Courageous Living in Calamitous Times

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Courageous Living in Calamitous Times

1. Martyrs Under the Altar

Revelation 6:9 opens the fifth seal and shifts the scene from judgment on Earth to a vision in heaven. John sees the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and their faithful witness, gathered under the altar. This is a deeply meaningful image, evoking the Old Testament sacrificial system from Leviticus 4, where blood from the sacrifice was poured out at the base of the altar. These martyrs are pictured as a pleasing offering to God, united with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

Their robes are white, symbolizing purity and heaven's approval. But they cry out, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Their concern is not for personal revenge, but for the vindication of God’s holiness and justice.

In response, they are given white robes and told to rest a little longer until the full number of fellow servants and brothers are killed as they were. This emphasizes the reality that more martyrdom is coming before the final fulfillment. It reflects the patient timing of God, also echoed in 2 Peter 3, where we are told the Lord delays so more people might repent.

The call is clear: even in the face of persecution or death, believers are to remain faithful in their witness. And this witness is not theoretical; it may come with ridicule, suffering, or worse. While Western Christians may be insulated from such extremes, the reality is ongoing globally. More believers have been martyred in the past century than in the previous eighteen combined.

2. Cosmic Upheaval and Final Judgment

The sixth seal, beginning in Revelation 6:12, brings cosmic signs and terrifying disruption. The earth quakes, the sun turns black, the moon turns to blood, stars fall from the sky, and the heavens roll up like a scroll. Mountains and islands are moved. These images echo prophetic descriptions in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel 2, and the words of Jesus in the Gospels.

This seal signals the final day of judgment. The imagery is not necessarily literal in every detail but clearly communicates catastrophic upheaval. It is intended to shake the reader with its severity and finality.

Those on the earth respond in terror. From kings to slaves, they hide in caves and beg for death rather than face the wrath of the Lamb. They cry, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

This moment fulfills the cry of the martyrs under the altar. The injustice they endured is now judged. If believers are still present on Earth at this time, the pattern of God’s protection in past judgments (like the plagues in Egypt) suggests they are spared from wrath even if affected by its earthly consequences.

3. What Should We Do?

Cultivate Patience and Perspective

The martyrs ask, "How long, Lord?" Many of us ask the same. We see evil advancing, truth ignored, and injustice unchecked. But the Lord delays because He desires repentance and salvation for many. 2 Peter 3:9–12 tells us that God's patience is salvation.

Rather than despair, we are to understand this time as grace. And as Peter writes, since everything is going to be dissolved, we ought to live lives of holiness and godliness, hastening the coming of the day of God. Our faithfulness, our gospel witness, plays a role in seeing more come to Christ, and ultimately in seeing Christ return.

Live as a Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 urges us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Just as the martyrs under the altar gave their lives, we are to offer ours daily. This doesn't always mean death, but it does mean surrender. It means stepping into the mission, not sitting on the sidelines.

When others around the world are sacrificing so much to see the gospel go forward, how can we justify disengagement? Whether you're sharing with a neighbor, serving in your church, or praying for the persecuted, you're participating in God's mission. The question is: are you living sacrificially, or hiding out while others fulfill the calling?

Worship the One on the Throne

The chapter closes with a haunting image of the unbelieving crying out in fear, trying to flee from God's presence. The wrath of the Lamb is real and terrifying, but we do not have to experience it. Those who have trusted in the Lamb will not face His wrath, because He already bore it for them.

Now is the time of God's patience. Now is the time to repent, to believe, and to surrender. If you find yourself more aligned with the fearful hiding in caves than with the faithful under the altar, today is the day to change that.

Bow your heart, acknowledge your sin, and trust in Jesus. Don't be content with being near Christians or agreeing with parts of Christianity. Place your faith in Christ fully, and then get in the game.

Worship the Lamb, live as a sacrifice, and wait with patience and perspective. These are the marks of courageous living in calamitous times.

SERMON DETAILS

Speaker: Jeff McNicol
Series: Revelation
Sermon Title: Courageous Living in Calamitous Times
Date: Apr 14, 2024

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

• Revelation 6:9–17

• Romans 12:1

• 2 Peter 3:9–11

• Acts 14

• Leviticus 4

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