A fourth voice now comes from heaven telling John to
write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now
on! Yes, says the Spirit, so that they may rest from their
labors, for their deed follow with them” (Revelation 14:13).
The phrase “the dead who die in the Lord from now on” refers
to martyred believers. Those martyred for their stand in
Christ. However, they are blessed. The beast can kill their
physical bodies, but their souls and spirits go immediately
to be with the Lord.
The key point in this verse is it is better to be dead at
the hands of the beast than to follow him and reject Christ.
Why, because of what awaits the believer in heaven and the
eternal future.
The words the Spirit speaks, affirms the blessedness of
martyrdom. The clause, “that they may rest from their
labors” points us to God’s purpose in death, the cessation
of the saint’s labor, toil, and weariness, but also the
blessed experience and rest of God’s presence and the
paradise of heaven. That is not all; God promises to reward
believers for their labors. Their works will not be
forgotten (1 Corinthians 15:58). By way of comparison, how
many times do people cease from labor but are unable to
actually rest, enjoy it and relax? In God’s presence and out
of this old world, rest will truly be rest. Part of the
reason for this is in what follows in the final clause;
“Labors.” Labors refer to hard work, toil producing a
weariness that exhausts. Here it particularly refers to
labors endured in persecution from the beast.
“For their deeds follow them.” This is both an explanation
and a promise. It is an explanation in that it points out
one of the reasons these martyrs will be able to enjoy their
rest. Their labors will not be in vain. Rewards will follow
which will more than compensate for their losses on earth.
Heaven’s joys and those of the eternal state will blot out
the memory of earth’s painful labors and trials (Revelation
21:4; Isaiah 65:17-18). Their deeds will bring special joy
because of the glory they bring to God.
