Revelation 1:17-18
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead)."
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead)."
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies."
Romans 6:9
For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.
Romans 14:9
For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Several keys are mentioned in the Bible. For instance, Isaiah writes about the Key to the House of David, a key of Authority and Power, which was taken from the one wearing it and given to another. Now, Christ has this key: Revelation 3:7 "These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He who has the key [to the house] of David, He who opens and no one will [be able to] shut, and He who shuts and no one opens."
There are the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.", which Jesus gives to His followers. (TBD at a later date)
There is the Key of Knowledge in Luke 11:52.
The Key to the Abyss, the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:1.
All of these keys are keys of authority and power. The one who holds them wields in justice and truth, because they are God-given keys; God is Truth and Love, He holds ALL Power and ALL Authority. He determines which doors open or shut and when. Daniel 2:21-God determines the seasons and years; God sets up kings and takes kings down; God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Romans 13:1 and James 5.
Now we know that the only begotten Son of God holds ALL these keys, as well. He has been given by God the Father ALL Authority to rule His kingdom as He Will.
John 5:21
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes."
Not only is He the Key Holder, He is also the Way & the Door: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 10:9 "I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security)."
Let me tell you, you who doubt and do not believe: the day is coming when you will no longer doubt, nor will you hold to unbelief. Whether on this side of eternity or the other you will acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. For God has said in Isaiah 45:23 "By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance." and again in Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Again, in Romans 14:11 "It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.”
We who confess on this side of eternity also bow and acknowledge that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. But we are not forced to do so. We do confess and acknowledge His Authority because we love Him who first loved us: 1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
We are not afraid to die for His name's sake. Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Just a reminder that JESUS CHRIST holds the Keys to death and hell. Which side of the Door do you want to be on?
