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Peter was a rock but Jesus also describes himself as the rock in many passages.

True, but we are left with two issues:

1) Jesus does not change anyone's name in the Bible except Peter and He does so in regards to speaking about the foundation of His Church and
2) Jesus gives Peter the "keys to the kingdom of heaven."

So, the questions are: what is the kingdom of heaven and why does Peter have the keys to it?

I'm not here to change your faith but I have a couple of points.

God changed the names of a lot of people in the Bible, Jesus had two Simons on his hands, could he have changed Peter's name to avoid confusion.

I think the "Kingdom of Heaven" may be different than heaven. Doesn't Jesus describe the Kingdom of Heaven as being like yeast and a mustard seed. I think the Kingdom of Heaven is more an allegory describing faith than the actual location of heaven. I am not a theologian but could the keys to the kingdom of heaven be the knowledge that Jesus gave him or the Holy Spirit.

The Bible describes Jesus as the chief cornerstone of the church. I think there is some room for interpretation when he has his discussion with Peter but that seems pretty clear.