A Revelation Invitation

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13 ESV)

As I began writing this little essay, I spoke with a friend, a middle-aged man and young disciple, who had just buried his father. The Enemy has attacked him relentlessly since becoming a Christian. Over the past couple of years death has taken several of his family and close friends. Now my friend is awaiting test results to determine whether he has cancer. He joyfully embraces the hope of eternal life in Christ should cancer take his own life. Knowing that he could use the encouragement, I shared with him the verse quoted above. This, the second of seven beatitudes in Revelation, was proclaimed from heaven specifically so that we may each joyfully face persecution and death.

As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:26, death is the last enemy to be destroyed. So how is it possible that the dead are blessed? Are those only words that we tell ourselves to take the sting out of our loss? Or can we embrace that promise as a real comfort when we confront the grave? Whether by threat of disease, by torment from a persecutor or in suffering from any other cause, the prospect of death naturally gives rise to fear. But rather than commanding us not to fear, the Holy Spirit instead offers blessed assurance that something wonderful awaits us after death. How does he do that?

First the Spirit promises that in death we will find rest from our labors. Whatever burdens we bear will be relieved in death. If we cease to exist as popular culture portrays, the Spirit could not describe death as rest. That would only be an escape into nothingness. Small comfort that would be. Rest is something else, something to be enjoyed and appreciated, something comforting and refreshing.

Secondly the Spirit points out that our deeds will follow us. Our lives as Christians are not lived in vain no matter how short or long because our deeds follow us. How can that be? I’m not really sure. In ways I don’t yet understand those deeds and their blessings will follow us beyond the grave. Those deeds are not the source of our salvation; we are not saved because of our deeds. We are blessed because of them. Our deeds, our service to God and to others, in some mysterious way follow us into the age to come. Therefore, we persevere in our faith and deeds regardless of the difficulties the enemy throws at us knowing that our service to God and others will be a source of eternal blessing—to us.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our own deaths will never prevent our being blessed. Those who die in the Lord will indeed be blessed because Jesus has conquered death and will one day vanquish death, the last enemy, in the lake of fire. He will raise us from the dead never to die again. Even in death blessing awaits those who trust in the Lord.

Holy Spirit, thank you for this promise. Thank you for the assurance of blessing even in death. Thank you for your assurance that I will find rest in death. How is it that my deeds will follow me beyond the grave? I don’t really understand. Regardless, I look forward to seeing how you fulfill that promise. I don’t look forward to death. I hate what death does. But I need not fear it because of your promises. Amen.