The Gates of Hell by Auguste Rodin
The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail!
Matthew 16:16-18 (KJV)
"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Why does Yeshua say that "the gates of Hell should not prevail against it"?
As we know before Yeshua was crucified, we were all condemned to death due to the fall of Man."Hell/Hades" being the Greek word for "Sheol" meaning a place where the spirit of man is held. (http://concordances.org/greek/86.htm).
Yeshua built a new spiritual temple (church) after 3 days; through his body, after the resurrection. It was on that Truth was the Foundation of the Spiritual Temple, which Peter proclaim by the Father, the Holy Spirit through him.
John 2:19 (KJV) ~ "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
When Salvation was given, it was unbound through forgiveness of the Father, which the spirit of man was condemn to death. That anyone who believes will not be bounded to death for eternity but unto life.
So, it not about us knocking down the gates of hell to go in or closing it. It is for us to flow out of the gates of hell, that the gates could not be closed to bound people in.
John 3:17 (KJV) ~ "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved"
John 12:47 (KJV)~ "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
In short: Yeshua kicked down the the gates of hell with Truth to release believers from death grip, onto Salvation.
Revelation 3:7 (KJV) ~ "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"
Something to think about:
Matthew 7:13-15 (KJV)
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Are there two gates? Yes, as there are two ways: Narrow & Broad, but one leads to Kingdom & the other unto the Lake of Fire.
Remember: Death, Hades/Graves, Satan, devils, false prophets and the wicked are also thrown into the Lake of Fire. It's a really broad gate!
YHWH Blessing to All!
Pr. Aaron B. Wheeler, Minister
