Introduction:
The “Key of David” represents divine authority over God’s house and kingdom (Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7). In the Old Testament, Eliakim received it as a type of Christ’s greater authority to open and shut the way of salvation. Ultimately, Christ alone “has and is” the Key of David, for He is both the rightful heir to David’s throne and the One who governs access to God’s kingdom. Our connection with the Key lies in our union with Christ: through faith, obedience, and Present Truth, we enter the open door He has set before us. To be connected with the Key means to acknowledge Christ’s sole authority, follow His revealed truth, and remain faithful as citizens of His coming kingdom.
“Who Has and Is the Key of David: The Truth and Our Connection with the Key”
Isaiah 22:20–22 – Eliakim given “the key of the house of David” as a steward, symbolizing authority to open and shut.
Revelation 3:7 – Christ declares He has the Key of David, exercising ultimate authority.
Matthew 16:19 – Keys represent authority to bind and loose, access and restriction in God’s kingdom.
Insight: In the ancient Near East, keys were large and symbolic of exclusive authority over entry into a household or kingdom. The Key of David signifies Christ’s sovereignty over the Kingdom of God and the destiny of His people.
Eliakim as a Type
Faithful steward replacing unfaithful Shebna (Isaiah 22:15–25).
Points to a future antitypical steward with authority over God’s house.
Christ as the Antitype
He is the Son of David, heir of the throne (Luke 1:32–33).
He has the Key – authority over judgment, salvation, and the kingdom.
He is the Key – He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
SOP (Ellen White):
“The key of David represents the authority of the Saviour to open and shut.” (AA 578).
In the days of the apostles the Christian believers were filled with earnestness and enthusiasm. So untiringly did they labor for their Master that in a comparatively short time, notwithstanding fierce opposition, the gospel of the kingdom was sounded to all the inhabited parts of the earth. The zeal manifested at this time by the followers of Jesus has been recorded by the pen of inspiration for the encouragement of believers in every age. Of the church at Ephesus, which the Lord Jesus used as a symbol of the entire Christian church in the apostolic age, the faithful and true Witness declared: {AA 578.1}
"I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." Revelation 2:2, 3. {AA 578.2}
“Christ is the door, the key, the way into the fold.” When Jesus bowed on the banks of Jordan at his baptism, Heaven was opened to his prayer in behalf of humanity. The Spirit, in the form of a dove of burnished gold encircled his head, and a voice from Heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." What does this say to us? It says to every poor tempted soul, Heaven is opened to the prayers of humanity. Christ has encircled the fallen race with his human arm, and with his divine arm he has grasped the throne of the Infinite. Through the merit of Christ, Heaven is opened to man. "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." The gates are open, and the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines to man. The light of Heaven may shine upon you, as it shone upon him. {ST, July 15, 1889 par. 8}
Identifies Eliakim as type of Christ, and the transfer of the key as symbolic of Christ taking the reins in His own hands.
Christ holds the authority to open the work of the Loud Cry and to shut the door against unbelief and hypocrisy. (SRod, Vol. 2, p. 275; 1TG 8:24–26).
The Present Truth is the open door (2 Peter 1:12; Rev. 3:8).
Through the Key, Christ opens:
The Scriptures (Luke 24:27, 32).
The understanding of prophecy (Dan. 12:4, 9–10).
The way to the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 10:19–22; Rev. 11:19).
The Key shuts against:
False teachers, false prophets, and spiritual Babylon (Matt. 25:10–12).
The careless and unbelieving who reject Present Truth.
Faith and Obedience – Accepting Christ as the only way (Rev. 14:12).
Receiving Present Truth – Walking in the light opened by the Key (Prov. 4:18).
Membership in the Kingdom – Standing with the 144,000 sealed (Rev. 7:1–4), the first to enter under the authority of the Key.
Sharing the Truth – As stewards, we reflect the authority of the Key by giving the message of salvation to others (Isa. 22:22 applied to the church’s responsibility).
SOP:
“To all who receive Him, He gives power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12; DA 83).
“The opening of the door by Christ is the opening of truth to the world.” (RH, July 9, 1908).
SRod:
The Key connects the church to the Davidic Kingdom, which must be established before Christ’s visible return.
The faithful DSDA believers today are being prepared to be subjects of that kingdom. (SRod, Vol. 2, pp. 268–273; 1TG 8:25).
The Key of David is Christ’s unchallengeable authority to open the way of life and close the way of death.
To be connected with the Key is to be in harmony with Christ’s Present Truth message, His work of separation (Ezek. 9; Matt. 25:31–33), and His soon-coming kingdom.
The solemn reality: once the door is shut, no man can open (Rev. 3:7). Our connection must be secure now.
✅ Summary Statement:
Christ has and is the Key of David. He alone holds the authority over God’s house, salvation, and kingdom. Eliakim prefigured Him, but the reality is Christ, who today opens the Scriptures, prophecy, and the way into His kingdom. Our connection with the Key depends on faith, obedience, and embracing Present Truth, so that when the door is shut, we may be found within.