Who Has The Keys?

Who Has The Keys?

We went back to “real church” this past Sunday. A friend told me the pastor was going to begin teaching a series on Revelation. I like John the Revelator’s book – in the year 2000, after my hysterectomy, I began a deep dive into the last book of the Bible because I wanted to know truth. I was raised in the Plymouth Brethren Assembly and I was taught from the cradle that Jesus would come back BEFORE the Tribulation. Well, that just didn’t set well with my 50-year old self and I wanted to study it on my own.

Revelation is not a book of the Bible to be feared. But, to be read. And, did you know it is the only book of the Bible which guarantees a blessing IF you read it. It doesn’t say a thing about understanding it but just reading IT and “keeping” it! I find that as amazing as the book itself.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1.3

The Revelation

John, the same John who called himself Jesus’ BFF, is the revelator – he authored the final book of the New Testament. He was approximately 90 years old when he found himself exiled to the Island of Patmos. Our Pastor called him the first “survivor.” Shall we consider this?

90. Ninety. Ten years younger than 100. Old then and old now. Exiled. He had to fend for himself. Who even knows what was on the island? Coconut palms? Natives? Wild beasts? Was he allowed to bring ten things? We DO know he brought paper and pen because Jesus told him to write down the revelation.

The Purpose of The Revelation

Contrary to what some of you are thinking – its purpose is not to scare the bojeebers out of us! Its purpose is…

The final glorification of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Pastor Jerry Madden

John SAW the Glorified Christ! And, when he did? He fell at His feet as though dead. I’ve often wondered what my first reaction will be when I see Jesus – I believe we will all do what John did!

Then Jesus laid His right hand on John and said,

Do not be afraid; I am The First and The Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And, I have the keys of Hell and of Death, write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this…Revelation 1.17-19

What about those keys?

First of all, Jesus has always had “the keys” – remember in Matthew 16…

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. 

Keys represent authority and in Matthew 16, Jesus gave Peter the authority to open the doors to God’s divine will. It is symbolic. Later in his ministry, Peter opened the doors of the kingdom to the Jews [Acts 2], Philip to the Samaritans [Acts 8], and Peter to a Gentile, Cornelius [Acts 10]. 

Jesus Christ Still Holds the Keys

World events have been atrocious. The unrest, the unGODly things we read each and every day, the crazy ideas of radical folks are, to say the least, alarming and frightening. I could sink into despair and fear – if I allowed. These are the days to hold firm to our faith, to pray fervently, and to take rest in the FACT that Jesus still holds the keys. And, if we are born-anew followers of Jesus Christ – we have access to the kingdom, through HIM.

Prayer is our key!

Believers, let us use our authority in Christ and pray for our country, our world, our families like we never have before. Let’s storm heaven for righteous leaders and earthly authorities. Let’s not hide our God-given authority under a bushel basket. Let us keep our lanterns burning with the oil of prayer. It is time for bold prayer.

Jesus has the keys! And, we have direct access to Him through His Holy Spirit! Redeem the time — PRAY!