Who Are the Souls Under the Altar in Revelation?

During his heavenly vision in the book of Revelation, John receives the revelation of events that will take place in the future. After being called to come up into heaven in Revelation 4, he sees the throne of God and the Lamb opening the sealed scroll.

When the fifth seal is opened, John receives a prophetic vision of an event that will occur during the Tribulation: he sees under the altar the souls of those who will have been killed because of their faithfulness to God and their testimony. These martyrs will ask for justice because of their shed blood and will receive a white robe, symbolizing the righteousness granted to them by God.

These people do not represent the Church (The Bride*) that was taken in the Rapture. According to the prophetic timeline, the Rapture of the Church will already have taken place before the opening of the seals. These martyrs will be people who are saved during the Tribulation, who refuse to follow the Antichrist’s system and remain faithful to God even unto death.

The vision of the souls under the altar also prepares for the event described in Revelation 7, where John later sees a great multitude from every nation standing before the throne of God. These two groups are connected because of the period in which they live, but they represent different moments in God’s plan.

Content based on the Bible

Understanding the Souls Under the Altar

When the fifth seal is opened, John receives an advance vision of the souls of those who will be killed because of their testimony and their faithfulness to God. This vision does not describe believers who died before the Rapture, but martyrs who will die during the Tribulation after refusing to abandon their faith.

These people will be persecuted by the Antichrist’s system and will choose to give their lives rather than deny God. Their presence in heaven shows that they are immediately with the Lord after their death and that God recognizes their sacrifice.

They wait for the fulfillment of God’s plan before justice is brought upon the earth.

Souls Under the Altar

Are They the Church?

The souls under the altar do not represent the Church  (The Bride*) taken in the Rapture. In the end-times chronology, the Rapture of the Church has already taken place before the opening of the seven seals.

The people John sees are men and women who will be saved during the Tribulation. They belong to another group of redeemed people: they will believe in God during this difficult period and will die because of their faithfulness.

This distinction explains why Revelation presents several groups of saved people during the end times: the Church, the Tribulation martyrs, the 144,000 from Israel, and the great multitude from every nation.

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The White Robes

The white robes received by the martyrs show that God has declared them righteous and recognizes their faithfulness. They represent their salvation and their position before God after their death.

This scene shows that the persecutions of the end times are not outside God’s control. Even when faithful people are persecuted on earth, God welcomes them into His presence and prepares their eternal reward.

This vision is different from the great multitude in Revelation 7: the souls under the altar represent those who have died during the Tribulation, while the great multitude describes those who will later appear before God’s throne.

The Future Great Multitude

After the sealing of the 144,000 servants from the twelve tribes of Israel, John receives a prophetic vision of a future event: he sees a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne of God.

This vision does not describe a group that already exists at the time John receives the revelation. God shows him in advance the people who will be saved during the Tribulation and who will later appear before His throne. They will have gone through this time of great trial and remained faithful despite persecution.

The great multitude is connected to the martyrs of the fifth seal, but it is a different vision. The souls under the altar represent those who died because of their faith, while the great multitude shows the future result of God’s work among those who will be saved during the Tribulation.

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Who are the souls under the altar in Revelation?

The souls under the altar are the martyrs who will be killed because of their faithfulness to God during the Tribulation. They refused to abandon their testimony and remained faithful despite persecution. They are shown in heaven, where God recognizes their sacrifice and gives them white robes.

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Are the souls under the altar the Church?

No. The souls under the altar do not represent the Church taken in the Rapture. In the end-times chronology, the Rapture of the Church takes place before the opening of the seven seals. These souls represent those who will be saved during the Tribulation and will be martyred because of their faith in God.

Who is the great multitude in Revelation 7?

The great multitude represents a future group of people who will be saved during the Great Tribulation, the second half of the seven years announced by Daniel. They will come from every nation, tribe, people, and language and will appear before the throne of God wearing white robes. This prophetic vision shows that even during the judgments of the end times, God will continue to call people to Himself. Unlike the souls under the altar of the fifth seal, this multitude is presented after a period of great distress and reveals the extent of God’s salvation during this time.

Continue Your Discovery

1. The Seven Seals of Revelation

2. Revelation 6 Explained

3. Who Are the 144,000 in Revelation?

4. Revelation 7 Explained

5. The Seven-Year Tribulation

6. The Return of Jesus Christ

© 2026 Après l’Enlèvement – All Rights Reserved 

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Après Enlèvement explores biblical prophecy, the Rapture of the Church, the End Times, and the Christian faith.

Discover what the Bible teaches about the return of Jesus Christ and how to be ready for it.

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