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Scripture focus
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;
Revelation 3:7 — KJV
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Revelation 3:7
King James Version (KJV)
“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody
Commentary
Commentary on Revelation 3:7
Theological / DevotionalAngel. See on ch. 1:20.
Philadelphia. A word meaning “brotherly love.” This city was founded before 138 B.C. and was named for Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum in honor of his loyalty to his elder brother, Eumenes II, who had preceded him on the throne. After a damaging earthquake in A.D. 17 it was rebuilt by the Roman emperor Tiberius, but remained comparatively small. It was situated some 30 mi. (c. 48 km.) east-southeast of Sardis.
When the historical application is made, the message to Philadelphia may be thought of as appropriate to the various movements within Protestantism during the latter years of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th whose objective it was to make religion a vital, personal affair (see on v. 2; see Additional Note on Chapter 2). In a special way the great evangelical and advent movements in Europe and the United States restored the spirit of brotherly love and stressed practical godliness in contrast with the forms of religion. Revived faith in the saving grace of Christ and in the nearness of His return resulted in a deeper spirit of Christian fellowship than the church had experienced since the early days of the Reformation. For further comment on the background of this period see pp. 67–70.
He that is holy. This title is equivalent to “the Holy One,” used of God in the OT (Isa. 40:25; Hab. 3:3). In the NT a similar ascription is applied repeatedly to Christ, implying His deity (see Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27, 30, cf. on John 6:69).
True. Gr. alēthinos, “genuine,” “real,” in contrast with false gods.
Key of David. This verse applies Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Eliakim, to Christ (Isa. 22:20–22; see 2 Kings 18:18). Eliakim was appointed to have supervision “over the household” of David, as signified by the fact that he was to be given “the key of the house of David.” Christ’s possession of the “key” represents His jurisdiction over the church and over the divine purpose to be achieved through it (see Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22). Compare Rev. 5:5; 22:16; see on Matt. 1:1.
He that openeth. That is, with “the key of David.” Christ has full authority to open and to shut, to carry the plan of redemption forward to success.
By SdaBc