भाष्य सध्या फक्त इंग्रजीत उपलब्ध आहे. मराठी भाषांतर प्रगतीपथावर आहे.
Revelation 14 — Blessed Are the Dead Which Die in the Lord
The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with 144,000 having His name in their foreheads; they sing the new song; they are virgins, follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. Three angels — the first preaches the everlasting gospel; the second — Babylon is fallen; the third warns against the mark and worshipping the beast. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. The Son of Man on a cloud, sickle in hand. The harvest of the earth. The vintage cast into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
— Revelation 14:13
- v.1-5 The Lamb on Mount Zion
- v.6-13 The three angels
- v.14-20 The harvest
The everlasting gospel summarized. Fear God — reverence. Give glory to him — honor. Worship him that made heaven and earth — directed worship to the Creator.
In an age of false gospels, the verse anchors the true one to the Creator. The gospel is not a self-help program; it is the announcement of a Maker who is also Judge and Saviour.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. The funeral verse for the Christian. Not all dead are blessed; those who die in the Lord are. Death's sting has been swapped for blessing.
Their works do follow them. Christian labor is not lost at death. The works follow into eternity. The Christian's life is not eclipsed by death; it is honored through it.
Verse 13 is the verse to read at Christian funerals and to hold for your own death. The dead in the Lord are blessed; their works follow. Live so that the works following you would be a credit, not an embarrassment. The day will come when those works arrive in heaven on your behalf.
The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with His redeemed; the everlasting gospel is preached; the dead in Him are blessed; the Son of Man reaps the harvest. The chapter is full of His name and His honor. Whether at the height of His worship or the day of His judgment, He is the figure at the center.
Follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. The defining trait of the saved. Not partial following; not until it grows difficult; whithersoever.
Firstfruits unto God. The 144,000 are the leading edge of a harvest yet to come. The pattern is consecration — set apart for God, and not just for themselves.