Most commentators suggest that ‘rest from toil’ in Rev. 14.13 refers to relief from the enduring hardships of persecution. Based on the cultural and narrative contexts of the book of Revelation, it is argued in this study that this ‘rest’ reflects two Jewish traditions: (1) rest from work and (2) rest from enemies. It also proposes that ‘rest from toil’ also carries a strong connotation of victory over persecutors – a reading with important implications for understanding John’s rhetorical strategy of increasing the motivation for his readers/hearers to remain faithful to Christ, even when facing death.
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