Revelation Chapter 1

VERSE 18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

In the previous verse the Lord stated most emphatically that he is “the first and the last”, that is to say he is not only the first and last of the direct creation of God, the firstborn of the new creation, the first born from the dead, but likewise he is the first and the last in regard to the sacrifice needed to accomplish the uplifting of the church and the restoration of the world. No other sacrifice will ever be needed other than the ransom and sin offering that he provided. The price that he paid makes it possible for the dead to be resurrected. Verse 18 helps to interpret what the first and last is.

I AM HE WHO LIVES, AND WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE, AMEN:

“The Lord’s people must recognize that Jesus was dead (actually died), dying for their sins, and subsequently rose out of death by the power of the Father. It is necessary also to realize that henceforth death has no more dominion over him. The work of sacrifice is complete and perfect, as shown by his words on the Cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30; Heb. 7:27; 9:12, 25–28; 10:10–14). Neither sacrifices of the mass, nor death in any other sense or form, have or ever will have dominion over him; nor will they ever be needed.

Note the following text:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered ONCE to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb 9:27, 28)

“…Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He (our Lord Jesus) said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.” He (out Lord) takes away the first (the typical sacrifices) that He may establish the second (the real or better sacrifice).

By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered ONE SACRIFICE for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by ONE OFFERING He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Heb 10:8-14)

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples began more and more to center their hopes and confidence implicitly in him as the promised Messiah. As a result of his death, they experienced surprise, disillusionment, and disappointment, even though the Master had foretold the Crucifixion and the events preceding it (Matt. 26:2, 21). With their faith in Jesus as Messiah at its lowest ebb, their cherished hopes dissipated by his ignominious death, the sorrowing disciples needed his glorious resurrection to bring them new life, revive their longing hopes, and animate them again with fervent zeal (Luke 24:20, 21). The Apostle Peter declared, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3). Paul assures the Lord’s people they have an eternal high priest in the heavens who will intercede for them; they need not fear a similar recurring disappointment of their hopes (Heb. 7:24, 25). John interjects his own “Amen” to express his approval and joyful pleasure.”

AND I HAVE THE KEYS OF HADES AND OF DEATH:

“Of further comfort is the wonderful message that the glorified Redeemer has the “keys” of hell; that is, the authority and power to deliver all who are imprisoned there. He has the keys of death in every degree, so that those whom he liberates from the tomb, as well as those who have not yet died but are under the sentence of death, may all be ultimately delivered or set free from the dominion of sin and death (Matt. 8:22). The privilege and opportunity of deliverance from death into abundance of life, of freedom from the bondage of corruption, and of full liberty as the sons of God will be extended to every creature of Adam’s race (Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor. 15:22).

At present Messiah is still permitting death to prevail against the Lord’s people, who to all appearances go down into death or oblivion as do others. Therefore, they need his encouraging assurance that death shall not forever prevail against them, that the doors of oblivion shall not remain closed. Just as he symbolically burst the bars of death and came forth in resurrection glory through the Father’s power, so the Church shall be delivered from the power of death and share in his resurrection, “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:6).

Since the purpose of Verse 18 is to ENCOURAGE God’s people, “HELL” (*Hades) cannot mean a place of torment. If it did, the expression would lack force. These words imply the Lord’s people go to Hades (oblivion), regardless of who else may go there, and the hope of the Lord’s people is that in due time the great Redeemer will unlock this figurative prison house of death, open the doors of darkness, and bring forth the captives from the tomb.

The significance of Jesus’ having the keys is that he intends to use them; he can open and he can shut. All power is given into his hand (John 3:35). Similarly assured by the Father in Psa 16:10, the Redeemer knew his soul would not be left in hell (Hebrew: Sheol). Evidently, this promise was very precious and a source of consolation to Jesus as he neared the portals of death.” (The Keys of Revelation)

“This two-word phrase “Hades and death” relates directly to the original curse in Gen. 2:17 where the Hebrew accounts for (1) “dying (death) thou shalt (2) die” (Hades).

Jesus not only has the keys to release man from the dying condition (death), but likewise from the grave (Hades) to which it has led the entire race. His victory (and the implied victory for his Church) NOT ONLY gave him personal life forevermore, but gave him the keys to let others out of the dying condition and out of the grave. What a prospect! (See 1 Cor 15:29).” (New Albany Notes on Revelation)

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* Hades is the Greek word for death or the great prison house of death, the unconscious and unseen state or condition of the dead.

Continued with next post.