Apocalypse Explained, volume 1 - Swedenborg Foundation

APOCALYPSE EXPLAINED 389the Lord has all power, as was shown in the articles thatimmediately precede.[3] Similar to what is here meant by the “key of David” is thesignification of the “key of Peter,” thus referred to in Matthew:I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will buildMy church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail over it. And unto theewill I give the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatsoever thoushalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever thoushalt loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens (16:18, 19).“Peter” here, in like manner as “David,” signifies in the highestsense, Divine truth proceeding from the Lord’s Divine good, and inthe internal sense, every truth from good that is from the Lord. The“rock” (petra) that is spoken of in the Word where Peter ismentioned, and from which Peter’s name is derived, has a likesignification. The Lord’s twelve disciples represented all the truthsand goods of the church in the complex; Peter represented truth orfaith, James charity, and John the works of charity. But here Peterrepresented faith from charity, or truth from good which is fromthe Lord, because Peter here acknowledged the Lord in heart,saying:Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesusanswering, said, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar Jonah; for flesh and bloodhath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father, who is in the heavens. Isay unto thee, Thou art Peter, etc. (verses 16–18, and the following).(This may be seen illustrated in the small work on the LastJudgment, n. 57.)[4] There is a like meaning in the Lord’s words to the rest of thedisciples, in Matthew:Jesus said to His disciples, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shallbe bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall beloosed in heaven (18:18).