Revelation 14: 13 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 labors; and their works do follow them.
Question: When does “Henceforth” begin? The answer is to be found by carefully studying the context in which the passage is written, because it comes right after the final close of the three angel’s messages, especially the third which locks down the teeming multitudes in their decisions for eternity. The statement, taken together with other passages in the scripture, and several quotes coming from the servant of The Lord, point to a time when, because of the dangers posed by the institution of the mark of the beast, it will become necessary for The Lord to put many of His people to sleep briefly.
Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
The time of trouble such as never was will be a time unlike any other in the history of the world, and it is a fact that many persons in the Remnant church will not be able to withstand or survive the turmoil, and the bloodshed that will be overspreading the earth. Therefore, rather than lose millions of His people during that awful time, The Great and merciful God will put many of His people to sleep, just for a brief moment, so that they can be saved in His kingdom. This is one of the reasons why we must confront the fact of our own mortality.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!