The Keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens

Were given to Simon Peter. Following the Lord's well-known words "on this rock I will build My church [assembly)" He says: "I will give unto thee [Peter] the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The keys are of the kingdom and not of heaven or of the Church. Acts gives us the fulfillment of the first part of this saying. In chapter 2, Peter reopens the door of the kingdom to the Jews who had lost all right to the kingdom by rejecting their Messiah. Then in chapter 10 he opens the door to the Gentiles in the person of the centurion Cornelius, his friends and relatives. Two keys were placed in the hands of His disciple by the Lord, and both were used by Peter.
The second part of the Lord's word quoted above, introduces quite a distinct thought. Keys are used to unlock and lock; binding and loosing have as little to do with keys as with the previously mentioned building of the Church. The latter part of our expression does speak of a power or authority, but connected with the administration of the kingdom here below. Acts 5 gives us a solemn illustration of the exercise of this authority in connection with Ananias and Sapphira. Power flowing from the delegated authority binds the sin of the unhappy couple on them, and the apostle's act is ratified by heaven. Both expire immediately.
The kingdom of the heavens will be transformed into: