Revelation 3:7 “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”
Christ is presented here as the One Who has the key of David. The key of David is royal authority and it is a nod to His fulfillment of scriptural prophecy. Also consider that Jesus has opened a door that is open for anyone who will take it. That door is salvation … “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Romans 8:38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Jesus opens in such a way that no man can shut and He shuts so that no man can open. And when we think back to the introduction of Christ in chapter 1, we find a contrast not seen in the other letters. In verse 18 of chapter 1, Jesus identifies Himself as having, “The keys of Hades and of Death.” Vance Havner said of this, “He is the Keeper of the Keys. He has the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, the keys to God’s presence, the keys to eternal life, the keys to the storehouse of divine truth, the keys to heaven. He has the keys to all our circumstances. (That’s great news, isn’t it?) Paul called himself “a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” He has the keys of hell and death. He has the keys to the doors of Christian service.” Jesus holds the key. Whatever it is that is good and right, faithful and true, Jesus holds the key … whether judgement or eternal life.
There is a very important door that Jesus opens for us, and this squares well with the phrase “Keys of David.” Isaiah 22:21 speaks of the key of the house of David laid on the shoulder of Eliakim. In the time of Isaiah, Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, held office as the king’s representative and he alone had power to open and shut (as it reads in Isaiah 22). The key of David is the key that Eliakim carried as the head of the household of David. Eliakim alone had the authority to allow or deny an audience with the king. Jesus as High Priest opens the door of access to the Father. And no one but Jesus can open that door or shut that door.
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Linda Luecke says
Ohhhhhh! I didn’t realize I could come on here to get a devotional!!