639. [verse 13] 'And I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, Write, blessed are the dead dying in the Lord from henceforth' signifies a prediction from the Lord concerning the state after death of those who will belong to His New Church (e Nova Ecclesia Ipsius erunt), which is that those who endure temptations on account of a faith directed to the Lord and a life in accordance with His precepts, have eternal life and happiness. By 'to hear a voice out of heaven saying' is signified a prediction from the Lord. It concerns the state after death of those who will belong to His New Church, because it treats of that state in this verse. By 'dying henceforth' is signified their state after death. 'Write' signifies so that it may be for a remembrance to posterity (n. 39, 63). By 'blessed' are signified those who have eternal life and happiness, since they are blessed. By 'the dead' are signified those who have afflicted their soul, crucified their flesh and endured temptations. That these are understood here by 'the dead' will be seen below. [2] That those have eternal life and happiness who have endured temptations on account of a faith directed to the Lord and on account of a life in accordance with His precepts, is plain from the words just preceding where it is said 'Here* is the patience of the saints, here are those keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus', by which is signified that the man of the New Church is examined by means of temptations in regard to his quality as to a life in accordance with the precepts [of the Decalogue] and as to a faith directed to the Lord. This may be seen just above (n. 638), and by reason of the following words 'And they shall rest from their labours', by which is signified that those who have been tempted are going to have peace in the Lord, concerning whom just below (n. 640). By 'temptations' here are understood the spiritual temptations which take place (existunt) with those who have a faith directed to the Lord and live in accordance with His precepts, while they are driving away the evil spirits with them who act together with their lusts. These temptations are signified by 'the cross' in these passages:-
Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me Matt. x 38.
Jesus said, If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, bear his cross, and follow Me Matt. xvi 24; Luke ix 23-25; xiv 26, 27;
also by 'the crucifixion of the flesh' in Paul:-
They who are Christ's crucify the flesh with the passions and lusts Gal. v 24.
[3] The reason why by 'the dead' are signified those who have afflicted their soul, crucified their flesh and endured temptations is because thereby they have mortified the former life, and consequently have become as it were dead before the world; for the Lord said:-
Unless a grain of wheat falling on the land dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit John xii 24.
Nor are any others understood by 'the dead' in John:-
Jesus said, As the Father raises up the dead and revives them, so does the Son revive whom He will John v 21.
In the same:-
Jesus said that the hour shall come when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall live John v 25.
And also by 'the resurrection of the dead' (Luke xiv 4; Rev. xx 5, 12, 13; and elsewhere). See n. 106 above. Also in David:-
Precious in the eyes of Jehovah is the death of His saints Ps. cxvi 15.
Jesus also said:-
Whoever loses his soul for My sake, shall find it Matt. x 39; xvi 25; Luke ix 24, 25; xvii 33; John xii 25. * Reading Hic (here) instead of Haec (this).
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