Revelation 3:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "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.

NIV: "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

NASB: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

CSB: "Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens:

NLT: Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:

KJV: 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;

NKJV: “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”:

Philadelphia was located about 28 miles southeast of Sardis. Its name combines the Greek words for "love" and "brothers." The city was known for its numerous vineyards. The abundant production of wine led the citizens into the worship of Dionysius, the god of wine. The city was also prone to earthquakes. The king of Pergamum founded the city in in 189 BC and named it Philadelphia because of His brother's loyalty to him; his brother was the king of Lydia.

In His letter to the church at Philadelphia Jesus identifies himself as holy and true. The two characteristics are significant. Because Jesus is holy, He cannot lie. Therefore, He is both holy and true. Hebrews 7 tells how Jesus is a better priest than the priests of Israel. Verse 26 describes Him as "a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." In John 14:6, Jesus identified Himself to His disciples as the truth. The church at Philadelphia could accept Jesus' words as absolutely true.

Jesus also identifies himself in verse 7 as the one who has the key of David. The mention of David puts this verse in a messianic context. Someday Jesus will exercise His authority to allow saved individuals, both born-again Gentiles and saved Jews to enter His earthly kingdom. Also, He will use the key to lock out all unbelievers. Because Jesus is the son of David, He has the indisputable right to the royal line. As Israel's promised king, He will rule the nations from the throne of Israel.

It is also true that Jesus holds the key to open and shut a door that no one can open. He was able to use the key to open the doors of opportunity for the church at Philadelphia to advance the gospel into Asia's unevangelized regions. Further, He could use the key to lock out the church's enemies.

Revelation 3:7–13 contains Jesus' letter to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia, was a center for exporting the Greek language and culture into the interior of Asia Minor. Thus, it had a secular missionary calling. Just as the city had an open door to the interior, so the church had an open door to spread the gospel. Jesus commends the church in verse 10 and promises to keep it from the tribulation period. He also instructs the church to retain the truth and promises each conqueror special recognition in the New Jerusalem. Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only churches in Revelation not to receive any particular criticism. The church at Philadelphia's characteristics are similar to those of the Church in the 19th and 20th centuries that was a period of frequent revivals and missionary activity.

These final letters symbolize Church history from AD 1500 to the Rapture, the event that transports the Church from earth to be with Jesus. Sardis had a good reputation, but it was actually spiritually dead. Philadelphia had a good opportunity to spread the gospel, and it had kept Jesus' word and had remained loyal to Him. As such, Jesus promises to reward this church's conquerors. Laodicea was proud of its wealth, but was spiritually lukewarm, a characteristic that Jesus detests. He promises to fellowship with anyone in the church who would heed His voice and welcome Him. Laodicea is the only church given no praise by Christ.

This chapter concludes the letters Jesus instructed the apostle John to write to seven churches in Asia Minor. Those messages began in chapter 2. This passage ends the section of Revelation that describes the things that are (Revelation 1:19), meaning the things which existed in John's lifetime. Chapter 1 describes what John had seen (Revelation 1:19), and chapter 4 begins John's account of what was to take place in the future (Revelation 1:19).

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''