You Hold The Key

You Hold the Key

"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever

thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou

shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

-- (Matthew 16:19)

Matthew 16:19

a [thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven] Not to Peter only, for the same power is promised all believers (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 18:18; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 10:19; John 14:12-15; John 15:7,16; Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32; 1 Cor. 12).

b [keys of the kingdom of heaven] Keys are a symbol of authority (Isaiah 22:22; Rev. 3:7). Here they mean authority and power to do the works of Christ (Matthew 18:18; Matthew 16:15-20; John 14:12-15). Whatever He bound and loosed is the true idea.

c [bind on earth shall be bound in heaven]

Binding

1. Men with chains (Matthew 12:29; Matthew 14:3; Matthew 22:13; Mark 5:3; Acts 9:2,14,21)

2. Tares in bundles (Matthew 13:30)

3. Men by Satan’s power (Luke 13:16)

4. Men with obligations (Acts 20:22)

5. Men in marriage bonds (Romans 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:27,39)

6. Satan and angels in chains (Rev. 9:14; Rev. 20:2)

7. Animals in chains (Matthew 21:2)

8. Men by God’s power (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18)

d [loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven]

Loosing

1. Infirmities (Luke 13:12-16; Mark 7:35)

2. Satan and angels from chains (Rev. 9:14; Rev. 20:3,7)

3. Men from chains and prison (Acts 16:26; Acts 22:30; Acts 24:26)

4. Men from sin (Rev. 1:5)

5. Men from bonds of death (Acts 2:24)

6. Marriage bonds (1 Cor. 7:27)

7. Satanic powers (1 John 3:8)

8. Animals (Mark 11:2-4)

9. Earth from bondage and the curse (2 Peter 3:10-13; Romans 8:21)

10. Men by God’s power (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18).

One can see from these examples of binding and loosing that it means more than declaring something lawful or unlawful by preaching. It also means to confirm the truth by power as Christ and the apostles did. See Matthew 18:18, refs.

The Greek text of that scripture would literally read, "I give you the

keys of the kingdom. Whatever you declare locked on earth is locked in

heaven and whatever you declare unlocked on earth is unlocked in the

heavenlies."

The heaven Jesus was talking about there isn’t the heaven where God

resides. He was talking about the battle zone, about the heaven where

Satan’s forces are operating.

He was telling us that God has given us power to bind the wicked spirits

in heavenly places and to loose the angelic powers of God to work in our

behalf.

Philippians 2:9-10 says, "We have been given a Name which is above every

name, and at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow!" Where? In heaven,

in earth and under the earth. That covers it all!

Phil. 2:9

a [hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name] Seven steps in His exaltation:

1. God highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:9; Ephes. 1:21).

2. God gave Him a name above all (Phil. 2:9).

3. At the mere mention of His name, every knee must bow (Phil. 2:10).

4. Everything in heaven must bow (Phil. 2:10).

5. Everything in earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).

6. Everything under the earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).

7. Every tongue confess His Lordship to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:11).

Phil. 2:10

a[That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ...] The 2nd New Testament

prophecy in Philippians (Phil. 2:10-11, unfulfilled). Next, §Phil. 3:11.

b[of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth] Three worlds

that are inhabited:

1.Heaven (Phil. 2:10; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Daniel 4:35; Col. 1:15-18; Rev. 12:12; Rev.

13:6)

2.Earth (Phil. 2:10; Col. 1:16; Rev. 12:12)

3.Underworld. Greek: katachthonios (GSN-2709), under the earth; subterranean;

infernal world (Phil. 2:10; cp. Psalm 16:10 with Matthew 12:40 and Ephes. 4:8-10).

This includes the angelic inhabitants in tartarus (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; 1 Peter 3:19); the pre-Adamites and demon inhabitants of the abyss (Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1-21; Rev. 20:3,7); the giant races that have no resurrection (§Genesis 2:4, note; §Isaiah 26:14, note); the human inhabitants of Sheol/Hades (Psalm 9:17; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 71:20; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:24; Isaiah 14:9; Ezekiel 31:14-18; Ezekiel 32:18-27; Luke 16:1-31; Rev. 20:11-15); and all other inhabitants of the infernal world (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 5:13). This proves that hell is not the grave.

As believers, we have total authority over the powers of Satan. We can

take authority over the evil spirits that are trying to destroy this

nation. We can take authority over them in the Name of Jesus and pull

down their strongholds.

It is time we began to realize how important we are to world affairs.