The fifth seal on the scroll, opened by Christ, has John back in the throne room, now viewed as God’s temple. Old Testament imagery is on display with the altar of incense, just as that used in the tabernacle and the temple. Beneath that altar are the martyrs of the first half of the Tribulation, martyred for their testimony for Christ, both in how they lived and what they preached. They held fast to their beliefs, and paid the ultimate earthly price as a result.
Those souls cry out “How long?” to God, as they seek justice for those who persecuted and killed them. The response they receive is to be given white robes; they are justified, secure in heaven and God’s holiness forever. God tells them to rest and enjoy this blessed state they now find themselves in.
Seal number six is broken, and John sees natural and cosmic disasters and wonders. An earthquake occurs on the earth, apparently not symbolic, but real. This gets the attention of people, yet does not lead to total destruction. The sun is blackened, perhaps by an eclipse. The panic is building in the world, as people begin to recognize the events of the previous seals, and that something big and frightening is taking place. The timing of the eclipse, under full control by God, only adds to this panic.
Stars falling may refer to a huge meteor shower. We know from later chapters that the stars themselves are still in place. And the moon turns to a blood red color, perhaps due to the atmospheric disturbance of colors as the result of the eclipse (red light bends around an eclipsing object easier, as it is farther out on the visible spectrum of light, thus the red color the last to disappear at sunset). The cosmic disturbances give the impression that the universe is coming apart, as the heavens seem to be splitting apart, like scrolls rolled up.
All this together seem to be a foreshadowing of the time immediately before Christ’s return, and the leaders and people are beginning to take notice. Their response is to hide. They think it is better to hide and die than to face the Lamb, better to not deal with Christ. They dread standing before a righteous God.
These seal judgments come relatively rapidly, and they do not quite hit home until this sixth seal is opened. The unsaved are beginning to recognize what is going on. How will they respond? Who can possibly stand and survive in the face of God's wrath?
Keep in context the letters to the seven churches. They got to read about the seals, too. They should be seeing incentives to correct error and follow God, on His terms.
SO WHAT…? (I realize the events during the Tribulation may not directly impact me, as I will be in heaven, part of the church. Yet there are some valuable principles which I think apply to my life)
So, do I seek justice for those who oppose God, or can I rest in the blessed state of salvation where I find myself?
So, when I am missing the big picture of God and His plan, what will it take for Him to get MY attention?
So, how do I respond to what God tries to show me?
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