2. Interlude of the martyrs' chorus (7:9-17)

The martyrs sing a song of salvation (7:10). The ministry of the pastoral Lamb foreshadows the promises eventually available to all saints (21:4-6). As H.B. Swete stated, the purpose of ch. 7 is “to contrast the preparedness of the church for the coming end with the panic of the unprepared world” (p. 95).