Revelation 1:18 - Homiletics

The extent of the Saviour's mediatorial dominion.

£ As we pursue our studies of the Divine messages to the seven Churches, we shall find that our Lord addresses himself in some one distinctive aspect of his character and work to each Church, in accordance with the main burden of the letter which is to follow. But ere the letters to the separate Churches begin, our Lord makes an announcement respecting his mediatorial glory, which is of equal application to all the Churches, wherever they may be, and whatever may be their spiritual condition. It is this, " I have the keys of Hades and of death. " We will inquire—

I. WHAT IS THE PREROGATIVE WHICH OUR LORD HERE DECLARES TO BE HIS ? It is evident that there is some office of authority indicated by the word "keys." Keys are the symbol of authority, the token of office (cf. Revelation 3:7 ). The authority of our Saviour is here said to be over "Hades;" not over "hell," the region of the bad; but over Hades, the realm of the departed, good or bad. Both. The word "Hades" carries with it no moral significance at all, except as the connection in which it is used gives it a moral aspect ( Luke 16:23 ). The authority of our Saviour is over "death" also. This is, as it were, the gate opening to the invisible realm. The meaning of the words is that our Saviour has entire control over human destiny. Death is the last step, the one out of this life. Hades is the realm in which the departed are. All mankind, at death, pass into "the spacious world unseen." They go over "to the majority." To this realm death is the entrance gate. Over the realm itself, and the entrance to it, Christ has the supreme control—the "keys" hang at his girdle. Let us indicate a few of the details of this doctrine.

1 . The time of the departure of every individual from this world is under Christ's control. Christ gives us our moments, and withdraws them. And when our time has come, ready or not ready, through the strange avenue of death we must go.

2 . The entrance of a spirit into the invisible realm is under Christ's control. In this unknown £ region there are two great moral divisions, even as here. There is no confusion of souls. The believer departs to be "with Christ" ( Philippians 1:23 ); the unbelieving and ungodly, to "torments." £ Their spirit carries with it its own sin and unrest. All are under Christ's sway. He is Lord of the dead and of the living. The state of any spirit in the invisible world will he according to its attitude with reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 . Every believer will be, in Hades, as much in the guardianship of Christ as when on earth. "Christ died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

4 . During the entire period until the completion of the mediatorial kingdom, the Redeemer will have sole authority in Hades. To this end he died, and rose, and re-lived.

5 . At the time appointed by the Lord Jesus, the gates of both death and Hades shall be reopened. Bodies shall rise, spirits shall put on the new and mysterious vesture. All must stand before the tribunal of Christ, to receive through the body the things done ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ). All this the Lord Jesus will direct and control. Death and Hades will no longer exist ( Revelation 20:14 ). The great separation day shall have come; and as men hear the "Come!" or "Depart!" will heaven or hell be theirs! But at every stage in the advance of souls Christ is Lord of all!

II. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST FITTINGLY HOLDS AN OFFICE SO SUBLIME . £

1 . The right to do so is his.

(a) He has power over all flesh.

(b) He gives eternal life to those who are made over to him. We know not, indeed, Christ's method of governing souls between death and the resurrection. What we know not now we shall know hereafter. It is enough for us that Christ rules all, and will do, till the end.

2 . Those attributes are his that fit him for such sway.

(a) the Father's plans,

(b) what is in man,

(c) the appointed time for the consummation,

(d) how to bring it about with unfailing certainty.

III. THE DOCTRINE OF THE TEXT IS OF INFINITE VALUE TO US .

1 . Let us in faith and love adore him who makes the majestic claim of ruling life and death.

2 . We have here a clue to the wondrous mystery of human existence. In a lecture reported to have been delivered in the Senate House, Cambridge, on Wednesday, May 26, 1880, by Dr. Humphry, Professor of Anatomy, on the topic, 'Man, Prehistoric, Present, and Future,' the lecturer closed with the following words: "After all, to the burning questions, whence? and where? whence comest thou, O man, and whither dost thou go? to which it might have been expected, by those who do not fully know their difficulties, that I should make, as regards the body at least, some answer, I am compelled to reply that we find ourselves simply floating on the streams of time. Sufficient for the day must be the knowledge thereof. Whether we peer fore or aft, it is obscurity. We are still—

"'Children crying in the night,

Children crying for the light,

And with no language but a cry.'"

But where science is compelled to leave off, the Saviour begins. And our faith, weaned from those who confess they know nothing, is transferred to him who is the Light of the world.

3 . In regard to questions which still remain unanswered, we have perfect rest in Jesus.

4 . We have abounding comfort concerning the death of believers, and entire peace as concerns our own. The writer was preaching from this text in the north of London, thirty years ago. A Christian lady was present who had been all her lifetime subject to bondage, through fear of death. The theme led the preacher to dilate on the guardianship of Christ over departed souls. The fearful one heard, was soothed, and on going home said, "Oh! my dread of death is gone. I have no fear now. Whenever my Father calls me, I am ready!" That night she was seized with a fit, and passed away. "Absent from the body, at home with the Lord." Finally, it is in this direction that the great difficulties which confront us as to the ultimate destiny of the great human family receive the only approximate solution. The great Redeemer's sway is over the whole race. But only a minute fraction of the race is on earth at any one moment! Where, where are the countless millions on millions who have gone hence? We can only answer— They are all under Christ's sway. He is guarding all his own with infinite love, and governing all others with absolute equity, getting all things in readiness to judge the living and the dead. This is all we know. It is enough. For fuller disclosures we can wait. As yet we could not bear to know more. Christ is Lord of all.

"Hail to the Prince of life and death,

Who holds the keys of death and hell!

The spacious world unseen is his,

And sovereign power becomes him well."