Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Philadelphia's Open Door - Does It Apply to Individual Members?

Christ promises an open door to Philadelphia. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name' " (Revelation 3:7-8).

Does this promise apply only to organizations or to individual members of the Church of God who are Philadelphian in character? And if it applies to Philadelphians as individual members as well as to a Philadelphian organization, how does it apply? What is the "open door" anyway? What is it an open door to?

Do we as individual members have a personal connection with the promise of the open door given to Philadelphia, or is it just for leaders and ministers in an organization?

The term "open door", by itself, can mean a lot of things. It is easy to use that term to express any number of ideas - ideas of opportunity of one kind or another. I can say I have an "open door" to finding a better job, buying a house, etc. It can be used by Church of God speakers to illustrate our opportunity to overcome sin, to grow closer to God, to develop the character of Jesus Christ, etc. But to know what is meant by an "open door" in the Bible, particularly in Revelation 3:8, we should search the scriptures to see how the Bible defines the term. The Bible defines its own symbols. And an "open door", as used in Revelation 3:8, is a symbol, a metaphor. It is not a physical door made of wood on physical hinges in a physical frame. It is symbolic of something, and we can expect that the Bible, in other places, will define the symbol so we know what Christ means by it.

As Mr. Armstrong said, we should let the Bible interpret the Bible. Particularly, we should let the Bible define its own symbols, its own metaphors, and not insert our own meaning into a symbol that is different from what the Bible uses to define the term when the Bible does define the term elsewhere.

It is also an important principle of Bible study to get all the possible scriptures that may apply to a subject, not just a few selected scriptues to support one particular point of view or opinion. We are to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4).

With these principles in mind, let's see if we can find elsewhere in the Bible what "open door" in Revelation 3:8 means. I did a search on the word "door" in the Bible to see what the Bible says about the "open door" metaphor. I used a Bible software program to search for that term, specifically, Nelson eBible. You can use any software program that lets you search for a particular word or phrase, or you can use Strong's Concordance if you do not have a computer. I searched for "door" rather than "open door" because the concept of an open door can be expressed with more than one phrase, such as "open door", "pray that God will open a door", etc. The word "open" might not be immediately next to "door", yet the meaning might be there. So to make my study complete, I looked up every verse with the word "door" in it.

I found more than 200 occurrences of "door" in the Bible. Most of the usages of the word "door" refer to literal, physical doors, but some are symbolic. I have included the complete list at the end of this post for reference for those who are interested. This can serve as an example to illustrate the application of the principles of letting the Bible interpret the Bible and getting all the scriptures on a subject.

I found 29 verses with the word "door" that seems to be used in a symbolic way. Most of these could not apply to the promise of an open door to Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8. For example, several verses refer to something being, "at the door" to show that it is near or will happen soon, such as Genesis 4:7 and Matthew 24:33. Job 38:17 refers to the "doors of the shadow of death". Psalm 78:23 refers to the "doors of heaven" for rain. Those are just examples.

But there are a few that might apply to the Church in some way, and I will examine those now to see if they can apply to the open door promised to Philadelphia.

Proverbs 8:34: "Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." The "me", the one speaking, is wisdom personified. Verse 1 says: "Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?" Possibly, this could refer to a door to wisdom open to the Church of God.

John 10:7 and John 10:9 represent Christ as a door to the sheep. "Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:7-9). This represents Christ as a door for the Church to be saved.

Acts 14:27 represents a door of faith. "Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). If faith can be represented as a door, then that door has been opened for the Church.

There are three passages in the epistles of Paul that refer to an open door for doing God's work and preaching the gospel. "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Corinthians 16:9). "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord" (2 Corinthians 2:12). "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak" (Colossians 4:3). Paul is consistent in the way he uses the metaphor of the "open door", using it to refer to God's work that Paul was to do.

Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." This represents Christ as knocking on a door, wanting to enter, and is in a specific message for Laodiceans.

Revelation 4:1: "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.' " This seems to be an open door for John to enter in vision to see what God has revealed.

Which of these applies to the promise to Philadelphia of an open door in Revelation 3:8? Which of these can show us what the open door for Philadelphia represents?

The door in Revelation 3:20 in the message to the Laodiceans cannot be the open door in the message to Philadelphia. The open door for Philadelphia is a door that Christ opens and no man can shut. The door in the message to the Laodiceans is a door that Christ knocks on and must be opened by the Laodiceans.

The door standing open in heaven in Revelation 4:1 seems to be a door to the revelation given to John for the whole Church. John goes through that door in a vision to learn what is revealed to him and that information is written in the book of Revelation for the whole Church of God. It is not particular just to Philadelphia. What is revealed in Revelation is for the whole Church. That cannot be the "open door" promised to Philadelphia in particular.

Christ as the door for the sheep in John 10:7 and John 10:9 likewise applies to the whole Church of God, not just Philadelphia. Every Church of God congregation, all seven of the churches in the messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, must enter by the door that is Christ, or they are not part of the Church at all. And all seven churches in Revelation are part of the true Church (Revelation 1:13, 20).

Likewise, the door of faith in Acts 14:27 that was opened to the Gentiles applies to the whole Church of God, not just Philadelphia. Without that open door of faith, we would not be part of God's true Church at all.

What about wisdom's door in Proverbs 8:34? Could this be the open door for Philadelphia, a door to greater wisdom than the other six churches? The context of Proverbs 8:34 is more about the desire for wisdom on the part of those who seek her, "waiting at the posts of my doors". It refers to an attitude of mind on the part of those who seek wisdom. Moreover, there is a promise in the book of James for wisdom for whoever asks for it without doubting. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind" (James 1:5-6). This is a promise to all in the Church of God. Any of us can ask for wisdom, and it will be given to us. This is not a door that Christ closes and no man can open, at least not for us in the Church.

Paul speaks three times in his epistles of God opening a door for him for doing God's work. He speaks of a great and effective door opened to him in 1 Corinthians 16:9. He does not seem to be referring just to something regarding his personal salvation, but for the work he was doing. What was Paul's work? Preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17, 9:16). In 2 Corinthians 2:12 Paul speaks of a door being opened for him by the Lord when he came to a place to preach the gospel. That obviously must mean that the open door Paul referred to was a door for preaching the gospel. In Colossians 4:3, Paul specifically asks the brethren to pray that God would open a door for Paul and his companions for speaking, for "the word". And since Paul asks the brethren to pray for that open door, that would be a metaphor for preaching the gospel that the membership would be very familiar with. Thus, when the early Church later read the book of Revelation, they would be familiar with that metaphor of the open door being for preaching the gospel, since it is something they have prayed for.

There are several characteristics of the open door Paul speaks of in these three passages, an open door for preaching the gospel, that helps match up this symbolism with the open door for Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8.

One, it is a door that God must specifically open. Paul specifically speaks of God opening the door, and likewise Christ says to Philadelphia that He opens and no man can shut or shuts and no man can open.

It is not a door that is necessarily open for all the Church of God at all times, such as a door for salvation or for wisdom. That is true in Paul's use of the term and in the message to Philadelphia. Paul says that the door was opened to him when he came to Troas to preach the gospel. This cannot be a door to salvation or to wisdom for Paul, since those doors were opened for Paul when he was converted, not later when he came to Troas. Likewise, the promise of the open door is not given to all seven churches in Revelation, but to Philadelphia specifically. That cannot be an open door to salvation or wisdom.

The door that Paul spoke of is something that the brethren were to pray for, that God would open the door for Paul and his companions. This also shows that it was not a door that is always open for the whole Church of God at all times.

It is clear, therefore, at least to me, that the open door promised to Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8 is a door for preaching the gospel effectively and powerfully. It is NOT an open door for truth, holiness, salvation, righteousness, or wisdom, since those things are always available for the whole Church of God at all times. The open door is something promised to Philadelphia, but not to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea.

The history of the Church of God reinforces this, for it was during the Philadelphia era while Mr. Armstrong was alive that the gospel was preached with power to multiple millions through the television program, the Plain Truth magazine, and multiple books and booklets. It has not been preached powerfully that way during most of the Laodicean era, which era we are now in, and it is not being preached as powerfully today, though some Church of God fellowships are more effective in preaching the gospel than others.

But that leaves the question, is it open just for Philadelphian Church of God fellowships on the organizational level, or is it also open for individual members who are Philadelphian in character? Is it open for members individually and not just for organizations that are Philadelphian?

I believe it is open for members individually when those members have the characteristics described in the message to Philadelphia. Revelation 3:8 says, "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name". Why does Christ give Philadelphians an open door? Because they have a little strength, have kept Christ's word, and have not denied His name. Those reasons why Christ gives the open door can apply to individuals as well as organizations, in fact, more so.

But that does not mean that each Philadelphian member must go out and preach the gospel as an individual. The work of Philadelphian Christians is generally accomplished through the organized efforts of the fellowship they attend and support. Individual Philadelphian members do the work of preaching the gospel by contributing tithes and offerings to a fellowship that is doing the work, by praying for the work, and sometimes by volunteer effort as they may have the ability and opportunity.

Probably, in most cases, any Church of God fellowship or organization will be effective in preaching the gospel to the world roughly in proportion to the percentage of members in that fellowship who are counted by Christ as being Philadelphian in character. Christ will answer the prayers of Philadelphian Christians for the preaching of the gospel. That is one way they have an open door. Christ will direct a substantial portion of the tithes and offerings of Philadelphian Christians towards the effective preaching of the gospel. Their contributions will be well spent in that regard. That is another way the door is open for Philadelphian Christians as individuals. Christ will enable them to support a fellowship that is preaching the gospel to the world effectively. He will help them understand where they should send their tithes and offerings.

Christ has power and authority. That is something the key of David may represent (Revelation 3:7). And He uses that power and authority to open a door for Philadelphia to preach the gospel effectively. Christ does not make that promise for those who are not in the Philadelphian condition. And through Philadelphians, Christ accomplishes a work, not necessarily IN the Church, but by the Church and through the Church. The work itself is done in the world. That is, the work of preaching the gospel is done by Christ THROUGH the Church, but IN the world.

It is a work of service to those outside the Church, to give them the truth as we have been given the truth, and it is accomplished by Christ through the Church, especially through that part of the Church that is Philadelphian in character. But it is not just accomplished in the Church for the benefit of ourselves only. It is an outgoing work, focused towards others, not focused on ourselves.

That is our personal connection with the promise of the open door. If we are Philadelphian in character, the promise applies to us as individual members. (And if we are not Philadelphian in character, the promise does not apply to us until we repent and become Philadelphian.) God will answer the prayers of Philadelphians and direct their tithes and offerings to support the preaching of the gospel. God will see to it that those tithes and offerings are spent wisely and effectively towards preaching the gospel to the world and the Ezekiel warning to Israel, IF we are spiritual Philadelphians, IF we have a little strength, have kept Christ's word, and have not denied His name (Revelation 3:8).

Christ is using the Church to do a work towards the world and for the world, to prepare the world for the events to come. Each Philadelphian Christian is involved in this personally. Philadelphians are involved in their prayers for the preaching of the gospel. Those who have tithable incomes are able to tithe and give offerings for that purpose. Some are able to help with volunteer labor. But for each Philadelphian, it is a very personal involvement to go through the open door.

I have taken the time to provide a list of scriptures relating to an open door to show how we must let the Bible teach us and let the Bible interpret the Bible. We are not to think that, just because we are baptized and have the Holy Spirit, we are somehow qualified to interpret the symbols of the Bible according to our own reasoning apart from how the Bible interprets those symbols. We should not construct meanings and interpretations for an "open door", and then suggest them and say, "Is this not an open door?", while ignoring the symbolism that God gives in the Bible for the open door.

I have tried to make this point in other posts in this blog. God's Holy Spirit leads us to understand what the Bible says. But we still have to look to what the Bible says. As we believe and strive to obey, God will help us understand. And God requires that we work to understand the Bible, that we expend the effort to study the Bible.

To read the Bible thinking that God will use words and concepts in the Bible to somehow "trigger" thoughts in our minds, put there by the Holy Spirit, but not backed up by the whole Bible, is not a correct way to study the Bible.

For example, suppose I read the message to Philadelphia and come across the promise of an open door in Revelation 3:8, and I think, what is the open door? Then I read other scriptures about salvation, and the thought comes into my mind, "That must be the open door, the door to salvation, the door to holiness. That makes sense. After all, is not salvation and the truth of God an open door? And since I have been baptized and have God's Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit must be guiding my thoughts right now to think that the open door is the door to salvation. That's it!" Wrong. If I think that way, I am no different than Catholics and Protestants who believe their own reasoning and imagination and human thinking more than they believe the Bible. I have to search the Bible diligently to understand what it means.

When I looked up the scriptures containing the word "door" to prepare this post, I did not know what I would find. I knew there were scriptures in the epistles of Paul referring to an open door for preaching the gospel. But I didn't know what else I might find that could be the open door in Revelation 3:8. It turns out, there was nothing else that could apply. But if there was, I would have had to change the way I wrote this post. I started out thinking that the open door in Revelation 3:8 must be an open door for preaching the gospel, even on a personal, individual member level, but I was prepared, as I looked up the scriptures, to admit to myself and to God that I have been wrong if I found evidence that the "open door" in Revleation 3:8 could be something else. I don't think I ever searched on the word "door" in the Bible before.

I have been careful in this post not to say "we" have an open door as promised in Revelation 3:8. Philadelphians have an open door. "We" are not all Philadelphians. To say, "we" would have to include me, and I cannot say I am Philadelphian in God's sight. I hope I am, but that is God's call. I should not praise myself, even by implication. Rather, I should think of being Philadelphian as a goal I should strive for, but figure I haven't made it yet. I would rather think of myself as a Laodicean who needs to repent, but maybe God counts me as a Philadelphian, than the other way around. If I think I am Laodicean, I will try harder to change and overcome. If I think of myself as Philadelphian, I may become spiritually lazy, thinking I have it made.

So "we" have the promise of an open door in Revelation 3:8 only IF we have the spiritual characteristics of Philadelphia.

But I will strive to be Philadelphian and strive to support the preaching of the gospel in my prayers and tithes and writings.


Here is the complete list of scriptures I found with the word "door" in the New King James version I found in my search, as a reference, for those who are interested. After each verse is my note indicating if it seemed literal or figurative, and if figurative, what it represented.

- Genesis 4:7 - metaphor: sin is near, at the door
- Genesis 6:16 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 18:1 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 18:2 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 18:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 19:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 19:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 19:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 19:11 - literal door, not symbolic
- Genesis 43:19 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 12:22 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 12:23 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 21:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 26:36 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 29:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 29:11 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 29:32 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 29:42 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 33:8 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 33:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 33:10 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 35:15 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 36:37 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 38:8 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 38:30 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 39:38 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 40:5 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 40:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 40:12 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 40:28 - literal door, not symbolic
- Exodus 40:29 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 1:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 1:5 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 3:2 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 4:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 4:7 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 4:18 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 8:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 8:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 8:31 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 8:33 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 8:35 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 10:7 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 12:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 14:11 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 14:23 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 14:38 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 15:14 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 15:29 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 16:7 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 17:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 17:5 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 17:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 17:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Leviticus 19:21 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 3:25 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 3:26 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 4:25 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 4:26 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 6:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 6:13 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 6:18 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 10:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 11:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 12:5 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 16:18 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 16:19 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 16:27 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 16:50 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 20:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Numbers 25:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Deuteronomy 15:17 - literal door, not symbolic
- Deuteronomy 22:21 - literal door, not symbolic
- Deuteronomy 31:15 - literal door, not symbolic
- Joshua 2:19 - literal door, not symbolic
- Joshua 19:51 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 3:23 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 3:24 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 3:25 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 4:20 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 9:52 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 11:31 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 16:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 19:22 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 19:26 - literal door, not symbolic
- Judges 19:27 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Samuel 2:22 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Samuel 3:15 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Samuel 21:13 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Samuel 11:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Samuel 13:17 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Samuel 13:18 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 6:31 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 6:32 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 6:33 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 6:34 (3) - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 7:50 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Kings 14:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 4:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 4:5 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 4:21 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 4:33 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 5:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 6:32 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 9:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 9:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 12:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Kings 18:16 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Chronicles 9:21 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Chronicles 22:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 3:7 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 4:9 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 4:22 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 23:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 28:24 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 29:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 29:7 - literal door, not symbolic
- 2 Chronicles 34:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:1 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:13 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:14 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:15 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:20 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 3:21 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 6:1 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 6:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 7:1 - literal door, not symbolic
- Nehemiah 7:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Job 3:10 - represents Job's birth
- Job 31:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Job 31:32 - literal door, not symbolic
- Job 31:34 - literal door, not symbolic
- Job 38:8 - represents door or limits of the sea
- Job 38:10 - represents door or limits of the sea
- Job 38:17 - represents doors of death
- Job 41:14 - represents doors of the face of the Leviathan
- Psalm 24:7 - represents doors to be lifted up for the King of glory to come in
- Psalm 24:9 - represents doors to be lifted up for the King of glory to come in
- Psalm 78:23 - represents doors of heaven for rain
- Psalm 141:3 - represents doors of the mouth for speaking
- Proverbs 5:8 - literal door, not symbolic
- Proverbs 8:3 - literal door, not symbolic
- Proverbs 8:34 - represents doors of wisdom
- Proverbs 9:14 - literal door, not symbolic
- Proverbs 26:14 - literal door, not symbolic, but compared to a lazy man
- Ecclesiastes 12:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Song of Solomon 5:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Song of Solomon 8:9 - represents a woman
- Isaiah 6:4 - represents a door in a vision of the throne of God
- Isaiah 26:20 - literal door, not symbolic
- Isaiah 45:1 - represents open door for Cyrus to subdue nations
- Isaiah 57:8 - literal door, not symbolic
- Jeremiah 35:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Ezekiel 8:3 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 8:7 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 8:8 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 8:14 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 8:16 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 10:19 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 11:1 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 33:30 - literal door, not symbolic
- Ezekiel 40:13 (2) - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:11 (2) - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:17 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:20 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:23 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:24 (3) - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 41:25 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 42:2 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 42:4 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 42:12 (2) - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Ezekiel 47:1 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a vision
- Hosea 2:15 - represents a valley as a door of hope
- Micah 7:5 - represents doors of the mouth
- Zechariah 11:1 - represents doors of Lebanon
- Malachi 1:10 - literal door, not symbolic
- Matthew 6:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Matthew 24:33 - represents something being close, at the doors
- Matthew 25:10 - literal door, not symbolic, but in a parable
- Matthew 27:60 - entrance of a tomb
- Matthew 28:2 - entrance of a tomb
- Mark 1:33 - literal door, not symbolic
- Mark 2:2 - literal door, not symbolic
- Mark 11:4 - literal door, not symbolic
- Mark 13:29 - represents something being close, at the doors
- Mark 15:46 - entrance of a tomb
- Mark 16:3 - entrance of a tomb
- Luke 11:7 - literal door, not symbolic, in a parable
- Luke 13:25 (2) - literal door, not symbolic, in a parable
- John 10:1 - door as entrance to a sheepfold
- John 10:2 - door as entrance to a sheepfold
- John 10:7 - represents Christ as the door to the sheep
- John 10:9 - represents Christ as the door to the sheep
- John 18:16 (2) - literal door, not symbolic
- John 18:17 - literal door, not symbolic
- John 20:19 - literal door, not symbolic
- John 20:26 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 5:9 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 5:19 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 5:23 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 12:6 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 12:13 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 12:16 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 14:27 - represents the door of faith opened to the Gentiles
- Acts 16:26 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 16:27 - literal door, not symbolic
- Acts 18:7 - "next door" - literal phrase, not symbolic
- Acts 21:30 - literal door, not symbolic
- 1 Corinthians 16:9 - represents a door for doing the work opened to Paul
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 - represents a door for preaching the gospel opened to Paul by Christ
- Colossians 4:3 - represents a door for preaching the gospel to be opened by God to preach, asking for brethren to pray that the door would be opened
- James 5:9 - represents something nearby, at the door
- Revelation 3:8 - promise to Philadelphia of an open door
- Revelation 3:20 (2) - represents Christ knocking at the door for Laodicea
- Revelation 4:1 - represents an open door in heaven

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