He Who Lives Holds The Keys

 

Revelation 1:18
"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."
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I Am The Resurrection, and The Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
John 5:21
"For as The Father raises the dead and gives Life to them, even so The Son gives Life to whom He will." 

John 5:11, 12

And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has The Son has life; he who does not have The Son of God does not have life.

John 5:24

"Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me has Eternal Life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to Life."

    He Who Lives Who holds the keys of death and hell is He Who has overcome, conquered, death and hell. No one else in history has ever done that. While a few have died and come to life again, none have died and come back with eternal life except He Who holds the keys of death and hell. 

    Death without Eternal Life is permanent and hell is where the defendants wait for judgment. Death with Eternal Life is also permanent and heaven is where the victor waits for reward. 

    He Who holds the keys is also He Who died on the cross, was buried, and resurrected from death and the grave. Even the grave is temporary, for our Lord and Savior borrowed His. 

    John 19:41, 42

Now there was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one was had yet been laid. And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there. 

The borrowed tomb: John 20:1-9; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12. 

    He Who Lives conquered sin on the cross, overcame death and hell and the grave when He walked out in Victory into the garden where the borrowed tomb was. Speaking Resurrection and Eternal Life. Speaking our names gently. Speaking with Love and Forgiveness and Compassion. He Who Lives, Lives Forevermore. No more death for the one who believes in Him and follows Him. 

    That thief on the cross who claimed Christ as Lord followed Jesus. He followed Him into death and landed in Paradise. The thief on the cross who refused to believe that Jesus is Lord died in his sins and landed in hell. His opportunity to make a decision for Christ fell from his grasp with his last breath. Which thief are you? 

    He Who Lives and holds the keys to death and hell is waiting for your answer. 

HE HOLDS THE KEYS - Steve Green in 1987