THE DOOR OPENER

Revelation 3:7-8 NKJV 

7 “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”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 

Jesus is still the one conveying through the apostle John the messages to the church. His message for the church at Philadelphia is different from all the other messages. This is the only church that Jesus does not correct. And just a point of interest - These messages to the churches are all addressed to the angel of the church. That word 'angel' means messenger. So scholars have debated as to who exactly the messenger is: the pastor or an actual angel. My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is the messenger is a person, not an angelic being. Now, if when we get to heaven, and you find out I am wrong, look me up, and I will apologize. But I am pretty confident that by that time, it really will not matter. 

Jesus describes Himself as the One who is holy and true. He is the one who is totally set apart for God and the ways of God. And Jesus is the One who is true. This corresponds with what Jesus declared about Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He also said that no one comes to the Father except by Him. (John 14:6) If that was not the truth, Jesus would not be calling Himself the one who is true. But with all the falsity taking place in the world, what a comfort to know we have access to truth. 

Jesus also mentions having the key of David and that He opens and shuts, and no one can reverse what He has done. A key represents authority. Jesus is quoting Isaiah 22:22, which speaks of the key of the house of David being laid on His shoulder. I have not studied the key of David enough to comment intelligently, but it definitely gives Jesus the authority to open and shut doors. 

This open door is connected to the work of the Kingdom of God. When Jesus speaks directly to the Philadelphian church, He reveals that He has opened a door for them that no one can shut. I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthian 16:9. Paul said that a great and effective door was opened to him in Ephesus, and there were many adversaries. Because Jesus does not clarify what the open or shut doors are, we can surmise that they involve opportunities. 

Jesus connected the open door with the fact that this church in Philadelphia had a little strength, kept His word, and did not deny His name. This church was doing the right things, so Jesus opened a door for them that no man was able to shut. This church was doing what it took to please the Lord, and He was opening doors for them. 

APPLICATION 

This topic is intriguing. What are the doors that Jesus opens in our lives? What are the doors He shuts? 

I can remember when the Lord shut doors for me when I got out of Bible School. He shut doors for me getting a pastoral position with a church. The few interviews I did have never materialized or were a definite no. All my attempts to take a senior pastor position years later were shut doors. Talk about shut doors. When He shuts them, they are so shut. 

And I remember He opened a door for me to get a sales job when I did not meet the qualifications that the company was looking for. Jesus opened a door that turned out to be a blessing to me for years. 

So, a good way to pray is, Lord, what doors have You opened in my life that I need to walk through? And what doors have You shut that I need to stop knocking on?