The Fifth through the Seventh Seals
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. (Revelation 6: 9-11)
The fifth seal is indicative of those who are martyred by the anti-christ for their testimony and belief in the One True God. These souls lay under the altar of God, but they are not avenged until the rest of the martyrs have made their heavenly journey.
Revelation 6 and 7 speak of the sixth seal. Many things happen with the opening of this seal. First a great earthquake (possibly the beginning of nuclear war, since the sun becomes blackened). Men are hiding from the wrath of God. The wind ceases blowing. Four angels are released to pour out bowls of wrath upon the earth, but are stopped short so the servants of God can be sealed: 144,000, or 12,000 each from the 12 tribes of Israel. I believe these will be the witnesses for the Word of God during the remaining time of the tribulation.
In Chapter 7, vs. 9-17, we see a vision of the tribulation saints standing before the throne of God worshipping Him. Verse 14 leads us to believe that these were people who were saved during the tribulation.
When the 7th seal is opened, there is silence in heaven for half an hour. The Bible does not tell us what that seal contains, except that maybe the next chapter of the Seven Trumpets could be it, and that there is a break of some sort before those trumpets are blown.
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