Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Study Note
Study Note
'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them' — the second of Revelation's seven beatitudes is addressed to those martyred during the great tribulation, promising that death 'in the Lord' is entry into divine rest rather than oblivion. The Spirit's confirming 'Yea' makes this the only beatitude in Revelation with explicit trinitarian endorsement — the voice from heaven and the Spirit speaking together. The 'works do follow them' counters any antinomian interpretation of grace by insisting that the martyr's faithful deeds accompany them into the divine presence — consistent with Paul's 'each will receive his own reward according to his own labor' (1 Corinthians 3:8).
Other Translations
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.
And I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me, `Write: Happy are the dead who in the Lord are dying from this time!' `Yes, (saith the Spirit,) That they may rest from their labours--and their works do follow them!'
And a voice from heaven came to my ears, saying, Put in writing, There is a blessing on the dead who from now on come to their end in the Lord: yes, says the Spirit, that they may have rest from their troubles; for their works go with them.
Cross References
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such …
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: …
The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the …
He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.