Beth-El Baptist Church

05/11/2008

Greg Tomlinson


What does it mean that Jesus has the keys to hell and death?


Scripture talks about the existence of two sets of keys. There are the keys to heaven (Matthew 16:19) and there are the keys to hell and death (Revelation 1:18). These keys operate as pairs for one unifying purpose so it is important to understand both in order to understand just one.


  1. Who has these keys?

Heaven: Matthew 16:15-19 Hell/Death: Revelation 1:18 cmp Acts 4:10-12


Peter has the keys to heaven and Jesus has the keys to hell and death.


  1. What do these keys do?

Nehemiah 3:13-15, 19 Job 12:14

Isaiah 22:22-24 cmp Revelation 3:7-10 Isaiah 45:1-2; 60:11

Ezekiel 44:1-2


Essentially keys operate locks which open doors or ways into whatever location is 'behind' the door that they are to. They can be opened for passage into or out of what is within its sealed boundaries.



  1. Exactly what are these keys and how do they open their doors?

Heaven:

John 14:6 Luke 13:24-30

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 Acts 4:11-12

Matthew 16:19 John 10:7-10


The keys to heaven open the way into heaven. It cannot be used to open the way out of heaven since there is no man that is already 'in' heaven according to his birth nature and character (1 Corinthians 2:14). The keys to heaven unlocks the door of heaven, which is Jesus. Thus the keys to heaven is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.


Hell:

Matthew 16:18 Isaiah 61:1-2 cmp 1 Peter 3:18-20


The keys to hell open the way into hell. They operate differently than the keys of heaven in one sense. By nature every man deserves to be in hell (1 Corinthians 2:14) and in a sense he already resides there (Ephesians 2:1-3). As such the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18) lock or block the way into hell so that none may exit from it, except by the one who has the keys. Since it is Jesus who has the keys to hell and the gates of hell will not prevail when placed up next to the message of Jesus Christ (keys of heaven), it is Jesus who opens the gates of hell to rescue a hell bent person.


Matthew 7:21-23; 23:15 Jeremiah 10:10

John 5:21-23 John 3:36

1 Samuel 16:7 2 Corinthians 5:10-11

Philippians 3:10-11 cmp Isaiah 45:23 cmp Romans 14:11-13


In another sense, the keys of hell open the way into hell, to send people there. It is Jesus who has the keys to hell and death in this sense as well since it is Jesus who looks upon the heart of man and sees who he is and whether or not he has a real personal relationship with Jesus. Jesus knows his sheep, his friends, his people. We do not know the heart of another so we can do nothing about sending them into hell all we can do is show them the path into hell using the keys Jesus gave us, the gospel of Jesus Christ.


  1. What are we to do about these keys?

Ezekiel 33:7-15 James 5:20

1 Timothy 4:16 2 Corinthians 5:11, 18


Our job is simple but not easy. We have been given a job to do. We have been given the keys to heaven to show people the way out of hell. The way out of hell is through Jesus Christ according to HIS gospel. It is a message of hope for those who realize that they are sinners in need of redemption. It is a message of condemnation for those who do not believe they are sinners and need no savior. We do not condemn nor send people to hell, we offer them a way out of hell – JESUS.