The souls under the altar in Revelation 6 are Tribulation martyrs—believers who are slain for the Word of God and the testimony they hold during the seven-year Tribulation.
Revelation 6:9 says John saw 'under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.' Les Feldick teaches these are Tribulation converts who are martyred almost as fast as they come to faith. They are given white robes and told to rest until the full number of their fellow servants is killed (Revelation 6:11).
Revelation 6:9 — This is the verse that directly answers the question: John sees the souls under the altar, identified as those slain for the word of God and their testimony.
Revelation 6:11 — This verse describes the future of these souls—they receive white robes and are told to rest until their fellow servants and brethren are killed as they were.
In Revelation 6:9, John writes: '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.' These souls cry out in verse 10: 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?' In verse 11 they are given white robes and told to rest 'until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.' Revelation 7:14 later describes a great multitude 'which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
Les sets the seven-year Tribulation as the most awful period in human history (Clip 0) and directly connects the souls under the altar in Revelation 6 to Tribulation martyrs. He looks back to the fifth seal and explains that the martyrs ask 'how long?' and are told to wait until the rest who will be martyred as they were are fulfilled (Clip 2). Les repeatedly says that Tribulation converts will be 'martyred almost as fast as they're converted' (Clips 1, 6). He applies this to the vast, innumerable multitude of Revelation 7 from every nation, kindred, people, and tongue—people whose robes are washed in the blood of the Lamb (Clips 1, 6). Les also connects the 144,000 sealed Jewish evangelists to this martyrdom, since they go out proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and their sealing protects them while many of their converts are killed (Clips 2, 7). Finally, he points to Revelation 20:4, where the souls of those beheaded for the witness of Jesus reign with Christ a thousand years (Clip 5).
In Revelation 6, the fifth seal is opened and John sees under the altar the souls of those slain for the word of God and the testimony they held (Revelation 6:9). They cry out for judgment and are given white robes. They are told to rest until their fellow servants and brethren who will be killed as they were are fulfilled (Revelation 6:11). Les Feldick points back to this fifth-seal scene when explaining that the martyrs ask 'how long?' and are told to wait for more martyrs (Clip 2).
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that people converted during the Tribulation will be 'martyred almost as fast as they're converted' (Clip 1). He sees a vast multitude from every nation, kindred, people, and tongue who come out of the Great Tribulation and wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb (Clips 1, 6; Revelation 7:14). A few will survive, but the overwhelming majority are killed for their faith.
In Revelation 6:11 they are given white robes and told to rest until the number of their fellow servants is complete. Les connects this to Revelation 20:4, where the souls of those beheaded for the witness of Jesus and who did not worship the beast live and reign with Christ a thousand years (Clip 5).
Les connects the fifth-seal martyrs to the 144,000 sealed young Jewish men of Revelation 7. They are sealed so no one can take their life, and they proclaim the gospel of the kingdom; the result is a great multitude of martyrs from every nation who are killed almost as soon as they believe (Clips 2, 7; Revelation 7:9-14).
The Awful Seven-Year Tribulation Setting
Les describes the seven-year Tribulation as the most awful period in human history, establishing the context in which the souls under the altar are martyred.
Tribulation Converts Martyred Quickly
Les teaches that tribulation converts will be martyred almost as fast as they are converted, and he applies the great multitude of Revelation 7:14 to these tribulation martyrs.
Fifth-Seal Martyrs Under the Altar
Les explicitly looks back to Revelation 6's fifth seal, where the martyred are under the altar asking 'how long?' and are told to wait until the rest who will be martyred are fulfilled. He then connects these martyrs to the ministry of the 144,000.
What Happens When Satan Is Cast Out of Heaven?
Now we know we have a lot of preaching today and a lot of teaching that leaves the blood out. But if you're going to be Scriptural, you can't. Because it is intrinsic to our faith that we believe in the shed blood of the cross of Calvary. And so we overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony they had not loved their lives unto the death.
What Happens to Gentiles After the Tribulation? Isaiah 24
No one can take their life, but they'll be thrown in prison, they're going to be hungry, and so the only sustenance they have is these believers now realizing what a salvation these Jews have brought them, will sacrifice no doubt whatever little bit they have to help these 144,000. And now then, Jesus said, "...inasmuch as you did it unto them, you really did it to Me.
Tribulation Martyrs Reign With Christ
Les quotes Revelation 20:4, showing that tribulation martyrs—those beheaded for the witness of Jesus and who did not worship the beast—live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.
A Vast Multitude of Martyrs
Les describes a vast number of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation who are martyred almost as soon as they believe during the tribulation, with only a few surviving.
The 144,000 and the Gospel of the Kingdom
Les explains that the 144,000 are sealed so no one can take their life, and they proclaim the gospel of the kingdom; this directly leads to the tribulation martyrdom scene.
Revelation 6:9: 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:
This is the exact verse where John sees the souls under the altar and identifies them as those killed for God's word and their testimony.
Revelation 6:10: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
This verse shows the martyrs under the altar crying out for judgment.
Revelation 6:11: And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
This verse describes what happens to these souls and why they must wait.
Revelation 7:14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Les identifies this great multitude with tribulation saints who were martyred for their faith.
Revelation 20:4: And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This verse describes the resurrection and thousand-year reign of tribulation martyrs.
They are Tribulation martyrs—people who are killed for the word of God and the testimony they held during the seven-year Tribulation. Revelation 6:9 identifies them, and Les Feldick teaches that Tribulation converts will be martyred almost as fast as they are converted.
They are given white robes and told to rest until the full number of their fellow servants and brethren who will be killed as they were is complete (Revelation 6:11). Les sees this as pointing to the reign of tribulation martyrs with Christ in Revelation 20:4.
Les teaches that the vast majority will be martyred almost as soon as they believe, but a few will survive the Tribulation. These survivors become candidates to enter the Kingdom (Clip 6).
Les connects the two: the 144,000 sealed Jewish evangelists go out and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, and their converts are martyred almost as fast as they believe, filling up the number of martyrs seen in Revelation 6.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When God's Wrath Finally Begins — Revelation 6