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

"And when he had opened the fifth seal," signifies prediction still further; "I saw under the altar," signifies those who were reserved under heaven; "the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held," signifies those who were rejected and concealed on account of the Divine truth and confession of the Lord.

"And they cried with a great voice," signifies the grief of their minds saying, How long, O Lord, who art 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 justice, concerning the judgment and removal of those who persecute and infest them who acknowledge the Lord, and are in the life of charity.

"And white robes were given unto every one," signifies Divine truth from the Lord with them, and protection. "And it was said unto them that they should rest yet a little time," signifies some further duration in that state; "until both their fellow-servants and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled," signifies, until all things were consummated.

Title: Making the Word Central

Topic: The Word

Summary: Scripture from beginning to end has stories about how the Word and the Lord become central but then we drift off course, and the pattern repeats. Eventually, though, its centrality becomes permanent.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 2:9; 3:3; 12:10; 26:1; 41:54; 47:4
Exodus 1:13-14; 2:1-3; 3:1, 12; 13:17-22; 20:18-19; 33:7-11
Numbers 2:2
1 Samuel 7:1-4, 6
1 Chronicles 13:3
Joshua 15:63
2 Samuel 5:4-5
2 Kings 22:8, 11-13; 23:24-25
2 Chronicles 34:14
2 Kings 17:5-6; 24:13-14
Matthew 3:1-6; 11:7-9
Luke 2:40, 52; 3:23
John 4:19; 21:18
Matthew 24:12
Revelation 21:1-3
Matthew 21:42
Psalms 90:1-3
Isaiah 33:20-22