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Keys of Death Day 12
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lamp stands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches." (Revelation 1.17-20)
Reassurance
As the Roman government stepped up its persecution of Christians in the Second Century A.D., John must have wondered if the church would die out or whether it could survive. When Jesus appeared in glory and splendor, he reassured John that he and his fellow believers had access to God's strength to face these trials.
Fear of Death
"Do not be afraid," Jesus says as he did to John and the other disciples on the Sea of Galilee in a terrible storm. (See painting of Jesus in the Storm at right.) "But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.'" 1 At the Transfiguration, when John was frightened by the presence of Moses and Elijah in an eerie cloud, he falls at his feet as though dead. Similarly, the soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane fell down when Jesus spoke the holy "I am" name.
The Keys of Death
Jesus holds "the keys of death and Hades." The Greek word "Hades" is a translation of the Hebrew word "Sheol" and describes the location of this abode of the dead. 2 It emphasizes the awful dread of this place in the afterlife. Jesus himself holds "the keys of death" indicating his complete power and authority and control over it. (See photograph of an old key to right.)
Key to the Exit
Someone has said, "Life is like a maze in which you try to avoid the exit." (See diagram of maze below.) But Jesus alone is able to free humans from the fear of death. Believers don't have to fear death, because Christ holds the keys to eternal life.
Death Removed
Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, "Death in its substance has been removed," and only the shadow of it remains. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot block a man's pathway for even a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill." 3 Those who are facing premature death from a killer disease like cancer or AIDS need to remember that the power available to John and the Early Church is still available to us today in Jesus.
Death has No Sting
When the end is near, be assured that death has no sting. Jesus has removed it for those who love and serve him. Jesus said to Lazarus's sister even in her moment of bitter grief, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"4 This great question bears forth the earth shattering truth that even death is destroyed by Jesus.
Meditation
1. How do you feel knowing that Jesus holds the keys to death?
2. Right now, are you "on Patmos" (suffering) or "in the spirit" (reigning)?
Prayer
"Lord, I thank you that I have no cause to be afraid of dying.
Though you were once dead, now you are alive for evermore.
You hold the keys of death. I am safe in your arms." Amen.
Notes
1Matthew 14.27 2see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades 3Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892) 4John 11:25-26
Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades.
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