Revelation 6:9-11 "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of G-d, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O L-rd, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (KJV)
John sees the souls of those slain during the tribulation because of the "word of G-d" and their testimony. These are people, Jewish and Gentile, who become believers during the tribulation.
They are under the alter, in keeping with the fact that the blood of the sacrifices of the Tanakh (Old testament) was poured under the alter (Ex 29:12; Lev 4:7)
There have been martyrs through the centuries but those martyrs are not included here. They cry out to G-d to avenge their blood "on them that dwell on the earth". This indicates that their executioners are still alive.
There will be many people who put their faith in Y'shua during the tribulation period. It appears that the majority of them will be put to death. (See Rev ch. 7 and ch.13)
They receive white robes, symbolizing righteousness. It appears that they receive a temporary body, probably like the believers from the Tanakh period would have received upon arrival in heaven. They do not receive their glorified bodies until after the tribulation (Rev 20:4-6 more on this in chapter 20)
(Compare with Matt. 24:9)
Revelation 6:12-17 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (KJV)
The sun becomes black as sackcloth. The moon becomes like blood. The stars of the sky fell to the earth. The sky is split like a scroll. Every mountain and island was moved out of their places.
This is an earthquake like no other earthquake!! It sounds like there will be volcano's erupting too and also tidal waves.
The people of the earth seem to realize that the day of divine wrath has come and they don't want to face G-d. They cry out for the rocks to fall on them.
The "day of wrath" is not a 24-hour day. It is the same as the "day of the L-rd."
There will be a great loss of life from this judgment although the Bible doesn't tell us how many will perish.
Today when there is an earthquake or some other disaster, flood, war, famine, etc. Other peoples come to help out or send relief. During the tribulation I think that everyone will be concentrating on their own survival and unable to help anyone else.
(Compare with Matt 24:7)
