The Key of David | Understanding Authority to Open and Shut Doors
The phrase “ the key of David” in Revelation 3:7-8 is revelatory and rooted in biblical truth and understanding that speaks of divine authority and sovereignty given to Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah.
In Him, we have the authority to apply the Key of David!
As heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), we have…
- Authority over all powers of the enemy (Luke 9:1, 10:19)
- Been seated with Him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
- God’s armor to protect us in the battle (Ephesians 6:10-18)
- Covenant rights and responsibility to call Heaven to earth (Matthew 6:10, John 14:13-14)
All this and more are given to us because of Jesus. It is up to us to exercise the authority given to us, to take up the Key of David, unlock our Kingdom destinies, and to open and close the doors God tells us to.
Prophetic Significance of the Key of David
1. Responsibility and Godly Character
The phrase “the key of David” appears in Isaiah 22:22 and is given to Eliakim, a royal steward in King Hezekiah’s court. It says:
- “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open.”
The Key of David was given first to Shebna, a royal steward, but he lost it due to his pride, corruption, and irresponsibility. He lacked the godly character needed to carry it. Therefore, he was replaced by Eliakim, whom God raised up (which is the meaning of his name), and was entrusted with the key.
Eliakim is a prophetic picture of the Messiah. Shebna led with corrupted authority, so the office was taken from him and given to another. Eliakim, entrusted with the role, was “raised up” by God to fulfill the office, just as Yeshua was “raised up” and will rule and reign for eternity.
In the New Testament, Jesus applies the Key of David to Himself in Revelation 3:7, speaking to the church in Philadelphia:
- “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David…”
Jesus is the rightful heir to David’s throne (see Luke 1:32-33) and is entrusted with divine authority over God’s Kingdom.
2. Authority Over Spiritual Access
In Revelation 3:7–8, Jesus’ Key of David represents His complete power to grant or deny access in the physical and spiritual realm:
- Open doors: represent opportunities, salvation, fellowship with God, and Kingdom mission work. Christ opens doors that no human or spiritual force can close.
- Shut doors: represent finality in judgment or closed opportunities, both in the spiritual and the physical, relating to accessing the throne of God or partaking in His promises.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He alone is the way to the Father. He is the One who allows doors to be open or shut. And in Him is truth (1 John 5:20).
3. Sovereignty Over Salvation and Judgment
The Key of David speaks of Jesus’ sovereign control over salvation—He alone admits people into God’s Kingdom and saves them. No one can overrule His decisions. He does not lie or change His mind (Numbers 23:19), yet He is gracious, merciful, and patient.
- He opens the door of salvation to Believers.
- He shuts it against those who reject Him (see Matthew 25:10–12 and the parable of the ten virgins).
There will be no end to Jesus’ reign over His Kingdom (Luke 1:33). Jesus said to Peter, “On this rock I will build My church, and hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
The “keys of the kingdom of heaven” are divine authority to govern the church on earth. This “key” is connected to binding and loosening, a familiar Jewish law expression referring to the authority to make legal decisions, declaring what is permitted or forbidden according to God’s will.
It is our call and responsibility to discern God’s will and enforce it in the Body of Christ and against the powers of the enemy.
4. Application for the Bride of Messiah/Church
In Revelation 3:8, Jesus tells the church in Philadelphia:
“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
This was both a comfort and a promise:
- Their faithfulness was being honored.
- They were given divinely ordained opportunities to share the gospel and advance and grow the Kingdom.
- No opposition—from people or powers—could hinder what Jesus had granted.
This is the same comfort and promise for us today. We must step under God’s wing of protection and take up our position as co-heirs with Jesus to rule and reign, bringing Heaven to earth, according to His will and purpose!
But we must be under His wing—in alignment and the abiding place—to activate our authority in a way that honors God and not ourselves.
The Tallit | The Secret Place of Authority and Prayer
When it comes to authority, we must understand it is given to us because of Christ in us—our covenant relationship with Him, where we meet with the Most High in the secret place, abiding under His shadow in communion and prayer.
- He gave us His robe of righteousness, allowing us to stand before Him, reconciled, accepted, and justified (Isaiah 61:10).
- He gave us His full armor to protect us and fight spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:12-19).
- He gave us His garments. He clothed us in Him, and we are to put Him on (Romans 13:14).
- He gave us power to heal, speak life, bless, and restore all the enemy seeks to take (Luke 10:19).
The Bible says we must walk and clothe ourselves in humility to have authority. To be clear, the tallit itself doesn’t give us authority; rather, it is the revelation of it in the spiritual realm—the revelation of Christ’s power, authority, and covering.
When we understand the power the tallit represents (Did you know the story of the woman with the issue of blood being healed is connected to the tallit?), we understand that same power speaks in the heavenlies and wars for breakthrough!
Biblical Symbolism
The term tallit derives from the Hebrew words tal (tent) and ith (little), symbolizing a “little tent” or personal sanctuary for communion with God during worship and prayer. This echoes the biblical “Tent of Meeting,” a sacred space—the secret dwelling place of the Most High—where the Israelites encountered the presence of God.
The tallit is a physical representation of this intimate spiritual connection, creating a “secret dwelling place, shelter, and abiding place” (see Psalm 91) for worship, warfare prayers, and intimacy with the Lord.
Biblical Instruction
The tallit is linked to scriptural instructions found in Numbers 15:38 and Deuteronomy 22:12, where God commands the Israelites to attach fringes (tzitzit) to the corners of their garments. These fringes serve as reminders of God’s commandments and the covenant between God and His people.
Biblical Application
Traditionally, the tallit is associated with the Jewish people. However, Believers can also use the tallit as a tool to deepen their prayer life and covenant connection with the Lord.
By putting on the tallit, you can create a focused atmosphere for worship, aligning yourself with the biblical practice of seeking God’s presence in your secret place.
The Tallit and the Key of David
The revelation of the tallit is the key for the Body of Messiah to release heavenly power upon the Earth. The tallit represents the key—the Key of David.
It is the key that opens and shuts heavenly doors. Those who operate according to Heaven’s wisdom, authority, and government—not Earth’s—hold this key.
Laying the Key of David upon your shoulders means you operate out of the King’s…
- Government
- Dominion
- Laws
- Purpose
- Majesty
- Love
- Identity
- Power
- Authority
Wearing the tallit proclaims in the heavenly courts… “The Lord rules over every issue in my life—private and public. I proclaim that my seed will follow after Him. His name drapes over the gates in my life and my identity, giving me the ability to multiply after Him.”
The Takeaway
The “key of David” in Revelation 3:7–8 represents Jesus Messiah’s divine right to rule, His absolute authority over the gates to the Kingdom, and His irrevocable decisions regarding salvation, judgment, and spiritual blessings. It assures Believers of His power to open doors no one can shut and to protect what He has sovereignly ordained.
The tallit is prophetically linked to the Key of David:
- It represents operating under God’s Kingdom—His government, dominion, and law.
- Wearing it is a prophetic declaration of submission to God’s authority and a reminder of one’s identity and power in Christ.
- It reflects a legal and spiritual proclamation: that Jesus reigns over every area of your life and that His name and legacy are etched into your identity, Kingdom purpose, and legacy.
May we, the Bride of Yeshua, exercise our authority wisely as we align with Him in these last days!