The Key Of David
I just finished teaching at The Eagles’ Nest on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. There is a highlight in one of them – Philadelphia – where I wish to focus; the only church where no critique is given by Jesus. The other six churches received strong admonishments, with the directive to repent. Philadelphia, however does not receive one, but instead is told that “The One who holds the Key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and shuts, and no one will open…gives you an open door that no one can shut”. Instead of a rebuke, Jesus says that Philadelphia had “…a little power, has kept my Word and has not denied my Name.” Our Master then follows by giving insight into the truth of how to walk out these last days.
So what is the key of David, and what door was opened to the church at Philadelphia? Let’s start by going back to the book of Isaiah and look at an earlier prophetic reference. Isaiah 22:20-22 says, “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.“ Going back to Revelation In verse 9 of chapter 2, Jesus also comes against those who say they are Jews, but are of the synagogue of satan, further stating he will cause them to come and bow down at the feet of the leadership of the church in Philadelphia. We can see pictures here of the transference of divinely-placed authority, and the display of what it looks like in the natural.
In both Isaiah and in Revelation similar backstories occur. In Isaiah, Eliakim means “God will raise up”. What was happening here during that time, was that in Hezekiah’s reign, Shebna was the Chief of Staff of the palace, so to speak. Because of his pride, arrogance and lack of compassion, God sought to remove him and instill Eliakim in his place. The Father makes a point through the prophet to say that Eliakim will administrate with the heart of a father, he will carry the authority of the king, and God will signify this by the fact he will wear the royal robe and sash, because he is trustworthy. Fast-forward now to Revelation 3: because the church at Philadelphia was faithful in the “little power” it had, our Messiah was going to open a door that no one could shut. The fact that those who had usurped leadership unrighteously were going to end up coming to the feet of the leadership of the church of “Brotherly Love” parallels exactly what happened in Hezekiah’s palace. So then, what is the KEY?
I believe the Key we see here relates to two specific anointings: The King and Priest mantles (Authority and Worship; Government and Presence). Jesus had just finished telling John in Rev. 1:6 He has made us Kings and Priests, then two chapters later finds a church who actually functioned that way and He gives more authority and power to that church. See, David was allowed to operate in both anointings by the Father, when by the Mosaic ordinance he should not have been able to participate in priestly activities. For example, he ate the consecrated bread in 1 Samuel 21, and Jesus himself affirms this in Matthew 12. He also wore the priestly ephod while worshipping before the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus is called Son of David – meaning not just literally in the bloodline, but also in the lineage of authority (not at all diminishing His heavenly authority). God calls David a man after His own heart and David possessed the most authority of any king that ever existed in the nations of Israel and Judah. David placed his throne so that the portico of his palace would look upon the temple area – Then he could say, “early in the morning I rise and seek you, oh God…” because he was able to see the place of God’s presence.
So, let’s bring this home. How does this relate to you and I in our walk with God? First of all there were six churches (The Body of Christ) who thought they were doing pretty well in how they were functioning, when there was only one that truly was in right order. (and this church was described as having to face the hour of testing but had kept the “Word of His Perseverance”) That should give us a clue to the minority of the Body which may contain the Key of David.
God’s government is also important. True authority is respected and sought after and not demanded. We all need that apostolic fatherly authority in our lives as well as tight knitted relationships which we trust in the Spirit of God. We also need to be ones who practice the Presence of God. We need to be able to receive from those we are submitted to. We also need to be grounded where we are at and who God has placed around us. We need to be in community, submitting one to another and not simply living on the outside of relationships. Why is this so important? Verses 10-13 give us the answer: “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Practicing His presence – Worship (not just in a corporate setting) and His Kingdom government – (not man’s hierarchical structure, but servant leadership) are the focus to right order in the church at Philadelphia. That “little power” increases, to allow doors opened that no man can shut, representing God’s favor. Do you want to be named as a pillar in God’s temple? How about having God’s name written upon you, as well as the name of the New Jerusalem and Messiah’s New Name? Sounds pretty cool huh? All displayed through the church at the city of Brotherly Love. Let’s walk these days out together in His Kingdom with THAT kind of favor!
From an eagles’ view,
