Read Revelation 6:9–11
Questions from the Scripture text: What did the Lamb open in v9? Where did John see? What? Of whom? For what two things had they been slain? What did they do (v10)? With what sort of voice? What is the primary question? What do they call the Lord? About the timing of what two actions are they asking? What was given to them (v11)? What were they to do? For how long? Until what two numbers were completed?
What are believers in glory waiting for? Revelation 6:9–11 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that believers in glory are waiting for the ingathering of all the elect, and the subsequent vindication of the judgment of God.
What they are waiting for. Persecution, and the punishment of it, are under the sovereign authority of the Lamb. It is He Who opens the seal that initiates the exchange in v10–11. The devil violently hates the church, and his seed are at enmity with the seed of the woman. Until the return of Christ, believers will be violently persecuted. Jesus warned about this (Jn 16:2–3, 33). The apostle warned about this (2Tim 3:12).
If you are a Christian, you should not expect to be excepted. But, you may certainly expect that God will judge and avenge the blood of His saints. This is not a vindictive cry, which would contradict Mt 5:44, Lk 23:34, Ac 7:60, Rom 10:1, etc. But it is a desire that the justice of God would be vindicated. And it is loud cry (v10). They love God’s justice and the vindication of it.
The nature of their waiting. But believers who are slain for the Word of God and their testimony to Christ (v9) are not defeated. In fact, thy have overcome (cf. 12:11). Here, their souls are in glory—even right under the altar (v9)! And they are dressed in white (v11)—indicating that they are both counted righteous before God and constituted righteous by God. And their waiting is described as “rest.”
The purpose of the delay. Why is God waiting? If He loves His church so much, and the vindication of His justice is on the line, what is so important that it could delay judgment? There are two numbers that need to be completed.
First, the number of their fellow servants and their brethren (v11). The Lord has elected particular people to everlasting life, and Jesus will not return until they have all been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, adopted as children of the Father, and been indwelt by the Spirit of the Son (cf. 2Pet 3:9).
The second number that must be completed is the number of those who would be killed as they were. The honor of being martyred for Christ is a great one, and none of those for whom it has been determined will miss out on that honor. Furthermore, it is a set number. It happens according to the wise plan and loving foreknowledge of God.
The persecution of believers is under the sovereign authority of the Lamb. If you are to suffer, or even perish, for Christ, dear reader, you can be sure that it happens by His own “opening of the seal.” As the Lamb, He is carrying out the sovereign decree that also belongs to Him as “the One Who sits upon the throne.”
What persecution have you suffered? What persecution might you suffer? Who is in control of it? Why does He permit it to continue?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for our unwillingness to suffer, or even die, for the word of God and for the testimony of the gospel. And forgive us, on the other hand, for not loving Your justice enough that we would cry out to You with a loud voice for that justice to be vindicated. Forgive us for not being as patient as You are for Christ’s return, because we do not desire as You do that none should perish, but that all of the elect should come to the knowledge of the truth. Forgive us, and cleanse us, we pray, until we wear the white robes of holiness in glory, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP109A “God of My Praise” or TPH404 “The Church’s One Foundation”
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