“Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut…” (Revelation 3:7-13, NASB)

Believe in the Word of God, and let’s charge the gates! The door to world evangelism is wide open, and no one can shut it. In today’s passage, the Lord told the church in Philadelphia,

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

If God opens the door of opportunity, no one can close it as long as he keeps it open. There are many ways that people apply this truth, but nothing is closer to reality than evangelism and missions. You can take this promise and apply it personally to your job, the school of your choice, finding a girl of your dream, a perfect house, or financial blessings. However, I believe the real reason the Lord gave this open-door promise is to encourage the church to be bold in her obedience to the Great Commission. Apostle Paul used the similar idea when he asked the Colossian church, “Pray at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ” (Col.4:3).

Although God has opened the door for world evangelism, the enemy is still bent on keeping the door shut in their stronghold areas. Yet we know that it will be a losing battle for them, for it will be impossible to keep the door shut. Jesus promised his church, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it” (Mt.16:18). There are many places where the enemy has shut the door tightly so that it appears impenetrable. Do you know any closed doors that seem impenetrable? Know that they are nothing more than deceptions to turn us away in fear. Believe in the Word of God and charge that gate! The city of Jericho was “tightly shut,” but it came crashing down at the shout of faith. Therefore, there are no cities, gates, walls, or doors that can keep the armies of the living God out! God has opened the door for us to every nation, every city, every culture, and every heart. He has put this open door before us, and no one can shut it.

On the other hand, there will come a time when God will shut this door, and when that happens, no one will be able to open it. The Lord promised the church in Philadelphia that he would keep them from the “hour of testing.” What could this possibly mean? It seems apparent that some terrible day of judgment is coming upon the whole world, and when it does, no one will be able to escape it. In that hour, God will close the door of salvation, and no one will be able to open it. Think of the picture of Noah’s ark when God kept it open for 120 years, but when the flood began and “the Lord closed it behind him” (Gen.7:16). As long as the door is open today, now is the time for salvation. Church, believe in the Word of God, and let’s charge the gates of the enemy!

• What do you think the words “open door” refer to?
• Do you believe that God has an open door opportunity for us today to preach the gospel?
• Who do you want God to save before He closes this door?