Christ: He Was Dead, and Behold, He Is Alive VS Christ: He Has the Keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18)

 

Christ: He Was Dead, and Behold, He Is Alive VS Christ: He Has the Keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18)

Revelation 1:17 When I saw him, I fell down at his feet as if dead. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,

Revelation 1:18 and the one who lives! I was dead, but behold, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Revelation 2:8 “Write to the angels of the church in Smyrna, saying this:”

Acts 2:24 “But God raised him from the dead, for death could not hold him.”

John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though he dies.’” 

Item	He Was Dead and Is Alive  (The Living One)	He Has the Keys of Death and Hades
Meaning	Christ Himself is resurrection life, eternally living and living within the believers and the churches	Christ, in resurrection, fully possesses authority over death and Hades
Reason	He entered into death, yet could not be held by it, because He is the resurrection (Acts 2:24; John 11:25)	Through the cross He abolished death, and in resurrection He overcame Hades (Heb. 2:14)
Metaphor	Death becomes the threshold into resurrection	Death is like a dustpan, Hades like a trash container, yet the keys are in Christ’s hand
Function	To dispense life, making the churches living, strong, and full of vitality	To restrain the spread of death so the churches are not deadened or detained
Explanation	Christ does not merely live once, but lives forever and lives within us	Death and Hades still exist but have lost authority and act only under Christ’s permission
Result	The churches become living, fresh, and strong golden lampstands	Death in the churches is limited, subdued, and swallowed up
Mutual Relationship	His living is the source of life supply	His authority guarantees the free operation of life
Example	The church in Smyrna lived through persecution by the resurrection life within her	When Christ has ground in the churches, death and Hades lose their power
Application	Eat Christ as the tree of life, the hidden manna, and feast with Him (Rev. 2:7, 17; 3:20)	Give Christ position, opportunity, and a free way in the church life
Burden	To deliver the churches from all deadness and make them living testimonies	To preserve the churches from death’s domination
Prophesying Guidance	Declare:  Christ is the Living One living in us to make the church living	Declare: The keys of death and Hades are in Christ’s hand, not the enemy’s
Conclusion	Christ’s resurrection life is the source of all church vitality and victory	Christ’s authority ensures the churches stand victorious over death
Related Scriptures	Rev. 1:18a; Acts 2:24; John 11:25; Rev. 2:7, 17; 3:20	Rev. 1:18b; Heb. 2:14; Acts 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:54–55

Overall Spiritual Integrative Conclusion:

Christ is both the eternally living resurrection life dwelling within us and the One holding authority over death and Hades; therefore, the churches can not only survive tribulation and persecution but also overcome and manifest the living testimony of Jesus.

One-Sentence Prophesying Summary:

Hallelujah! We have a Christ who lives forever and holds the keys of death and Hades; in Him the church must live, must overcome, and must bear the living testimony of Jesus!

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Winter Training: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part Four), Chapter Two: Christ Holds the Keys of Death and Hades.

Christ as: Alpha & Omega vs. First & Last vs. Beginning & End

 

Christ as: Alpha & Omega vs. First & Last vs. Beginning & End

Revelation 21:6 He said to me, “It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give the water of life to the thirsty.”

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

A. Main Comparison Table

Item	Alpha & Omega	First & Last	Beginning & End
Meaning	The beginning and the completion, including all content and continuation	The absolute first and the absolute last in position	The origin and the consummation of God’s work
Reason	God’s eternal purpose requires One who completes all He initiates	The eternal, unchangeable existence of the divine Christ	God’s economy needs a definite start and a definite completion
Metaphor	Heavenly letters composing words, sentences, books	A circle without beginning or ending	The initiator and finisher of a divine project
Function	Constitutes the Bible, the church, and the believers’ living	Guarantees Christ’s sovereignty amid suffering	Ensures God’s work will never be abandoned halfway
Explanation	Not only the first and last, but everything in between	Emphasizes position and eternal being	Emphasizes action, economy, and fulfillment
Result	Christ becomes the content of all spiritual realities	The church passes through suffering to reach the goal	God’s purpose is fully accomplished
Relationship	Full content and continuous supply	Absolute existence and authority	Complete execution and fulfillment
Example	Letters on the breastplate; believers as letters of Christ	Smyrna church encouraged in tribulation	Church building from Matthew 16 to Revelation 22
Application	Live, speak, and serve by Christ as the only letter	Stand firm regardless of environment	Rest in God’s certainty in the church life
Burden	Nothing should replace Christ as content	Do not be ruled by circumstances or self	Never doubt the outcome of God’s work
Prophesying Guidance	Declare:  Christ is every letter of my life	Declare:  Christ is still the First and the Last	Declare: Christ will finish what He began
Conclusion	Christ is the content and continuation of all things	Christ is the eternal and unchanging One	Christ is the Initiator and Completer
Key Scriptures	Rev. 22:13; Rev. 21:6; 1 Cor. 1:8; Col. 1:15	Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13	Rev. 22:13; Heb. 12:2; Matt. 16:18

 

B. Spiritual Progression (Layered Revelation)

Level	Description
First & Last	Emphasizes existence and position – Christ alone, eternal and unchangeable
Beginning & End	Emphasizes action and economy – God’s work starts and ends in Christ
Alpha & Omega	Emphasizes content and continuation – the entire process is Christ Himself

 

C. Integrated Spiritual Conclusion

Christ is not only before all things and after all things;
not only the Beginning and the End of God’s work;
but also the content and continuation throughout the entire process.

D. Prophesying Summary

“Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega.
You are the Author and the Finisher of my faith.
What You have begun, You will surely complete.
Outside of You there is nothing; in You is everything.”

E. Core Reminders

• Do not look at yourself, rely on yourself, or consider yourself
• Do not doubt God’s purpose because of environment
• Simply say Amen to the Lord’s word
• Faith is not from us, but from the Alpha and the Omega

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Winter Training: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part Four), Chapter One: God's Faithful Witnesses, Witnessing for Jesus.

“7-Day Practice: Living in Enlightening and Shining”

 

“7-Day Practice: Living in Enlightening and Shining”

Exodus 25:31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and stem, the cup, the calyx and the bud, all shall be hammered from one piece.”

Revelation 4:5 “And lightning, a roar, and thunder came from the throne. And seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne; these are the seven spirits of God.”

Numbers 6:25 “May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.”

Luke 1:78 “Because of the mercy of our God, the rising sun has come upon us from heaven.”

Acts 9:3 “As Saul was traveling and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light shone on him from heaven from all sides.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ has also shone in our hearts, so that they might become aware of the glory of God, which is shown in the face of Jesus Christ.” 

Day	Focus	Practice Content	Prayer Practice	Spiritual Result
Day 1	Open to the Lord	Come quietly before the Lord for His light	Lord, shine on everything within me	Begin to live in the light
Day 2	Stop the self	Stop thoughts, views, and opinions	Lord, I stop myself and receive Your speaking	Receive pure light
Day 3	Accept dealing	Do not argue with inner light	Lord, I submit to Your shining	Life is adjusted
Day 4	Walk in the light	Continue to live in the light	Lord, keep me walking in the light	Unhindered fellowship
Day 5	Live out testimony	Live out what has been seen	Lord, make me Your testimony	Become a shining one
Day 6	Care for the church	Shine together with the saints	Lord, make us golden lampstands	Enter corporate shining
Day 7	Give glory to God	Return all results to the Lord	Lord, everything is from Your light	God is glorified

 

📌 One-sentence summary:

👉 The Lord enlightens me inwardly and shines through me outwardly; I live in the light and in the lampstand.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Winter Training: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part Four), Chapter One: God's Faithful Witnesses, Witnessing for Jesus.