The Key of David

Did you know that God has given us a key to unlock the greatest vision in the Bible? This key is a total mystery to the world. It is the key of David.

Why is this key sometimes discussed by religious people as a strange doctrine, even though it fills the Bible? The key of David will fill your life with a different way of thinking, understanding and trusting in God. It will fill your life with joy. That’s a promise from God.

“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; 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” (Revelation 3:7-8). I have a message to deliver, along with the rest of God’s Church. God says no man can shut our open door for preaching the key of David message. This is another powerful promise from God.

“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” (verse 10). During the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, the world will suffer horribly. God will smash the world powers that dare to fight Christ when He returns, filling the Valley of Jehoshaphat with their blood. That is what your Bible says will happen!

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (verse 11). In these dangerous times, we must hold on to our glorious future reward!

The biblical book of Chronicles (1 and 2 Chronicles should be just one book) also gets right to the heart of the key of David. Lange’s Commentary states, “The author of Chronicles confines his attention to David and the kingdom founded on the promise made to him in 2 Samuel 7,” where God promised David would always have a descendant to rule from his throne—all the way up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! This promise to David is the key of David.

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12-13). That’s an eternal promise!

Why do all the commentaries seem to talk only about the history in Chronicles? This book is full of everlasting prophecy. David’s throne is really God’s throne. God is opening His throne up to mankind to build His Family. All humans will be able to access that throne at one time or another, according to God’s perfect timing.

Why would the scribe Ezra write the entire book of Chronicles and confine it to the throne of David—eliminating the negative history? Because the throne of David is the heart of the key of David. You must follow the key of David to understand the greatest vision in the Bible!

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up” (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). God always keeps our focus on Jerusalem. Chronicles is actually a transition to the New Testament.

King Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild it, saying of any who wanted to join this hard mission, “[L]et him go up.” Jerusalem is located at elevation. Ernest Martin wrote about the above verses in An Outline of Design and Development of the Holy Scriptures: “Literally this is, of course, just part of the decree published by Cyrus calling on the Jews to return to Jerusalem, but it is in a canonical sense. These are the very last words of the Old Testament ….” The original order of the Old Testament does place Chronicles last.

Jerusalem had been destroyed by Babylon by 585 b.c. The Jews returning from captivity to rebuild the city, the temple and the wall no longer possessed David’s throne because the Prophet Jeremiah had transported it to Ireland by then. (Request our free book The United States and Britain in Prophecy for proof.)

That quote from Ernest Martin continues: “These are the very last words of the Old Testament, as in a manner to the question the New Testament opens with a response, ‘Jesus Christ, the son of David.’” Christ was a descendant of David and will rule from David’s throne!

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33). The Father will give the throne to His Son. This is a Family!

God and the Word became Father and Son to open up their Family not just to David’s son Solomon, but to all mankind if they want it! Everyone will have this great opportunity to fill their lives with happiness, joy and hope. This Family will last forever!

Let’s look some more at the key of David transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. John the Baptist met Jesus Christ and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Christ became a sacrificial Lamb! He died for all the world! He was beaten beyond recognition to pay for our physical sins, which cause sickness and death, then crucified to pay for our spiritual sins. He wipes out our sins and will continue to do so if we’re loyal to Him in repentance.

Again, in verse 36, John said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” True Christians keep the Passover each year to memorialize Christ’s death as our sacrificial Lamb. (Request our free booklet Pagan Holidays—or God’s Holy Days—Which? to learn more.)

“He [Andrew] first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” (verse 41). The Jews of Christ’s day were excited because they knew the Old Testament prophecies about a coming Messiah. They didn’t realize He would be a sacrificial Lamb the first time, then a King with real power to rule the world at His Second Coming. Jesus Christ’s return is now imminent!

We need to understand what Christ does. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (verse 1). Before being conceived and born as a human being, Christ was a God Being called the Word. God and the Word were not yet Father and Son. Christ became the Son when He became a human. He has been the Son ever since.

Now, Christ is opening up the God Family to everybody! Father, Son, Family! This is the true gospel, the good news of the coming Family of God!

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (verse 12). The truth is right there for anyone to read!

“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (verse 18). Christ passionately declared His Father. The gospel revolves around the Father, who gives Christ the throne of David.

We have to bring the Father into the picture. If we don’t get the Father, we don’t get the message. God’s rebellious people, the Laodiceans, are condemned for not honoring their Father (Malachi 1:6).

Toward the end of Mystery of the Ages, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:

Finally, even God the Father will come to this Earth. His throne over the whole universe will be established on this Earth.

Notice in 1 Corinthians 15:24, after speaking of the various resurrections, it is recorded: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”

In Revelation 21:3: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Christ will reign from David’s throne! He has already paid for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This verse is quoted often in the world, but who really understands it?

Mr. Armstrong continued:

And further in Revelation 22:3: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”

When it speaks of God and the Lamb, the Lamb represents Christ and God refers to the Father.

Finally the at-one-ment shall be completed. Both God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ in us and we united with them as the one great supreme God Family.

How wonderful beyond the ability of words to express is the glory of God and His wonderful purpose actually now in progress. Praise, honor and glory be to God and to Jesus Christ forever and forever.

With God’s great master plan of seven thousand years finally completed—the mystery of the ages finally revealed, and with the re-creating of the vast universe and eternity lying ahead, we come finally to

the beginning.

The key of David is a mystery to this world! Christ declared His Father and soon will open up the Father’s Family to the entire world!

Jesus Christ is “the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16). He is the root of David because He created all mankind at His Father’s instruction. He is the offspring of David because He is a physical descendant of David and will rule from David’s throne. He has already qualified to replace Satan and rule the Earth (Matthew 4:1-11).

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:19-20). How can we take these words lightly? We must be very careful.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7). All of this will happen exactly the way God says! He is zealous to fulfill His promise to David and transform the Earth and the universe forever. What hope this is for all of us!