Keys

An interesting thought occurred to me today. I had to drive my son’s car and thus, had to take his keys. Now, as I’m sure you can imagine, his set of keys are quite different from mine. How, you may ask. In sheer number, is the fact. My son has two, yes, two keys. Now mind you, I’m not counting his fob, because, many people’s key fob and key are the same, like my wife’s car. No, he has two keys, one for his car (of course) and one to get in our house. That’s it. A seventeen year old needs two keys and that will do.

Now me, that is a different thing all together. I have a key for my house, my car, my wife’s car, four for our church, two for my work, one for my out building, two for my parent’s house, one key I'm not sure to what (afraid I'll find the lock someday to this key) and multiple tags for shopping and discount purposes. I have more responsibilities and need more keys. My key chain is heavy, much heavier than my sons. It made me think about what keys may mean in the Bible, especially the verse in Revelations 1:18.

The word key or keys is used only about eight times in the Bible. One reference is to an actual key (Judges 3:25) and another to a symbolic reference to knowledge (Luke 11:52). It is the other references that I am concentrating on. Key(s) is a reference to something opening or the means to open something. By inference, key is an authority to open something, or keep it closed. It is my car, thus my keys. So I think the reference to key(s) is a reference to authority.

There are a couple references to the idea of David’s key(s). In Isaiah 22:22 and Revelations 3:7, the idea of opening and shutting doors is mentioned. But, in relation to the rule and reign of David’s future son (Messiah), this entrance (accomplished by the Messiah opening the door) is into the kingdom that Jesus will reign over for eternity.

The allusion to key in Revelations (1:18) is to Jesus authority over death and hell. The verse reads, “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.” The authority here is gained by His experience. What experience am I referring to? Living, dying and living again is the way Jesus accomplished His capability to earn the keys. As I believe we see here, Jesus earned these keys, but from whom? I believe the devil had these.

Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” shows the devil’s power. Actually, it WAS the devil’s power. Jesus TOOK it away. So where do I get the idea about his authority over hell? It had to be on the same key ring. Seriously, think for a moment, what is the entrance into hell, but death.

There seems to be reference (1 Peter 3:9) to Jesus preaching to spirits in prison (hell?). These prisoners were trapped in someplace, not in Heaven, but a place Jesus called Abraham’s Bosom (Jesus called Paradise). They were brought out (Ephesians 4:8-10) by Christ, to enjoy a better place. There seems to have been different compartments to this, but this explanation here: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/BTP/Dr_Max_Younce/Hell/01.htm, is much more in depth than I can give here.

So Jesus’ keys, his ring of authority, has been gained, to our benefit. We now have a Savior that can deliver us from death, hell as well as the grave. We now have no reason to fear the moments after death or its consequences, if we have trusted the holder of the KEYS!