Lesson 6 of 6 · about 16 min
“Don’t be afraid”
The touch of Jesus, the keys of death, and the mystery explained
Revelation 1:17–20
Let’s set the scene
Falling down at God’s glory is what prophets do in Scripture (Isaiah 6:5; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 8:17; 10:8–9). And every time, God or his messenger lifts the prophet up and sends him out to speak. Revelation 1 follows that exact pattern.
Now think about the first readers. Some of them were facing prison and even death (2:10). For them, “I hold the keys of Death and Hades” might have been the most practical sentence in the whole chapter.
Read it aloud
Revelation promises a blessing to “the one who reads aloud” and to those who hear (1:3). If you’re in a group, let one person read while everyone listens.
Revelation 1:17–20 BSB
17When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades. 19Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this. 20This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Read in NKJVWalking through the text
Now let’s walk through it together, a few verses at a time.
Falling down, then lifted up
- Think about this: John once leaned on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper (John 13:23). Now he sees the same Jesus in his full glory and falls “as though dead.”
- Then Jesus puts his right hand on him — the same hand that holds the seven stars. The hand that holds the churches also lifts up a frightened servant. It’s just like the Transfiguration, when Jesus touched the disciples and said, “Rise, and have no fear” (Matthew 17:7).
Nugget: Real encounters with Jesus humble us, but he never leaves us on the floor.
First and Last, the Living One
- “I am the First and the Last” is God’s own title in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12 — the passages where God says there is no other god. Jesus claims it without blinking.
- “I died, and look, I am alive forevermore.” His death was real, and his bodily resurrection is permanent. That’s the reason behind “Don’t be afraid.”
- “The keys of Death and Hades.” Hades is the realm of the dead. Whoever holds the keys decides who goes in and who comes out. Death doesn’t have the last word anymore. Jesus does.
Nugget: The scariest door in the universe has Jesus’ hand on the key.
Write what you’ve seen
- “What you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.” Some evangelical interpreters read this as a three-part outline of the whole book (ch. 1, chs. 2–3, chs. 4–22); others see it as describing a mix of present and future throughout. Either way, Revelation speaks to the church’s present, not only to the end of history.
Nugget: Revelation is for now as well as for then.
The mystery explained
- In the Bible a “mystery” isn’t something we can never know. It’s something hidden that God has now chosen to reveal (Daniel 2:28–29).
- The lampstands are the seven churches. The stars are “the angels of the seven churches.” Bible teachers differ here: some say these are heavenly angels assigned to each church; others think they’re human messengers or pastors. Either way, each church is held in Christ’s hand and answers to him.
Nugget: Jesus explains his own symbols, so let’s let Scripture interpret Scripture.
Word nuggets from the Greek
- Don’t be afraidmē phobou
- stop being afraidA present-tense command: stop the fear that’s gripping you. Jesus says the same words to Smyrna (2:10).
- Living Oneho zōn
- the one who livesEchoes the Old Testament title “the living God.”
- Keyskleis
- authority to open and shutSee Isaiah 22:22 and Revelation 3:7.
- Hadeshadēs
- the realm of the deadThe Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Sheol.
- Mysterymystērion
- a hidden thing now revealedNot unknowable, but something God has chosen to make known.
- Angelangelos
- messengerCan mean a heavenly or a human messenger; context decides.
Where this comes from
- Daniel 10:8–12The prophet falls down, is touched, and hears “Fear not.”
- Isaiah 44:6; 48:12“I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”
- Isaiah 22:22The key of the house of David: what he opens, no one shuts.
- Matthew 17:6–7At the Transfiguration Jesus touches the fallen disciples: “Rise, and have no fear.”
- Hebrews 2:14–15Through his death Jesus broke the power of the devil and freed those enslaved by the fear of death.
Watch for it in the seven letters
“The First and the Last, who died and came to life… Do not fear what you are about to suffer… Be faithful unto death.”
“Who has the key of David… I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.”
“I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Nuggets to keep
- Holiness and comfort meet in Jesus: he humbles us and lifts us up
- His bodily resurrection is the foundation of Christian courage: he holds the keys
- A church exists to hold up Christ’s light, and it can lose that place if it drifts from him
Let’s talk about it
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- Go back to the fear you named at the start. What changes if Jesus really holds the keys?
- Why do we need both the fiery vision of verses 12–16 and the gentle touch of verse 17?
- If your church is a lampstand, what does holding up the light look like in your community? What might dim it?
- Looking back over all six sessions, what’s the biggest nugget you’re taking with you?
Live it out this week
Let’s pray
Living One, you were dead and now you’re alive forever, and you hold the keys of death and Hades. When we’re afraid, put your hand on us and speak your word: “Don’t be afraid.” Make us faithful lampstands that hold up your light until you come. Amen.