WHERE ARE THE KEYS?
Resurrection 2017 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 37 viewsDeath closes the door of life as we know it, and deposits the deceased in the grave. The issue before us this afternoon is how does a person go from the grave (Hades) to eternal life?The answer: "Only Jesus, because He has the Keys".
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The Dilemma Called “Death”
The Dilemma Called “Death”
Death
Death
Death
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid countenance, but they passed one another without speaking. The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid countenance, but they passed one another without speaking. The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid countenance, but they passed one another without speaking. The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The story is told of a certain man who was walking in his neighborhood when he came face to face with Death. He noticed an expression of surprise on the creature’s horrid countenance, but they passed one another without speaking. The fellow was frightened and went to a wise man to ask what should be done. The wise man told him that Death had probably come to take him away the next morning. The poor fellow was terrified at this and asked how ever he could escape.
The only solution the two could think of was that the victim should drive all night to a distant city and so elude Death. So the man drove to the other city—it was a terrible journey that had never been done in one night before—and when he arrived he congratulated himself on having eluded death.
The only solution the two could think of was that the victim should drive all night to a distant city and so elude Death. So the man drove to the other city—it was a terrible journey that had never been done in one night before—and when he arrived he congratulated himself on having eluded death.
Just then, Death came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I have come for you.”
Just then, Death came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I have come for you.”
“Why,” exclaimed the terrified man, “I thought I saw you yesterday near my home!”
“Why,” exclaimed the terrified man, “I thought I saw you yesterday near my home!”
“Exactly,” said Death. “That was why I looked surprised—for I had been told to meet you today in this city.”279
“Exactly,” said Death. “That was why I looked surprised—for I had been told to meet you today in this city.”
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 88–89). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 88–89). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 88–89). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 88–89). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
The fact of the matter is that death is inescapable. It is so because of choice of Adam and Eve in the beginning. By their disobedience, all humanity stands accused, arrested, tried, and found guilty before God. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ().
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
“
And so because of sin, all men must face death. But might I suggest this glorious Resurrection Morning that death is not really the issue at hand. The issue that we ought to be concerned today is what happens when we get to the grave. This is significant today because “Death closes the door of life as we know it, and deposits the deceased into the grave; then the door is locked.
The sad reality is that millions upon millions will experience Eternal death. Eternal death is the condition of those who are spiritually dead, who depart this earthly life without repentance of sin and without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal death is the punishment of those who are terminally unbelieving, unrepentant and disobedient (). The judgment unto eternal death (also called the second death) will take place at the end of the Millennium before the Great White Throne of God. The issue before us this afternoon is how does one escape Eternal death(Hades) and enter into Eternal life.
and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
Duffield, G. P., & Van Cleave, N. M. (1983). Foundations of Pentecostal theology (p. 142). Los Angeles, CA: L.I.F.E. Bible College.
Duffield, G. P., & Van Cleave, N. M. (1983). Foundations of Pentecostal theology (p. 142). Los Angeles, CA: L.I.F.E. Bible College.
Duffield, G. P., & Van Cleave, N. M. (1983). Foundations of Pentecostal theology (p. 142). Los Angeles, CA: L.I.F.E. Bible College.
The Dissolution of the Dilemma
The Dissolution of the Dilemma
The Dissolution of the Dilemma
The Dissolution of the Dilemma
The text says
The text says
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
The text that claims our attention this afternoon is the Book of “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”. This work is generally accepted, without much argument or debate, as being penned by John the beloved disciple. John begins this book by making it abundantly clear that he is dictating what he is told to write. He says that he was told to write about the things that would soon take place. His immediate audience was the Seven Churches of Asia, who would have known John intimately as he reminds them that his current situation, being exiled on the Island called Patmos, was because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
He tells his readers that what he is writing to them came about because “he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”. Oh, I wish I could preach that today! (Too many times we miss what it is that the Lord wants to reveal to us on the Lord’s day because we are not in the Spirit”. We can’t hear His voice, We can’t see His hand, We can’t feel His touch…because we are not in the Spirit. John said, that he was in the Spirit and the Lord begin to reveal this message to him.
John said that the Spiritual vision startled him because there was a loud voice behind him that sounded like a trumpet; the message that he heard was being delivered to him by someone standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. After squinting to get a better view, the writer said that he was able to discern this figure : he looked like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest was a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—
and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
See
His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,
who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—
and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
“Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Lets look at these verses for a few moments; Let’s touch the text together so that we can pick up some holy helpful hints to assist us in possessing a “Blessed Assurance”that we need not despair nor be afraid of death or the grave because we know where the keys are.
All Praise and Reverence is due Him
All Praise and Reverence is due Him
John said, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.” You all do remember that nobody see God in his glory and live, aren’t you. In the book of Exodus, Moses asked God to allow him to see His Glory. The Lord told him that He couldn’t do it because it would be too much for Moses; he wouldn’t live through it. And so instead, He graced him with “A Glimpse of His Glory”.
see
Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.” Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Paul could almost identify with John because of the experience he had on the Damascus Road. He too was struck to the ground in a similar way when he saw Christ in His glory.
See
and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Notice with me today that Moses didn’t see Him like John did, and Paul didn’t see Him like John did. John’s vision of his glory caused him to fall at his feet as though he were dead.
What I’m claiming right here is that the Lord is so awesome that we should never be smug in His presence, but that we should always praise Him enthusiastically and with Holy Reverence.
Previously John had put his head on Jesus’ breast (cf. , KJV). But now John could not be this familiar with the Christ of glory; neither should we. Through this text we should sing with reckless abandonment the word of the old hymn:
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Tho' the darkness hide Thee,
Tho' the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Verse #2
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Verse #3
Holy, holy, holy! Tho' the darkness hide Thee,
Tho' the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Verse #4
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
John said when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And I know that we may not be able to wrap our minds around it today; but wouldn’t it be a terrible thing to actually be dead and have to see Him in His glory and not be saved? I already told you that the dilemma with death is that it is inescapable. When you die, what you don’t want to happen is for the Lord to have something against you. (do I have a witness)
I don’t know about you today, but when I come to breathe my last breath, I want to hear the Lord say “Do not be afraid”. In this text John recieved reassurance from Christ in these words, Do not be afraid. And I believe that this text is tailored to teach us that there are some reasons that we don’t have to be afraid of death. Can I give them to you? You are interested, aren’t you?
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 1:17–18
1:17–18. John stated, When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Paul was struck to the ground in a similar way when he saw Christ in His glory (Acts 9:4). Previously John had put his head on Jesus’ breast (cf. John 13:25, KJV). But now John could not be this familiar with the Christ of glory.
John received reassurance from Christ in the words, Do not be afraid. Christ stated that He is the eternal One, the First and the Last (cf. Rev. 1:8; 2:8; 21:6; 22:13), and the resurrected One, the Living One, who though once dead is now alive forever and ever! Here Christ affirmed that He alone has the keys of death and hades that is, authority over death and the place of the dead (cf. John 5:21–26; 1 Cor. 15:54–57; Heb. 2:14; Rev. 20:12–14). Though the glorified Christ is to be reverenced, faithful believers like John can be sure they are accepted by the Son of God. The Christian’s death and resurrection are both in His hands. This picture of Christ glorified contrasts with the portrayal of Christ as a Man in the four Gospels (cf. Phil. 2:6–8), except for His transfiguration (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:2).
Because He is the Eternal One
Because He is the Eternal One
Jesus told John, Do not be afraid because “I am the first and the last”. The Alpha and the Omega The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The expression is a merism—a figure of speech that distinguishes opposites in order to accentuate the whole. God is the beginning and the end and everything in between
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press
See ; ; ;
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Because He is the Resurrected One
Because He is the Resurrected One
John said that the Lord went on to describe Himself as “Living One”. Listen to His description: I was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore”. There are some, who in an effort to discredit the resurrection, deny the death of Christ. But the Bible makes it clear that He died.
Look at
Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Jesu said I was dead; but look at me now! I’m alive forevermore.
Because He has the Keys
Because He has the Keys
Did Jesus Fight Satan for the Keys to the Kingdom?
Keys are a symbol of control. Keys keep people in or out. If they do not have a key to a lock, they cannot enter or exit. Keys grant the holder access to interiors and their contents, and in ancient times the wearing of large keys was a mark of status in the community. In the New Testament, the word “Hades” has a twofold usage: in some cases it denotes the place of all the departed dead (the grave—, ); in others, it refers to the place of the departed wicked (Hell—; ). Since Christ alone has conquered death and has Himself come out of grave, He alone can determine who will enter death and Hades and who will come out. He has the “keys.” He has authority over death and the place of the dead.
Satan has never possessed these “keys.” Satan has never had power to determine who goes to Heaven (the Kingdom) and who goes to Hell. Jesus did not have to fight Satan for the keys because the keys were never in Satan’s possession. God and God alone has power over death and Hell (). Jesus did not have to fight Satan for anything because Jesus’ death on the cross was His ultimate victory. tells us, “… and having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
For the Christian, there is no need to fear death and hell. Christ is in control of both, and the one who has faith in Christ will never enter hell. But it must be remembered, ONLY Christ has the keys to the Kingdom. This is why Jesus told us He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that NO ONE can come to the Father except by Him ().
Closing
Closing
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Death, Sting Removed From
Death, Sting Removed from
A boy and his father were traveling in a car when a bee flew through the open window. The boy was so highly allergic to bee stings that both he and his father knew that his life was in danger. As the boy frantically jumped around and tried to avoid the agitated bee, the father calmly reached out and grabbed the bee. When he opened his hand, the bee began to fly again, terrorizing the boy once more. The father then said, “Look, son,” holding up a hand with an implanted stinger, “his stinger is gone; he can’t hurt you any longer.”
As a bee loses its stinger when it stings, so death lost its sting when it stung Jesus
Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 931). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.