Revelation 3:7-13 (ESV) — 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
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I will begin with a question that may challenge your view of God. “If God wanted to do something and man's will resisted what God wanted to do—meaning, man stood in opposition to God’s plans, would God be frustrated? Would He be hindered from executing His plans?”
We are going to see the answer to these questions in Jesus’ letter to the church in Philadelphia.
This is the second letter from Jesus to the seven churches in Asia Minor, where there were no complaints or rebukes to a church. In a short summary, Jesus commends their faithfulness and holiness. He encourages the church with His promise of preservation from the period of calamity and trial that is coming to the whole earth.
Rev.3:7, ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”
Each of these deserves attention, but I will recognize the one that stands out to most of us. “… who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.” What is Jesus saying about himself? This is taken from Isaiah 22:22-24.
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.
The “Key of the house of David” refers to the keys of authority of the kingdom of Israel. Eliakim was given the position of full and complete power, authority, and influence that belonged to the house of King David. His word was now law, as if King David had said it. “The key” is a symbol of royal authority.
So why is Jesus referencing this Old Testament passage? Jesus is in essence saying, “I hold all royal/heavenly authority of the Messiah, the Son of God. I have it. I have the full power, authority, and influence of the kingdom of God. I will do what I will do, and it will be so! Jesus is stating up front, I do as I will. Nothing and no one can stop me or hinder me.
This is what Jesus told His disciples (Matt 28:18), “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus is stating, “Man does not and cannot restrict me or hinder me. If I desire to open a door, no one can block it or stop it. It will be so.” Also see: I Cor.1:19; Isa.14:27; Daniel 4:35; Rom.9:19-21; Ps. 115:3; 135:6. These show that God has complete sovereign reign over all things. I think we have answered my opening question, and the answer is, YES!
This makes sense since in this letter, Jesus says, “I have” done this and that, and “I will” do this and that. No one can hinder any door that He opens or any door that He closes. In fact, there are seven times that Jesus says He “will” do something. How could he promise these seven actions unless He had all power, authority, and influence? He can make promises because He can keep them.
Reflecting on this, knowing that Jesus can do whatever He wills, should it be a motivation to take our pleas and petitions of need to Him in prayer?
Revelation 3:8 — “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.”
Many commentators interpret this open door as an opportunity for mission and evangelism. The Apostle Paul uses the image in this way (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3). Others interpret the “open door” as the door into the Kingdom of God. I can see both of these as being biblical.
It is true that Jesus is the Open Door to the kingdom of God. He said, (John 10:9) — “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” We are familiar with his words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me (Jn.14:6).”
I also believe that Jesus opens opportunities for missions and sharing the Gospel. Of course, we do not need to wait for certain doors to open; he has called us to “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19). What I am saying is, there is an overall general mission and calling of every local church.
I also believe that Jesus opens specific doors for different churches. He plants local churches in specific locations for particular reasons. He brings certain people together in a local church because of the church's calling and purpose. He gives skills and gifts to those whom He puts in churches to help carry out the calling upon the church. That is why not everyone who visits MCBC is called to be a member of MCBC. They are called to join a local Church, but they need to be in the Church that Jesus calls them to. They are called to use their God-given skills and gifts in a local body of believers.
I also believe that each local church has a unique personality or character to it that is designed by the Spirit of Christ for their unique calling. This is why churches are not to be cookie-cutter churches. There is a uniqueness to each church. Each church must be biblical, but there is a uniqueness to each. For example, some churches are called to send missionaries all over the world. That is their calling. Yet, some churches are to have an emphasis in their community and a regional presence.
I see a uniqueness to MCBC. I also see that the Master continues to spread our wings to fulfill the full calling of MCBC. We need to be diligent and obedient as He leads us. MCBC and all other churches will never stop growing and spreading their wings.
Moving to the second half of verse eight, the Master gives a most beautiful description of this church in Philadelphia. “… you have little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied by name.” It is not the size of a church congregation. It is not the amount of influence in government or politics. It is not the size of the church’s bank account or budget. Like Gideon’s army of 300 going up against the Midianite army of 120,000, God was their strength in victory.
This church in Philadelphia was faithful in keeping God’s word, and they did not deny His name. Is this not the true principle of Christian success in service and ministry? The greatest rewards that will ever come to a church or to a Christian will not be because of their human greatness, their strength or size, or by an acceptance of the unchurched. But according to their faithfulness to the Master and obedience to His Word and to the opportunities that the Master has opened before them. In a nutshell: “The secret of success in all service to the Master is the keeping of His word, and loyalty to His name.” [1]
This pertains to each believer and to the local church. “… you have kept my word and have not denied by name.” Keep His word and remain loyal to His name. Do not deny Him before man.
Looking at verse nine, “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
G. Campbell Morgan points out that this is not the language of a great anger, nor that of vindictive administration. Some of the Jews in that Synagogue, who persecuted the Church, would be brought to the feet of the church, to learn how He has loved her. Jesus would turn some of them to see and hear the Gospel of salvation and humble themselves before the Christian Church.
Jesus says, “I will make.” This is one of the “I wills” of Jesus that no one can hinder. What does He say He will do? “I will make (cause) them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
The Greek word for make/cause refers to “giving.” The word “bow down” refers to coming and worshiping with the Christians. Jesus is saying that He is going to open the hearts of some of the Jews who are in this synagogue and show them that He is the Messiah. And they will see that God’s love is on the Church—those who have Jesus as God and Savior. And they will join the church and worship with them.
The Apostle Paul talks about provoking Israel to jealousy of the Christians (Romans 11:11-14). It is Paul’s hope that his ministry does that, and it will lead to seeing God’s love and favor on the community of Christ believers, and thereby leading some to faith in Jesus.
Revelation 3:10 — “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. “
He does not say, “I will take you out of the testing that is coming”, but “I will keep you.” He will keep them while they are in it. He is saying, “I will preserve you in the tests.”
Dennis E. Johnson, Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation, writes, “They have kept his word, and he will keep them “from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). What is this hour? … the fact that God promises to protect his church not from suffering but from apostasy, we should not assume that Jesus will keep believers from this trial by removing them from the scene or shielding them from pain. Jesus had prayed, “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Whatever the hour of trial entails, Christ’s people know that no one can snatch us from the almighty hands of Jesus and his Father (John 10:28–29) and that nothing can separate us from God’s love (Rom. 8:39).”
Also in verse 10, Jesus says, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance.” The NKJV, NASB, and NLB uses, because you have “persevered.” In the original Greek, the emphasis is on “holding on in times of struggle and opposition” and “clinging to”. These believers have been clinging to Jesus. They have faithfully persevered.
He tells them to "hold fast what you have.” The word “hold fast” can be translated as “seize.” It is like grabbing someone’s hand and holding tightly with all the strength you have. Think of a child in fear, grabbing his mom’s hand to hold on, knowing that his mom will protect them against anything.
You may ask, “How do I seize Christ and hold on to Him? He is intangible and invisible?” If the one you love most is overseas, across the world, what would you do to cling to him/her? You would read his/her letters and write letters of affection. You would remain faithful. You would think about them. You would be anxious to see them again. We have Jesus’ letters to us. We have his instructions and promises. We talk to Him in prayer. We also have his presence in His Church. We are his body on earth. We fellowship with Him when we are with the other members of His body. Make your faith seize Christ, and hold on with all of your strength. Walk and talk with Him through His Word, the Bible.
To summarize what we have found in this letter: We can endure and persevere knowing that our Master has all power, authority, and influence over heaven and earth. We can persevere knowing that He holds all of the cards. He has the keys of life, of death, and of eternity.
Our responsibility is to persevere in the faith and in what we are called to do. He has promised to preserve us in the faith. We persevere, and He preserves us. See Jn.6:37-40; Ps. 37:23-24; 1 Peter 1:4–5.
There’s a story of a famous composer-pianist who was scheduled to perform at a great American concert hall for a high-society extravaganza. In the audience was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, the boy slipped away from her side and found his way to the Steinway on the stage.
Without much notice from the audience, he sat down on the stool and began playing “chopsticks.” The roar of the crowd turned to shouts as hundreds yelled, “Get that boy away from there!” When the famous pianist heard the uproar backstage, he grabbed his coat and rushed over behind the boy. Reaching around him from behind, the master began to improvise a countermelody to “Chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, the master pianist kept whispering in the boy’s ear, “Keep going. Don’t quit, son…don’t stop…don’t stop.”
That is what Jesus is telling us. “Don’t quit. Don’t stop. Hold on to the truth you have. I will keep you. I have you in my hand. We do this by seizing His hand and holding on to Him because our eternity depends on Him. We hold on to Him through our trials, struggles, difficulties, and tests that we are confronted with in this life. We hold on to Him in our blunders and mistakes. We also should seize his hand in Prayer. Praying for our loved ones. Praying for the lost. Seize His hand as you read your Bible. As you contemplate plans. Seize His hand when you are weak and weary, and when you are ready to run. He holds the keys of heaven’s power and authority. Seize Him and hold on!
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