Revelation 6:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Meanwhile, if anyone in his folly thinks that by untimely haste he can grant remission of sins to each person, or dares to annul the Lord's commandments, he not only fails to help the fallen, but harms them. Not to submit to the sentence, to think that one need not implore God for mercy, and to despise the Lord while trusting in one's own strength, is to summon wrath upon oneself. Under the altar of God the souls of the slain martyrs cry with a loud voice: "How long, O Master, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Yet they are commanded to rest and wait still. Is it therefore good to desire that someone, contrary to the Judge, may pardon without distinction and forgive sins? Can he defend others before he himself has been avenged?

He who sees all things wished us to know that they, the souls of those slain, await vengeance for their blood, that is, for their body, upon those who dwell on the earth. But since at the end of the times both the eternal reward of the saints and the curse of the impious will come, it is said that they wait. And as consolation for their body, John says, they received white garments, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The words "until their fellow servants should be completed" indicate that the saints appear as though praying for the end of the world. Therefore they are commanded to endure until their brethren are completed, so that, according to the Apostle, they should not be made perfect without them (Heb 11:40). The white garment signifies the radiant brightness of virtues flourishing among them, in which they are clothed, though they have not yet received what was promised. Free from every defilement, they rest in Abraham's bosom and are truly blessed in hope of receiving what they still see as in a spiritual mirror. So also many holy Fathers say that each worker of virtue will inherit a worthy place. He is assured of this by certain signs and already contemplates the future glory.

In any case, the divine word indicates that when the time of punishment comes, conversion will no longer free the wicked man from punishment. Rather, punishing wrath will destroy him by deserved condemnation. That time will not be a time of forgiveness, but of recompense. It will not be a time of mercy, but of punishment. It is delayed by divine longsuffering so that the number of the saints may be completed. Blessed John in the Apocalypse reminds us that the saints asked for this punishment in these words: "How long, O Master, holy and true. Until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" To explain concerning those who are to be united with the saints that the time of punishment is delayed by a higher decree. He continues: "And white robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until their fellow servants and their brethren should complete the number."

Having said this, they first receive white garments. This meant that they had been purified by their blood and that every stain had been washed from them. Then they heard that they must rest yet a little while, until their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, should complete the number. For it would be unjust to prevent those who resembled them in courage from receiving the crowns of martyrdom before the appointed destruction of the demons fighting against them.

Here we understand that the foreknowledge of God’s wisdom was revealed to them. According to it, the impious will not escape eternal punishment, and at the end of the times, when the fountains of God’s grace are opened, many will still have to join the company of the holy martyrs. But after receiving their reward, they will become partakers of ineffable joy, which we believe is symbolized by the white garments. Therefore some will receive white garments, that is, perfection by grace, which is poured into the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit. Satisfied with this consolation, they themselves will prefer to await the completion of the number of the remaining brethren.

It can be understood that the elect souls dwelling in that heavenly city also ask in the name of the Savior for themselves. Without doubt they long for the coming of the time of the universal judgment and the resurrection of the bodies in which they fought for the Lord. Now each soul has only one white garment and rejoices only in its own joy. But when, at the end, the number of the holy brethren is fulfilled, they will receive two and will rejoice that they receive immortal bodies. Gregory the Great uses this passage for the same argument (Dialogues 4.26).

From all this it is clear that neither do the saints yet possess the perfect enjoyment of those good things and of the future blessedness, nor have sinners yet received condemnation and been sent away to torment. For how could those who are imperfect, as though cut into two parts, and do not have the body which they await after the resurrection, incorruptible, already have entered into possession of perfect rewards?

The understanding of these verses of Revelation is connected with verses 4-5 of chapter 3 and verses 13-17 of chapter 7. In every age, those who strive toward the Light (cf. 1 Jn 1:5) thereby bear witness to the image's striving toward its Prototype. If the earthly life of the Prototype was joined to the labor of preaching, persecutions, sweat, blood, and the Cross, then likeness to God on earth is the uncomplaining bearing of one's cross unto blood and death. The white garments are the clothing of the age to come for those who bore witness to God in this life.

Then they heard from God: Let them rest yet a little while, until their fellow servants and their brethren should be completed. So long-suffering is the great mercy of God!