Revelation 1:17-18

Revelation 1:17-18

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last (Revelation 1:17).

I fell at His feet as dead – John was overwhelmed with terror and fear. He was having a heart attack of God. (Daniel 10:8-9, 17; Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; 3:23; 9:8; 43:3; 44:4, Judges 13:22; Acts 26:13-14). They realized their sinful unworthiness to be in His holy presence.

Do not be afraid – a touch of comfort and reassurance. This reveals God’s compassionate assurance (Genesis 15:1; 26:24; Judges 6:23; Matthew 14:27; 17:7; 28:10).

I AM- third time mentioned in the book of Revelation.

I am the first and the last – I Am (ego eimi, Gk.) the covenant name of God (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).  “I Am” is used 48 times in the New Testament and 5 times in Revelation. Almighty God will continue to exist eternally; long after all false gods have been forgotten.

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death (Revelation 1:18).

I AM- fourth time mentioned in the book of Revelation.

I am He who lives and was dead – literally in the Greek “I became dead.” The Living One, the Eternal, Self-Existent God, who could never die, became man and died (1 Peter 3:18). He died without ceasing to live as God.

I am alive forevermore – Christ lives forever in a union of glorified humanity and deity. This truth provides comfort and assurance (Hebrews 7:16; Romans 6:9; Hebrews 7:25).

I have the keys of Hades and of Death – death is the condition and Hades is the place. Hades refers to the place of the dead. When Jesus died on the cross and His body was placed in the tomb, Ephesians 4:9 states that He descended into the lower parts of the earth (ἄβυσσοςabussos, Gk); “an extremely deep place; the prison destined for evil spirits. It is a prison in which evil powers are confined and out of which they can at times be let loose.”  Hades (ᾅδηςhádēs, Gk - the region of departed spirits of the lost); housed all the souls and spirits who had lived before that time. Those who died in faith were comforted in one part of Hades, and the others were separated by a great gulf, and were in torment (Luke 16:23-26). Jesus went and proclaimed His victory to the evil spirits who were still incarcerated in prison (1 Peter 3:18-20). Upon His resurrection, when He ascended on high, he carried with Him all of the righteous saints to Heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10). Now, those who die in the faith are translated to be with Christ in Heaven (Philippians 1:23). The unsaved dead remain in Hades.

 Keys denote access and authority. Jesus Christ has the authority to decide who dies and who lives; He controls life and death (John 11:25; 14:19; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Hebrews 2:14-15). The Christian need not ever fear death anymore.