What are the keys of death (Revelation 1:18)?

Response

In Revelation 1:18, Jesus declares, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Having the “keys of death” signifies that the resurrected Christ possesses control and authority over death. In John 10:17–18, Jesus states, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and the authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” When Jesus died, He did so according to His own timing, when He “gave up his spirit” «When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. », (John 19:30). Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead «And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. », (Mark 15:44). Jesus, who holds authority over death, had the unique power to surrender His spirit and rise from the dead. Furthermore, He possesses the authority to free His followers from death so that they can be with Him eternally.

Consider the idea of granting someone “the key to the city.” This key is sometimes a large, cartoonish key that fits no lock but symbolizes an honor bestowed. Someone receiving “a key to the city” is regarded as welcome and honored within that city. The Bible frequently uses keys to symbolize control or authority over something or someone. This concept is logical; possessing a master key to a building means having the authority to unlock any of its doors and access any room.

Isaiah 37:2 mentions Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, an honorable man sent onAn important errand. In chapter 22, it was written that Eliakim would be given authority and that God would “place on his shoulder the key to the house of David.” By the “key to the house of David,” it is meant that the Lord would place Eliakim in a position of authority. Later, Eliakim becomes the governor of the palace in Jerusalem.

In Revelation 9:1–2, an angel is given a key to, or control over, the bottomless pit, and he uses the key to open that pit. Later, an angel is seen locking things in the bottomless pit (20:1-3).

Eternal life through Jesus Christ is the blessed assurance John describes in 1 John 5:6–13. Jesus having the keys of death means He has the power to release from death those who receive the gift of salvation He offers.