REVELATION 6.9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. 6.10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 6.11 A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course. -WEB Bible.
There are Seven Seals on Heaven's mysterious Scroll, and the Four Horsemen are only the first four. The Fifth Seal is clearly about persecution of Christians. There will be many martyrs after the Fifth Seal is broken. The sorting and sifting that God is doing on the earth is for Christians as well.
Nothing sorts our priorities better than facing hardship for what we believe. And, the Church has always grown when there was persecution! The Gospel gets noticed when conditions are that extreme. We can hope that many more souls will be added to God's family during this time.
Notice how the martyrs are treated with special favor, and
even tenderness, in heaven. They are given special robes to wear. The place
under the altar is a place of honor.
Can things get any worse here on earth? Oh yes. The 6th Seal
will begin the chaos and upheaval of the earth itself.