The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail

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.