New life, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life because of Jesus
In the book of Revelations, John is writing from the island of Patmos about amazing encounters he had with Christ. In the first chapter, he writes this:
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 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. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (Revelations 1:9-20)
In this meeting, Jesus shows John that Jesus walked into the realm of the dead, and gave them access to the Father and Heaven. Before Jesus died, the dead that was righteous went into Abraham’s bosom, a spiritual holding place, and the unrighteous dead went into Sheol. When Jesus died, He went right up to Satan — death’s gatekeeper — and told Satan that he had oppressed humanity long enough. Jesus declared that he no longer would control the eternal outcome of people. He took from the devil the keys of death and the keys of hell.
As believers, His life is in us. Eternal life is in us, and no host of hell can keep us from the place Jesus has granted us access. Resurrection life is in our future. “If you have never trusted Jesus Christ, place your trust in Him. Know and love Christ, and rejoice in this resurrection power. Christ is alive forevermore and has the keys of death and of Hades (Revelation 1:18). He gives us eternal life and will take us to be with Him in heaven when we die.” (John Munro)
