Blessed are the Dead Which Die in the Lord Revelation 14:13

After writing about the “beast or the antichrist” and “the dragon – the devil or Satan” being worshiped by people upon the earth, John the apostle wrote how a “third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirteen of Revelation John is told to, “write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord” where we read:

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.

The verse reads, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now:” John began with the words, “and I heard” which means “and John was given and granted the faculty for hearing, understanding, perceiving and noticing” “a voice” or “a sound or tone of uttered words, language and tongue” “from heaven” which means “out and away from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “saying” or “uttering, proclaiming and declaring” “unto me” or “towards John”, “Write” or “delineate in letters upon a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “blessed” which means “oh how happy, fortunate and well off” “are the dead” which refers to “are the deceased, departed, inanimate, lifeless and destitute of life” “which die” or “who perish by means of something whether natural or violent” “in the Lord” which means “in a relationship with the the one whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “from now” or “away from this point forward”. John “heard” another “voice” coming from “heaven” which instructed him to “write down” how “blessed” people are who “die” while being in a relationship with God.

The verse goes on to say, “Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” John continued with the word, “yes” which means “verily, truly, assuredly and even so”, “says” or “utters, proclaims and declares” “the Spirit” which refers to “the third person of the triune God and the Holy Spirit who is coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son”, “that they may rest” or “so those who have a relationship with God will cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength, keep quiet and be calm with patient expectation” “from their labors” which means “apart from these believers' beatings of the breast with grief, sorrow and trouble”; “and their works” which means “and these believers' business, employment, enterprise, undertaking and that which they are occupied” “do follow them” or “join them as attendants, accompany and side with these believers”. John heard the “voice from heaven” share how “believers in God” will “cease” from all their “griefs and sorrows” and what they do shall “follow” after them.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we understand there is a reprieve from all the “judgment” that is declared upon those who “worship” the antichrist and “receive” his “mark”. The “saints” of God shall be avenged, and though they endure hardship, troubles and difficulties which cause them to “sorrow and grieve”, they are promised reprieve from them. God desires to keep people from the condemnation that is promised upon unbelievers, and this is accomplished by accepting His Son Jesus as “Savior and Lord”. Perhaps there are those reading these words today who have never received Jesus into their lives, and may they know “now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Receive Jesus today, and be “blessed” in life and “death” among those whom God desires to save.

Next time John saw how, “upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.