Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 6:10

and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, does thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?Moffatt found what he called something "inferior" in this cry for "blood-revenge."[38] Scott likewise said, "To a Christian such an invocation is impossible,"[39] from this concluding that the martyrs here were Old Testament Jews. Such views miss the mark. "This is not the language of private revenge but of public justice."[40] One grows a... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 6:9-11

Revelation 6:9-11. When he had opened the fifth seal, &c.— This and the following seals have nothing extrinsical, like the proclamation of the living creatures, to determine from what quarter we should expect their completion; but they are sufficiently distinguished by their internal marks and characters. The fifth seal or period is remarkable for a dreadful persecution of Christians, who are represented, Rev 6:9 lying under the altar (for the scene is still in the tabernacle or temple) as... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 6:9

9. The three last seals relate to the invisible, as the first four to the visible world; the fifth, to the martyrs who have died as believers; the sixth, to those who have died, or who shall be found at Christ's coming, unbelievers, namely, "the kings . . . great men . . . bondman . . . freeman"; the seventh, to the silence in heaven. The scene changes from earth to heaven; so that interpretations which make these three last consecutive to the first four seals, are very doubtful. I saw—in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 6:10

10. How long—Greek, "Until when?" As in the parable the woman (symbol of the Church) cries day and night to the unjust judge for justice against her adversary who is always oppressing her (compare below, :-); so the elect (not only on earth, but under Christ's covering, and in His presence in Paradise) cry day and night to God, who will assuredly, in His own time, avenge His and their cause, "though He bear long with them." These passages need not be restricted to some particular martyrdoms,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 6:9

The altar John saw was evidently in heaven (cf. Revelation 8:3; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 14:18). Earlier John had seen a throne-room in heaven (chs. 4-5), but now he saw a temple. Probably the concepts of palace and temple communicate aspects of God’s magnificent dwelling-place in heaven (cf. Psalms 11:4; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 29:9-10; Isaiah 6:1: Habakkuk 2:20). This altar was evidently an altar of sacrifice rather than an incense altar (cf. Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-5; Revelation... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 6:9-11

5. The fifth seal 6:9-11What happened next evidently took place in heaven. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 6:10

John saw these martyrs calling out to their heavenly Master (Gr. despotes) to punish their murderers. Contrast the prayers of Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Acts 7:60) in which they asked God to be merciful to their murderers. The difference is that the time of God’s longsuffering has now ended and He has begun to pour out His wrath on sinners. "Master" implies divine might, majesty, power, and authority, and it stresses the absolute power of God. [Note: Moffatt, 5:391; Lange, 176; Robertson,... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Revelation 6:10

6:10 long, (g-10) Lit. 'Until when.' Ruler, (h-13) Despotes , translated 'Lord' in Acts 4:24 . Here, 'Sovereign Ruler.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 6:1-17

The Six SealsThe afflicted Church has been reminded in Revelation 4 f. that God is over all, and that the future is committed to the Lamb. Now (Revelation 6 - Revelation 8:1) she is shown that future, unrolling to its appointed end, i.e. the judgment of the enemies of God and the triumph of those who ’overcome.’ The Lamb opens the seven seals. Apparently we are to understand that, as each seal is opened, a portion of that which is written in the book is revealed pictorially. Revelation 7... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 6:9

(9) I saw under the altar . . .—Read, when He opened, and, instead of “were slain,” &c., had been slain because of the Word of God, and (because of) the testimony which they held. The seal indicates that the mission of the Christian Church can only be carried out in suffering. An altar is seen, and at its foot tokens of the martyrs who had laid down their lives upon it. The word “souls” is to be taken as the equivalent of “lives”; the vision tells that their lives had been sacrificed. The... read more

Group of Brands