2 [“O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save.”]; Zechariah 1:12 [“Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You were angry these seventy years?’”].

So, this cry of “…how long…?” was a familiar cry in the ears of God. The saints under the altar are calling out to the Master, to the Father. As servants of Jesus Christ, they recognize Him as the Master of life, the Master of their destiny.

Their cry is not a cry for revenge, but rather, it is a cry for vindication of their deaths and for the cause for which they died. The question is, “How long will it be before He—that is, the Master, the Judge—will judge? How long will it be before He determines? How long will it be before He pronounces a judgment in their behalf, in their favor? How long before He avenges their death, sees that they get justice against their opponents?” They’re crying for the JUST judgment that is due them.