THE AUTHOR'S DESCRIPTION OF PHILADELPHIA

The Description of Philadelphia by the Author

"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."

An interesting passage in Isaiah helps to unfold this claim of the Lord Jesus (Isa. 22:20-23). The True King and His Kingship is set forth.
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:" "And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." "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." "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house."

The Attribute of this Person is Essential Holiness (sanctified and separated)

*The professing Church today has no concept of this need which their lives reveal - he that ears to hear.

"He that is holy"

cf. Hab. 3:3; Isa. 40:25; Mark 1:24; Acts 2:27; 4:27, 30; Isa. 6:3.
"God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise."
"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
"Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
"Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."
"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

This is basically what constitutes the divine right of kingship. It is a holy person who has the right to absolute kingship (Psa. 24:3-4; 15:1).
Therefore He made the statement that we are to be just like Him when He finishes His threefold ministry with us and we arrive perfect to rule and reign with Him. Cf. Matt. 5:48.
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?"
"A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?"
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The Appointment of this Person to Kingship is Eternally Settled

"He that is true"

This is the One Who from all eternity has been destined by divine decree to occupy the throne (Psa. 2:6; 15:1).
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."
"A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?"

He is thus the Genuine One. Christ makes claim to this here and did so during His ministry (cf. Rev. 3:14; 1 John 5:20; John 1:9; 15:1).
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;"
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."

The Authority of This Person is His Possession of the Key of David

"He that hath the key of David."

This is the way of describing that government has been committed into His hands. He possesses the authority (cf. Isa. 22:20-23). Christ possesses the key to Hades (Rev. 1:18). Christ possesses the keys to the kingdom (Matt. 16:19). (These keys were delegated by Christ to Peter.)
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:" "And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah." "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." "And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house."
"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Christ possesses the key of David as absolute authority. He works all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph. 1:11).
"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

In this case it has to do with a door of service (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12).
"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."
"For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,"

The Administration of this Person is with the Majesty of Sovereign Activity

"He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."

This is not describing His ability but His activity. He does have the ability. But this statement is describing the actual activity of His administration. He is opening and He is shutting, and no man is standing in His way.

The Philadelphia church was situated in the very center of corruption, and pagan forces were at work constantly threatening to overwhelm. But over against this was the encouraging fact that the True King in the majesty of His administration was opening and shutting at will, no human force withstanding.