“我听见从天上有声音说：‘你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！’” – 启 14:13
对大多数人来说，死亡是他们最大的恐惧。无论年龄或社会地位如何，死亡所到之处都会传播恐慌和惧怕。圣经把死亡描述为最后一个被击败的敌人，我们知道耶稣已经胜过了死亡，这让我们感到安慰。更重要的是，耶稣应许所有信祂的人有一天会从坟墓里复活，永远与祂同住。
这就是为什么圣经谈到死亡的问题时还提到幸福。例如，在今天的经文中，我们听到了直接来自天上的信息。这不是凭空想像出来的。不，它透过“天上的声音”来到我们这里，说：“你要写下：在主里面而死的人有福了……”换句话说，虽然死亡可能临到你的身体，但你的灵魂在主里面是稳妥的；祂也应许有一天会再来，使你的身体从死里复活。
凡在主里面而死的人，死亡并不是最后的宣判。死亡已经被击败，在主里面而死，就是从劳苦和痛苦中得安息。在主里而死，就是“与基督同在，是好得无比的”（腓 1:23）。那些在主里死去的人把今生抛在身后，进入了主的喜乐。
祷告
神啊，生命的创造者，对所有在基督里的人来说，死亡意味着安息在你的怀里。你完全的爱除去了我们所有的惧怕。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
启示录 14:6-13
6我又看见另有一位天使飞在空中，有永远的福音要传给住在地上的人，就是各国、各族、各方、各民。
7他大声说：“应当敬畏神，将荣耀归给他，因他施行审判的时候已经到了！应当敬拜那创造天、地、海和众水泉源的！”
8又有第二位天使接着说：“叫万民喝邪淫、大怒之酒的巴比伦大城倾倒了！倾倒了！”
9又有第三位天使接着他们大声说：“若有人拜兽和兽像，在额上或在手上受了印记，
10这人也必喝神大怒的酒，此酒斟在神愤怒的杯中纯一不杂。他要在圣天使和羔羊面前，在火与硫磺之中受痛苦。
11他受痛苦的烟往上冒，直到永永远远。那些拜兽和兽像，受它名之印记的，昼夜不得安宁。”
12圣徒的忍耐就在此，他们是守神诫命和耶稣真道的。
13我听见从天上有声音说：“你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！”圣灵说：“是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，做工的果效也随着他们。”
Happiness Of Dying In The Lord
“I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .’” – Revelation 14:13
For most people, death stands out as one of their greatest fears. Death spreads panic and terror wherever it goes, without respect for age or social position. The Bible describes death as the last enemy to be defeated, and we take comfort in knowing that Jesus himself has already defeated death. What’s more, Jesus has promised that all who believe in him will one day rise from the grave to live with him forever.
That is why the Scriptures speak of happiness despite the problem of death. In our reading for today, for example, we find a message that comes directly from heaven. This is not something that springs from someone’s imagination. No, it comes to us by way of “a voice from heaven” that says, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . .” In other words, though death may come to your body, your soul is safe with the Lord, who has also promised to raise your body to life again when he returns someday.
For all who die in the Lord, death does not have the last word. Death has already been defeated. To die in the Lord is to find rest from toil and struggle. To die in the Lord is to “depart and be with Christ, which is better” than remaining in the body we have now (Philippians 1:23). Those who die in the Lord leave this life behind and enter into the joy of the Lord.
Prayer
O God, author of life, for all who are in Christ, death means resting in your arms. Your perfect love removes all of our fear. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
