THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM

“And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; he shall open and no one shall shut, he shall shut and no one shall open.”… Isaiah 22:22.

     The Key to the Kingdom of God is the 6th Kingdom Principle. The name e-li’-a-kim (‘elyaqim; Eliakim) means ‘God sets up’ or ‘whom God will raise up’ or ‘the resurrection of God’ of which apply to Jesus Christ. Eliakim was  the son of Hilkiah who succeeded Shebna as governor of the palace and ‘grand vizier’ under Hezekiah (Isaiah 22:20). The functions of his office are seen from the oracle of Isaiah in which Shebna is deposed and Eliakim set in his place (Isaiah 22:15). He is the ‘treasurer or steward’, and is ‘over the house’ (Isaiah 22:15).

     At his installation he is clothed with a robe [anointing upon] and girdle, the insignia of his office, and, having the government committed into his hand, is the ‘father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah’… Isaiah 22:21. The key of the house of David is laid on his shoulder, and he alone has power to open and shut, this being symbolic of his absolute authority as the king’s representative (Isaiah 22:22). He succeeded Shebna to become royal steward or prime minister for King Hezekiah of Judah, according to the Hebrew Bible. In the biblical account he is driven ‘like a peg’ or ‘like a nail’ into a firm place. Although he was later to be disposed, Jesus Christ would later take up this role. 

     Isaiah had predicted in chapter 9, verse 6 of his book, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the GOVERNMENT shall be laid upon His SHOULDERS...". Here in Isaiah 22:22, the KEY of the house of David will be laid upon HIS Shoulders. Whose shoulders? On whom 'God sets up' or 'whom God will raise up' or 'the resurrection of God'. This is why during Jesus' baptism, the HOLY SPIRIT in form of a dove, came down from Heaven, John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the SPIRIT descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart]"... John 1:32. The Gospels clearly tells us what is being placed on the shoulders... the Holy Spirit Who is the Key to and is the Government from the Kingdom of Heaven, the only Key given to the believer to be able to rule, govern, and have dominion on the colony earth, Genesis 1:26. The key of the house of David, then, represents God’s governance in His Kingdom and the Holy Spirit is that Key. He is the Government of Heaven on earth – He is the Governor in the Kingdom of God [the governing influence of the King on earth]. 

     The Holy Spirit is the Key to the Kingdom and because of Him, the Apostle Peter would consquently receive key(s) when he revealed Christ's role. You see, at this time when apostle Peter revealed who Jesus was, they were not yet born again, so they did not have the Key – the Holy Spirit. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16 verse 17 that, “… flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven”. So, Peter would only receive the keys at this point. These keys are the principles, precepts, laws and systems by which the Kingdom would functions. They had to learn the keys and apply them so that when they receive the ‘Key’ [the Holy Spirit] they would be able to appropriate the benefits and privileges of the Kingdom. Enabled by ‘the Key’, the saints are also able to bind and loose in agreement with the Kingdom of Heaven. 

     Then, Jesus Christ, choosing His apostles, He mentioned Peter first for a reason, “Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter…”… Matthew 10:2. Upon the revelation by God to Peter,  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus revealed to him his blueprint or road map, “And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros–a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra–a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church [ecclesia or assembly], and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]”… Matthew 16:18. Peter’s apostolic mandate was to the Jews just as Paul’s was to the Gentiles. All of Jesus’ apostles carry different mandates as revealed by Him and this tread has not abated. 

     On the morning of the 2nd June 2023, I had just woken up when I heard, "Peter". I had been wandering about the enormous responsibility the Lord has handled over to me. The revelation of Peter’s name to me was a commissioning to a similar responsibility. Just as the Lord had named Peter as a Gibraltar - a huge rock - and built on it His acclesia, He was revealing my blueprint or a foundation on which I would build - apostles lay  foundations according to the Lord's revelation. The foundation revealed to me by Christ is to prepare the Church for Rapture - upon this 'Rock' [the Christ, the Son of the Living God], the Holy Spirit is rebuilding His Church and Jezebel will not overcome it. Because it's not by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord. The Lord has anointed me with the ‘spirit and power of Elijah’ [a heralding spirit] as a forerunner. Therefore, it is by virtue of the Spirit within my apostolic mandate the Church will withstand the scheme of Jezebel. Stop right there because I know what you are thinking! 

     To be an apostle is not a glamorous call, neither is it a call to be a celebrity. Jesus’ brothers wanted Him to go show off His miracles at the Festival of Shelters. Like Jesus, it is a call to humility, brokenness, suffering, affliction, persecution, warfare, hardships, rejection and being greatly misunderstood. Apostles must be totally sold out for Jesus, dead to this world even the Church world and dead to the opinions of man. To be able to tell the world about Rapture and the preparations needed prior to His arrival, I have to close my ears to every other voice in and out of the Church and carry out the task Christ has given me… no matter what! I die daily! Thanks to ‘jezebel’. 

     Not only are the apostles crucified to the world but the world is crucified to them. So, with the above credentials, it’s very hard to emulate the apostolic grace. Many have gone out with the name ‘apostle’ at the beginning of their name and have no character to show for it. The apostle’s blueprint does not come on a silver platter, God has put us apostles on display like prisoners of war at the end of victor’s parade, condemned to die. We Have become a spectacle to the entire world, to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools; we are weak and always ridiculed. A relative told me to do business of selling eggs as a plan B, to earn a living since ministry was not forthcoming financially… really! 

     We hunger, thirst and don’t always have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten even with words, and have no home. Those whom the Lord has allowed to do a ‘side job’, they work wearily with their own hands to earn a living and many are the times they go hungry, they barely meet their basic needs. They bless those who curse them and forgive those who ‘hex’ them with witchcraft. They are patient with those who abuse them, they appeal gently when evil things are said about them. Yet they are treated like the world’s garbage, like everyone’s trash to the present moment [my emphasis] …1 Corinthians 4:9-11.

     Not only do apostles face hardships and dangers, they also carry daily concern for the churches, worrying that they are staying true to the Good News and free from false teachings and inner strife. For example, the focus of my apostolic covering is the burden of carrying the weight of the Bride of Christ: this is the responsibility I have for the people before God the Father. One of these days, I will stand before the Judge to give an account of this responsibility. Humanly speaking, it would be impossible without His presence and grace. 

     A prophecy was given to me by a Prophet who had zero information about me on 31st October, 2019. I had gone searching for a certain pastor but ended in the prophet's Church. When I entered, even before I spoke to him... he told me, "the Lord has given him a Word for me, Zechariah 3:6, 7 and Ezekiel 2:2-3:1; 33:32-33, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here. This prophecy came to pass on 15th May 2023. A dead man is a dangerous man. 

     I had a dream that by Christ precious grace, I was the last to lock the door… didn’t have a key for the lock. Therefore, after I lock at Rapture, Christ will receive His first fruit – Rapture saints. Apostle John wrote, “And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open”. The 'Key of David' represents Christ's authority to open the door into His future Kingdom. After the door is opened, no one can close - salvation is assured. Once it is closed, no one can open it - judgment is certain!

     Maranatha!