[7] And to the angel of
the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he
that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
The holy one, the true one - Two great and glorious names
He that hath the key of David - A master of a family, or a prince, has
one or more keys, wherewith he can open and shut all the doors of his house
or palace. So had David a key, a token of right and sovereignty, which
was afterward adjudged to Eliakim, 22:22. Much more has Christ, the Son
of David, thekey of the spiritual city of David, the New Jerusalem; the
supreme right, power, and authority, as in his own house. He openeth this
to all that overcome, and none shutteth: he shutteth it against all the
fearful, and none openeth. Likewise when he openeth a door on earth for
his works or his servants, none can shut; and when he shutteth against
whatever would hurt or defile, none can open.
[8] I know thy works: behold,
I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast
a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
I have given before thee an opened door - To enter into
the joy of thy Lord; and, meantime, to go on unhindered in every good work.
Thou hast a little strength - But little outward human strength; a little,
poor, mean, despicable company. Yet thou hast kept my word - Both in judgment
and practice.
[9] Behold, I will make them
of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do
lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and
to know that I have loved thee.
Behold, I - who have all power; and they must then comply.
I will make them come and bow down before thy feet - Pay thee the lowest
homage. And know - At length, that all depends on my love, and that thou
hast a place therein. O how often does the judgment of the people turn
quite round, when the Lord looketh upon them! Job 42:7, &c.
[10] Because thou hast kept
the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience - The
word of Christ is indeed a word of patience. I also will keep thee - O
happy exemption from that spreading calamity! From the hour of temptation
- So that thou shalt not enter into temptation; but it shall pass over
thee. The hour denotes the short time of its continuance; that is, at any
one place. At every one it was very sharp, though short; wherein the great
tempter was not idle, Revelation 2:10.Which hour shall come upon the whole
earth - The whole Roman empire. It went over the Christians, and over the
Jews and heathens; though in a very different manner. This was the time
of the persecution under the seemingly virtuous emperor Trajan. The two
preceding persecutions were under those monsters, Nero and Domitian; but
Trajan was so admired for his goodness, and his persecution was of such
a nature, that it was a temptation indeed, and did throughly try them that
dwelt upon the earth.
[11] Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Thy crown - Which is ready for thee, if thou endure to
the end.
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