From Tme Magazine, Dec. 6, 1999: "The memory of any stretch of years eventually resolves to a list of names, and one of the useful ways of recalling the past two millenniums is by listing the people who acquired great power. Muhammad, Catherine the Great, Marx, Gandhi, Hitler, Roosevelt, Stalin and Mao come quickly to mind. There's no question that each of those figures changed the lives of millions, and evoked responses from worship through hatred.
"It would require much exotic calculation, however, to deny that the single most powerful figure not merely in these two millenniums but in all human history has been Jesus of Nazareth. Not only is the prevalent system of denoting the years based on an erroneous 6th century calculation of the date of his birth, but a serious argument can be made that no one else's life has proved remotely as powerful and enduring as that of Jesus." (Reynolds Price)
"It would require much exotic calculation, however, to deny that the single most powerful figure – not merely in these two millenniums but in all human history – has been Jesus of Nazareth."
Overwhelming Influence
Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world: "This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science...he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times."
"When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. Then he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, but now I am alive forever. I have the keys of death and hell." Rev 1:17-18
Easter is a wonderful time of the year because we are given a glimpse of what creation will be like without sin and death.
Jesus is victorious over both and brings his power to us to partake of it in receiving His resurrection life by faith.
Since all of these sons and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had power over death (that is, the devil). Hebrews 2:14
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches; He that overcomes will not be hurt by the second death." Rev 2:11
Man Was Created to Live Forever With God
When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they ate from the tree of life. They partook of the life of God. God is the giver of life. His life through the power of the Spirit of God gives humanity the power to have dominion over evil and live in harmony with God's purposes forever. Apostle Peter tells us that when we are born again of God's Spirit, we again partake of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). In His presence, the Bible says, "is fullness of joy." The Bible tells us that there are two deaths spiritual (turning from God's life-giving Spirit), which results in physical death. When we sinned, we turned from God, His power, His presence, and His kingdom. When we did, we died.
Spiritual death is being separate from God's presence, power, and His kingdom. Spiritual death is being separated from the life of God. Till this very day, mankind suffers spiritual and physical death because all men sin. We all suffer the consequences that sin brings upon the human family. Jesus came to destroy the power of death in all its forms by restoring our relationship with God. When we make Jesus Lord and turn from sin, God will restore us to a place to receive of His life-giving Spirit. It is imperative we understand that God sees death, spiritual and physical, as an enemy.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1Cor 15:26
Two Deaths
Many see physical death as more of a reality, but it is spiritual death that causes physical death. It was spiritual death that caused mankind to die physically. The second death is far worse than physical death. The second death is to be forever banished from the power of God's life-giving Spirit. Eternal Life is not just a length of time but a quality. Hell is a place devoid of God's kind of life. Jesus delivered us not only from physical death but from hell, the abode of those who are in the grip and power of eternal death. Satan is its ruler and must be denounced for us to be received by God. We all need to make Jesus Lord so we can again come under the power of God's life giving Spirit.
"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hell." Rev 1:18
In Revelation 1:18, we read that Jesus went through the doors of death's kingdom, defeated its ruler Satan, and emerged forever victorious. He has with Him the keys to our freedom from death forever. Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death. Jesus has the keys of hell and death to free us from the power of death and the prison house of hell. The following scripture verses decribe what the future holds for those who come under the power and dominion of Jesus Christ.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be any more death. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared. Rev 21:4
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1Cor 15:54
