Key of David, what is it?
There are many things that can be said clearer as well as more "polished" and
logical in this study. However, it is not meant to be the final word on the subject, but
rather a work in progress
Too many Shepherd's Chapel students on the Internet
claim that Arnold Murray is God's chosen vessel, meaning that Arnold Murray
wears the "mantle of Elijah" as an End-Time prophet. Pastor Murray has never
claimed this status to my hearing it, nor has he even hinted that he felt
that he was anything prophetic biblically. One of these students on a Shepherd’s
Chapel based forum even had the guts [stupidity] to say (paraphrased):
"Pastor [Arnold] Murray teaches God's word chapter by chapter and verse by
verse. If you have a problem with what he [Arnold Murray] teaches, then take it
up with God!"
He, and some other forum members, believe
that everything that comes out of Pastor Arnold Murray's mouth is God's truth and
not to be questioned. If ignorance is blissful, then these people are already in
their own private paradise. These people believe that to disagree with
Arnold Murray is to disagree with God. How utterly ignorant of them!
It is not
important what men/women think of my stance regarding what the Bible says as
long as our Heavenly Father finds it pleasing in His sight.
I "call it like I
see it", but I am trying not to be a jerk about it ............ just
speaking it as I see it.
Jim
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Does the Key of David Contain reference to Kenites?
No.
Here is my explanation:
Where is this Key of David mentioned? It is found only in two places in the
Bible. Here is the first one:
Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so
he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. KJV
NOTES FROM COMPANION BIBLE VERSE 22:
open and...shut. Put by Fig. Metonymy
(of Adjunct), for power of administration. Cp. Rev. 3.
7, which shows that the fulfillment culminates in
Messiah.
COMPANION BIBLE Appendix 6, Figures of Speech:
Met-o'-ny-my; or, Change of Noun. When one name or noun is used instead of
another, to which it stands in a certain relation.
4. Of the Adjunct. When something pertaining to the subject is put for the
subject itself
And here is the second:
Revelation 3:7-11
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;
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.
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.
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.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown. KJV
.
NOTES FROM COMPANION BIBLE VERSE 7:
key of David. See Isa. 22. 22.
The Companion Bible notes for Isaiah 22:22 says “shows that the fulfilment
culminates in Messiah”.
Jesus is that fulfillment ………He is that Key!
Here is what I get from the Bible about this "key". Look at what is said in
Matthew 22:45, and I quote:
"45 If David then call him [Jesus] Lord, how is he his [David's] son?"
The answer to Jesus' question, as He asked it in this verse 45, is “the Key of
David". Let me explain what I mean:
Jesus is God come in the flesh through the "seed" (lineage) of King David.
Pastor Arnold Murray says that understanding the Kenite bloodline is part of the
Key of David issue. The Kenites are only one part of the content of the Bible.
BUT … nowhere are they given this particular status, biblically, as part of this
"Key of David". Nowhere!
The “Key of David is:
How He can be both the Son of David and the Son of God.
[NOTE: Some Shepherd's Chapel folks argue that the Kenites killed Christ as
shown in John 8:37 thru 44. They also say that the Kenites are mentioned in
Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 as the synagogue of Satan. These folks then conclude that
these two things make understanding who the Kenites are, as being essential to
understanding the Key of David. This is only their opinion and not biblical
fact.]
Look at each the following references to Jesus as the "Son of David". This will
give you a clearer picture, and a better understanding, of my position on the
term “Key of David” and what it means:
Matthew 9:27
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and
saying, Thou Son of David , have mercy on us.
Matthew 12:22-23
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he
healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David ?
Matthew 15:22
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto
him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David ; my daughter is
grievously vexed with a devil.
Matthew 20:30-34
30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that
Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David
.
31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but
they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David .
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall
do unto you?
33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately
their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Matthew 21:9-16
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna
to the Son of David : Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna
in the highest.
...
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did,
and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David ;
they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them,
Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast
perfected praise?
Matthew 22:41-46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son
of David .
43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine
enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day
forth ask him any more questions. KJV
These several examples clearly explain to me how Jesus is the Son of David AND
the Son of God which explains the “Key of David” in biblical terms.
Nowhere is the race of Kenites even hinted about concerning the Key of David.
Pastor Murray can say it is talking about Kenites, but the Bible doesn’t say
that.
Yes, the first prophesy in the Bible speaks of two seed lines:
Quoted from Companion Bible Condensed:
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and
between thy [Satan’s] seed and her Seed; Christ shall
bruise thy head [vital part], and thou shalt bruise His heel
[lower part]."
NOTES FROM COMPANION BIBLE ON THIS VERSE 15:
it. i.e. Christ. The corruption of this in the Vulgate into "she" lies at the
root of Mariolatry: the verb in sing. masc. shows that zer'a (seed) is here to
be taken in singular, with Sept., i.e. Christ; see note on Gen 17. 7; 21. 12,
and Gal. 3. 16.
head ... heel. See Ap. l9. No more literal than 1 Cor. 11. 8, or Ps. 41. 9, and
John 13. 18. They denote the temporary sufferings of the Seed, and the complete
destruction of Satan and his works (Heb. 2. 14. l John 3. 8). Heel = lower part.
Head = vital part.
This is the first great promise and prophecy.
I am supposing that this is the place in the Bible that Pastor Arnold Murray
concludes as pivotal and makes this his basis of the Kenite portion (seed of
Satan) in the Key of David issue. This is pure opinion not based on biblical
fact. There is no thing to tie this seed line into Christ’s position of
authority. I acknowledge that this seed line is mentioned here. What I am so
insistent about is accuracy in teaching God’s Word. The Key of David is the
answer to this question Jesus posed in Matthew 22:45:
"IF DAVID THEN CALL HIM LORD, HOW IS HE HIS SON?"
To further develop this documentation, I would like to add the following on this
Key of David thing:
FIRST OF ALL: In Acts 13, we are given a history leading to Christ's birth,
which fulfills that which was prophesied:
Acts 13:17-24
17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people
when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought
he them out of it.
18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the
wilderness.
19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided
their land to them by lot.
20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and
fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis,
a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king;
to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a
man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a
Saviour, Jesus:
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to
all the people of Israel KJV
SECONDLY: Then in Revelation 22 we are given that Christ is the "Living Water"
who is the "root and the offspring of David".
Revelation 22:12-17
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man
according as his work shall be.
...
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the root and the offspring of David , and the bright and morning
star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely. KJV
Those scriptures are necessary to understand better this opinion presented in
Adam Clarke's Commentary, below. It is not that I value his opinion above any
other opinion, but that this adds depth to what I have already presented here:
"Revelation 3:7 .... "He that hath the key of David" .... See this metaphor
explained, Matthew 16:19. Key is the emblem of authority and knowledge; the key
of David is the regal right or authority of David. David could shut or open the
kingdom of Israel to whom he pleased. He was not bound to leave the kingdom even
to his eldest son. He could choose whom he pleased to succeed him. The kingdom
of the Gospel, and the kingdom of heaven, are at the disposal of Christ. He can
shut against whom he will; he can open to whom he pleases. If he shuts, no man
can open; if he opens no man can shut. His determinations all stand fast, and
none can reverse them. This expression is an allusion to Isaiah 22:22, where the
prophet promises to Eliakim, under the symbol of the key of the house of David,
the government of the whole nation; i.e., all the power of the king, to be
executed by him as his deputy; but the words, as here applied to Christ, show
that He is absolute."
(quoted from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996,
2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
These are the verses used in the commentary above:
Matthew 16:15-21
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus
the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must
go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and
scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. KJV
Isaiah 22:22
22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall
open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. KJV
“…And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Here, again, was the definition given of possessing the “Key of David”.
That's it as I see it. The Bible says that to understand how Christ can be both
the Son of David and the Son of God is to hold the "Key of David".
I see that knowing how the Kenites played a role in the Bible is important to
understanding the Bible …… BUT …… I do NOT see that understanding the
Key-of-David as requiring knowledge/understanding of the Kenites in any way what
so ever, nor are the Kenites biblically tied into it in any way other than
Pastor Arnold Murray's saying that it is that way.
I have now gone full circle in this presentation. I conclude with this, which is
where I began at the top of this page:
Revelation 3:
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;
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. KJV
I wanted you to see that Jesus says that He (Jesus) has the Key of David. Allow
me to quote just that part of the verse:
"These things saith he (Jesus) that is holy, he (Jesus) that is true, he (Jesus)
that hath the key of David "
Do you see that this says "Jesus hath the key of David" (paraphrased)?
Here is what the Green's Interlinear Bible says in its translation, which should
make this clearer:
Revelation 3:
"7 ... These things says the Holy One, the True One, the One having the key of
David, the One opening, and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens;
8 I know your works. Behold, I have given you a door being opened before you,
and no one is able to shut it, for you have a little power and have kept My
word, and have not not denied My name."
The Bible tells us that Jesus possesses the Key of David, but this key is not
salvation as was suggested in a discussion I received by email.. We Christians
have the Gift of Salvation through Jesus the Christ. And yes, Jesus gave us that
Gift, but it is not proper, nor accurate to say that this "Key of David" is that
Gift.
This "key" is referring to Old Testament prophecy that through David would come
Emmanuel [God with us]. Take a look:
Isaiah 7:13-14
13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to
weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. KJV
Here is Mary's lineage:
Luke 3:23-38
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli [Mary's father, not
Joseph's father],
...
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of
Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
32 Which was the son of Jesse, ...
...
34 Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of
Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
...
38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of
Adam, which was the son of God. KJV
These verses show proof that Jesus was the "Son of David" through Mary.
============================================================
The main point that stands out is that He who possesses this Key of David" is
"the One opening, and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens". This One is God
who was born of Mary into flesh who conquered death. Knowing these facts gives
the explanation of the Key of David.
Knowing that Christ has given us salvation is not the Key of David, either.
Knowing Christ's genealogy through King David AND that He is the Son of God
(Immanuel: God with us) explains the Key of David.
Jesus gave us that question concerning the Key of David here [in verse 45
below],
and no one could give the answer. This IS the answer to "What [better said: Who]
is the Key of David?" as I stated in the previous paragraph.
Matthew 22:41-46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son
of David.
43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine
enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day
forth ask him any more questions. KJV
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS: “… And no man was able to answer him a word”.
Now you know that Jesus is that Key and that it is not any knowledge of Kenites
genealogy. In fact, the Key of David has nothing to do with the Kenites as found
in the Bible. This is just more opinion/traditions of man that compares to
stories like that of the “Left Behind” doctrine usually referred to as the
“Rapture of the Saints”.
Here is what Jesus said about the traditions of men:
Mark 7:6-7
6 He [Jesus] answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you
hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but
their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain [emptiness] do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.
KJV
………. teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
j_b@holyscriptures.com