March 13 - Blessed are the Dead

March 13 – Blessed are the Dead
Revelation 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 the labor, for their deeds will follow them.’”

This is the second of the Beatitudes in Revelation. John is told to write these words down.

Who are these people? Since we have just seen the torment of those who die and are punished because they accepted the mark of the beast, these are those who were executed because of their commitment to the Lamb. THIS is why we must have patient endurance and faithfulness.

We don’t hear from the Holy Spirit very often. Much of the speaking is done by the Lamb, sometimes God and most of the time by other characters in the throne room. Here we have the Holy Spirit speaking and He brings amazing words of comfort.

As I read the Revelation, my emotions tend to run all over the place. But, at the end of it, I am comforted. That’s the job of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16, Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter) to be with you forever.”

The Greek word is ‘parakletos.’ In its widest sense, it means: helper, succorer, aide, assistant.

The Holy Spirit brings assistance, help, succor, comfort. For those that faced persecution, they are offered peaceful rest by the Comforter.