“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.”
Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed — the white robes signify vindication and resurrection hope; they are told to rest (anapaō) yet remain aware that further martyrdoms must occur. The unfinished number (arithmos, count) suggests that eschatological timing awaits the full company of martyrs, an encouragement to subsequent faithful unto death.
Church Fathers on Revelation 6:11
“And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain.” He relates that he saw under the altar of God, that is, under the earth, the souls of them that were slain. For both heaven and earth are called God's altar, as says the law, commanding in the symbolic form of the truth two altars to be made — a golden one within, and a brazen one without. But we perceive that the golden altar is thus called heaven, by the testimony that our Lord…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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