The Fifth and Sixth Seals: The Souls of the Martyrs and the Shaking of Heaven

When the Lamb opens the fifth seal, John sees the souls of those who had been killed for the word of God, under the altar. They cry out to God to judge and avenge their blood. Each of them is given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until their fellow servants and brothers who are to be killed as they were have reached the full number. When the Lamb opens the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake: the sun becomes black like a sackcloth, the moon like blood, and the stars of heaven fall to earth like unripe figs. The sky rolls up like a scroll, and every mountain and island is moved from its place. Kings, nobles, commanders, rich, powerful, slaves and free people hide in caves and call out to the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb – for the great day of their wrath has come.