PHILADELPHIA – THE KEY OF DAVID

Rev.3:7,8 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

I am so grateful for the people who discipled me in my early days as a Christian. As many of you know I was saved in the Jesus Revolution after being witnessed to by Jesus freak missionaries from California. Within two weeks Parris and I were married and found ourselves in a Christian community near Fresno. One of the important truths that were ingrained in us was the importance of winning souls. This was apparently what Jesus had in mind when He spoke about the key of David. Of course Jesus is our messianic David and He holds the key to eternal life. He has commissioned us to bring as many people with us into His heavenly kingdom as we can. He has given us the key to bringing people with us, preaching the gospel to whoever will hear us. Here is how the Christ Centered Expository Commentary describes this passage.

“Jesus has the Key of David. That implicitly looks to Rev.1:18 and the fact that Christ “holds the keys of death and Hades.” It also looks back to Isaiah 22:22 where the Bible says, “I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one can close; what he closes, no one can open.” Here in Revelation 3:7 the same words appear and are again ascribed to Christ. Jesus is “the Davidic Messiah with absolute power to control entrance to the heavenly kingdom” (Mounce, Revelation, 100). He has the authority to admit or exclude who will come into the presence of the King. He alone has the key that lets people into the kingdom of God. No wonder Jesus said in John 10:9, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

So maybe its time for the church to take up the mandate of the church in Philadelphia. We have been given the key to heaven, maybe its time to use it and win souls. It really isn’t that hard, all it takes is a little courage and with Christ you have plenty of that. Find a place to share your faith, I am certain there are opportunities right under your nose. Once you use that key for the first time you will never want to put it down. It’s time to get busy, Jesus is coming back very soon.