Matthew Poole and continuators on Revelation 6:9

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal , I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held .

This and the next Seals opening, is not prefaced with any living Creatures calling to Iohn to come and see. We must conside[illegible: 1 letter], 1. The number of the Beasts was but four, who all ha[illegible: 1 letter] had their courses. 2. Some have thought that it is, because here is no mention of any new Persecution, but a consequent of the former. 3. But this Vision was so plain, it needed no Expositor.

Still he speaks in the Dialect of the Old Testament, where in the Temple was the Altar of Burn[illegible: 1 letter]-Offering, and the Altar of Incense; the allusion here is judged to be the latter.

From whence we may not conclude, that the Souls of Men and Women when they die do sleep, as some Dreamers have thought. These are said to be the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, &c. for preaching the Word, and their profession of the Gospel, bearing a testimony to Christ and his Truths. Mr. Mede thinks that under this Seal is comprehended the ten bloody years of Dioclesian's Persecution, which of all others was most severe; Paganism at that time (as dying things are wont) most strugg[illegible: 1 letter]ng to keep it self alive. This Tyrant is said in the beginning of his Reign within thirty days to have slain seventeen thousand, and in Egypt alone, during his Ten years, 144000. He thinks that the Souls of those which this Wretch had slain throughout all his Dominions, within his short period of ten years, were those principally which were shewed Iohn upon the opening of this Seal.

Marginal references: Chap. 8.3. and 9.13. and 14.18.; Chap. 20.4.; Chap. 1.9. Chap. 19.10.