639. Verse 13. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Happy are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth, signifies a prediction from the Lord concerning the state of those after death who will be of His New Church, which is, that they who suffer temptations on account of faith in the Lord and life according to His precepts, will have eternal life and happiness. "To hear a voice from heaven saying," signifies a prediction from the Lord. The reason why it relates to their state after death who will be of His New Church, is, because that state is treated of in this verse; by "them that die henceforth," is signified their state after death; "write," signifies that it may be for a remembrance to posterity (n. 39, 63). By "happy" are signified they who have eternal life and happiness, because they are happy. By "the dead" are signified they who afflicted their soul, crucified their flesh, and suffered temptations; that these are here meant by "the dead," will be seen below.
[2] That they have eternal life and happiness who have suffered temptations on account of their faith in the Lord and their life according to His commandments, appears from what goes before, where it is said, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus:" by which is signified that the man of the New Church is explored by temptations in regard to his quality as to a life according to the commandments, and as to faith in the Lord (see above, n. 638); and from the following, "and that they may rest from their labors," by which is signified that they who are tempted will have peace in the Lord (as will be seen below, n. 640). By "temptations" are here meant spiritual temptations, which exist with those who have faith in the Lord and live according to His commandments, when they drive away the evil spirits that are with them, who act as one with their lusts. These temptations are signified by "the cross" in the following passages:
And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me (Matt. 10:38).
Jesus said, If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23-25; 14:26-27).
Also by "crucifying the flesh" in Paul:
They that are Christ's crucify the flesh with the passions and lusts (Gal. 5:24).
[3] The reason why they are signified by "the dead" who have afflicted their soul, crucified their flesh, and suffered temptations, is, because thereby they have mortified their former life, and therefore are become as it were dead before the world; for the Lord says:
Except a grain of wheat falling on the earth die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24).
Nor are any others meant by "the dead" in John:
Jesus said, As the Father raiseth up the dead, and vivifieth them, even so the Son vivifieth whom He will (John 5:21).
In the same:
Jesus said, The hour cometh, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live (John 5:25).
And also by "the resurrection of the dead" (Luke 14:14; Rev. 20:5, 12-13); and in other places; see above (n. 106), and in David:
Precious in the eyes of Jehovah is the death of His saints (Ps. 116:15).
Jesus also said, He that loseth his soul for My sake, shall find it (Matt. 10:39; 16:25; Luke 9:24, 25; 17:33; John 12:25).
