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Revelation 1:11-18

Verse 18:
I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The Easter focus could very easily focus especially this year on the crucifixion because of recent films most notably "The Passion of Christ".

When we think of the great sacrifice of the Lord for so great a salvation it would be easy for us to overlook the most important event of God coming into this world in the person of Jesus Christ.

The question that comes to my mind this morning is one that the angels asked of those seeking Jesus among the tombs,

Luke 24:5
"…….Why seek you the living among the dead?"

Our hope, our faith, our very existence rests on the fact that Jesus Christ is not dead but is very much alive!

Job 19:25
For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:

Psalms 18:46 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

John 14:19
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Was Dead:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

I Am Alive:

Rev. 4:9
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Rev. 5:14
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

I LIVE

I WAS DEAD

I AM ALIVE FOR EVERMORE

I HAVE THER KEYS: DEATH & HELL

John's reaction; Jesus' assurance

a.	John reacts, being overwhelmed by this awesome vision; even though he was an apostle who knew who Jesus was in the flesh.
	This is not the same Jesus John knew in the flesh, the Jesus who shielded His glory and authority on earth
b.	Jesus first comforts John; then He declares His authority: He holds the keys of Hades and of Death; He has all this authority
	Many Christians speak as if the devil was the "lord of Hell" or as if he had the authority or power to take their life; clearly, they are wrong, for only Jesus holds the keys of Hades and of Death