Matthew 16:18 ...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The word “hell,” hades, means the grave, as it is correctly rendered in the Revised Version.
Q: How is it that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the%20(1).jpg)
church?
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A: The idea is not that of warfare, for gates do not fight and overcome; but gates can shut people in, and close so tightly as to prevent any that are inside from escaping, and thus prevail against them.
Gates are a symbol of power, as possessing the gate of one’s enemies signifies victory over them.
The meaning of the text is that the gates of the grave shall not prevail against the church of Christ.
Q: Why not?
A: Because it is built upon Him. It is firmly fastened to Him.
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Now Christ announces Himself as the one…
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Revelation 1:18 ...that lives and was dead; [but is] alive forevermore, and has the keys of hell [the grave] and of death. Death and the grave were not able to hold Christ.
Acts 2:24 Whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held of it. Therefore they cannot hold those who are built upon and united to Him.
But this confident language could not be used if Peter were the foundation of the church. He could not save even himself, but, like all other mortals, is dependent upon Christ for life."
E.J. Waggoner