Alive Forevermore
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;” (Rev 1:18a KJV)
This is referring to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was the first to resurrect to never die again. He is restating the point He made in verse 5, the first begotten of the dead:
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Rev 1:5 KJV)
This is one of the verses I like to use for those that deny Jesus is God. They almost always say that verses 1:8 and 1:17 is not Jesus, but Jehovah.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8 KJV)
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” (Rev 1:17 KJV)
I then read the next verse:
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;” (Rev 1:18a KJV)
There is not a subject change. This is the same one talking in verse 17 as the one in verse 18. I simply ask: “When did Jehovah die?” This is Jesus speaking. This means that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Lord, He which is, was, and is to come, the Almighty, and the first and the last. What else is there? I think that about covers it. Jesus cannot be all of these and not be God.
The Keys
“and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev 1:18b KJV)
Jesus has the keys of hell and death because He purchased the Church with His own blood (see verse 5). This means that He has the authority over them. Jesus has power of death. This is what He was referring to when He said that hell would not prevail against His Church.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18 KJV)