What Does It Mean That Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades?

An oft-reported truth is that people fear one thing most of all—death. Why? To the world, death is an unknown. Fear comes to an unsaved person when they consider what comes next. Will I have to answer for what I’ve done? What I’ve not done? Will I burn in hell forever, or will I reach a state of eternal bliss? And don’t be misled, hell is real.

Various secular experts have deduced different ideas about what death is. Some say it’s simply a cessation of life, with no more bodily functions (including brain functions). Others proclaim an afterlife based on a particular religion. The process of dying adds to the “package” of fearing it. No one desires pain for themselves or others or to or linger past the point of usefulness. 

Death, whether one fears it or not, changes peoples’ lives. Losing a loved one to death brings grief that some feel is unable to be assuaged. And along with the grief is the preponderance of legal responsibilities which add to the anxiety and sadness. 

But Jesus Christ has the keys of death and Hades. Until His kingdom is manifest in the new heavens and earth, biological death is here to stay.

In the Bible’s book of Revelation, chapter one shows us an encounter between John the apostle and the Lord Jesus. John falls at Jesus’ feet as though dead, and Jesus exclaims, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17b-18).

John the apostle, we learn in Revelation 1:9, is on the island of Patmos, exiled there because of his faithfulness to the Gospel. Verse 1 states this is the revelation of Jesus Christ shown to John, and the rest of the book is John’s witness of what he was shown.

Revelation 1:4 reveals the recipients of this letter — the churches in Asia. Revelation 1:4b-5 says the revelation is from the Godhead, “Him who is and who was and who is to come [God the Father], and from the seven spirits who are before his throne [The Holy Spirit], and from Jesus Christ [The Son] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”

The First and the Last.

In verses 5b-7, we see the glory and dominion forever and ever is to Jesus Christ. He is the One who, with His blood, saved us from our sins. A promise is made in verse 7 that Jesus is “coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced (killed) Him.” A great wailing will then take place on account of His return.

seven churches

The vision was of Jesus holding seven stars in His right hand and a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth, and a radiant face (Revelation 1:12-16). The stars were stated to be the angels of the seven churches and the lampstands are the seven churches.

Death and Hades were not present in the beginning of the heavens and the earth, because everything God made was good. Death (and therefore Hades, which is another word for Hell) came about only because of sin (Genesis 3), and because God did not institute sin, Death is not good. As a result of Adam’s sinful action, his sin has been inherited by all of mankind (Romans 3:23). Thank God for the truth of Romans 6:23, which says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Because Jesus is the One who has control over the beginning and conclusion of human history, He controls every aspect and action of the happenings in the heavens and the earth. 

He is alive forevermore, having ransomed us by His death, which nullified any claim death has on humans. Jesus is now in heaven and, as Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:22, He sits at the right hand of the Father. As Priest, sitting signifies His work is done. That He sits at God’s right hand means He reigns as King. His kingdom includes every abode of every creature for all time and forevermore, including death, which will cease (Revelation 21:4). 

Let’s look more at how Jesus earlier identified Himself to John. The “First and Last” is a divine title (Revelation 5:9: Hebrews 2:9; Philippians 2:9).

Death is an enemy.  1 Corinthians 15:26 states, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” For a season as allowed by God, the devil had the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), yet Jesus obliterated death and the devil on the cross (Philippians 2:8). In Jesus’ apparent defeat on the cross, He was humiliated, but He “endured the cross and despised the shame” (Hebrews 12:2), and He abolished death (2 Timothy 1:10).

glorious appearing