The cross was the decisive blow, but the story did not end there. If Jesus had remained in the tomb, the cross would have been a noble failure. The resurrection is the Father's public declaration that the sacrifice was accepted and the serpent's head was crushed. The ascension is the enthronement of the Conqueror. The keys are the emblems of His authority over every realm Satan claimed.

Paul says God "raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come" Ephesians 1:20-21. The resurrection placed Christ above Satan's entire hierarchy. The ascension placed Him at the right hand of God. There is no higher position. There is no greater authority.

The believer who only knows the cross but not the resurrection and ascension lives as though the war is still undecided. The New Testament does not permit that. Christ is not fighting for the throne. He already occupies it.

Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it" Acts 2:24. Death had a claim, but the claim was invalid. Jesus had committed no sin. He had paid the penalty for others. Death had no legal right to keep Him.

Satan had used death as his ultimate threat. "Do this, or you will die." "Obey me, or your life is over." The resurrection ended that reign of terror. Paul writes, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

For the believer, the resurrection means that the worst thing the devil can threaten has been defeated. He can kill the body, but he cannot touch the soul. He can take your job, your health, your reputation, your relationships, and even your life, but he cannot separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 8:38-39. The tomb is empty. The Conqueror lives.

The ascension of Christ is one of the most neglected doctrines in modern Christianity, yet it is central to our authority. After forty days of resurrection appearances, Jesus was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father Acts 1:9-11Ephesians 1:20. A human being — the God-man — now occupies the place of highest honor in the universe.

This means that Satan has been displaced. Before the fall, Satan held the highest place among created beings as the covering cherub. Now a man sits above him. A creature of the dust, once deceived by the serpent, has been exalted above the serpent. This is the reversal of Eden. The first Adam gave away dominion; the last Adam has recovered it and taken it higher.

The author of Hebrews writes, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" Hebrews 2:9. The One who was made lower than angels is now crowned above them. The One who suffered death is now crowned with glory. This is the triumph that changes everything.

In Revelation 1:18, the risen Christ declares, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." A key in Scripture is a symbol of authority. To hold the keys is to control access, to lock and unlock, to determine who enters and who leaves.

Before the cross, death and hell were in Satan's hand. He had the power of death. He held humanity in bondage through fear of death. After the resurrection, Jesus took the keys. Death no longer operates independently of Christ. Hell no longer has the final word. The grave is not the end; it is a doorway that Christ unlocks.

Jesus spoke of this authority when He promised the church, "I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" Matthew 16:19. The church does not have authority because of its numbers, its programs, or its influence. It has authority because it is connected to the King who holds all the keys.