February 1, 2004
Title: Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
Text: Rev. 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."
"Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Rev 14:13 (NIV)
Introduction
1.
Body
1. Blessed are the dead
A. Wait a minute! Blessed are the dead...
that can’t be right!
death is a bad thing...
death is a horrible thing...
death is the great unknown.
how can a voice from heaven proclaim "blessed are the dead"?
B. That word blessed is frequently translated as "Happy"?
happy are the dead?
many times, when the end of life comes...
there is suffering...
there is pain...
there is separation...
there is heartache...
how can we believe that the dead are to be happy?
C. Almost a year ago, I preached Marge Cross’ funeral.
for my text, I used in part, 1 Corinthians 15:55, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 1 Cor 15:55 (NIV)
And we acknowledged that death does sting...
death can be very painful...
I mentioned how Jesus Himself experienced the pain of death when His friend Lazarus died...
Scripture tells us that "Jesus wept"
Jesus Himself, when He was dieing on the cross...
we don’t picture Christ as being particularly happy.
Happy are the dead?...
that doesn’t seem right...
maybe we should read on in our text...
2. Blessed are the dead...who die in the Lord
A. Here we have the answer!...
blessed are the dead...WHO DIE IN THE LORD!
Those who know Jesus...
those who have invited Christ into their hearts...
those who remain faithful...
when they die...they are blessed.
they are happy.
B. Why?
well, there are many reasons...
perhaps they are happy because death has brought relief from their pain...
Scripture tells us "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" Rev 21:4 (NIV)
maybe they are happy because of the wonders of heaven...
streets of gold...that sort of thing...
I’m sure they are happy because they literally see Jesus face to face!
This, to me, is the absolute best reason...
to see Jesus...
to worship Him...
to bow before Him...
to hear Him speak...
well...I can think of no greater happiness...
no greater blessing.
C. But, our text lists other reasons that are quite fascinating...
3. They will rest from their labor
A. Scripture tells us that those who die in the Lord are blessed...
because they will have rest from their labor.
And you can believe it...
because these words come from the Holy Spirit Himself.
B. But what labor?
our earthly jobs?
cleaning house?
washing the car?
working 9-5?
Certainly, that stands to reason...
when we die...we certainly don’t have to do the chores any more...
we don’t have to work at a job that we don’t like.
C. But there is another kind of labor...
I think Paul says it best, in Colossians 1:28-29 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Col 1:28-29 (NIV)
Christians are always struggling...
Again, Paul says it so well, "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor 15:58 (NIV)
We are struggling with all our might to bear fruit...
we labor in sharing our faith...
we work to influence our family members...
we work to invite our neighbors...
We are in a constant struggle to build the Church...
to attract more people to Jesus Christ!...
to help disciple those who are new Christians....
it is a constant struggle.
it is an on-going labor...
certainly it is a labor of love...
but it is tiring labor nonetheless.
and when we die...
we are no longer caught up in the struggle to influence people for Christ...
we will have done all that we can do...
the rest will be up to those whose lives we have touched throughout our life.
D. And there is even another kind of struggle
our struggle against sin...
our struggle against temptation...
Paul said, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Eph 6:12 (NIV)
If we remain faithful in the face of temptation...
if we refuse to follow the allure of sin...
then, when we die, we are blessed...
because we no longer have to struggle against sin...
our battle will be over...
and we will join in singing the victor’s song.
E. Those of you who are Christians...
Let me encourage you with more words from Paul that I used during Marge’s funeral:
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.
Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:58 (NIV)
F. One day, in the life of the Christian...
if the Lord tarries...
we will someday die...
on that day...
we will be happy...
we will be blessed...
because certainly our pain has ended...
our sorrow has been wiped away...
we get to see Jesus...face to face...
And all our labors will be over.
4. Their deeds will follow them.
A. Scripture tells us that the dead are blessed because they will rest from their labors...
AND THEIR DEEDS FOLLOW THEM.
So what does that mean?
I see 2 meanings in this promise.
1. First of all, their deeds follow them into heaven...
Scripture tells us that we will be judged according to what we have done.
Our actions...our works... our deeds...
Have we encouraged people?
Have we helped those less fortunate?
Have we been giving?
These things will be rewarded when we make heaven our home...
our deeds "follow us" as it were...into heaven...
John was on the Isle of Patmos when he wrote, in Rev. 20:12, "I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books."
2. But I see another meaning to this promise...
I believe that the things that we have done here on earth go on long after our death.
In other words, Blessed are those who die in the Lord; they will rest from their labor...
and, those good deeds they have done will continue to work and bless and encourage...
even after that person has gone to be with the Lord!
I’m sure those of you who knew Marge...
you are still benefiting from having known her.
Her deeds continue to bless and encourage...
even though Marge herself is with Jesus.
B. This is a powerful truth that we would do well to understand...
you and I have the ability to impact people even after we die!
It’s all in how we live our lives while we are alive.
we can impact our families...
we can impact our friends...
we impact many people...
and that influence doesn’t just end when we die...
it goes on and on...
so it behooves us to make sure we are having a POSITIVE impact...
Conclusion
1. A glorious voice from heaven proclaimed, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on."
and then the Holy Spirit chimed in and said, "Yes, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.
powerful promises for those who are Christians when they die.
2. But, I wouldn’t be doing my job...as a Preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
if I didn’t point out something very important...
I wish it could go without saying...
I wish you could just kind of catch it by implication...
but I feel that I must mention it...
3. What about those who aren’t a Christian...
Scripture doesn’t say, "blessed are all the dead who die from now on..."
Scripture says, "blessed are those who die IN THE LORD"...
But what about those who aren’t in the Lord?
Well, the Bible tells us about them too...
but it doesn’t use the word "blessed" or "happy"...
Earlier in this chapter...in verse 11, it says,
"the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night" Rev 14:11 (NIV)
Scripture says there will come a time when "The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" Matt 13:49-50 (NIV)
4. The Christian will have rest from their labors...
but the sinner will never have rest...
their pain goes on and on and on forever.
And I should also point out...it’s not just the deeds of the Christian that follow them...
the deeds of the sinner follows him or her as well...
their evil deeds...
will dog their very heels...
and their influence for evil has the capacity to influence others for evil...
even after they are dead and gone...
and perhaps the most excruciating thing in hell...
will be the voices of the children...
as they follow their parents from torment to torment...
crying out..."why didn’t you tells us about Jesus"?
"why didn’t you take us to church"?
why didn’t you change your life?
why did I have to grow up to be just like you?
5. Blessed are those who die...
but Scripture makes a qualification there...
blessed are those who die...IN THE LORD...
for they will have rest from their labors...
and their deeds go on long after they are gone...
6. For the Christian...
this is a powerful promise and an encouragement to remain faithful...
7. For the non-Christian...
for the one who turns away from Christ...
these words are a grave warning...(pun intended)
(end with song of invitation)
