Revelation 14:13

“And I heard a voice from heaven, etc.] Like that which was heard at Christ's baptism and transfiguration, certifying the truth of what follows, so that that may be depended upon as an undoubted verity: saying unto me, write; which is a further confirmation of the following sayings being true and faithful; (see <660109>Revelation 1:9 19:9 21:5) blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; merely to die is not an happiness, for death is common to all, good and bad; it is a disunion of soul and body, and cannot be in itself desirable; it is the fruit of sin, and has something in it awful and terrible; and though it is the privilege of believers, as its sting is removed by Christ,…”

“Encouragement to cheer those persecuted under the beast. Write--to put it on record for ever. Blessed--in resting from their toils, and, in the case of the saints just before alluded to as persecuted by the beast, in resting from persecutions. Their full blessedness is now "from henceforth," that is, FROM THIS TIME, when the judgment on the beast and the harvest gatherings of the elect are imminent. The time so earnestly longed for by former martyrs is now all but come; the full number of their fellow servants is on the verge of completion; they have no longer to "rest (the same Greek as here, anapausis) yet for a little season," their eternal rest, or cessation from toils (Th2 1:7; Greek,…”

“And I heard a voice from heaven - A voice that seemed to speak from heaven. Saying unto me, Write - Make a record of this truth. We may suppose that John was engaged in making a record of what he saw in vision; he was now instructed to make a record of what he heard. This passage may be referred to as a proof that he wrote this book while in Patmos, or as the heavenly disclosures were made to him, and not afterward from memory. Blessed are the dead - That is, the condition of those who die in the manner which is immediately specified, is to be regarded as a blessed or happy one. It is much to be able to say of the dead that they are “blessed.” There is much in death that is sad; we so much…”

“And I heard a voice - This is most seasonably heard when the beast is in his highest power and fury. Out of heaven - Probably from a departed saint. Write - He was at first commanded to write the whole book. Whenever this is repeated it denotes something peculiarly observable. Happy are the dead - From henceforth particularly: 1. Because they escape the approaching calamities: 2. Because they already enjoy so near an approach to glory. Who die in the Lord - In the faith of the Lord Jesus. For they rest - No pain, no purgatory follows; but pure, unmixed happiness. From their labours - And the more laborious their life was, the sweeter is their rest. How different this state from that of…”

“14:13 A dramatic voice from heaven once again instructs John to write (see 1:11, 19; 21:5; cp. 10:4). • Blessed are those who die in the Lord: God desires that those who endure persecution be with him and enjoy his blessings and rest. • The mention of hard work and good deeds in connection with eternal reward foreshadows the assigning of rewards based on works (20:12).”

“a voice: Rev 11:15, Rev 11:19, Rev 16:17; Mat 3:17 Write: Rev 1:11, Rev 2:1, Rev 10:4, Rev 19:9, Rev 21:5 Blessed: Rev 20:6; Ecc 4:1, Ecc 4:2; Isa 57:1, Isa 57:2; Co2 5:8; Phi 1:21-23 die: Rom 14:8; Co1 15:18; Th1 4:14, Th1 4:16, Th1 5:10, from henceforth: Yea saith the Spirit, or, from henceforth saith the Spirit Yea: rest, Rev 6:11, Rev 7:14-17; Job 3:17-19; Isa 35:10, Isa 57:2; Luk 16:25; Th2 1:6, Th2 1:7; Heb 4:9-11 and their: Psa 19:11, Psa 85:13; Mat 25:35-40; Luk 16:9; Co1 15:58; Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8; Phi 2:17; Ti2 4:7, Ti2 4:8; Heb 6:10, Heb 6:11 Revelation 14:14”