Jesus Lives, Was Dead and Is Alive Evermore Revelation 1:18

As John the apostle continued to share the “Revelation” which was given to him by Jesus Christ through an angel, he told how he, “was in the Spirit on the Lord's day”, and he saw “one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength.”. When John saw Him, he “fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last”. In chapter one and verse eighteen of Revelation, John shared how Jesus declared that He, “lives, was dead” and “is alive for evermore” where we read:

I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;

and have the keys of hell and of death.

The verse begins, “I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;” John began with the words, “I am he that lives” which means “Jesus is alive, breathing, enjoying real and true life”, “and was dead” or “Jesus was as one who breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate”; “and, behold” which means “and look, see and perceive”, “I am alive” or “Jesus is alive, breathing, enjoying real and true life” “for evermore” which means “unto and towards the unbroken age, perpetuity of time and eternity”, “Amen” or “so be it, let it be so and may it be fulfilled”. Jesus declared how He is currently “alive and living”, though He was once among the “lifeless and deceased” and now “alive and enjoying real and true life” for all of eternity.

The verse goes on to say, “and have the keys of hell and of death.” John continued with the words, “and have the keys” or “Jesus owns, holds and possesses the power and authority to open and shut the lock” “of hell” which is the Greek word “hades” and means “pertaining to the grave, nether world or realm of the dead” “and of death” or “that separation whether natural or violent of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended, and the implied idea of future misery in the abode of the dead, was conceived as being very dark and is equivalent to the region of thickest darkness ”. Jesus overcame the “grave” and took the “keys” or the “power and authority” that “the grave and death” had over mankind.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we see Jesus' further description of Himself. Not only is He the “first and the last” but He also obtained “power and authority” over the “grave and death” because he was alive, dead and alive again. Jesus lives “forevermore”, and those who put their faith and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” are promised the same from Him. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), and this promise is available to everyone who will receive Jesus into their lives.

Next time John shares how Jesus said, “Write the things which you have seen ...are … and shall be hereafter”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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