March 24: FALSE IDEAS OVERRULED
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. 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 1:17-18
Up close and personal! John had observed several aspects of His appearance in a moment, as described in previous verses. But the glory and splendor of Jesus had an overwhelming effect, even upon the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20), who knew Him well! The sight of the Lord in His glory is beyond stunning. The sight of even a single angel caused trained Roman guards to [become] like dead men. (Matthew 28:4)
Such purity and power—even a glimpse of it—can spark a painful awareness of one’s own sinfulness. Just after the great catch of fish, Peter glimpsed the glory of Jesus; he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:8)
The grammatical construction of the command translated “Do not be afraid” refers to the stopping of an action already in progress. It could be translated thus: “Stop being afraid!”
The rest of the words spoken by Jesus in the opening passage are uttered to specifically overrule prevailing Hellenistic thought. Greek philosophy included elements of mythology, rooted in Satan’s initial denial of death’s reality (Genesis 3:4). It was taught that the soul and body were separate entities, and that upon the body’s death the soul went immediately to heaven or hades, rendering the concept of resurrection as totally superfluous. The popular goddess, Hekate, was the overseer of these matters and was given such characteristics as “the beginning and the end”, the “bearer of keys to heaven and hell”, and the “mistress of the cosmos”, a sort of appeal to the popular queen of heaven (Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19,25). The Hebrew word Sheol, which originally meant the grave, had been translated to the Greek Hades, which had shifted in meaning from a silent resting place for the dead, to an underworld of frenetic activity including endless fiery torture of the ‘undead’ wicked.
Jesus, in these few phrases, sweeps away this made-up goddess and confirms His identity as Creator and final Judge (First and Last), the reality of death (I…was dead), Himself as the Resurrected Victorious One (I am alive forevermore), and, by virtue of these as the only Authority who is able to unlock the place of the dead and resurrect all who have put their faith in Him (I have the keys of Hades and of Death.). His list of credentials is the undoing of false ideas and made-up deities, regardless of popularity.
Note that both Daniel and John were strengthened by the touch of a hand…And then each was given an apocalyptic prophecy!
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14-15
For further study: Genesis 2:17; 3:4; Psalm 115:17; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Isaiah 46:10, Daniel 10:8; Luke 1:74, John 6:39-40, 44, 54; 11:24