The Keys to Death and Life

The Keys to Death and Life. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death Rev 1 v 18 Other great men live and die but Jesus is the Great I Am. He was dead having been condemned to death despite being sinless but after being resurrected He lives forever. Other great men, leaders, teachers and warriors could not save themselves from death and its consequences. They are dead heroes who could not save themselves from hell and death. They are back to being zeros now. Death annuls all their achievements. They do not hold any keys or solutions to the problems of mankind at present or answer the perennial questions of life. We who are living now are better off than them for even a live rat is better than a dead lion. Jesus, as the Lion of Judah. alone in contrast overcame death and to this day continues to minister or serve people by delivering them from hell, the judgement and the second death or eternal death. He alone can revoke death and hell. Understanding the mystery of eternal death and life, hell and heaven is key to our faith. Even if we hold a key in our hands, we need to use it to open the door. We need to apply our understanding of this uni-verse to our lives to live fully and wholly for Christ our Redeemer. We should not live in fear of death or punishment or disease or failure or disaster but be full of joy that we too will live for evermore in Christ. The word “joy” itself means “Jesus Owns You.” He has purchased us from the enemy of our souls with His own priceless death. He has liberated us from bondage by His Resurrection and His eternal power contained in each of His promises to His followers or believers. Nobody can alter or take away this fact or conviction. He has first given us the key to death and then given us the key to eternal life. Death and life are the absolute opposites. These opposites breed lesser opposites like success and failure, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty, knowledge and ignorance. Jesus holds the keys to deal with these lesser opposites too. Jesus is called in the book of Revelation as the Lord Amen for He causes that which is the Father’s will to happen. The Father’s will is that all mankind be delivered from hell and death. The other day I was passing a jail in a certain city. People speculate and wonder if there is a place called hell. The Holy Spirit told me, “ If man in his limited wisdom, knowledge and intelligence has organized a jail or prison to house those who broke the social contract and violated the law, how much more will God in His infinite wisdom, knowledge and intelligence organize a place to house the spirits of those who violated His will and the sacred covenant. If man knows how to reward trust, loyalty, sacrifice and obedience, how much more will God in His infinite goodness and wisdom, reward those who are faithful and obedient.” The other day I happened to be present when the vicar of the church where I grew up as a child was teaching about death and eternal life. He confused the people about what happens to the soul after our physical death by referring to purgatory- a word and concept that is not spoken off anywhere in the Bible. I clarified that the key is faith in the risen personal Saviour Jesus and like the thief on the cross was told by Jesus, “ Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus did not tell the thief, “ I will recommend your case to the Father for admission to heaven while you repent in purgatory.” He promised him that he would be with Jesus in heaven as He knew that He held the keys to heaven and hell to deliver from death and to give admission to heaven. Jesus holds in His hands the keys to hell and death. We need to take the keys from His hands and use it to unlock the doors we want opened in our lives. He has released those of us who believe in Him from both death and hell. He has released us from the curse of shortcoming or hamartia in this lifetime. We have moved from darkness or ignorance of God to His marvellous light. We have moved from the shadow of death to the shadow of the Almighty. The presence of God or the consciousness of God being present in us and with us is like a shadow as it follows us wherever we go. Once Jesus uses His keys to let us out of death and hell and let us into His Kingdom and eternal life, no man or spirit or force can shut it again. Prateep V Philip