389. Verses 9-11. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slain because of the Word of God, and because of the testimony that they held. And they cried out with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And there were given to every one of them white robes; and it was said unto them that they should rest yet a little time, until their fellow-servants, as well as their brethren, who were to be killed, as they also were, should be fulfilled.

9. "And when he had opened the fifth seal," signifies still further prediction (n. 390); "I saw under the altar," signifies those who were preserved under heaven n. 391; "the souls of those slain because of the Word of God, and because of the testimony that they held," signifies those who were rejected and concealed because of Divine truth and because of their confession of the Lord. n. 392).

10. "And they cried out with a great voice," signifies their grief of mind (n. 393); "saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" signifies sighings to the Lord, who is Righteousness, respecting the judgment and removal of those who persecute and infest those who acknowledge the Lord, and are in the life of charity n. 394.

11. "And there were given to every one of them white robes," signifies Divine truth from the Lord with them, and protection n. 395; "and it was said unto them they should rest yet a little time," signifies some further continuance in that state (n. 396); "until their fellow-servants, as well as their brethren, who were to be killed, as they also were, should be fulfilled," signifies until all things were consummated n. 397.

51. In the Word righteousness is used with reference to love and judgment to wisdom, so some passages will be quoted to show that these two are the means by which God exercises control in the world.

Jehovah, righteousness and judgment are the foundation of your throne, Psalms 89:14.

Let him who boasts boast of this, that Jehovah executes judgment and righteousness upon the earth, Jeremiah 9:24.

Let Jehovah be exalted, because He has filled Zion ¹ with judgment and righteousness, Isaiah 33:5.

Let judgment flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty torrent, Amos 5:24.

Jehovah, your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your judgments a mighty abyss, Psalms 36:6.

Jehovah will make his ² righteousness shine as the light, and his ³ judgment like noonday, Psalms 37:6.

Jehovah will judge his' people in righteousness and his' suffering ones in judgment, Psalms 72:2.

When I have learnt the judgments of your righteousness, seven times a day I praise you for the judgments of your righteousness, Psalms 119:7, 164.

I will betroth myself to you ⁴ in righteousness and judgment, Hosea 2:19. Zion shall be redeemed in righteousness, and her converts in judgment, Isaiah 1:27.

He shall sit upon the throne of David, and reign over his kingdom, to establish it in judgment and righteousness, Isaiah 9:7.

I will raise up for David a righteous shoot, who shall reign as king and execute judgment and righteousness upon the earth, Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15.

Elsewhere it is said that righteousness and judgment ought to be done: as Isaiah 1:21; 5:16; 58:2; Jeremiah 4:2; 22:3, 13, 15; Ezekiel 18:5; 33:14, 16, 19; Amos 6:12; Micah 7:9; Deuteronomy 33:21; John 16:8, 10-11.

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