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 invited the faithful in the Church of Philadelphia to have positions of honor in His eternal government over the earth related to their obedience in this age.

• ·        Rev. 3:7-13 is based on the prophecy that Isaiah gave about Shebna, King Hezekiah's chief leader being removed from his government position to be replaced by Eliakim (Isa 22:15-25). God promised to place on Eliakim’s shoulder the “key to the house of David” so he could open and shut the doors of the royal resources to release God’s will in the kingdom of Israel.

Isaiah 22:22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, an no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Job 12:14  If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt, if He imprisons a man, there can be no release.

Revelation 3:6

3:6

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

• ·        It is a proverbial expression, implying that the highest attention should be given to what was spoken  (Barnes)

• ·        anything serious, and of great importance, was delivered; and which required attention, and was not easily understood:  (Gills)

• ·        The demand for universal attention (MH)

Isaiah 48:16  “Come near to Me, hear this:  I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, I was there.  And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit have sent Me.”

Zechariah 7:12  “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets.  Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.

Revelation 3:5

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels

• ·        The books in heaven contain vast information about our lives including our words and deeds..

• ·        I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels – this is not a reference to being saved but to the reward of a public recognition for special nobility and faithfulness. Jesus will talk about our exploits and obedience before the Father.

Psalm 69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Ezekiel 13:9  My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel.  Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 3:4-5 …Take away the filthy garments….See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes….