When the Seals Are Opened – Lord, How Long?

This sermon is part of a series titled 'When the Seals Are Opened' from Revelation 6–8, delivered on Sunday, June 28, 2019. The introduction recaps the vision of the seven-sealed scroll in Revelation 5, affirming that the Lamb alone is worthy to open the seals, and that all human history unfolds according to God's eternal foreordained plan and timing. The pastor also connects the vision of the four horsemen in Revelation 6:1–8 to global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, wars, and civil unrest, urging the congregation to recognize the fragility of earthly life and to invest hope in eternal life in heaven.

When the fifth seal is opened, the vision shifts from earth to heaven, and John sees the souls of martyrs under the altar. The pastor explains that the word 'souls' indicates these martyrs are awaiting the resurrection to receive glorified bodies. Their cry — 'O Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' — is not a question of 'why?' but of 'how long?', reflecting trust in God's justice and expectation of His judgment. The sermon draws on parallel cries from Psalms 35, 74, 79, 119, and the prophet Habakkuk to show this is a recurring prayer throughout Scripture.

The pastor explains that the martyrs' appeal for God to avenge their blood does not contradict Christ's teaching on forgiveness, since they do not take revenge themselves but yield to God's righteous wrath as taught in Romans 12:19. God is both loving and just, and justice demands that evil not go unpunished. God's answer — giving them white robes and telling them to rest a little longer until the full number of fellow servants is complete — is connected to Genesis 15, where God explains to Abraham that Israel must wait because the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete, demonstrating that God grants seasons of grace before executing judgment.

The sermon includes a parallel comparison between Matthew 24 and Revelation 6–7, showing that Christ's Olivet Discourse prophecies correspond directly to the seals John received in his vision approximately sixty years later on the island of Patmos. Historical statistics on martyrdom are cited: over 26 million believers were martyred in the twentieth century, surpassing the combined total of the previous nineteen centuries, with more than forty nations currently persecuting Christians.

The practical application reminds the congregation that the question 'Lord, how long?' is universally human in times of suffering, but believers ask it with confidence that God will answer in His good timing. The pastor also addresses the inadequacy of atheism to explain injustice, arguing that without God there is no foundation for moral concepts like justice. The sermon closes with an urgent appeal from 2 Corinthians 6:1–2, calling everyone not to receive God's grace in vain, because now is the day of salvation.