Revelation 6:9-11

Man is a living soul. (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:44-45) Man also has a spiritual soul which will not die. (Matthew 10:28) McCord indicates the word "destroy" is elsewhere translated "lost." (Matthew 10:6; Luke 15:32; Luke 19:10)

Since life is in the blood and the blood of sacrificed animals was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 17:11; Leviticus 4:7), we conclude the souls here mentioned are the lives offered in sacrifice to the Lord. The word "slain" here is the same as was used in Revelation 5:6. Their blood does not cry out for revenge but the wrath of justice. (Genesis 4:10) They had been sacrificed because the faithful kept God's word and testified as to its truthfulness. How reassuring to know their sacrifice did not go unnoticed in heaven. Their enemies may have thought they won by sending them to their deaths, but they are actually given white robes of purity and assured of ultimate victory. They must wait for a "little time" until those who served with them and others who would be martyred should join them. This "little time" is the same wording as is used by Jesus in John 7:33; John 12:35. It seems to this writer that this time of waiting for God's avenging judgment would come when God destroyed the persecutors.