When He Opened the Fifth Seal

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Keraza Magazine issue 49-50, December 23, 2016

As we parade the martyrs of the St. Peter's Church to heaven, we remember the words of St. John the Beloved in the Revelation: "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" (Revelations 6:9). The fifth seal is one of seven seals on a scroll written within and without found at the right of Him who sat on the throne. No one was able to open this scroll, read it, or even to look at it of those in heaven, those on earth, or even those under the earth. But, when John saw the lamb, standing as if slain, come and take the scroll from the right of Him who sits on the throne, those in heaven rejoiced singing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelations 5:9). According to the expositions of the fathers, this scroll is the Holy Bible, New and Old Testament. Only the Son of God was able to fulfill its prophecies and reveal its mysteries of salvation hidden within, through the sacrifice of the cross.

As we have seen, the fifth seal concerns all martyrs who have been martyred for their witness to the name of Christ, but the obvious question now is why was it ordained for martyrdom to remain a seal that no one could open, akin to the rest of the seven seals, except the slain lamb? Why has martyrdom been ordained a seal that conceals the mysteries of salvation in the Holy Bible, such that it cannot be opened, read, or even looked upon, without its seven seals being opened (including the seal of martyrdom)? This means the mysteries of salvation would not be revealed without opening the seal of martyrdom, yet simultaneously, without salvation the seal of martyrdom cannot be opened!

The answer is clear in the verse itself: they "had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held." A martyr witnesses to the truth in the Word, sealing with his blood the verity of the promises of salvation. Otherwise, how can someone give up his life unsure of salvation? If the Lord Christ described the believers as the light of the world, martyrs, through their martyrdom, become even the brightest lights of the world, evinced by the vast numbers of those who believe in the Lord Christ because of their martyrdom. Thus the eyes of many are opened to the hidden mysteries of salvation through martyrs. Every martyr, therefore, joins St. Paul saying, "to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9). As for why no one was able to open the seal of martyrdom, except Jesus Christ, this is because Christ's salvific work is the pivot of the testimony of each martyr, the spring of his steadfastness, and his resoluteness before the oppression of his torturers. Martyrdom is not moral courage or zealous bravery, but it is intense love that ignites the heart of the martyr towards His Redeemer who was crucified for him; Christ who loved him first. As the words of the sweet song say: "If you tasted Him, you would know why the martyrs never left Him."

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States