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William Branham preached a series of sermons in March 1963 on the Seven Seals of the book of Revelation. This article contains a summary of these sermons as taught by William Branham, who taught that each seal identifies a religous disturbance. Much of William Branham's teachings on the Seven Seals can also be found in the works of Clarence Larkin, a dispensational Baptist author.
Each seal opens a new chapter in the book sealed with seven seals. This page reviews William Branham's commentary on the Fifth Seal as found in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh verses of Revelation Chapter 6.
Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 9
| And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
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The Lamb opens the Fifth Seal
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, opens the fifth seal.
Links to other articles in the series
This article is one in a series of studies on the Seven Seals - you are currently on the topic that is in bold:
Absence of a beast to announce the Seal
The four six-winged beasts guard the throne of God in heaven. One beast looks like a lion, another like an ox, another like a man, and another like an eagle. William Branham taught that these beasts parallel the four gospels in the New Testament, which protect the testimony of Jesus Christ on earth, and vindicate the Holy Spirit in the Church in the book of Acts.
These beasts are absent in the fifth seal as the Holy Spirit has been taken off of the earth, and those who were filled with the Holy Spirit have been "raptured", or taken into heaven without having to die. As the Holy Spirit has left with the Church, there is no further use guarding this testimony on earth.
- I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Souls under the altar
These souls were slain for the "Word of God, and for the testimony that they held". William Branham taught that these people were not slain for the testimony of Jesus Christ, but they did have the Word of God. These are the Jews who remained loyal the their cause, preserving and protecting the Jewish race and the word of God throughout Church history.
- For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (ROMANS 11:25-26)
Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 10
| And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
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A cry for judgement
These people didn't ask for forgiveness for their persecutors, like Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Instead, these people are calling for judgement, not grace. William Branham taught that these are people who received the judgement of God when they cried (or their fathers' cried) His blood be on us, and on our children (Matthew 27:25), and are now demanding the same judgement on those who brought them pain.
Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 11
| And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
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White Robes
According to Romans 11:25, the Jews were blinded so that the Gentiles could receive the grace of God. William Branham taught that, though blinded by their own father, these Jews are also granted white robes by the mercy of God.
Those who will be killed
William Branham taught that the season of killing is the last three and a half days of Daniel's 70th week, which translates into three and a half years. During this time the two prophets and the 144,000 will be killed.
- And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (REVELATION 11:7)
| Matthew 24:21 - 24
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Revelation 6:9-11
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| For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
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And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
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Plagiarism
| What William Branham Said
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What Clarence Larkin Said
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| They were killed for the Word of God's sake, not for the testimony of Christ. Did you understand that? But remember, the church come in. Also the martyrs of the church was for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. How many knows that here too? All right now... But these didn't have the testimony of Jesus Christ "... for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held," as Jews.
Notice, they asked for revenge. See? Now, if that had been the Bride, it'd been like Stephen: "Father, forgive them," you know. See? But these are Jews that just come in. See? They asked for revenge.
Now, notice. These Jews... I have to do this in order to--to let you see the revelation of this Seal, see what it is, these souls under the altar and who they are.
Now, notice. In the time of Daniel, now, the second half of the seventieth week... Now, remember, Messiah was to be cut off in the midst. That's the middle. Well, what's half of seven? Three and a half... But there's determined yet to the people what? Another three and a half year.
THE FIFTH SEAL 63-0322
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FIFTH SEAL
When the Lamb had opened the “FIFTH SEAL,” John saw under the “Sacrificial Altar,” corresponding to the “Burnt Offering Altar,” the “SOULS” of them that were slain for the “Word of God” and for the “testimony they held.” The fact that their “SOULS” were under the “Sacrificial Altar” is proof that they had been offered as a “Sacrifice,” that is that they were MARTYRS. But they were not the Martyrs of the Christian Church... These Martyrs are those who will be killed for the “Word of God”...
That there is no such thing as “Soul Sleep,” and that disembodied SOULS are conscious and can speak and cry, is clear from what John saw and heard, for these “SOULS” cried with a loud voice—“How long, O Lord, Holy and True, dost Thou not judge and avenge our BLOOD on them that dwell on the earth?” The character of their cry is further proof that they are not the Martyrs of the Christian Church, for they would not cry to be avenged, but like Stephen would say—“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Acts 7:60. Their cry is that of the Imprecatory Psalms (Psa. 35, 55, 59, 94, etc.) and indicates that these Martyrs whose SOULS are seen are mainly JEWS.
These martyred SOULS were comforted, and told that they should rest for a “little season,” about 3½ years, until their fellow servants also, and their brethren (Jews) that should be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled.
Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, 58-59 (Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919).
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