The Fifth Seal: AR 324, 325 - The Souls Under the Altar

AR 324

When He opened the fifth seal.
(Revelation 6:9)

This symbolizes an examination by the Lord
of the states of life of people
who would be saved on the day of the Last Judgment,
and who in the meantime were sequestered.

AR 325 [1, 4]

I saw under the altar
the souls of those who had been slain
for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
(Revelation 6:9)

This symbolizes people who were hated by the evil,
treated with scorn and expelled
because of their life in accordance with the Word's truths
and their acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine humanity,
and who were protected by the Lord
to keep them from being led astray.

The evil in the world of spirits
continually wish to kill these people.
But because they cannot do so physically there,
they continually try to do so as regards the soul.
And when they cannot do this,
they burn with such hatred against these people
that they feel nothing more delightful
than to do them harm.
The reason [they cannot kill them]
is that the Lord protects them . . ..