To the Lord Jesus Christ has been given all authority and power in Heaven and on the earth: authority and power in the spirit realm and authority and power in the material realm. As Christ abides in His saints they can express this unlimited authority in both realms. It is the Christ-filled Church that possesses such staggering authority and power—the power to permit people to enter, or to refuse them entrance, into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Church, the center of government of the Kingdom of God, is the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:23).

Jesus used the term church on one other occasion, again referring to the keys of the Kingdom:

And if he will neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye will bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye will loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:17,18)

Jesus is speaking here of the key of David. Christ holds the key of David, the key of the Kingdom of God, the key of total victory over His enemies. He can exercise that authority through His Church as He will.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)

The key of David is the key of the Kingdom, the key that can open the door and allow an individual to enter the Kingdom, or lock the gates and prevent entrance.

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Isaiah 22:22)

As we understand it, the key of David (the keys of the Kingdom) is fourfold:

The key to Paradise.

The key to eternal life.

The key to Hell.

The key to death.

The key that opens the gates of Paradise brings the Presence and blessing of God to people. It creates an environment that is righteous, peaceful, and joyous. At the right hand of God there are pleasures forever.

When God the Father gives the long-awaited word, Christ will descend from Heaven bringing the Presence of God and Paradise in Him and with Him. Then the sons of God will be revealed and the material creation will come alive. The curse will be lifted and all nature will sing and dance for pure joy.

The second key, the key to eternal life, brings power into the lives of people. Christ governs after the order of Melchizedek, after the power of an endless life. The saint who loves not his life to the point of death will be crowned with this eternal power. The power of endless, incorruptible life gives the saint power over all the power of the enemy, over all the power of death. Paul was seeking the power of the resurrection from the dead, the same power that delivered the Lord Jesus from the power of the grave.

The key to Hell brings the torment of the judgment of God. It is as important for the saint to hold this key as it is the first two keys. The Kingdom witness cannot be given, and the will of God cannot be performed, unless the severity of God's chastisement and wrath can be administered.

To be continued.