174. He that hath the key of David, and that openeth and no one shutteth, and shutteth and no one openeth, signifies, who alone is omnipotent to save. By "David" is meant the Lord as to the Divine truth; by "key" is signified the Lord's omnipotence over heaven and hell; and by "opening that no one can shut," and by "shutting that no one can open," is signified to lead forth out of hell and introduce into heaven, thus to save, in like manner as above (n. 62), where it is explained. That by "David" is meant the Lord as to the Divine truth, may be seen in the Doctrine of the New Jerusalem concerning the Lord (n. 43, 44). The same, which is here signified by "the key of David," is also signified by "the keys of Peter" (Matt. 16:15-19); which may be seen explained below (n. 798), as also by these words to all the disciples:
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 18:18). For the twelve disciples represented all things of the church as to its goods and truths, and Peter represented it as to truth, and truths and goods save man, consequently the Lord alone from whom they are. The same is also signified by the "key of David which was given to Eliakim," concerning which it is thus written:
I will give the government into his hands, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah, and I will give the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, so he shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none shall open (Isa. 22:21-22). He was over the king's house, and by "the king's house" is signified the church as to the Divine truth.
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