Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yeah, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
John is told by a voice from heaven to write down this promise: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. He had just seen the 144,000 (a symbolic, complete number representing all the redeemed throughout history) rejoicing and singing before the Lamb in heaven. And he had just seen those who worshipped the beast (symbolic of all unbelievers) tormented with fire and brimstone forever. What a great difference! So He promises that the blessing is for all those who die “in the Lord” from now on. The difference maker between blessing and torment is whether one is in the Lord or not. In the Lord = Faith in Christ.
”Blessed are the dead.” Death for believers has been transformed from an enemy that steals and destroys into a gateway into blessing and life. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ guaranteed this Great Change. Our death is changed from being a monster into being a blessing of eternal joy and peace.
Death in the Lord promises rest from the labor of struggling under the Curse. And we have the promise that the good works that the Lord has done through us in this life will remain in eternity. What we do perishes; what Christ does lasts.