October 26: SWEET, BLESSED REST

Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Revelation 14:13

Here we have an interesting time stamp: from now on. This brings a question to mind: What is the “now” of this verse? It is the point in time when the everlasting gospel (v.6) went forth in its fullness to the world. It is called the hour of [God’s] judgment (v.7) which parallels the Day of Atonement, in the plan of salvation as illustrated in the sanctuary plan (Exodus 25:40; Acts 7:44). At-one-ment is a special word that signifies a oneness with God. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:11).  Because of the long and weary Dark Ages, it has taken time to restore, in all of its fullness, salvation’s plan, as laid out in the tabernacle illustration. One-by-one, various Reformers faithfully stepped up to highlight the illustrated truths. The last article of furniture is the Ark of the Covenant representing God’s throne, His perfect law and His mercy. Contained therein were the stone Tables of the Testimony of God, written with His finger. These were found in the Most Holy Place, representing God’s throne room in heaven, His law of love and liberty being the foundation of His government. And now for the “now” of this verse: it began in 1844, according to the prophecy of Daniel 8:14. New Testament Christians understand that we – each of our bodies – are the Lord’s temple. The Day of Atonement is accompanied by a cleansing of the temple from error and the sin of dead works (Hebrews 9:14).

From that time, faithful servants of Jesus began to preach the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12. This message has endured many assaults, mostly from other Christians. Many who shared the message of the three angels have gone to their graves, joyful for having received the everlasting gospel, but also with sadness due to its rejection by friends and loved ones. They remembered these words of Jesus: “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them…” (Matthew 10:25-26a) So John was told to write “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” They will awaken to receive a special blessing for their faithfulness in delivering the full, everlasting gospel. The true gospel, which has never been changed by God, includes the restoration of the true Sabbath.

Compare today’s phrase, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” to the phrase two verses earlier regarding those who worship Satan by proxy of the beast, his image, and his mark: they have no rest day or night. They have rejected the Lord’s special day of rest given to mankind at the beginning (see Genesis 2:1-3), the seventh-day Sabbath, and instead have profaned it.

Rest is particularly sweet after a time of exhaustive work. The word translated labors refers here to intense work in response to a higher calling. Even though these labors may meet with rejection, there are those who joyfully receive the message and pass it on to others. Indeed, their works follow them. Their endurance and suffering are behind them, and their welcome rest is under the watchful care of the Redeemer, who Himself rested in the grave on the Sabbath day.

And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Luke 23:56