Go Through Open Doors Series

Go Through Open Doors

Revelation 3:7-13

Rev. Brian Bill

March 14-15, 2026

When Hudson Taylor first sensed a call to China in the 1800s, almost everyone told him the same thing: “China is closed.” Taylor persisted, believing that if God was calling him to go, He would open the door. With very little money or support, he obeyed and sailed to China. Over time, doors began opening all over China and many started coming to Christ.

By the time of Hudson Taylor’s death in 1905, the China Inland Mission had grown into a massive ministry with 825 missionaries, over 300 mission stations, and more than 25,000 baptized converts. Some reports indicate that during his lifetime, over 125,000 Chinese came to know Christ. Today, largely because of the foundation laid by Taylor, there is an estimated 100 million or more Christians in China.

The door that once seemed closed began to swing wide open. All because one man decided to walk through one open door. That is exactly what Jesus promises in Revelation 3:8: “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.”

The lesson is clear: Jesus opens doors for those who obey Him.

Let’s begin in the first part of verse 7: “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…” As we’ve established previously, the “angel” is either an actual angel assigned to the church, or it’s a reference to the pastor of the church. The church in Philadelphia, along with the church in Smyrna, are the only churches which did not receive any correction from Christ. This is a huge contrast with the church at Sardis which was pronounced dead by Jesus.

Philadelphia was a small city, located 30 miles from Sardis. It was nestled in a fertile valley famous for its agricultural products, especially its vineyards. Their patron deity was Dionysius (or Bacchus), the god of wine. The city was affluent but was afflicted with huge earthquakes. Because of its strategic location along several important trade routes, it became known as the “Gateway to the East.” Philadelphia viewed its mission as bringing Greek language and culture to the lands around it.

1. The Person who holds the key. As we’ve see in our study, Jesus introduces Himself to each church with a description reflecting His character. We see this in the second half of verse 7: “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.”

• The holy one. The Old Testament repeatedly describes God as the Holy One as we read in Isaiah 40:25: “To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.” When Jesus called Himself the Holy One, He was making a direct claim to be God. We see this in multiple passages in the New Testament as well. Even the demons knew who Jesus was according to Mark 1:24: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Another example is Peter’s confession of faith in John 6:69: “And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

• The true one. This word for “true” means, “genuine, authentic, and real.” It also means “faithful” and “trustworthy.” Truth is combined with holiness to describe God five times in Revelation, including 6:10: “They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

• Has the key of David. A “key” in Scripture represents authority. Whoever has a key has complete control. The “key of David” links Jesus to the fulfillment of prophecy. This title also appears in Isaiah 22:22, where it refers to Eliakim, who served as the chief of staff to Israel’s king, and also served as a type of Christ: “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David…” In ancient royal courts, large golden keys were worn on the shoulder of the gatekeeper. One of his jobs was to control access to the king by opening and closing doors. Jesus fully fulfilled this prophecy along with Isaiah 9:6: “…And the government shall be upon His shoulder…”

• Who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. This phrase comes from the second half of Isaiah 22:22: “He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” This description stresses the absolute power of Christ as He alone has the power to admit and exclude. I think of Matthew 25:10 where Jesus calls Himself the bridegroom who one day will say it’s too late to enter: “and the door was shut.” One commentator captured it will: “No one can shut the door to the kingdom or to blessing if He holds it open. No one can force it open if He holds it shut.”