“And when He had opened the fourth seal, ... behold _a pale horse_: and his name that sat on him was _Death_, and _Hell_ [Greek, _Hades_, the _grave_] _followed with him_. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, _to kill with sword_, and with _hunger_, and with _death_, and with the _beasts of the earth_.” Verses 7, 8. NOTE.—This is an unnatural color for a horse. The original denotes the _pale_ or _yellowish_ color seen in blighted plants. The symbol evidently refers to the work of persecution and death carried on by the Roman Church against the people of God from the time of the beginning of papal supremacy in 538 A.D. to the time when the Reformers commenced their work of exposing the true character of the Papacy, and a check was placed upon this work of death. 8. On opening the fifth seal, what was seen under the altar? “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_.” Verse 9. NOTE.—When the Reformers exposed the work of the Papacy, it was then called to mind how many martyrs had been slain for their faith. 9. What were these martyrs represented as doing? “And _they cried with a loud voice_, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Verse 10. NOTE.—The cruel treatment which they had received cried for vengeance, just as Abel’s blood cried to God from the ground. Gen. 4:10. They were not in heaven, but under the altar on which they had been slain. On this point Dr. Adam Clarke says: “The altar is upon earth, not in heaven.” See note under next question. 10. What was given these martyrs? “And _white robes were given unto every one of them_; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled [have fulfilled their course, R. V.].” Verse 11.