The Living Dead
The 7 Blessings in Revelation Series
Scripture Revelation 14:13
Introduction:
This Thursday we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Europe. As most of you know this was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, and the decisive operation that led us to victory in World War 2.
I was watching some documentaries talking about the significance of this day and the heroism of the men who landed on those beaches.
On the allied side, over 10,000 casualties and over 4400 people were killed to get that foothold established in trying to take back Europe from the Nazi regime.
For all those who have seen the movie Saving Private Ryan, you got to see see a dramatic depiction of what that was like when those amphibious craft drop the front door and the men waded through the surf into a barrage of machine gunfire.
Although my grandfather did not fight in Europe during World War 2, he did fight in the Pacific theater and rode in those same craft several times to recapture the islands taken by Japan. He told me the only way you could muster up the courage to climb in those things time after time is to accept the fact that you would most likely die.
He told me that it was one of the most valuable things he learned- that the only way to live is to live like you will die tomorrow.
He told me when you have that mindset you don't live a life of fear anymore.
Obstacles don't seem to be as formidable as they once were.
Mountains don't seem as high to climb, holes that you fall into don't seem as deep.
Today, we are going to be talking about fear, and in particular, the fear of death
We will be studying the second blessing found in the book of Revelation.
Rev 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so they will rest from their labors, since their works follow them.”
Prayer
I. The Context of Revelation 14:13
This verse is taking place during the end times. This is in the future.
John is describing the midpoint of the tribulation (brief explanation), getting ready to enter the great tribulation- the final 3 ½ years.
Seals/Trumpets are over.
Antichrist is revealed and ruling the entire world.
Bowl judgements are now pending.
Right after this blessing is pronounced in chapter 14, Christ symbolically swings a sickle, symbolizing HIM bring home any remaining saints on the earth. It should be noted though, these saints are probably coming home through martyrdom because they refuse the Mark of the Beast.
Remember our main verse-
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on
The bible seems to indicate these people will die here on earth because of the intense persecution that will happen, and then be welcomed into heaven by their LORD and Savior.
Martyrdom is not a comfortable subject, because it touches on our ultimate fear- the fear of death.
A few moments ago, I shared a story about how my grandfather got through WWII- learning to accept that he might die soon, and being comfortable with that.
He was telling me about his experiences in war one afternoon after I got back from the Vacation Bible School being held at the Lutheran Church they attended.
That morning in VBS, we were going through the 10 commandments, and it just so happened that we had covered commandment 6- Thou Shall Not Kill.
What I had heard at VBS, is that if you break the 10 commandments you go to hell, so now I’m trying to figure this out as my grandfather is telling me his experiences in the war, which of course included having to kill people.
So, I asked him- “Aren’t you afraid of dying? You killed people and the 10 commandments say you can’t do that”
It’s a memory that is burned hard into my brain about my grandfather- he was a very stoic Norwegian man, and it was one of the few times I saw his eyes water up a little, and he said,
“Johnny, I’m not afraid of dying because Jesus is my savior and has forgiven me for all my sins, so I get to go to heaven when I die.”
This was the clearest expression of the Gospel I had ever heard. My uneducated grandfather was able to express the core of our beliefs better than all of the seminary trained pastors I had ever met.
My grandfather planted two seeds in me in that moment –
The first- Jesus is the way to salvation
The second- Jesus is the answer to every fear we have in life, including that ultimate fear- the fear of dying.
The lesson we should take from this is just like those saints in the tribulation, we should be living as a people who don’t fear death because of whom we have believed, and what HE has done for us.
That’s why this blessing is here- it’s telling us that the way to happiness in life is to live as a person who is dead to this world as much as possible.
Let’s dig into this idea of dying in the LORD
II. "Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord"
There is a truth- you can’t kill a person twice. When you surrender your life to Jesus Christ, that old you is dead.
As the bible tells us-
Rom 6:3-5 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
What Romans is trying to tell us is the less we allow this world to affect us, the happier we will be.
This is a spiritual discipline that works its way out through
1. Dying in the Lord
To "die in the Lord" means to die in a state of faith AND obedience to Christ.
This is an important point that I’m afraid is being diluted to the point of insignificance in our day-
You can’t say you have faith if you live in disobedience.
But on the flip side, you also can’t grit your teeth and live in perfect obedience thinking that makes you more pleasing to God, because now you don’t have faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
That’s how the Apostle Paul was living- and it made him a murderer.
Faith and obedience should always be complementary to each other, not one or the other.
Our walk with God is like a three rope bridge.
You have the rope you walk on, and the two on either side for your hands to keep you steady as you walk across.
Pretend one side of the bridge is being held together by ropes of faith- 100 professionally tied knots with posts buried deep in the ground- nothing is moving those tied downs.
The other side, the obedience side has a simple tent peg, tied in a loose knot.
What is going to happen if you try to cross that bridge?
If one side is sloppily secured, you are going to fall into whatever you are crossing.
Both sides need be secured properly, and in correct tension with each other, so that this bridge is safe to cross.
That’s how faith and obedience work together.
Faith should produce obedience, and obedience should come from a heart of faith. They are complementary, not in competition with each other.
That’s the secret of how you live dead to the world- allowing your faith to express itself through radical obedience that is a contrast to the way the rest of the world believes or thinks.
This is what will signify to everyone- both in the physical world and the spiritual world that you are living a life surrendered to His WORD and HIS will.
Another way we can live free of the fear of death is knowing that there is a
2. Blessing Beyond Death
The term "blessed" here is profound. It’s where we come up with the word “Beatitude”- the blessed attitudes that Christians should have toward life. It encompasses more than just happiness; it refers to a state of divine favor and well-being.
This blessing transcends earthly experiences, pointing to a heavenly reality where sorrow, pain, and suffering are forever gone. It is a state of eternal joy and peace in the presence of God.
All of these things that so easily entangle us this side of eternity, they won’t be present or even something we will desire because they pale in comparison to what God has for us in heaven.
The bible puts it this way-
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived?— God has prepared these things for those who love him.
It will helps us to remember that the same God who spoke into nothing and created everything, is the same God who put this verse in the Bible.
If you take a literal view of creation and believe that the earth and universe were created in six 24-hour periods that we call days by God speaking them into existence think about this-
2000 years ago Jesus Christ says I'm going to prepare a place for you in my father's house.
Think of the wonder of our universe that was created in six days.
Jesus Christ has had 2000 years to prepare the place for us in heaven.
If we believe that- is there anything on this earth that is worth risking an eternity experiencing what God has for us?
Not only does Jesus promise us the wonders of heaven, but He also, in our central verse for today, promises us this-
III. "Yes,' Says the Spirit, 'They Will Rest from Their Labor":
The second part of Revelation 14:13 brings a promise of rest. "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor." This assurance is given by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing its truth and reliability.
1. Rest from Labor
Our life on earth is often marked by toil, struggle, and hardship. The term "labor" here refers to both the work we have to do to survive, and to the trials, persecutions, and the tireless work of living out one's faith in a fallen world.
The promise of rest promises us that everything will return to how it was in Eden.
But this isn’t just a temporary vacation- it’s forever
2. **Eternal Rest:**
We have an eternal rest. It is a rest that is characterized by peace, contentment, and the absence of all pain and sorrow. It is a rest that can only be found in the presence of God.
A way to look at this is-
Picture a marathon runner who finally crosses the finish line. All of that training- the hours and hours of running in the heat, the cold, the rain, and the wind are all over. The sense of accomplishment, the relief from physical strain, and the joy of completion are profound.
This rest is even greater for the believer who runs the race, crosses the finish line, and enters into God's eternal rest after a life of faithful endurance.
And it’s not just the cessation from working. The bible says that
**IV. "For Their Deeds Will Follow Them":**
The final part of Revelation 14:13 states, "for their deeds will follow them." This assurance promises that we will be greatly rewarded for our actions and faithfulness on earth.
This phrase confirms that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. Our deeds, done in faith and obedience to God, have eternal value and significance. They are not forgotten but follow us into eternity.
My friends, blessed are those who die in the LORD
Let’s close with looking at a few applications-
**V. Application for Our Lives:**
Number 1 is-
1. Living in the Light of Eternity:
Knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be with the Lord should influence our daily decisions and priorities. We are called to live with an eternal perspective, investing in what truly matters – our relationship with God and our service to others.
Illustration:
Think of a person who is planning for retirement. They make wise investments and decisions, knowing that these will benefit their future. Similarly, we are to invest in our spiritual lives, knowing that our deeds have eternal significance.
Number 2 is
2. Finding Comfort in Trials:
The promise of rest and blessing should provide comfort and strength during times of trial and suffering. We can endure hardships, knowing that our labor is not in vain and that God has prepared a place of eternal rest for us.
Illustration:
Consider a student who is studying for a difficult exam. The promise of graduation and the opportunities it brings provides motivation and encouragement. Similarly, the promise of eternal rest and reward should encourage us to persevere through life's challenges.
Number 3 is
3. Encouraging One Another:
As members of the body of Christ, we are called to encourage and support one another, especially in times of difficulty. Reminding each other of the promises in Revelation 14:13 can strengthen our faith and resolve.
Illustration:
Picture a team of athletes encouraging each other during a tough race. Their words of encouragement and support help each member to keep going. In the same way, we are to encourage one another with the hope and promises found in God's Word.
That, my friends, is the power of the church. You may think your ok, and don’t have to go, but what if there is someone there that needs your particular gift?
Altar Call/Prayer
Communion
