BY TAYLOR JORGENSEN
Though the Book of Revelation can seem intimidating or scary, it is not as frightening as it is encouraging of our own accountability and dedication to God. It reveals to us that though we may look around the world and see it only at the surface, we are all a part of something deeper. There are rewards and consequences for our lives that we can miss without this kind of context. Revelation reminds us that the clock is ticking and that we should be engaging with our faith, preparing for the future. So, while many argue that the Bible is a book of the past, the Book of Revelation shows otherwise. If Revelation is the end, then we, living in the years after Jesus walked the earth and before the end of days, are in the midst of God’s plan. It has unfolded to bring us to where we are today and will continue to bring us to the moment when Christ returns.
Revelation also raises questions about Christian identity. The mark of a Christian is not as widely discussed or debated as the “mark of the beast” (Rev 19:20). It seems that the message of avoiding the mark of the beast overwhelms the other side of this coin: to actively seek to be marked for God.
To seek this kind of divine marking, we can still look to the Book of Revelation. In Revelation 6, the fifth seal is broken open and we are introduced to “the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God” (Rev 6:9). These followers had been faithful to God on earth and now ask when He will “sit in judgment and avenge [their] blood on the inhabitants of the earth” (Rev 6:10). Instead of a specific answer, they each receive a white robe, and these souls are encouraged “to be patient a little while longer” (Rev 6:11). This white robe sets them apart. It is a gift they receive for their faithfulness and it effectively marks them as God’s own.
The white robe is symbolic in its very color. Looking back to chapter 3 of Revelation, we learn the relevance of those who wear white: “The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels” (Rev 3:5). These robes mark the souls as God’s own, but the white color calls back to this earlier verse and intention. Additionally, white is traditionally a symbol of purity. The souls have been forgiven and are being fully welcomed into a relationship with God.
In chapter 7 of Revelation, an elder asks, “‘Who are these wearing white robes and where did they come from?’” (Rev 7:13). The white robes are a noticeable sign that cannot be overlooked. One has to wonder why they have been set apart and what makes them significant. He goes on to answer his own question: “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). These are the same souls who are said to have “been slaughtered” for their testimony, but we learn something more about why they have these robes. It is not only a reward for their witness that God chooses to set them apart, but a representation of what Christ has done for them and for us. They are made clean and pure through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross.
The souls under the altar have devoted their lives to serving God, and their faith is tied to the protection they receive during God’s judgment. The souls are introduced alongside their witness and martyrdom on earth, a time of great struggle. However, with these sacrifices come a right relationship with God. These souls experience His grace and protection in the great tribulation. In this way, we see that protection and faith are linked. A genuine faith sets believers apart for God’s use, which empowers devotion and offers divine protection for eternity. If our mark as Christians comes from our faithful devotion to God, then we must consider more deeply what this kind of devotion looks like in practice.
For those souls under the altar, their method of devotion is their witness and willingness to die for their faith in God. We are able, however, to get more specific. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 shares:
“Take to heart these words which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them on your arm as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead” (Deut 6:6-8).
Not only do these verses give specific instructions, guidance to live a purposeful, dedicated life, but it also acknowledges the need for an outward sign of inward devotion to God.
For many Christians, this may seem counterintuitive, having been encouraged to live with humility in their faith, but these outward signs are a part of the Christian story. We are not supposed to be hidden, secretive believers, but clearly devoted people of God. This cannot be limited to what is within us. We must take the internal changes, our personal devotion to God, and live lives of faith, though we are not told to wear a particular robe or marker of our faith on earth. Ephesians 6 tells us to “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil” (Eph 6:11). Here again, we hear the message of devotion and protection. In devoting ourselves to Him, we are also finding protection, putting on the “armor of God.” This verse demonstrates that we are regularly encouraged to show markers of our faith, but in this practice, we need to be mindful of our intentions. We should not do anything out of a desire to “appear” as though we are serving God as followers of Christ, but to truly grow closer to Him. Putting on the spiritual “armor of God” is not visible to us, but this invisible mark should make visible differences in our lives. If we go through life shaped by our faith in God, we will be marked as His own.
In John 13, verse 35, Jesus tells His disciples, and this includes us, how to mark ourselves as Christians: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This is what we are called to do, and in some ways it is a simple command. We can be the ones to give a friend a ride to their appointment, take notes for someone who could not make it to class, or take the time to freely tutor someone in a subject we know well. Sometimes we can devote our time, serving others at food pantries, shelters, and schools, or it could mean we donate money to our churches, communities, and others across the globe. Even in secular work, we can choose to dedicate all that we do to furthering the glory of God. Even this mental shift has the power to change how we behave and the benefits of what we produce. We can take on the mission to speak and act with kindness, thoughtfulness, patience, and humility.
This love encompasses compassion, generosity, and kindness, but this love for one another ultimately leads us to desire a lasting goodness, salvation, for one another. The souls under the altar were specifically “slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God.” The souls’ witnessing is both the reason for their death and for their closeness to God. Their mission to witness is how they demonstrated their love for other human beings. Desiring their ultimate salvation and closeness to God, they sought to bring others into relationship with Jesus Christ.
While recognition of our fundamental mission to love may be daunting, we can ensure that we are always aiming to do even just a little better each day. If we are not confident in sharing our faith with others, it is wise to look to nurturing our own faith and relationship with God. When in doubt, make time to read the Bible and pray. 1 Thessalonians maintains a useful guide for us: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:16-18). Prayer can happen anywhere at any time. If each day we remain prayerful and spend time with the Lord, we will grow closer in our relationship with God and more confident in sharing our faith.
The souls under the altar during their time on earth were marked for God, but all were martyred. This points to a greater truth: there is an inherent risk in being marked for God, living a life devoted to Jesus. We may be comfortable volunteering or being kind to others, but we can be nervous about sharing our faith — perhaps because the Gospel is a light, and in more ways than one. This light reveals truth and freedom, but also the sin and shame we all try to hide. This Gospel might be accepted readily by some and met with apathy, offense, or opposition by others. We can see all kinds of good reasons to be afraid, but when we look to God, we see an infinitely greater call to share our faith and Him with others. We are called to be disciples of Jesus, bravely facing the age in which we live, devoting ourselves to God, knowing that we are protected and loved. God wants us to bravely live our faith. If we can do this, make our best effort, all there is left to do is “be patient a little while longer” (Rev 6:11).