Does anyone know where of when this saying comes from?
“meeting St. Peter at the Pearly Gates”?
It has to have it’s origin based in some kind of truth or tradition, most things do. I hear it all the time anyway.
Why is Peter guarding the gates of heaven if he is not a gatekeeper of some kind? Is that not a Judge?
The 12 apostles will Judge with Christ, that’s straight out of the NT:
Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:30
That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Similarly, the 12 disciples that Christ chose when he ministered to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas were given a similar promise, but a little different:
1 Nephi 12:
6 And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.
7 And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.
8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the Twelve Disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.
9 And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.
10 And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.
Cheers, I hope I’m not being redundant if this has already been addressed.