Understanding Revelation (6:10-11) Devotion

"They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? 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."

(Revelation 6:10-11)

The metaphor of white robes connotes the idea of a purity which has resulted from persevering faith tested by the refining fire of tribulation. Robes are given not only as a reward for purity of faith but as a heavenly declaration of the saints' purity or righteousness and an annulling of the guilty verdict rendered on them by the world. In this picture is an assurance to the saints still on earth that their vindication before God without doubt awaits them. But for the "earth-dwellers" (the standard expression in Revelation for unbelievers: 8:13; 11:10; 13:12. etc.), there remains the terrifying prospect of judgment.

The Saints are told to rest a little longer until the suffering of their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.

The phrase a little longer presents a theological problem, since it appears to allude to an imminent end of history. But from God's viewpoint what may be but a few moments could be a long period from the human perspective, as is evident from comparing the parallels of Rev. 12:12 ("short time") with 20:3 ("thousand years"..also 2 Pet. 3:8-13). 

As we have repeatedly observed, the "latter days" span the entire period from Christ's resurrection to His final return. The exhortation to rest means that the saints in heaven are to be patient in their desire for God to answer their request. The assurance that God will unquestionably punish the evil world becomes a motivation for Christians to persevere in their witness through suffering on earth. 

(G.K. Beale)