Revelation 3:7: “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”:
Jesus and His Word
The city of Philadelphia was 28 miles southeast of Sardis. Philadelphia means “brotherly love,” which occurs seven times in the Bible. Christ described Himself as the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David, and who is able to open or shut a door which no one else could open or shut. The holiness of Christ is a frequent truth in Scripture (1 Peter 1:15), and being holy He is worthy to judge the spiritual life of the Philadelphia church. 1
Jesus and His Ways
- Jesus, to know You, is to know the truth. Teach me more about knowing Your truth. – “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
- Jesus, to know You, is to have understanding. Teach me more about living in Your truth. – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20
- Jesus, to know You, is to avoid the spirit of error. Teach me more about seeking Your truth. – “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6
Jesus and His Work
He has the key to your heart, and to your future home. – TWEET IT
Jesus and His Promise
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
1. Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 939). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.