VERSE 7 continued “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”
“This portion of Verse 7 asserts the sanctity and authority of Christ himself as the one and only true head of the Church. In marked contrast to Jesus—“the way, the truth, and the life”—was the corrupt and profligate Roman see, the false vicar of Christ, the Pretender (John 14:6). Rome was claiming to be the only holy and true Church, and her popes assumed titles indicating this prerogative. She claimed to have the sure mercies of David (the throne and Kingdom of the Lord), with the power to open and shut the gates of heaven. She further asserted herself as the only true synagogue, the only one having the right to bear the Lord’s name.
However, it is the resurrected, glorified, victorious Christ who is addressing the Church of Philadelphia. He is the “holy” one, the “true” one, the possessor of “the key of David,” and he has not given his prerogative to fallible men.
Although he did lend keys to Peter to open the gospel doors to both Jew and Gentile, and he did grant Peter the privilege of preaching the opening sermon to the Jews at Pentecost and to the Gentiles at Caesarea three and one-half years later, Peter fell asleep in death, and it is the Master who holds the keys (Acts 10). The Master will unlock the gates of hades and of death, freeing the long-bound captives (Rev. 1:18). NO “successor” of St. Peter ever has had or ever will have this power.
Throughout the Bible the divine proposition is clearly stated that the great heir of the throne of the world, the great King of Israel, was to come from David’s line. In view of such promises are a symbol of authority, privilege, and power, the expression “key of David” conveys the thought of a royal hereditary house of ruler-ship ordained by God. Just as in the past the House of Savoy, the House of Hapsburg, the House of Hohenzollern, and other ruling houses played large roles in shaping the course of the kingdoms of Europe, so the House of David is a synonym of divine authority in future ruler-ship and dominion over the earth. History reveals the usurpation of this power by various religious (and governmental) systems (“beast”) prior to its scheduled fulfillment during the Second Advent of Messiah…
“Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, Until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.” (Ezek. 21:27).
There can be no question here also of Jesus’ presupposition that the queenly prerogatives to be granted to his Bride, the Church, in future Kingdom glory, would be blasphemously usurped beforehand by the papal office and abusively exercised (1) in the granting (“opening”) of illegitimate dispensations of grace to its favorites, and (2) in the practice of cutting off (“closing”) all privileges to individuals in disfavor, as well as by placing offending nations under interdict.”
The Right to Open or Close the Door
“The right to open or close the door of salvation was being falsely claimed by the Papal system during Luther's time. The people were being told that unless they stayed with the (false) church, they would not have salvation. They were also being told that they had to purchase that salvation through indulgences. Again, Jesus is telling them that only he has the right to open or shut the way to salvation, thus showing that their claims were false.
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "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.” (Rev 1:17, 18 NAU)
We will move on to Verse 8 in our next post.
