Pastor Dan Nickerson – April 8th, 2021
(Revelation 3:7-13)…..7 “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”: 8 “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. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
There’s a third descriptive phrase used of Christ in this passage. He who is holy, who is true, notice, who is the One Who has the key of David. First Jesus has several keys (Revelation 1:18) (Acts 16:6-7) (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). When God opens a door of opportunity in your life, run through it as fast as you can, it may be a once in a life time opportunity. But, when He closes a door in your life don’t try to force it open. You don’t want to be where God doesn’t want you to be, doing what He doesn’t want you to do.
But in our text we see that Jesus has another key (3:7), The Key Of David. Who has the key of David? – Jesus does! – What does this mean? David symbolizes the messianic office (Revelation 5:5) (Revelation 22:16). Whenever you see a key, you can equate it with authority. If the word authority gives you problems try the word control. Whoever has the key has control, and whoever has the key has authority. Now this term “the key of David,” is a direct reference back to (Isaiah 22:15-25).
In this text the Scripture speaks about a man named Eliakim when Hezekiah was king. He was the son of Hilkiah. Hezekiah had a treasury inside his treasure house, and Eliakim – the son of Hilkiah – was given the key to that treasury -It was the royal treasury which began with David and followed through David’s royal line, so the accumulated treasury of David kept mounting and mounting until the time of Hezekiah when it was loaded with massive riches. Eliakim had the key to that treasury, which means he had the authority over it and the control He could open its riches for the people – or he could shut them off
The key of David then was the authority over royal riches, and Jesus is telling the church in Philadelphia, “I’m the one who has that key,” I’m the one who can open the treasure house and pour out on you royal riches” – can you see how awesome that is? He introduces Himself as the One who can unlock the treasure house of God and by His sovereign authority and His sovereign power open up its riches to those He chooses. He has the key to all the riches, and He will dispense them at His own discretion (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) (Ephesians 1:3-14). He can determine who gets into the treasure house to experience the blessings and who doesn’t. The Lord Jesus has complete control of the entrance to David’s house (John 14:6) (John 10:9) (Matthew 5:19-21) (Romans 9:14-24).
He came with the purpose of opening the door and letting people in the Kingdom, opening the treasure house and pouring out riches. That’s why He said in (John 10:10)…..“I am come that they might have life” – that’s salvation – “and that they may have it more abundantly” – that’s the treasure house. Notice, the rest of (3:7)…..”He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.” I just love that! What that simply means is that whatever He does, that’s it. If He opens the door of the Kingdom to somebody, nobody can shut it. If He shuts it, nobody can open it. If He opens the door of blessing and pours it out, no one can shut it. If He decides to leave it shut, no one can open it. Only He has the power and authority to do such things, not us (Matthew 28:18-20).
He is sovereign, El Shaddai, the Almighty God. Now Jesus identifies Himself as the holy God, the true God, the sovereign God snd the powerful God. And now, God who is all of these finds nothing to rebuke, nothing to correct, nothing to condemn, nothing to chasten, and nothing to warn this church about.
What an unbelievable encouragement this is to their faithfulness. Christ had opened salvation to them, opened the storehouse of blessing to them, and even gave them opportunities for service and evangelism, and they were faithful. What has Christ given each of us? (2 Peter 1:1-4) Is He finding you faithful?