Revelation 14:13

I heard a voice from heaven - As the information now to be given was of the utmost importance, it is solemnly communicated by a voice from heaven; and the apostle is commanded to write or record what is said.

Blessed are the dead - Happy are they. They are happy in two respects:

1. They do not see the evil that shall come upon the world, and are exempted from any farther sufferings.

They actually and conscientiously enjoy happiness in a state of blessedness.

In the first sense, Happy are the dead! is a proverb frequently to be met in the Greek and Roman poets. Ex. gr.

Τρις μακαρες Δαναοι και τετρακις, οἱπ τοτ ' ολοντοπ

Τροιῃ εν ευρειη, χαριν Ατρειδῃσι φεροντες.

Ὡς δη εγωγ ' οφελον θανεειν και ποτμον επισπεινπ

Ηματι τῳ, ὁτε μοι πλειστοι χαλκηρεα δουραπ

Τρωες επερῥιψαν περι Πηλειωνι θανοντι.

Odyss., lib. v. ver. 306.