The Battle for the Keys: Revelation 1:18 and Christ's Descent into the Underworld

by Justin W. Bass

There has been a lack of serious historical investigation of the famous creedal statement 'Christ descended into hell' that was universally affirmed by the church for the first 1,500 years of Church history. This book is an in-depth investigation of the history of the doctrine of Christ's descent and how Revelation 1:18 alludes to Christ's descent.

COMMENDATION
"In The Battle for the Keys Justin Bass leads us through an exceptional exegetical, historical, and theological exploration of the question of both the whether and whither of the Christ's descensus ad infernos. Whatever doubters or believers choose to do with Dr Bass's competent and convincing evidence, arguments and conclusions, they cannot choose to ignore them."
- Michael J. Svigel, Dallas Theological Seminary, USA

Genres: Biblical Studies

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 2014

Reviews

[Lindsay John Kennedy]

This book is full of excellent content on the doctrine of Christ's descent into the underworld. The OT, NT, and Jewish and Greco-Roman writings are all considered. Bass offers a summary and compelling synthesis of the data.

[Josiah Watson]

In this book, Justin Bass argues for the overwhelmingly historical position that Christ descended to the underworld. While this position has garnered almost universal support from the early church, a surprising amount of New Testament scholars reject this doctrine. This book is divided into 6 chapters.
The first chapter gives an account of what the apostle's creed asserts about the descensus and what the early church fathers believed about the Descensus. This doctrine has support in apocryphal books such as the Gospel of Peter, as well as having explicit support from early church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Melito of Sardis (note: this is just from the second century). Chapter 2 examines Death and Hades in the Greco-Roman World, the Old Testament, Second Temple Literature, and the New Testament, where Death and Hades ultimately meet their end. Chapter 3 explores the "keys" language in the NT (Matt. 16:19; Luke 11:52; Rev. 1:18; 3:7; 9:1; 20:1). Chapter 4 explores the various compartments in the underworld such as Death, Hades, Paradise, Abraham's Bosom, Abyss, Tartarus, Gehenna, and the Lake of fire. Chapter 5 exegetically what the four authors the NT thought about the Descensus (Matthew, Luke, Paul, and Peter). Chapter 6 builds on the previous chapters and makes the case that the Descensus is in view of Revelation 1:18.
Overall, I thought this book was incredible and definitely deserves to be read. Especially if you are looking for a book a displays a nuanced view of the afterlife. I cannot tell you how many books I have read about the afterlife that completely ignore the Old Testament, but this sin is not repeated in this book.

[Joshua Gregory]

Great book, just docked it one star for not having charts.

[Sean Crowe]

Excellent book. Was already convinced of a literal descent by Sam Renihan (Crux Mors Inferi) and Matthew Emerson (He Descended to the Dead) but hadn't considered Revelation 1:18 to be such a crucial text to defend it.

[Vincent Lemieux]

Well researched. Filled with references. A most have. Anyone arguing against the victorious local descent of Christ, either biblically or historically, would have difficulties to deal with the overwhelming case this book make.

[Mr R J Marshall]

Very clearly articulated

This book has lit up my thinking. Opened my eyes. Made sense of a theology that had become stagnant. A great little reference book to return to. Not a speculative work but one looking at the facts and stating them clearly for every person. Very interesting history too I didn't know much about. Jesus' death wasn't just for sin but to actually lead out those who believe and follow him from death and Hades. This book brings various biblical pieces together. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He WAS dead but IS now alive!

[Russell Matherly]

The dude brought the receipts on this one! Excellent study, and helpfully revealing about the metaphysical assumptions behind the NT. I especially loved his demonstration of how absolutely widespread this view has been for the vast majority of history. Its absence in most Evangelical churches today is a culpable absence.

My only… gripe isn’t the right word… is that there wasn’t a ton of digging into the 2nd Temple literature on this topic. There was some, but I think if there was a little more evidence from that era, it would make this virtually unassailable. But maybe he surveyed all the 2T literature available and that’s just all we have. In which case, he nailed it!

Great read!

[Bradley Blaylock]

Bass is careful and precise when providing the necessary background information to understand the descent. Bass is convincing in his arguments and the book really hits its stride in the final chapter. Highly recommend.

[Austin Hoffman]

Very good. Only flaw is his lame prose.

[MR STUART]

A definitive work on the subject

Well researched and written. Good comparisons with other authors to back up his thesis. Good analysis of a challenging topic.

[john donovan]

Great

Very good study will read again and be an important book in my library. Good research and enriching and will cause you to do further study.

[Andrew Hasebroock]

I haven’t read a better breakdown of the underworld and the “places” referenced in the Bible of where people “go” after death.

[Ray Clendenen]

He makes an interesting case that I did not find convincing.