The Key of David

These days one can take a tour of the seven churches of Revelation. The tour lasts seven nights and eight days and includes Istanbul's St. Sophia Church and several Mosques, as well as a "romantic ferry ride along the Bosphorus." In this blog, however, we are taking a spiritual tour of the churches to learn what the Holy Spirit has to say to the churches of our day. Today's tour is of the church in Philadelphia.

The Ancient City of Philadelphia

"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. "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' - Rev 3:7-13 ESV

The one writing "has the key of David." This is a reference to the prophecy of Isaiah about Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah. He replaced Shebna, the comptroller or governor of King Hezekiah's palace. Sheba foolishly favored an alliance with Egypt against Assyria. As the one receiving the "key of David" Eliakim had the power to open and shut, a symbol of his absolute authority as the king's representative (Isa. 22:15-22). Later, when the Assyrian army was sent against Jerusalem in 701 Eliakim was one of the princes who parlayed with the Assyrian officers (2 Ki 18:18-19:37; Isa 36:3-22). He was sent by King Hezekiah to relay the Assyrian threats and to entreat Isaiah's prayers to the LORD on behalf of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah. Ultimately Sennacherib's army of 185,000 was destroyed by the LORD Jesus, the Angel of the LORD, and Sennacherib was murdered by his own sons (2 Ki 19:35-37).

The LORD Jesus, the Angel of the LORD, descended from David through the Virgin Mary (Luk 1:31-35; 2:7-11; Matt 1:19-25), and also the Son of God, is the almighty One with the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18). To Him belong the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, the keys that unlock or lock the gates leading to heaven and eternal life (Matt 16:19; 18:18; John 20:23). He and He alone has the authority to forgive sins and to welcome His disciples to the eternal palace of the King.

The Philadelphian Christians kept Jesus' word and did not deny His name. They were persecuted by Judaizers, those who would rob them of their faith in Christ and His sacrifice. Once again the false Jews are labeled "the synagogue of Satan" (Rev 2:9) and once again they are called liars who say they are Jews, but are not.

Hold fast, says the Spirit. Don't let anyone seize your crown (2 Tim 2:5; 4:8; 1 Co 9:25). The word for crown is stephanos, the wreath-crown received in athletic contests, a word familiar to Philadelphians since it was famous for such games. Jesus' brother James offers similar encouragement as he writes,

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. - Jas 1:12 ESV

The Philadelphians held fast. They did not let go of their faith in Christ. Their reward awaited them. They were to become eternal pillars in the temple of God (Jer 1:18; Gal 2:9).  Even in this age God has raised up a temple of living stones, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). Again and again the apostles reminded believers that the old temple in Jerusalem has been replaced by a new, living, spiritual house.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." - Isa 28:16; 1Pe 2:4-6 ESV

What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - Lev 26:12; 2Co 6:15-16 ESV 

So all believers in Christ rejoice that they share the same promises. They have the name of God. the name of Jesus, the name into which they are baptized. This was the commission Jesus gave to His apostles as He left them.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Mat 28:19 ESV

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. - Rom 6:3-5 ESV

What a wonder! What a joy! Buried with Christ. Risen with Christ. Eternal stones, even pillars in the Temple of God. Children of God, bearing His name. The Bride of Christ, wed to Him forever and eternally sharing His name. These are the promises given to the believers in Philadelphia, the promises shared by all who have died with Christ and risen again with Him to eternal life.

The Mystery of Lawlessness

Its all over and you missed it! That's what some of the Jews were saying to the new congregation in Thessalonica when the Apostle Paul heard from them. And they were nearly in despair. Is it really so? Did Jesus already come to take His chosen ones with Him to heaven—and we weren't in that crowd? Have we nothing but death and darkness before us now? Please, Paul, please tell us it isn't so.

So the Apostle responds:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. - 2Th 2:1-2 ESV

Somebody was really being deceptive. They had written a letter as if it were from the great Apostle himself. And in that letter was a statement about the day of the Lord. It came. You weren't chosen. So Paul continues,

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. - 2Th 2:3-6 ESV 

OK. Thank you Paul, but that still leaves a bunch of questions. Who is this man of lawlessness, this son of destruction? And what temple of God are you talking about? Yes, now that you mention it, we do indeed remember you telling us about these things when you were with us, but we'd like some further clarification.

We read on,

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. - 2Th 2:7-10 ESV

Whenever you read the word mystery in Paul's writings you realize that this is something unknown to the unbelieving world. Believers know about it only because God's Spirit reveals it to them. So Jesus says to His disciples who wondered why he spoke to them in parables,

"To you it has been given to know the secrets (mysteries) of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. - Mat 13:11-13 ESV

Again Paul writes of himself and the other Apostles,

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. - 1Cr 4:1-2 ESV

So when we read about the mystery of lawlessness we must understand that this is insider information, known only to those in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells and to whom the Spirit speaks.

OK, so what is lawlessness? Basically it is what has been going on all through the years since the coming of Christ. Men everywhere ignore and mock God's laws, God's ethics and morals, God's way of life. We see it going on today, for instance, in the way that marriage is being completely redefined, especially here in the United States. We see it in the way that human life is being mocked and murder is made legitimate, a right guaranteed by the American constitution and Supreme Court. I speak, of course, about the millions of infants murdered every year through abortion. The Lord Jesus spoke about this when he taught us what to expect from the mouths of false prophets in the last days.

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. - Mat 24:11-13 ESV

It can get worse, warns the Apostle, but the Lord restrains it. Behind it all is the lawless one who has yet to be revealed. And who is that? More about that one in my next post. 

God's Kingdom Comes Without Our Prayer

In his Small Catechism's teaching on the Lord's Prayer Martin Luther writes,

The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

What is the kingdom of God or of heaven? The term occurs in all four Gospels, Acts, Paul's epistles and in the Revelation. Here are the references just in Matthew:

• Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 10, 19-20, 6:33, 7:21, 8:11, 10:7, 11:11, 12:28,  13:24,31,33,44-45,47,52, 16:19, 18:3-4,23, 19:12,14,23-24, 20:1-2, 21:31, 21:43, 22:2, 23:13, 25:1. 

Obviously kingdom of God is a primary theme in the New Testament. The foremost meaning of the terms translated as kingdom in both Testaments is the rank, authority and power exercised by a king. The kingdom includes both the realm or territory and  the people who belong to that realm and over whom the king has authority. The principal meaning, however, is always the authority to rule. The king is sovereign. He has the power. 

Satan, as Matthew shows, knew from the outset that Jesus had this power. This is why he attacked Jesus in the wilderness. 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 

Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" - Mat 4:8-10 ESV

Satan laid claim to the kingdoms of the world. Despite his rebellion, he is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), blindly worshipped by the people of the world and under his control. Jesus came to de-throne this false god. Satan's demons know about this. When Jesus drove them out of the two Gadarenes the demons cried,

"What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" - Mat 8:29 ESV

The demons shudder in fear. The King has come; judgment awaits (James 2:19; Jude 1:6).

On some level the unbelieving people of the world also know this. Notice the constant mockery of our LORD's name by them. Listen as they cry out or curse, "God damn you! Jesus Christ!" Even in this back-handed way they are acknowledging His authority and power. The King has come. He has arrived to set His people free. And this is all His doing. As Luther said, "The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer."

The point Luther made was that none of us are able to usher in the kingdom. The initiative was and remains God's doing. As John so beautifully teaches us,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - Jhn 3:16 ESV

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ... We love because he first loved us. - 1Jo 4:9-10, 19 ESV

If this is all God's doing through His only Son, why pray, "Your kingdom come?" We'll look at that tomorrow as we consider in more detail how the kingdom comes and how the king continues his gracious rule in our lives.

Building On The Right Foundation.

What happens if you don't build properly? Here's a cartoon by Ed Stein I found in the December 12, 2008 issue of Rocky Mountain News that illustrates my point. Stein is illustrating the failures of the American auto industry and their desire to receive bailout money from Washington. In their case it seems they needed to rebuild and restructure their business practices in the light of the ever-changing world economy. Failing to do that, they faced collapse. Views on this issue abound.

Here's what Jesus says,

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." - Mat 7:24-27 ESV

This is what the church has always taught. We must both hear and do the Word of our Lord Christ. Any individual, any church, any church body that fails to do that sets himself/herself up for failure. And the ultimate failure will come when the foundation is tested at the end of this age. In the verses just prior to those quoted, Jesus says,

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' - Mat 7:21-23 ESV

Who is a worker of lawlessness? And what is Jesus getting at? Just this. Everyone knows, in some sense, right from wrong. We come packaged that way. It is in our hearts. We know we are to love and worship God alone. We know we are to love and care for those around us.

But what is also in our hearts is the overwhelming desire to do it my way! and ignore our obligations to love and serve the Lord with all our heart, mind and will. Our natural focus is upon ME! That's called sin. When we hear God's Law revealed in Holy Scripture that sense of sin is deepened and sharpened even more. The primary purpose of God's Law is to reveal our hopeless condition. We are sinners and under judgment. There is no way out.

It is at that point that Jesus comes to us to tell us that He has carried the full weight of our sin in His body on the cross. "Give up on yourself!" He says. "I've already laid a new foundation for your life. Put your faith and your entire trust on Me! And then you will never need to be afraid and guilty again. From this point on, your life is built upon the Rock!"

This is why we are so very, very concerned about the correct teaching of God's Word. Anything taught, said or done that draws us away from that foundation must be rejected and denounced. This is why we will tell you not to commune at the Lord's Supper when we serve it in our public worship services. We insist that you hear us out first. We need to explain in detail why this central, vital, and overwhelmingly important teaching about Jesus Christ is critical. When you hear us out and agree, then we all know we are building together on the one and only foundation. Then we hold hands and kneel before our Lord and Master together. And we rejoice together as we hear Him say,

"Take and eat. Take and drink. This is My body and My Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. Go in peace and serve Me!"