1. Revelation 6:11 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is to happen while these martyred saints rest?

Revelation 6:11 (ESV)

11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

As they await God’s vengeance on earth, more of their brethren would be killed, just as they had been, because Jesus’ promise (John 15:18–20) would not be restricted to those already martyred but would characterize the New Testament era so that many more would be murdered for the Lord’s and the gospel’s sake (Matthew 5:11–12). Of course, that would happen as the Lord continued to work faith through the preaching of the gospel in all those whom the Father had given to him (see John 17:2).