Who’s in, who’s out? ∙∙
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens, and no one will shut, and who shuts, and no one opens. – Revelation 3:7
Revelation 1:17-18
17 Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Isaiah 22:20-24
20 And then I will call my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, to replace you.
21 I will dress him in your royal robes and will give him your title and your authority. And he will be a father to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.
22 I will give him the key to the house of David – the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.
23 He will bring honor to his family name, for I will drive him firmly in place like a nail in the wall.
24 They will give him great responsibility, and he will bring honor to even the lowliest members of his family.”
Losing important items like keys, wallets, or purses is something most of us have experienced. It’s a frustrating moment, often made worse by the sense of urgency and the inefficiency of frantic searching. When you’re in that situation, it’s all too tempting to launch into a chaotic, panicked hunt, retracing your steps sporadically, tossing items aside, and still finding yourself no closer to the missing object. This approach rarely yields results and only adds to the frustration. A better way to handle the situation is to pause, take a deep breath, and commit to a calm and systematic search.
Keys, in particular, have always held more than just practical significance. They unlock access, grant entry, and safeguard what’s important. But in ancient times, keys symbolized far more—they represented authority, power, and trust. For the wealthy, and especially for monarchs, keys were not just physical tools; they were symbols of significant responsibility. The holder of the key yielded the power and authority of its owner.
Take, for example, the key of King Hezekiah, ruler of Israel. Hezekiah’s trusted steward, Eliakim, was given charge of the royal key—a symbol of unparalleled authority. This key granted access to the king’s treasury, the seat of the kingdom’s wealth and resources. What’s more, Eliakim’s stewardship of the key also extended to holding the power to grant or deny access to Hezekiah himself. This trusted servant alone could open or close the way to the king, giving him immense authority within the royal court.
Isaiah 22:22 I will give him the key to the house of David, the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one can close them; when he closes doors, no one can open them.
The apostle John draws on this imagery in Revelation 3:7, presenting the Lord Jesus Christ as the one holding the key of David. This symbolism mirrors Isaiah and emphasizes Christ’s role as the Son of God, who possesses the authority to grant or deny access to the Father’s house and the prophesied messianic kingdom. The power to open and close—to give or withhold entry—rests solely in His hands. His authority is not partial or conditional; it is absolute and final.
John 5:26-27 declares, “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so, He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man.”
The authority given to the Lord Jesus Christ is unparalleled. He holds the power of life within Himself, endowed by the Father, and the authority to judge all because of His status as the Son of Man.
The Lord Jesus Christ boldly proclaims, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:26). Here lies the crux of His role—Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no alternate route, no other mediator. Access to the presence of the Father and the eternal kingdom is granted solely through Him. His decisions are irreversible. If He opens a door, no one can shut it. If He shuts it, no one can pry it open.
Christ’s authority is not just a matter of access but of ultimate power. Revelation 1:17-18 echoes this when the Lord Jesus Christ declares, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” He holds not only the key of David, granting or denying entrance to the Father’s kingdom, but also the keys of death and Hades. His resurrection has triumphed over death, and His authority extends even to the grave.
If we were to put this into modern terms, we might say that the Lord Jesus Christ has the ultimate authority. If he had a desk, there would be a sign that says, “The buck stops here.”
REFLECT & PRAY
Supreme and absolute authority belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. He reigns with unmatched power, yet what makes this truth such good news is His boundless grace, mercy, and lovingkindness. Despite His sovereign rule, He extends an open invitation to all, welcoming everyone to come to the Father through Him. His authority is not a barrier but a bridge to eternal life, offered in love.
Father, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the privilege of calling You Father. Thank You for making a way for me to approach You through the Lord Jesus Christ.
INSIGHT
Have you ever experienced the painful rejection of being locked out or barred from a place you longed to enter? That deep sense of exclusion resonates throughout history, particularly with the early Jewish believers in the Roman Empire. Synagogues were central to Jewish life, and they were abundant in nearly every significant city. For Jews who recognized Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah of Israel, however, things often took a heartbreaking turn.
Many early Jews for Jesus faced excommunication from local synagogues, which shut their doors to those proclaiming Jesus as Lord. At the small church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13), they experienced this rejection, with Jewish believers hearing the harsh sound of synagogue doors slamming shut behind them, declaring, “You are no longer welcome here.”
The local synagogues in Philadelphia mistakenly assumed they held the final say in matters of faith and access to the living God. Their claim to authority was deeply flawed. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who holds the authority—not over temporary, earthly places of worship—but over the eternal kingdom where true life resides.
To the rejected Jewish believers in Philadelphia, the Lord Jesus Christ offered a message of deep empathy and comfort. Understanding their pain of exclusion, He reminded them that the doors to heaven, the true synagogue, were open to them. While earthly congregations may have turned them away, Christ welcomed them with love and acceptance. His intimate words assured them of their place in His kingdom despite their worldly rejection. He alone holds the keys to heaven, inviting all who belong to the Father into His everlasting kingdom.
In the Old Testament, chief priests held the key to the temple, controlling access to God’s house (1 Chronicles 9:27). This role was often misinterpreted as having ultimate control over faith and worship.
However, the true key to David’s eternal kingdom belongs to Jesus Christ, not earthly priests. While Jewish believers in Philadelphia faced ostracism from local synagogues, this was ultimately insignificant. For they had access to the Father’s eternal house.
How tragically ironic it is that those who claimed authority over God’s people were mistaken, failing to recognize the Messiah they had awaited. Despite having the keys to the synagogues, they missed the true entry point into God’s congregation. Entry was not based on rank or ritual but on faith. In their unbelief, they shut themselves out, while Christ alone holds the key to eternal life and access to the Father.
John 1:11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
Romans 10:1-3
1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.
2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.
3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.
They rejected the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, choosing instead their own path of good intentions tied to human effort. Paul expresses his sorrow over this misunderstanding in Romans 10:3, “For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.” Their sincere zeal was undone by the absence of faith, leaving them far from the destination they sought.
This passage invites all of us to pause and reflect. Are we clinging to our own methods—convinced of our own rightness—rather than submitting to the truth found in the Scriptures? Regular examination of our faith is essential.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine.
A personal question arises, “What keys are on your keychain?” Are they keys fashioned by the Father, or are they replicas crafted by human hands?
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 