“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. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.'”
Revelation 3:7-8
What is “the key of David”?
“Thus says the Lord God of hosts, ‘Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: …Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man… I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand… 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.”
Isaiah 22:15-22
These were the days of King Hezekiah, when the Assyrians were threatening to conquer Jerusalem. Shebna was the secretary responsible for the management of the king’s household. Through the prophet Isaiah God promised to remove Shebna and replace him with Eliakim, transferring the authority of the kingdom as symbolized by “the key of the household of David.”
David was the great king of Israel. Through his line the Messianic king would come (and did come). And Jesus also conferred his authority onto his disciples with similar language.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19
Jesus has the keys of David, with all authority over the Messianic Kingdom. And, in fact, he claimed much more than that.
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus is the One True King. He reigns over all things through the word of his power (Heb. 1:3). He created all things and all living things sing praise to Him (Rev. 5:13).
Incredibly, Jesus has commissioned us with His authority to continue His work on earth. Remember the six verses in John 14-16 about answered prayer. Jesus commands us to ask “in His name,” believing that we will do “greater things,” than even He did in His earthly ministry.
What obstacle is before you today? What is threatening your faith? What is preventing God’s kingdom from advancing in your relationships or your ministry? Jesus has all the keys. He can open any door. Pray for wisdom and boldness in order to stand firm in your faith and bear fruit for the kingdom!