Revelation 3:7-10; Marks of a Faithful Church

Revelation 3:7-10 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

The messenger sent by our Lord has arrived in Philadelphia handing to them the report of their spiritual health. It is interesting that our Lord described Himself as holy and true – God being holy does not tolerate sin and God being true does not tolerate error. How can anyone stand before a holy and true God? You would have expect the members to falter and tremble for a Thrice holy God as the prophet Isaiah did at the throne room of God, a God who means business and judges sin for what sin is. How Isaiah trembled as he recalled how the King Uzziah died for intruding into the priest’s office to offer sacrifices before God, dying a leper. This is that holy and true God who is speaking. And you would expect rebuke coming along but instead what will come is commendation! This is very intriguing. What is the secret of strength in this church? What distinguished them so that even the holy and true God accepts them? Not only is God described as holy and true. 

He is described as having sovereign authority, having the key of David that opens a door that no man can shut and shuts a door that no man can open. This is a phrase that the prophet Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 22:2 of God’s servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah (Isaiah 22:20) having the key to all the treasures of the king. He was the one who could open up the door and let people into the treasure. He had the authority over the royal treasury, or he could lock it up and keep them in. The key of David is the key over royal riches. Eliakim has authority over David’s treasure house, just as Christ has authority over His church. Eliakim has the key to the treasury of David’s house just as our Lord alone is able to open the way of salvation to sinners and open the treasure house of blessing to any whom He pleases.

Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Then comes a description of what makes this a living and thriving church. And was there no judgment coming but God is pronouncing a future blessing upon this church. God is giving them an open door of opportunity for service that no man can shut.

Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 

Amen.