i Ee See ‘501-787-6026 Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE Newsletter #217 - November 1996 © 1996 SEN : oa RRL Mn aOR bind on gat shat be boa in pero and wna each time you tate for Sey Teng of tne, Ma foavar thoy shot loose’ on ear sho be lossed happens ifyou toe your kage ve youre ganer|| GALPYY S|] hooven” Yeu can't get in. Spiritually, you imist have the kkeys to enter the Kingdom of heaven, 1f you dan't have the keys, you don't get in. A student recently sent in a. question that, made me think shout this subject. The question was, "Where is it written that St. Peter is in contsol of the pearly gates to heaven?" Those that Tisten to the traditions of mon doalt have the Key. You see, St Peter does control fhe gate, Those that believe this: commonly taught tra- dition might very well be more concerned hoat pleasing SSt. Peter than the true Keeper af the keys, Jesus Christ ‘We ate going to look at the various keys found in the Bible én this message. Leds turn to Cheists teaching in Luke to build a plsiform concerning Keys and who might have. them, LUKE 1:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away The key of knowodge: yo entered nof in your Selves, and them that were entorng in yo hindered.” First, ler's clarify the fet that Christ is talking about scripture lawyers in this verse, Now, how could seripture lawyers take away the Key of Knwledge? They take anay the key with false teaching and new religions, Quite simply, they get away from God's Word. The Bible tells us the beginning of knowledge is to reverence the Lord (Prov, 1:7). When you reverence Him, you will study His writings and not the writings of men. Don't get sidetracked. The Keys are not to be found in the Writings of men or in their traditions, Let’s Tock at another key in the Book of Mathew. By the way. this scripture i the origin of the siory of St. Peter being U the pearly gates, You don't believe fairy tales, because you hawe a better teacher than some, Our Cord lesus is your teacher through the Word, Christ has just asked the disciples, "But whom say ye that [ am?" MATTHEW 16: 18-17 And Simeon Pater answered anc said, Thou ari the Christ, the Son of the living God and Jesus answered and said anta him, “Blasced art thou, Simon Barjooa’ for fies snd blood fath not revealed i! unto thee, but My Father Which 1s i heaven Peter received his information through divine rey elation MATTHEW 18-48 Ang | say also info thee, That thou an Peter, apa upon tis roek til bulla My ehuren: and the gates of fel! shot! not prevail against it The mock in this verse is the Immovable Rock, Je-us Christ, The gates of hell can no: prevail against anything built on the Rock. MATTHEW 1618 And | ui give unto thee me keys of thie Jungdom of fweaven and whatsoever thaw shat Some would sty, "There you have il, Ged gave Peter the Keys to heaven and the power to judge and forgive other men", That is not what this verse states. at all. After all, Peter was only a man. Binding and loosing is a Hebrew idiom for. exercising authority to dispense God's Word. To the unbeliever Peter, and the ehuteh, could teach God's judgement and His grace. To the believer Peter and she church, could teach repentance and forgiveness. Of ‘course, the teaching an these matiers was to be based upon the Word of God. Jesus Christ has another Key that he shares with no one. I don't believe any of us could handle ‘the responsibility. Lev tum to Revelation with Jesus speaking, REVELATION 1:18 | am He That fiveth, snd was dead, and behold. | am alive for evermore, Amem and have Ihe keys of hell and of death, ‘Ths death Jesus is referring t0 is the second death, she death of the soul. "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in bell” (Matt. 10:28). Fie hae these keys, and He is not afraid to use them. Those that see these keys in action and fallow Satan ints the lake of fire {Rev, 20:10-15) will be well deserving of exactly: what they et. Christ alone has this key, because He conquered death. There is also a key to the bottomless pit. Let's find out who has this key. REVELATION 2:7. And the fifth ange! sounded, and J saw 2 slar fall fram heaven unto the earth; and lo him was gen the kay of the bottomless pi ‘The stur we are discussing here is Lucifer. Spiritually, is important for-you to know what he sande with this Ky. EVELATION 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pity and there arase 2 smoke out of We pit. as tho smoke of 3 great fumsce, snd the sym and the ais were darkened by season af the smoke of the pi Have you ever beard the expression "Blowing senoke*, That ts what Satan is going to be doing, He will ‘be imitaung che return af the trie Messiah as much as he ig able. The sun will no: longer shine, when the true Christ returns because ‘of the brightness of Him that is with us Satan will use the key to the bottomless pit to obtain the visual aids he needs to appear to be Jesus, REVELATION. $:3 And there tame oul ef the smoke iacusis Upon the eaett and unto then Was given power, as Ihe scor- pions’ of the earth ave powor‘They will have the power to hurt some men. These are the same as the locusts in the Book of Joel. REVELATION 9:4 And it was commsnded them that They should nat furl the grass of ihe oarih, nojiher any geen thing, oekther any ies: but ony those men which not the seal of Gad in their foreheads. ‘The key of knowledge places the seal of God in your mind, The key t the Boriomioss pit. and he that holds it, has no power ever those men with the key of knowl eiige. There is another Key that some might overlook due 4g the translation, Let's tum to Chapter Eleven, We ate going to Ieum about the oy of Elyoh and the ministry God gave him. We will pick it up discussing the power the two witnesses will possess. REVELATION 11:8 These have power lo shut heaven, that i fan not it the days of their prophecy’ and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite ho earth with al! plagues, as often as they wil ‘The woed “shut” in this verce is the Greek prime of the word "kleis™ which means key. The two witnesses will have the key Io shut heaven and eaise it mot to rain. As you know, Elijah also had this power, Spiritually, they will have the power to shut off the latter rain which is capable of bringing people to maturity ir God's Word, This is the key to the feeding and ministering to the people. In closing, we're going to 2 key that you should all be farmijiar with, You must understand the key of David, Ie is the foundation to understanding all of the sather keys. And te the angel of the church in REVELATION 3:7 Philadelohia wnie; ‘These things sah He Thal is Holy, He That as True, He That Nath the kay of David, He That apeneth, aird no man shulteth, and shutlem, snd no man _-openeth; ‘The key of David unlocks Isaiah's prophecy that out of the root of Jesse, the futher of David, would come ‘Jesus Christ, Understanding this prophecy” gives us the lineage of Jesus. Those that understand the key of David ‘can not be deceived by scripture lawycrs, oF Salan himself; Those that have the key of David love their Pather for giving them the uth, and they cunt help but revece Him Which gives them the key of knowledge REVELATION 2:8 J know thy works: Detrald. | nave sot ‘defere thee an open door, and no man ean’ shut it: for how hast a iitis strength, and hast kept dy word, and hast not denied My name, Some will deny His name by worshipping antichrist, TH Behold, |} val make them of the synagague of Salan, which say thoy are Jews, and ae ot. but do tie: behold, | will make them 10 come and anal to kiow that | have loved Those that claim to be of Judah and are not, the Kenites, will warship at your feet because you will be worshipping at the feet of Messiah. The key of David fs also ‘writen of in the Old Testament. Let's tum there ISAIAH 22:22 And the kay of the house of David will Tiay upen his shoulder, so he shall open, and none It shut, and he shall shut, and-none. shall open. ‘Those that understand and utilize the ring of keys we have been disoussing have been given the spiritual power to dispense the Word of Gad, Those -vith the keys ‘mature spiritually and mentally, They are given discern ‘ment and can spot a phony ten miles away. They ean not be deceived. There is a point in Christin maturation when wo realize wo don't have to be alma of being deceived. At this point, we are able to go on the offensive, Armed with the knowledge of God's Word, you can beai Satan's children at their own game. Righteousness is powerful, and you ave right, when you understand the keys and stay im His Ward In His Service, ‘Arhold Mucray/ ==] MPORTANT MESSAGE**** FPicase be sure to wie the chennel number of the television station you watch Shepherd's Chapel Network (SCN) on all Correspondence to us. Be sure io writ the station channct rnumber, not your loral ceble companies assigned postt umber. Tha will ensure your donation/order is credited to the correct television station and help keep (SCN) on your local television, Satellite dish owners should indicate they ite o7 all conesponsdence te us, v1 $4.00. $4.00 $4.00, 54.00, Walk Through Revelation 926 The Day Approaches 376 Everyday Christian (by Dennis) 377 Bible Literacy Quiz X Fall Fellowship 96 924 Stone of Seone 925 Labor Pangs VIDEO #59.93 Fall Fellowship "96 $4.00 $4.00 $25.0 SUGGESTED TAPES FOR NEW STUDENTS #Tapes Donation oss sh shy Consuming Fite! Holl Fee fie file Baa, Sohol pentinen Free Word Ates White Are the Dead? RV 695 BOOKS of the BIBLE Genesis (chapter 1-6) Revelation