BLESSED are THOSE who ‘DIE’ in JESUS CHRIST!
December
29 Bible Reading: Revelation Chapters 13-15
BLESSED are THOSE who ‘DIE’ in JESUS CHRIST!
Here is the patience of the saints; here are
those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a
voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'"
"Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors,
and their works follow them." (Rev 14:12-13)
In the above
passage Apostle John receives special instruction regarding those who die in
Christ. These born-again sanctified believers in Christ, who patiently with endurance keep His commandments
and faith in very difficult times, will receive a special divine blessing. They
will be blessed through rest, resurrection and reigning with Christ during the
Millennium (20:4–6).
The word ‘blessed’ mentioned in this passage is the
second of the seven ‘beatitudes’ in
the book of Revelation (see 1:3; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14). We are ‘blessed’ to die in Christ (2 Cor 5:6,
8) mainly due to the following three
reasons:
- We die in a state of vital union with Christ and will be with Him forever.
- We rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution.
- Our good deeds remain on the earth while we receive heavenly rewards for our services and sufferings.
Spiritual
rest is available to anyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith (see Matt. 11:28).
Godly believers who die will rest from their labors and their good works will
be remembered and rewarded (see 1 Tim. 5:25). It would indeed be a blessing for
the believers who live during the Great Tribulation to die as martyrs as they
would be at rest beyond the grave and God would then reward their faithful
deeds.
Let us
understand that everything we do for Christ and in His name for others will be
richly rewarded—every kindness, sacrificial gift, prayer, and word of
testimony. Let us determine to live for Christ, so that we can die in Christ,
and be counted among the ‘blessed’ in
Christ!
