How Long O Lord Holy and True? Revelation 6:10

After the worship scene in heaven where “the Lamb” of God received the “scroll” in God's right hand, the beginning of the tribulation came upon the earth began and John the apostle saw the first, second, third, fourth and fifth seal opened, and he wrote, “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 in chapter six and verse ten of Revelation John heard them ask, “how long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood” where we read:

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true,

do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The verse reads, “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, ...” John began with the words, “and they cried” which means “the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held vociferated, prayed for vengeance and spoke” “with a loud voice” which means “with a great, massive and mighty sound of uttered words, language and tongue”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “How long” which means “till what time and when”, “O Lord” which refers to “the master and absolute ruler”, “holy” or “pure, blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated” “and true” which means “veracious, sincere and truthful”. John heard the group of martyrs beneath God's throne question “ God” who is “pure and morally blameless” when He would do as they requested.

The verse continues, “... do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” John added the words, “do you not judge” which means “doesn't God pronounce His opinion concerning right and wrong, rule over and govern” “and avenge” or “vindicate, protect, defend and punish for” “our blood” or “the martyrs bloodshed” “on them” which means “upon those who have slaughtered, butchered and killed them” “that dwell” or “who live, inhabit and reside” “on the earth” which means “on the arable land, country, territory and region”? The martyrs beneath the “altar” of God wondered when He would “judge” and “avenge” their murder against those who were living on “earth”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see this large group of people who were killed for their faith in Jesus appealing to God for “vengeance” for their death. The scripture is clear, “vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19), and it is certain that God shall carry out His judgment upon those who murder Christians. These people beneath God's altar plead with Him to know when He will carry out justice upon their perpetrators. God, however, is merciful, and He desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. If a person repents of their sin, asks God for forgiveness and turns their life over to Him, they shall be saved, and though they might have done horrific things, God in His infinite mercy and grace is willing to save them. May all who read these words who wonder “How long, O Lord?” yield themselves to Him as “Savior and Lord”.

Next time John shares how “white robes were given unto every one of them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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