What Are "the Keys of the Kingdom"? - What Does It Mean to "enter into the Kingdom"?

 Those who actually "enter into the Kingdom" become co-rulers with Jesus in heaven.  The Bible foretold that they would  "sit on thrones" and "rule as kings over the earth." - LUKE 22:29, 30; REVELATION 5:9, 10.

Misconceptions about the key of the Kingdom

Misconception: Peter decides who may enter heaven.

Fact: The Bible says that Christ, not Peter, "is to judge the living and the dead." (2 Timothy 4:1, 8; John 5:22)  In fact, Peter himself said that Jesus "is the one who decreed by God to be judged of the living and the dead." - ACTS 10:34, 42. 

Misconception: Heaven waited on Peter to decide when to use the keys of the Kingdom.

Fact: When Jesus spoke about the keys of the Kingdom, he told Peter:  "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  (Matthew 16:19, The New American Bible) Although some understand  this statement to mean that Peter dictated decisions to heaven, the original Greek verbs show that Peter's decisions would follow those made in heaven rather than precede them.

The Bible elsewhere shows that Peter was subject to heaven when using the keys of the Kingdom. For example, he responded to instructions from God when using the third key. - ACTS 10:19, 20. 

Next time: What Does Bible Chronology Indicate About the Year 1914?/The Bible's Answer

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