What did John see when the fifth seal was opened in Revelation 6?
When the fifth seal was opened, John saw at the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they held. The context identifies them as tribulation martyrs—multitudes saved during that awful period who will not live long before being martyred.
Les explains that in Revelation chapter 6 the seals are being opened, and after four seals were off, John comes to verse 9, the fifth seal. In his visionary experience, John saw unto the altar the souls of them who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. Les says he has to feel this is a reference to the tribulation martyrs. He adds that in a future program he will show that multitudes of non-Jews will have a salvation experience during all this turmoil, but they will not live very long to tell about it, because they will almost be martyred immediately.
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: