Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 3:8

"I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name." — Revelation 3:8 (ASV)

Here the knowledge of the speaker and his verdict blend together in untarnished praise as in the letter to Smyrna. An awkward part of this verse is the interjection, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Since Christ has absolute authority from the Father, he has opened a door for the Philadelphians that even their enemies cannot close. But an open door to what? It most likely refers to Christ’s opening the door to his kingdom for those who love him, thus reinforcing the statement in v.7. What became a serious problem at Sardis (v.3) was not the case with the Philadelphian congregation, for the risen Christ said, “You have kept my word.” They had been faithful to the Gospel and the apostles’ teaching even during the trial of their faith—they “have not denied my name.”