Revelation 1:17-18: When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last, and the living one, and I became dead and behold I am living forevermore and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Καὶ ὅτε εἶδον αὐτόν, ἔπεσα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ ὡς νεκρός, καὶ ἔθηκεν τὴν δεξιὰν αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ λέγων, Μὴ φοβοῦ· ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος καὶ ὁ ζῶν, καὶ ἐγενόμην νεκρὸς καὶ ἰδοὺ ζῶν εἰμι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων καὶ ἔχω τὰς κλεῖς τοῦ θανάτου καὶ τοῦ ᾅδου.
When the one who conquered death comes to us and places his right hand upon us, we should not fear. The touch of the Master changed many lives as he walked the dusty roads of Galilee. Now that he has conquered death and Hades, he has beat our final enemy. No matter what we face in this world, we can have hope beyond the grave. There will be troubles in this life for all people. Those who have placed their lives in the control of Christ will experience the onslaught of the darkness. But knowing that we have the hand of Christ upon us gives us hope and peace. Our lives actually become so much better, even though the darkness will fight us. It seems that the forces of darkness are becoming bolder against the people of God. People are becoming more antagonistic towards Christians. It is hard to know why. Are they jealous of our peace? Do they just hate the light? Are they afraid of our message? We must not forsake the path or lose sight of our goal because we are in the hands of the one who controls the keys to eternity.
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