Revelation 3:7-13

It's quite somethin to lock yourself out or in. But it's far more extreme to be locked out or welcomed in by someone else. They sense of betrayal and of benevolence is almost overwhelming sometimes.

Jesus used the symbols of being open and shut in when He talked to the church in Philadelphia.

Jesus described Himself as someone who hold the Key of David. Someone who when they close & open things they remain that way. This image is taken from Isaiah 22 which describes the key holder of the royal palace. Jesus is making the point that He has all the power of the royal palace, the king. He is the one who grants and denies access to the place that God dwells. Jesus is the only one who can give us access to God.

The believers in Philadelphia were not treated well. They were a minority and Jesus' welcome meant everything to them. None of their opponents could undo what Jesus had done for them.

Some of the people against them were the Jewish leaders in the Synagogue. Being pushed out by the Jews made them very vulnerable, but Jesus' welcome meant they could feel welcome and accepted and safe. The Jews were not the ones who controlled access to God. Jesus may have sounded harsh about them but He is making clear that those who truly believe the God of Israel were those who followed Jesus. To reject Jesus is to reject God and follow evil.

Those who follow Jesus have a permanent place and part of the temple of God. The temple that is His kingdom and presence. No-one can bar them because they belong to Jesus. The names being written on them is like a seal of ownership and belonging.

The challenges in our walk are and will be real. Jesus is encouraging them that even though they feel weak and feeble that we can cling to Him so that God's power can be made real in our weakness.