“And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so, he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

This passage signifies that A Key has been in the house of David perpetually, and it is Only God Almighty that gives and control its destination whenever it needs to change hands, and into whosever hands it will lands.

As at the time this message was given, it was considered a mere prophecy regarding our coming King, our Lordand Saviour,Jesus Christ.

Jumping from Isaiah over to Revelation 3:7 I read:“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia writeThese things saith He that is Holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He who openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

We can see thatthis is not an ordinary Key, but THE KEY. The Key which provides Solutions to every challenges confronting the Church.

In the description of Revelation lies some of the names of Jesus Christ;The designations and descriptions of Him. In all, we cansee at least sixnames and descriptions. Let us have a look atfew of His names and or title.

1. He who is HOLY. Christ’s name here is that of ‘the high and lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy.’ He is the holy One of God, hating sin, and loving righteousness. Thus, while He is the holy One, He deals in love with the feeble, and makes their enemies to ‘know that He loves’ (verse 9). With all Christ’s infinite tenderness and pity, there is holiness conjoined, and He says, “Be holy, for I am holy”.

2. He who is TRUE. This is frequently said of Christ. He is faithful and true; the ‘true light;’ ‘the true bread;’ the ‘true vine;’ the ‘true witness;’ the ‘true God.’ He isthe reality, the truth, the substance, the wisdom, the filling up of all promises, and of all symbols. All the promises in Him are yea, and in Him Amen. His words are true, His works are true, His ways are true, His invitations are true, His love is true. If you belong to him, live a truthful life.

3. He who has the KEY of DAVID. Both as David’s Son and David’s Lord, He had a right to all that David had. Of David’s crown, and throne, and land. He was the rightful heir. But it is only of David’s key that He is here spoken of as the possessor. He had the key, the right and the power of opening the gate, and admitting those who had the right of entrance. He could open and no man would shut;this was grace. He who shut and none can open. This was His sovereignty. This combined grace and sovereignty which He proclaimed is that which Philadelphia specially needed, for encouragement on the one handand for stimulus on the other. You need that Key as a member of His Church, and His servant.

The reference to Isaiah 22:22’The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder.’ This was said to Eliakim, who was thus set up as a type of a greater than himself, a greater than David. Eliakim was royal chamberlain, a keeper of the house, like Joseph in Pharaoh’s palace. So, Christ is represented as not only being the royal possessor of the house, but He also to whom the keeping of its gate was entrusted. He is ‘the door’ and He is the ‘porter too;’ He is the pasture and the Shepherd too. ‘All power is given to Him in heaven and in earth.’ ‘The Father loves the Son, and has committed all things into His hands.’ The Son we may say has many keys.

Some have said ‘the key of David’s harp,’ inasmuch as Christ is the theme of the Psalms of David, and the Psalms cannot be unlocked without Him.’My heart is inditing a good matter. I speak of the things which I have made concerning the King.’ Messiah is his theme, He’s Alpha and Omega, He’s first and last.

What comfort (1) to the minister, (2) what comfort to the church, (3) what comfort to the saints,(4) what comfort is the truth that Christ has the keys! The keys of the universe, the keys of every sphere of labour, the keys of life, the key of death, and of the grave! What comfort of truth is that He has power to open and shut, and of that at His own gracious pleasure! All things are in His power. The keys are in the pierced hands! They hung him upon the cross. He Works on, O Philadelphians;(O Christians) walk on with Him in truth, and with your little strength! He opens great and effectual doors; no matter the numbers, of enemies in the way. He opens and none can shut. He shuts and none can open. How blessed when He says, ‘I have set before you an open door!’ O feeble Philadelphian, (Christians) labour on. He is with you, and who can be against you? He has set before us an open door.’

There are four tests, which, though not strictly connected with the text, I would hang upon it, as suggested by the key and the door: