GOD HAS THE KEY
REVELATION 1:17-18
READ REVELATION 1:17-18: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
I. WE ARE GIVEN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD
A. God is the “First and the Last” and is an eternal God who is in control of this world and everything
in it. He is a God of absolute power… even over death.
B. God sent His Son, Jesus, who experienced death and has paved the way for all who follow Him in
death. Death truly is not an unknown anymore—Jesus has made it known.
C. We know that after this life, for those who follow Christ, there is life forever and ever with God in
Heaven. This is a promise given to us throughout the Bible and was a promise given right from the
mouth of our Savior.
KEY THOUGHT: I want you to know that our God is all powerful and even has control over death.
II. WE ARE SHOWN A COMPASSIONATE GOD
A. This passage shows a God with a compassionate touch.
B. Other Scripture passages tell us that when we mourn, God is there with us. He blesses us with
comfort in times when we feel comfortless and sad. Unsettled feelings are replaced with peace when
God is near.
C. Our God is a God of love and we see this by the evidence given to us. In His Word, we read that He
sent His Son Jesus to die for us. IN Jacob’s life, God’s love was shown in his actions and in his service
to God. And you know God’s love in your life.
KEY THOUGHT: I want you to know that God is here for you in your time of grief.
III. WE ARE TOLD GOD HAS THE KEY
A. We are told in this passage that God has “the keys of death and Hades.” What does that mean?
B. I want you to know that this statement is an encouragement to us.
1) Death is not experienced alone, because the one with the key walks with us and opens the
door.
2) We are told that to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ and this is a truth that
we cannot forget.
KEY THOUGHT: I want you to know that Jacob is surrounded by God and his loved ones at this moment and he is well taken care of by God who holds the keys.
CONCLUSION WITH PRAYER
