Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:7-13

Key Verse:

“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.”

Revelation 3:7

Across the street from my chiropractor’s office in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was Martin Tower, the former headquarters of Bethlehem Steel. The modern black skyscraper, shaped like a cross from a bird’s eye view, sat empty for years after the international company closed. The decision was made to implode the building. Early Sunday morning, a crowd gathered as close to the building as they could get and our family got up early to gather in front of YouTube to watch the implosion live. In just a couple seconds, the landmark was gone. Imploded. Lost in thick billows of gray dust.

Before the building was demolished, security guards took a look through the building to be sure that everyone was out. They wanted to make sure that no one was in the building so that they would not be destroyed in the rubble of the demolished building.

When Jesus describes Himself to the church of Philadelphia as the one holding the key of David, we remember Eliakin, King Hezekiah’s palace security guard. In Isaiah 22:22, the Lord says that Eliakin will have the key of the house of David.

As we dive further into the book of Revelation we will be bombarded by scenes of judgment. Believers in Jesus Christ do not need to fear any judgment for ourselves. We will be kept out of the judgment by our perfect security guard.

Instead of approaching the book of Revelation with fear, we can allow the portions of judgment to stir within us an urgency to share the good news of Jesus with our unbelieving family and friends. We can also be thankful to the Lord for His grace and mercy who has rescued us from the judgement to come.