In Mt. 16:18, Jesus replies to Peter saying, ‘…thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Have you ever pondered what Jesus meant by ‘the gates of hell’ shall not prevail against the church? This morning I want to examine these words and see what they might mean.
Many ideas are presented in our world today about Hell; if it is real? Where is it? Will a merciful God send anyone there? and what exactly is Hell?
What is Hell? What does the Bible say about Hell?
Hell, is described as the ‘lower parts of the earth’ (Hebrew Sheol)
Ps. 63:9-10. 9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
Eph. 4:9. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
This analogy coincides with the term—grave.
Rev. 20:13. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
‘delivered up’ implies coming up out of. (from the lower parts of the earth–grave, hell)
The O.T. describes Hell as the grave.
The Hebrew word ‘Sheol’ means:
The abode for dead souls who are waiting on the day of judgement
A place of no return (to live again on earth)
A place for the wicked to be sent for punishment, and
A place where the righteous are not abandoned
Translates: grave, hell, or pit
The N. T. describes Hell also as grave
The Greek word “Hades’ means:
Also, a place for dead souls who are waiting on the day of judgement
It describes it as having two parts
A place of punishment for the wicked
A place of comfort for the righteous
Both Sheol and Hades refer to the ‘heart of the earth’; a prison of departed spirits.
The compartments of Hades—Hell
A place of torment—Hades
Luke 16:23-24 describes the rich man being in Hell and in torment.
Upon death, one’s place of eternal life is determined.
If you die in wickedness—not obeying the plea of Jesus to become a part of His Kingdom, you are also counted as one of the wicked
John 13:21. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
A place of rest—Paradise
Luke 16:25 describes Lazarus being there in comfort
If one dies in a righteous state before God, their Spirit will be placed in Abraham’s bosom—a place of comfort.
From these two compartments, will all the soul’s spirits rise to face final Judgement on that day.
Rev. 20:11-15. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The righteous shall hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’
The unrighteous shall hear, ‘Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.’
A third compartment is reserved for the final Judgement Day—Gehenna
The Greek translation of the word Gehenna means ‘Lake of Fire’
Notice where the evil souls and Satan will be cast on the Judgement Day—‘Lake of Fire’.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
What does this have to do with the ‘Gates of Hell’?
Let me ask a few questions
What is the purpose of a gate?
Obviously to keep something or someone in or out of a place.
Who currently controls the gates of Hell?
Satan—once inside, you cannot depart until God calls you out at Judgement
Did Jesus ever go to Hell?
Yes—let me explain
Jesus as a human experienced the pains of death
Jesus suffered the hell we deserved by taking the place of penitent sinners
Acts 2:23-24. 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
God ‘loosed the pains of death’—released him from the prison where Satan held the dead—why?
Because Jesus was human in every way we are. NOTICE
Jesus’ human body—Mt. 27:57-60. 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb,
Because he had a human soul—Jn. 12:27. 27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
Because he had a human spirit—Lk. 23:46. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus’ himself declared he would be in Paradise
Lk. 23:43. To the thief on the cross-- 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Peter confirms Jesus having been in ‘prison’—Hell
1 Peter 3:18-22. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Acts 2:29-31. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
King David prophesied of this event. Ps. 16:10. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Acts 2:27)
The Apostle Paul also, Eph. 4:9. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Paul, speaking of Jesus, ‘he who descended first’
The gates of hell, contain and hold secure, those souls who have deceased—there is no returning to earth
They enter Hades
They are separated, either for punishment or for comfort, until Judgement.
Satan thought he could contain and hold Jesus upon his earthly death.
God Almighty, had to show Satan he held less power than God over death.
Jesus, along with many others, was raised from Hell—broke the chains off the gates of Hell—Luke 24:5b-6a. the Angel told the women who came early to the sepulture, ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen:’
Jesus also, led captivity captive.
Eph. 4:8. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Captivity is the power over death.
Jesus entered Paradise—the Hadean place for the comforted—but he also went to the place where the wicked who died before the flood were being held—Hades (prison for the wicked). (1Peter 3:19-20)
How long was Jesus in Hades?
Mt. 12:40. 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
‘in the heart of the earth’—grave—Hades, Paradise then Hades—prison—to preach to the departed souls who departed before the flood, having been ‘quickened by the Spirit’.
The Great Prevailing
The power of death, formally held by Satan, was exchanged from Satan to The Christ—Jesus.
Jesus, 14 Blot [ed] out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col. 2:14-15.
Jesus was …declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:4.
Jesus now holds the power of death to destroy the devil.
Heb. 10:14. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Jesus holds the keys to Hades and death.
Rev. 1:17b-18. …Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The gates of Hell cannot hold the Church
1 Thes. 4:13-14. 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
CONCLUSION
If you die before the great Judgement Day, will you be able to prevent the ‘Gates of Hell; from holding you? On your own, the answer is, no, you will not prevent Satan from holding you in Hades. But if you are an active member of the Body of Christ—church—Jesus has already broken the chains which could have bound your spirit to an eternal Hell. You can and will live eternally in the presence of God the father, Jesus the son, and The Holy Spirit, if you are a part of the Body. Jesus separated the bonds of the gate to Paradise, allowing those who are waiting there to be delivered upon the Great Judgement Day. Notice, once again the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus. Abraham told the rich man, ‘between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.’ The gates of Paradise have been broken down. The Gates of Hades, Satan still controls. No one escapes from Satan’s Hell.
If you are not a member of the active body of Christ, will you become one; or return to active membership your place in the Body of Christ? If you need forgiveness of sin, confess your sins today, and Jesus will lift you up and return your fellowship with the Church he died for.
