Blessed Are the Dead

Death is our enemy. We try to avoid it by any means. Doctors and hospitals are busy trying to heal sickness and to lengthen a person’s life. We practice healthful living and a proper diet for the same reason.

Death is a result of sin. It was not God’s plan that people should die. But because of sin, the good and bad people, they all have to die sooner or later.

In olden times, when a person died, people mourned him for a month or more. We read that for Aaron, the people mourned 30 days and for Jacob, 70 days.

It was a great sorrow for the family and for the friends when someone passed away, especially if it happened to a younger person.

Now, this is how people look upon death. Humanly, it seems the end of life and the end of all activity. But God looks upon death differently. Therefore, it is written in the Bible, “And I heard 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.” Rev. 14:13.

It did not say, blessed are the living, but blessed are the dead. To a Christian, death is a sleep and a rest from all his labours. They are now beyond Satan’s temptations also, waiting for the resurrection morning.

Paul writes, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21. Paul was not afraid of death. He recognized that it is easier to die for Christ than to live for Him.

In Psalms, we read, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Ps. 116:15.

God lets His children to die when their life work is finished. It is really a shortcut to heaven. People who died thousands of years ago do not see the time passing. They closed their eyes in death and next they open them to the second coming of Christ, to go to heaven with Him.

In Revelation, we read, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” That is after 1844, when the third angel’s message began to be proclaimed.

To die at this time means to escape the terrible persecution, the Sunday law, and Jacob’s trouble; and yet belong to the 144,000.

“It is not always safe to ask for unconditional healing… He knows whether or not those for whom petitions are offered would be able to endure the trial and test that would come upon them if they lived. He knows the end from the beginning. Many will be laid away to sleep before the fiery ordeal of the time of trouble shall come upon our world.” CH 375 (1897)

“The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts.” 2SM 259 (1899)

Adam was at first terrified that he had to die because of his sin. But, after witnessing and living a life full of suffering and sorrow, he considered it as God’s mercy that he can die.

“He witnessed the wide-spreadingcorruption that was finally to cause the destruction of the world by a flood; and though the sentence of death pronounced upon him by his Maker had at first appeared terrible, yet after beholding for nearly a thousand years the result of sin, he felt that it was merciful of God to bring to an end a life of suffering and sorrow.” PP 82

“To the believer, death is but a small matter. Christ speaks of it as if it were of little moment. ‘If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death; he shall never taste of death.’ To the Christian, death is but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness.” DA 787

There were times when God’s messengers and prophets wished to die. Moses was discouraged and said to the Lord, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, If I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not see my wretched-ness.” Num. 11:14, 15.

Moses wished to die, rather than live. He could have chosen to r em ai n in Egypt in the royal court and live a life of luxury, but he chose to suffer
with his people , but at times it seemed too much for him. The Lord did not forsake him but encouraged him to continue. The trials and sorrows that the Lord has to bring upon His people often seem to consume them to the point that they wish to die. But then, He comforts them and strengthens them to accept these trials as blessings.

We read of the martyrs in the time of persecution, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Rev. 12:11. They could have saved their lives by denying their faith, but they remained faithful even unto death.
“Of all the gifts that heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honour. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honoured than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. ‘Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but to suffer for His sake.’ Philippians 1:29.” MH 478.

To suffer and to die as a martyr for Christ is an honour, which their enemies do not understand.

Some time ago I had a dream of the time of persecution. I was taken a prisoner and sentenced to die, because I had preached the Sabbath during the time of Sunday law. As the soldier took me to the place of execution, I talked to him about our faith. Then we arrived there and I closed my eyes and said my last prayer. Then I woke up, because it was only a dream. But the strange part was that in the dream I felt such a happiness and joy which I had never felt before in my life. After I woke up the whole day I felt as I was walking in the clouds. The peace of heaven and the joy in my heart was so great that I said, “I am ready to die as a martyr in order to have this happiness and joy again. Then I realized that those who had died as martyrs did not really suffer, but had the most joyful experience of their lives.

It is much better to be persecuted than being the persecutor. And let us remember, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” This is my wish and prayer. AMEN.

Timo Martin, Canada