Of all of the seals, trumpets and bowls, the fifth seal is unique, because the breaking of it does not cause any wrathful
consequence upon the earth, and it is solely concerned with Believers as God's plan of judgment unfolds.
When Jesus breaks the fifth seal, the following observations can be made:
1. The apostle John can see the souls of Believers who were martyred because of their faith in and testimony
of God. Since this was before their rapture (1 Thess 4:14-17;
Rev 14:14-16), the apostle saw disembodied souls.
2. Who are these martyrs? They are Messianic Jews, who are not of the 144,000 chaste males, and Gentile Believers
who died for their faith (Rev 6:9; 7:9). They died
under Great Tribulation (Rev 7:14).
3. The martyred souls sought justice and appealed to God's punishment of the wicked
(Deut 32:35-36; Rom 12:18-21;
Heb 10:30-31). These martyred souls would be recognized for their love and service of God
(Rev 7:9-17).
4. Upon their release from underneath the altar, the martyred souls were given a white robe
(Rev 6:11), which represented the righteous acts of the saints
(Rev 19:8). This clothing is reminiscent of Jesus'
Parable of the Wedding Banquet
(Matt 22:1-14), and later the wedding banquet actually occurs in heaven
(Rev 19:7-8)!
It is significant to observe that when the tribulation saints were given their white robes, they were told to rest "for a little
while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be
completed also" (Rev 6:11). This indicates that all of the remaining tribulation saints will
be killed soon.