Philadelphia – The Faithful Church - Revelation 3:7-13

Philadelphia – The Faithful Church

Revelation 3:7-13

SARDIS – A.D. 1750 - Rapture.

THE SALUTATION

“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” (3:7).

This was John’s eighth command to write.

He who is holy – This refers to God, who alone possesses absolute holiness (2 Kings 19:22; Job 6:10; Psalms 71:22, 78:41; Isaiah 43:15, 54:5; Habakkuk 3:3). He is utterly separate from sin, and His character is unblemished and flawless. The title “Holy One” is used in the New Testament as a messianic title for the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; John 6:69). Jesus identifying Himself as “He who is holy” is a direct claim to deity. The Lord Jesus Christ possesses the holy and sinless nature of God.

He who is true – Truth is used in combination with holiness to describe God in Revelation 6:10, 15:3, 16:7, 19:2, 11. True (ἀληθινός alēthinós, Gk.) speaks of that which is “genuine, authentic, and real; one who cannot lie (John 14:6).”  Alēthinós defines the relation of the concept to the corresponding thing; meaning the only true God, not feigned like idols; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:20; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Isaiah 65:16).

Key of David – David symbolizes the messianic office (Revelation 5:5, 22:16). A key in scripture represents authority; whoever holds a key has control (Revelation 1:18, 9:1, 20:1, Matthew 16:19) Eliakim is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the One upon whom should be hung all the glory of His Father’s house (Isaiah 22:22). Jesus alone has the sovereign authority to determine who enters His messianic kingdom (John 10:7, 9, 14:6; Acts 4:12). He is depicted has having the keys to salvation and blessing. To understand the Bible, you need only to know Christ.

He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens – Christ is omnipotent and what He does cannot be overturned by someone more powerful (Isaiah 43:13, 46:9-11; Jeremiah 18:6; Daniel 4:35). No one can shut the doors to the kingdom or to blessing if He holds them open, and no one can force them open if he holds them shut. This also speaks of opening and shutting doors for Christian service. The doors of opportunity for preaching the gospel are controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ.