Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 14:13

"And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them." — Revelation 14:13 (ASV)

And I heard a voice . . .—Translate: And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on; Yes, says the Spirit, because they will rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.

We are not told whose voice speaks, but it proclaims a blessing on (not only martyrs, but) those who die in the Lord, in happy union and fellowship with Him (John 15:2–5; 1 John 1:3). They are happy, for they rest from toil, and their works of faith and labors of love (even if it is only the giving of a cup of cold water in the name of Christ) follow with them into the presence of their Lord (Matthew 10:41–42; Hebrews 6:10).

The words “from now on” present a difficulty. The reason for their introduction is found in the state of trouble that the preceding verses describe: the righteous are happy in being taken away from the evil to come.

Or could it be that the words are designed to console mourners in an age when dark unbelief takes away the sweet resurrection trust and writes over its graves, “Farewell for ever”? If the climax of world-power should be bitter scorn for the idea of a life to come, and complacent satisfaction with a portion in this world, then words of faith, proclaiming that the dead are happy and restful and that their work is not in vain in the Lord, may find new force to sustain fainting courage or wavering trust.