Revelation 14. I've chosen for the message tonight
one verse of scripture. One sentence. 39 words. And yet, what assurance. What comfort. What a foundation
of hope and confidence for every believer. It says in Revelation 14 verse
13, I heard a voice. I heard a voice from heaven saying
unto me, write, blessed, blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord. from henceforth, yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works
do follow them." How did these words come to us? Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord. They didn't come from a man. John was in exile on the Isle
of Patmos. He didn't hear these words from
a man, nor from a pulpit, nor from a classroom. This was a
voice from heaven. John had heard this voice before,
back in verse 2. He said, I heard a voice from
heaven. As the voice of many waters,
as the voice of great thunder, I heard the voice of harpers
harping with their harps. And they sung, as it were, a
new song before the throne, a voice from heaven. David heard that
voice. I've never heard that voice.
I have his words. But these men heard John speak
from heaven. David said, as John, the voice
of the Lord is upon the waters The God of glory thunders. The
voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full
of majesty. And John said, he said, blessed
are the dead, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Was there just one voice? No. Look at the verse again. John
said, I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Rise, blessed
are the dead which die in the Lord. And another voice, Yes,
Amen, saith the Spirit. The Father speaks, and the Spirit
speaks. But does not the scripture say,
let every word be established by the mouth of two or three
witnesses? And here are the greatest witnesses.
The Father said, blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord. And the Holy Spirit said, yes,
amen. Blessed are the dead, who die
in the Lord. And he said, I heard a voice
from heaven saying unto me, write. Why is it important to write
it? God said it, isn't that enough? That's enough if we hear that
voice. But that's not enough if we get it second, third, fourth,
fifth hand. Peter writing in the book of
2 Peter said, I was on the mountain when the Lord was glorified his
clothes glistened and a voice from heaven said this is my beloved
son in whom I am well pleased and I heard that voice but Peter
said we have a more excellent witness and a more excellent
testimony to which you do well if you give heed and that's the
written word of God The voice from heaven says, John, write
this, write this, write this. What is written is more durable
and lasting than that which is spoken. God wrote the Ten Commandments
in stone. The prophets wrote the messages
God gave them. God speaks to our fathers by
the prophets, but they wrote the words. Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel,
all of the prophets wrote the Word. Job said, oh that my words
were now written in a book, that they were graven in my tombstone
with a pen of lead. I know my Redeemer liveth, and
on this earth again shall stand. And though worms destroy this
body, yet in my flesh I myself will see my Lord. Write it. Write
it. Somebody will misquote it if
you don't write it. God says write it because what
is written is not subject to change. It's not subject to correction. It's not subject to alteration. I heard a voice from heaven saying
unto me, write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Don't just hear it. Don't just
consider it. Don't just pass it down the line.
Write it. Write it in the book. But most
of all, write it on your heart. Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord. This is the word of God. This
is the promise of the Father. This is the golden truth. Blessed
are the dead who die in the Lord. It'll calm your fears. It'll
gladden your heart. It'll soothe a troubled mind.
It'll keep you in time of trial and trouble. It'll speak peace
on a bed of sickness. It'll rob death of its sting,
and the grave of its victory. Write it. Write it. I heard a voice from heaven saying,
write. Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord. And where God says write, blessed,
no man can write condemned. And where God writes condemned,
No man can write blessing. He uses a strange word here for
death, a word that's strange to the world, but not to believers.
In fact, the Lord uses three words in reference to the death
of a believer. He says the death of a believer
is blessing. When I heard from the chaplain
at the hospital call me and said, Couldn't make it. He was dead. I had a hard time being sad. The first thing that came to
my mind is what Ronnie said, John is out of pain, trial, loneliness. Not any man spent any more time
alone than he did. And he's walking again. How can
you be sad? It's precious. It's precious. And then God uses the word precious. There are not a whole lot of
things in the scripture called precious. Precious blood, we're
redeemed with the precious blood. He is precious, under you that
believe He is precious. Precious faith, precious word
of God, precious promises, But in Psalm 116, David said, Precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of his sin. Precious. And then he uses another
word, gain. To me to live is Christ. For
me to die is gain. Graduation. Entering into all
that God has given, promised, purchased, that inheritance,
undefiled, incorruptible, fadeth not away, reserved in heaven. John entered into the inheritance
of his Lord. Now, blessed are the dead, precious
in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, and to die
again, that's not the philosophy of this world. And you need not
expect people with whom you associate and people with whom you work
to understand that kind of language. This is not the philosophy of
the world. The philosophy of the world is this, live at all
costs. Better to be a live coward than
a dead hero. Better to be a living dog than
a dead lion. The language of this world is
blessed of the living. God says, blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord. The world says, blessed are the
rich. God says, blessed are the poor and sparing. Theirs is the
kingdom of God. The world says, blessed are the
popular and the powerful. God says, blessed are the meek.
They'll inherit the earth. And blessed are ye when you're
persecuted for righteousness' sake. Yours is the kingdom. of heaven. The world looks upon
a person in youth, and beauty, and health, and wealth, popularity,
success, and the world says now that is a blessing. But our Lord takes you into a
darkened room, where a child of God has just crossed the Jordan
and gone into the glory of his Lord and the presence of his
Redeemer. The face is pale in death, the
hands are cold to the touch, the family and friends stand
about the bed weeping, but I hear God saying, blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord. But it's not a blessing to die,
just to die. He didn't say blessing of the
dead. He said blessing of the dead who die in the law. It's
where they die, in the law, how they die. But now, when a man
dies, youth or old age, really doesn't matter. Where a person
dies at home or abroad, I had a daughter die at home and a
son die in Vietnam. It matters not where they die.
It really matters not how they die. Suddenly, as John, what
a way to leave. Oh, bless the Lord. What a way
to leave this earth. Just like that. But some die
after long suffering and illness. trouble. What matters is not
when a man dies, or where he dies, or how he dies, it matters
the relationship he has with the master. That's the important
thing. Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ. Preacher, what is
it to die in the Lord? Well, let's see what the scripture
says. Hebrews chapter 11, talks about
Moses and Abraham and all of these faithful believers
in the Old Testament who look for cities, who have foundations,
whose builder and maker is God. It says in verse 13 of Hebrews
11, these died in faith. They died in faith. They died
believing God. That's what it means to die in
the Lord, is dying believing the Lord. The Apostle Paul said,
the time of my departure is at hand. I've fought a good fight, I've
finished my course, I've kept the faith, the faith of Christ,
believing God. Colossians chapter 1 verse 23
says this, Colossians chapter 1 verse It says in verse 20,
Colossians 1, He made peace through the blood of His cross. By Him
to reconcile all things unto Himself. By Him, I say, whether
they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you, who were
at one time alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
hath He now reconciled to God in the body of His flesh through
death. to present you holy, unblameable,
unreprovable in his sight, if you continue in the faith. Grounded
and settled, and be not moved away from the gospel. The reason we have a good hope
for our brother John Haslam is he died in the faith. He continued
in the gospel, faithfully. And then, what does it mean to
die in Christ? It means to die being found in
Him. Philippians chapter 3, clothed
in His righteousness, redeemed by His blood, in His covenant
of mercy, the everlasting covenant, in His kingdom, God has translated
us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son,
in Christ. Philippians 3, Paul said this,
Paul was a very religious man, a Jew, a law keeper, an Israelite,
a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, a teacher of scripture, but he
didn't know God. And he talked about his heritage
and his ancestry and his good deeds and duties and law keeping.
And he said, these things were gained to me, verse 7, but I
counted them lost for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all
things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dumb, that I may win Christ and be found in him."
To die in Christ is to die in faith, believing, and to die
in Christ, in his covenant, in his person. in the knowledge
of him, in his fellowship, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness of God by faith. Paul was in religion,
but not in Christ. He was in tradition, but not
in Christ. He was in morality, but not in
Christ. He was in duties and deeds, but
not in Christ. Now in Christ he's secure, blessed
are the dead who die in Christ. And then thirdly, it's to be
in his hands. Turn to John 10. Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord. Believing him, trusting him,
knowing him. But you know it's What's more
important than my knowing Him is His knowing me. That's more
important. People say, do you know the Lord?
Well, yes, but I know Him because He knows me. I love Him because
He loves me. I chose Him because He chose
me. I seek Him because He sought me. God the Father put us in
His hands. Listen to this in John 10. Our
Lord speaking about His people. Verse 14, I'm the good shepherd.
I know my sheep. I know my sheep. I know them. They know me, but I know them.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay
down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, and
them also I must bring. And they shall hear my voice,
not they might or they ought to, they will. they shall hear
my voice and there'll be one foe and one shepherd I know them
I lay down my life for them they know me and I'll call them and
they'll hear me and I look at verse 27 John said my sheep hear
my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give them
eternal life they don't earn it, merit it, deserve it It's
not a reward, it's a gift. Gift of God's eternal life through
Christ Jesus our Lord. I give them, I give them eternal
life. And they'll never, never perish. The soul that owned Jesus has
leaned for repose. I will not, I will not, I will
not desert to its foes. That soul though all hail, should
endeavor to shake. Now never, no never, never forsake,
they'll never perish. And neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand." What does it mean to be in Christ?
It means to be in the faith of Christ. It means to be in the
covenant of Christ, in the knowledge of Christ, in the kingdom of
Christ. It means to be in the hand of
Christ. God gave him a people before
the world began. He became their servitude, their
high priest, their redeemer. He said, I know them, they know
me. I call them, they follow me, and God put them in my hands. And no man can pluck them out
of my hand. Listen, my Father which gave
them me is greater than all. And no man can pluck them out
of my Father's hand. They're in my hand, they're in
my Father's hand. you talk about security and rest
and joy and peace, is to be in Christ. Let's look at our text one more
time. Revelation 14, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
in Christ, in Christ. From henceforth, yea, saith the
Spirit, But now look at this line here, that they may rest
from their labors. That they may rest from their
labors. It didn't say that they may rest from work. From labor. We're not going, when we leave
here, and go to be with Christ, throughout eternity, we're not
going to rest from work. We're going to rest from labor.
When God created Adam, let's turn to Genesis 1, Genesis chapter
1, when God created Adam, now listen to this, idleness is not
pleasure, idleness is not joy or happiness, no happiness in
doing nothing. When God created Adam and put
him in this perfect garden, he made this garden and put this
man and woman in the garden, and he said to Genesis 1 verse
29, And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing
seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree,
and which is the fruit of the tree yielding seed. To you it
shall be for me. To every beast of the earth,
to every fowl of the earth, to everything that creepeth upon
the earth wherein there is life, I have given every green herb
for me. And it was so. And God saw everything
that he had made. and behold it was good he said
several times it's good this time he said very good and the
evening and the morning was the sixth day very good here's an
earth without sin without death without sorrow perfect earth
perfect man and woman he made them holy and upright without
sin and they were given this beautiful earth and garden. To
multiply and replenish the earth, take care of it, control it, have dominion over
all the works of God's hands. And that's what the new earth
is going to be. God says there'll be a new heaven.
The old heaven shall pass away with fervent heat and the old
earth shall be destroyed. There'll be a new heaven and
a new earth. And we'll dwell on this earth. and we'll eat,
and drink, and flesh, and bones, in our own identity, knowing
one another. There'll be multitudes of people,
multitudes which no man can number. How can you be happy with so
many people? I'll have the mind of God, I'll
know all of them. That's right, I'll know as I
have been known, and I'll love all of them, and I'll be happy
on this new earth. And I'll have something to do.
That's right. And he says here, they'll rest
from their labors. Let me tell you something, work
is a joy. Work and activities, pleasure
and accomplishment. When God made this perfect man
and placed him in the perfect garden, Adam had plenty to do.
Work and joy. What makes work labor is sin. That's what makes work labor. Doing what you are forced to
do, and what you don't like to do, and what you have to do.
It makes it this body of death. You know, when our Lord invited
us to him, he said, come unto me all ye that labor, labor,
heavy laden, weary, downtrodden, downcast, It's sin that makes work labor.
We experience pain and weariness and toil and labor because we
live in a weak body of sin and corruption. This body can only
do so much and then it falls beneath the load. That's labor. Activity becomes labor because
of sin. Our bodies get tired because
of sin. Our bodies are sick and troubled
because of sin. We can't do what we'd like to
do because of sin. Our work, listen, is labor because
it doesn't survive. Go out and plant your garden
and then it burns up in the sun. That's right. Thorns and thistles come up.
You're distressed and discouraged. You build a house and it burns
down. You raise a family and they die. All these things that
you do, they come to an end. But on that new earth, there'll
be no thorns and thistles. There'll be no sorrow and heartache. There'll be no drought. There'll
be no rotting and decaying. There'll be no burning up. There'll
be no sorrow, pain, death, tears, nothing like that. Everything
you do will be a joy. That's right. And a happiness. That's what the word says. Our work is labor because it
doesn't survive. Thorns and briars and decay and
rot causes it to fall. And we get discouraged. And then
it's labor. And we labor just to keep going
until God calls us home. But I'm telling you on that new
earth, oh what joy, what happiness, working, Praise in God, grateful. The hymn writer said it this
way, weary of labor, weary of myself, and weary of sin, Savior
set me free. And to thy presence take me in,
there I long to be. Burdened and troubled and oppressed,
ah, whither can I flee? but to thine arm of peace and
rest, there I long to be. Lord, let a tempest-tossed soul
your peaceful harbor see, where waves of sorrow never roll, there
I long to be. Let a poor laborer care below,
when from all toil and trouble set free, to find rest and peace
and glory in thy presence, there I long to be." Don't you? One more word. I heard a voice
from heaven saying, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They rest from labor. No more
labor. God be their God. He'll wipe
away all tears and No more sorrow, no more pain, no more weariness
and death. And their works do follow them. Their works do follow them. Now
unbelievers have no works, no good works. They have bad works
which don't follow. They're destroyed. But he's speaking
of believers here. Blessed are they that die in
the Lord. That's the only death that's blessed. No blessing in
dying in sin. If you die in your sins, Christ
said you can't come where I am. But the blessing is dying in
the Lord. And rest from labors is dying in the Lord. And their
works follow them. Now all believers have good works. Like John, Ronnie just talked
about John. And how he had a tape ministry,
and how he was so aware of others and how he never failed to remember
a birthday and an anniversary. He stayed in touch. He had good
work, and all believers have good work. Scripture says, for
by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
it's the gift of God, not of work, lest any man should boast. But we are his workmanship created
unto good work. Let your light so shine before
men that they may see your good works, and glorify your God."
Ronnie talked about John's good works, but you didn't give him
the glory, you gave God the glory. Now that's the difference. He
said he did this because he loved God, not to get God to love him. Why? He did it because that's
what his heart told him to do. That's the difference. He didn't
do it to earn a reward, or to earn glory, or earn heaven, or
earn God's favor. He did it because he loved God.
He was born of love. It's labor of love, works of
faith. Dorcas was a woman full of good
works, and alms deeds, which she did. Paul writes in the Church
of Thessalonians, Thessalonians, Malachi said, I remember your
works of faith, your works of love. Charge them that are rich
in this world, that they be rich in good works. Faith without
works is dead. But what does this mean, their
works follow them? Well, their works didn't go before
them to prepare the way. Our Lord prepared the way. He
said, I go to prepare a place for you. I go to the cross, I
go to the tomb, I go to the right hand of God to prepare a place
for you. If I go and prepare a place for
you, I'll come again and receive you unto myself. He prepared
the way. He is the way, the truth and the life. So their works
don't go before them to prepare the way for them. Secondly, their
works do not go with them. They're not accompanied there
in order to plead their case. They don't take their works with
them and say, see what I did. That's what the folks did in
Matthew 7. Lord, we preached in your name and cast out devils
in your name and did many wonderful works. He said, I never knew
you. They took their works with them to plead their works. So these people who are blessed
and who die in the Lord, their works do not go before them to
prepare the way and their works do not accompany them to plead
their case. Christ does that. He pleads for
us. He's our intercessor. He's our
advocate. He's our mediator with God. But their works follow them. Follow them. And those works
will be found to the praise and the glory and honor of Him who
enables them to do those works. Now, here's an example. You look
at a great painting. A great finished painting. Took a long time. A lot of skill
and ability went into the painting. As you look at it, whom do you
praise? The painter. You don't praise
the painting, you praise the painter, the one who did it.
You see a beautiful new building that's been built, a magnificent
building, and you stand back and look at it in wonder and
amazement. Do you praise the building? The building had nothing
to do with what it is. You praise the architect and
the builder. And when we stand in glory, we're
going to be trophies. We're not going to hold trophies.
We're not going to wear crowns. People are not going to praise
us for what we've done and what we are. Unto him who loved us
and washed us from our sins and made us to our God. kings and
priests, unto him be the glory, both now and forever. We'll be
trophies of his grace, his mercy, his love. Look what God did to
that old sinner. Look what God made out of that
wreck. Look what Almighty God demonstrated,
his power, his love, his grace, in bringing that sinner from
the depths of the papacy, the dunghill of sin, washed him in
the blood of his son, clothed him in his beauty and righteousness,
and seated him at his right hand in Christ. Glory be to God. That's who gets the glory. John
Howsam, trophy of grace. I watched God work in that man's
life. I watched God work. And the Lord
did a good job. He always does. Always does. To God be the glory. Alright,
let's sing. I believe this is one of our
brother's favorite hymns. It is. All of us here. Number 509.