The holder of the keys has the authority and power to release or bind. The power of the keys describes certain authority that Christ gave to the church to bind and loose. In the Book of Revelation is a reference to the One Who has the keys of utmost authority and power.
Revelation 1:10-17 NKJV I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last… Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
Revelation 1:18 NKJV 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.
He was in the last cell at the bottom of the dungeon, at the end of death row, and he had very little contact with others in that hole. He knew others were down that way, but he had only seen them when he was locked away and he could not remember how long that had been. There was little light and no windows. His only hope was that his time was coming to an end. Down the hall he heard the rattle of the keys and he knew it was the jailer or the warden. Every time he heard those keys, he remembered every evil thing he had done and what had put him in that place. He was sure it was his time to take that long walk down a short hall. He knew when he heard the sound that they were coming to take him away. He heard the key turning the old rusty lock and he was prepared for everything he deserved. When the door screeched open a bright light began to flood into his dark smelly cell and he heard these words:
“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.”
He met the Man who conquered hell and death, and he was set free.
The word key or keys occurs only 8 times in the Bible. In Isaiah 22:22, God said the officer with the highest position has complete authority in giving access to the king. The prophecy ultimately refers to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 22:22-23 NKJV The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, And he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house.
The Holder of the keys has power and authority.
The Holder of the keys has authority to open and no one shall shut; and He shall shut, and no one shall open.
- In ancient times a key expressed the idea of authority, power, and privilege.
References to a key or keys in Scripture can be taken either figuratively or literally. Ancient religions depict the underworld as sealed off by gates. They show Nedu, Pluto, Kronos, or Isis as keepers of the keys. Revelation 20:1 tells us an angel sent down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain was in his hand.
- Revelation 1:18 tells us there are keys to hell and death.
The One who holds the key has authority. The prophecy declares that Jesus has the keys of death and Hades or the unseen world of darkness.
- Isaiah 22, says, “The key to the house of David shall be laid on his shoulder; So he shall open and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.”
- God exercised the “power of the keys” when He shut Noah in the Ark.
Noah built the Ark and brought the animals in two by two. When everything was finished, and everyone was inside, God shut the door and the rain began falling. When God shuts the door, no one can open it! Everyone on the outside was trying to get in, but it was too late, because God had shut the door.
- In Judaic history, handing over the keys indicated full authorization.
The scribes and rabbis claimed the power of the keys. They claimed the authority to render decisions over what was allowed or forbidden, acquitted or condemned.
Jesus gave the “power of the keys” to His disciples and the church.
Matthew 16:19 NKJV And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Whatever they bind on earth will have already been bound in heaven. Whatever they loose on earth will have already been loosed in heaven. God takes preemptive action on our account.
The one who holds the keys to the kingdom
has authority, power, and dominion.
In Genesis 1:26 NKJV When God created Adam, He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
In verse 28, God told Adam to have dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth.
Adam had absolute authority and dominion under God over everything on the earth. As long as he was obedient to God, he was not subject to death or the grave. When Adam and Eve sinned, Satan gained dominion and power over mankind. When Adam sinned, he lost more than innocence. He lost control and dominion. He became a servant to sin and its consequences. They fell under the dominion and power of sin. Satan used death and the grave as a weapon on man.
This is where Jesus Christ came to our aid.
Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
God warned Adam and Eve that if they sinned they would surely die. The Lord promised to deliver man from the power of sin and death.
For mankind to be saved from the consequences and dominion of SIN, we needed a human mediator, a KINSMAN REDEEMER.
We needed someone who could be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and weaknesses. We needed to be someone who was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. He would have to face the horrors of sin, death and the grave.
If there could be a Redeemer, He would have to overcome everything that brought us under the bondage. The Bible tells us, God looked for a man to redeem. In Isaiah 63:5, God said: “I looked, but there was no one to help… therefore My own arm brought salvation.
Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
At the right time, the Living Word of God came down and humbled Himself and became a man. He was subject to the same passions that we have. He was tempted, tested, and tried. He suffered, bled and died.
Hebrews 2:14 NKJV Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
In Hosea 13:14 NKJV God promised, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
The Lord God Almighty gave a warning to the power of death and the grave. God was going to send His Son without pity to destroy death and the grave.
This is why Jesus came down.
Ephesians 4:8-10 AMP Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men.[But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the depths], the lower parts of the earth? He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).
He descended so that He might deliver captives. They were captive to death and the grave. There was no way out, there was no exit. Satan had the power of death in the kingdom of darkness. The gates and doors were barred. Everyone was hopeless and helpless. There was no way out of hell, death or the grave. Then Jesus came out of the grave in victory. He led captivity captive.
Colossians 2:15 NKJV Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
There was no way out until Jesus SPOILED principalities and powers. There was no escape until He made a public spectacle of them. He paralyzed them and rendered them helpless to hinder.
Jesus Christ triumphed over death and the grave through the cross. He entered into death and the grave and when He came out He had conquered Satan’s realm, kingdom, and authority.
It was impossible for death to hold Him.
Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer, arose in victory. He defeated the destroyer and conquered our greatest foe. DEATH was defeated when Jesus arose with victory and power.
After His resurrection Jesus met with His disciples.
Matthew 28:18 NKJV And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
Jesus holds the KEYS of death and the grave. He has conquered every vile and evil power and authority that was against us. All the victory and power is His. He is the Conqueror King. He has triumphed over death, the grave, sickness, disease, and sin. Every knee shall bow to Him. Every tongue shall confess to God that He is Lord of all. Every foe is under His feet. Every dominion is conquered. Satan is defeated and Jesus is Lord.
What is it that is coming against you?
What is Satan trying to do?
JESUS IS LORD!
Every foe has been brought down.
What is it that is holding you back?
Jesus has conquered it, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
Christ our conqueror is on the scene. Jesus Christ our healer is alive.
Revelation 1:18 NKJV 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.
