Revelation 1:18

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 1:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Revelation 1:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I [am] he that liveth, etc.] As the eternal God, who has life in himself, originally, essentially, and inderivatively, and is the fountain and author of life to others; and who ever lived as the Mediator and Redeemer, and still does, and ever will, yea, even when he was dead as man: and was dead; he died the death of the cross, for the sins of his people, in due time, and but once; and it was but a short time he was held under the power of death, and will never die any more: and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; he was always alive as God, or he was always the living God, and ever will be; and he is now alive as man, and will for ever continue so; and he is alive to God, he lives by him,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Translate as Greek, "And THE LIVING ONE": connected with last sentence, Rev 1:17. and was--Greek, "and (yet) I became." alive for evermore--Greek, "living unto the ages of ages": not merely "I live," but I have life, and am the source of it to My people. "To Him belongs absolute being, as contrasted with the relative being of the creature; others may share, He only hath immortality: being in essence, not by mere participation, immortal" [THEODORET in TRENCH]. One oldest manuscript, with English Version, reads Amen." Two others, and most of the oldest versions and Fathers, omit it. His having passed through death as one of us, and now living in the infinite plenitude of life, reassures His…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I am he that liveth, and was dead - I was indeed once dead, but now I live, and shall continue to live forever. This would at once identify him who thus appeared as the Lord Jesus Christ, for to no one else could this apply. He had been put to death; but he had risen from the grave. This also is given as a reason why John should not fear; and nothing would allay his fears more than this. He now saw that he was in the presence of that Saviour whom more than half a century before he had so tenderly loved when in the flesh, and whom, though now long absent, he had faithfully served, and for whose cause he was now in this lonely island. His faith in his resurrection had not been a delusion; he…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he that liveth - Another peculiar title of God. And I have the keys of death and of hades - That is, the invisible world. In the intermediate state, the body abides in death, the soul in hades. Christ hath the keys of, that is, the power over, both; killing or quickening of the body, and disposing of the soul, as it pleaseth him. He gave St. Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven; but not the keys of death or of hades. How comes then his supposed successor at Rome by the keys of purgatory? From the preceding description, mostly, are taken the titles given to Christ in the following letters, particularly the four first. Revelation 1:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:18 the living one: Because the Son of Man (1:13) has conquered death, he holds the keys of death and controls the outcome of our greatest fear (see 20:14; Heb 2:14-15). Jesus has complete authority to provide hope in a hostile world. • the grave: Greek Hades. See study note on Rev 6:7-8.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“that liveth: Job 19:25; Psa 18:46; Joh 14:19; Rom 6:9; Co2 13:4; Gal 2:20; Col 3:3; Heb 7:25 was: Rom 14:8, Rom 14:9; Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15; Heb 1:3, Heb 12:2 I am alive: Rev 4:9, Rev 5:14; Heb 7:16, Heb 7:25 the keys: Rev 3:7, Rev 9:1, Rev 20:1, Rev 20:2, Rev 20:14; Psa 68:20; Isa 22:22; Mat 16:19 Revelation 1:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification