Three Doors

by Hope, A. M. | Category: General | Nov 1967

There are three doors mentioned in the early chapters of the book of Revelation.

At the time of John's exile to Patmos he would probably be the only surviving apostle. He must have felt anxious, for only seven churches remained in Asia. Many disciples had been drawn away from the Lord and were following men who were teaching things contrary to the apostles' doctrine. John, who had a concern and care for these churches and who had shared in their development and growth, would feel the weight of the message of the Lord to each one of them.

Ephesus had left her first love,

Sardis was dead,

Laodicea was tepid,

Pergamum and Thyatira held wrong teaching.

Following this account of failure and declension, we read in Revelation 4.1 that

"A DOOR OPENED IN HEAVEN".

Words fail to convey adequately what John saw in heaven-the rainbow-circled throne, the One sitting upon the throne, the Lamb standing in the midst of the throne, the four and twenty thrones round about, and so on. Heaven's opened door was the Lord's answer to the beloved John when he was burdened with anxiety in the loneliness of Patmos.

The Lord Jesus describes Himself to the church in Philadelphia as the One who holds the key of David. As such, He is vested with all authority. When He opens or shuts, none can stay His hand. This assembly with only a little power had proved faithful to His word and to His name. His message to that church (Revelation 3.7-13) contains the words "I have set before thee

A DOOR OPENED, WHICH NONE CAN SHUT".

This was not a great door and effectual such as was opened to Paul when the churches were at the heyday of expansion, but none the less it was a door. How does the Lord open a door for an assembly? Paul wrote, "Pray... that God may open unto us a door for the word" (Colossians 4.3), and after Paul and Barnabas had completed their journey to Pisidia and Lycaonia, they returned to Jerusalem and declared all that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14.27). Therefore, an opened door for an assembly is something to pray for and, moreover, it is essential for us to work in partnership with the Lord.

The Lord Jesus concludes His message to the church in Laodicea with the words, "Behold, I stand

AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK:

if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3.20).

The Lord's purpose to have a collective people had not altered, although at that time He was about to disown the church in Laodicea. They had become lukewarm and had forsaken Him. They were occupied with "things" when they should have been occupied with Him. Perhaps the words of the hymn apply here:

Room for pleasure, room for business,

But for Christ the Crucified,

Not a place that He can enter

In the heart for which He died.

So the Lord stands, and with infinite patience knocks to seek a place in the heart of each one in the assembly. Are they aware of Him? His own hear His voice, indeed they must hear and open the door of their hearts before they can enjoy fellowship with Him. They must open the door!

When lonely and discouraged because of the way, let us look inside heaven's opened door.

Assemblies may have only "a little power" but the Lord still presents us with an open door. The secret is fellowship with Him in prayer and service. This must come before we can enjoy blessing.

Finally, we all need our eyes opening to see "Jesus only" and to "hear Him"- He is knocking at the door of our hearts.

Hope, A. M. | Nov 1967
General