Read with Me
Revelation 14:13 (HCSB)
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: The dead who die in the Lord from now on are blessed.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!”
Listen with Me
Immediately after John sees the vision of the three angels who proclaimed the possibility of repentance, the fall of the emperor and his whole system of government, and the eternal doom of those who refused to repent and turn away from the emperor and his cult, John hears a mighty voice coming from heaven, the voice of the Father.
God declares a blessing on all His holy people who remain true and steadfast all the way to the end, and who do not compromise, even in the face of severe pain and distress. Like those whom Jesus declares “blessed” in the Beatitudes at the start of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), this declaration of blessedness seems contradictory, almost self-refuting. No one looking at these suffering saints who were experiencing severe privation and physical and emotional distress would call them blessed. But, as in the Beatitudes these are truly blessed for two reasons.
First is that, as God’s people, they can experience his presence and his power even in the darkest times. Both Jesus and God the Father promised never to leave them or forsake them as long as they remain true to Him and His agenda.
But, as a Holy Spirit echoed this blessing, He added that those suffering saints never faced a blank wall of despair in their time of trial. Instead, they have the promise of rest, relief, and a future of blessedness with God where their every hurt would be healed, their every weakness strengthened, and their every tear dried by the Father’s own hand (Isaiah 25:7-8).
It was important for John to write these words down in this letter to remind the saints that Jesus never promised His followers an easy path, quite the contrary, in fact (John 16:33). But He did promise them an ultimate victory in Him if they persevered and didn’t give up.
Pray with Me
Father, thank You for this reassurance. Admittedly, for most of us who read or hear these words today, we are not experiencing the sharp fire of persecution, but just the irritating hassles of living in a sin-broken, sin-darkened world. But even in this “light and momentary suffering” it is vital that we remember to hold tightly to You and to not allow ourselves to be pushed aside or knocked off the path. Thank You, Lord, for this reminder. Amen.