AT THE GATES OF HELL…HADESPART 3318κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and [the] gates ofHades will not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18The phrase the “gates of hell” is translated in some versions as the “gates of Hades.” “Gates of hell” or “gates ofHades” is found only once in the entire Scriptures, in Matthew 16:18. In this passage, Jesus is referring to thebuilding of His church: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hellshall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).At that time Jesus had not yet established His church. In fact, this is the first instance of the word church in the NewTestament. The word church, as used by Jesus, is derived from the Greek ekklasia, which means the “called out” or“assembly.” In other words, the church that Jesus is referencing as His church is the assembly of people who havebeen called out of the world by the gospel of Christ.Bible scholars debate the actual meaning of the phrase “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” One ofthe better interpretations to the meaning of this phrase is as follows. In ancient times, the cities were surroundedby walls with gates, and in battles the gates of these cities would usually be the first place their enemies assaulted.This was because the protection of the city was determined by the strength or power of its gates.As such, the “gates of hell” or “gates of Hades” means the power of Hades. The name “Hades” was originally thename of the god who presided over the realm of the dead and was often referred to as the “house of Hades.” Itdesignated the place to which everyone who departs this life descends, regardless of their moral character. In theNew Testament, Hades is the realm of the dead, and in this verse Hades or hell is represented as a mighty city withits gates representing its power.Jesus refers here to His impending death. Though He would be crucified and buried, He would rise from the deadand build His church. Jesus is emphasizing the fact that the powers of death could not hold Him in. Not only wouldthe church be established in spite of the powers of Hades or hell, but the church would thrive in spite of thesepowers. The church will never fail, though generation after generation succumbs to the power of physical death,yet other generations will arise to perpetuate the church. And it will continue until it has fulfilled its mission onearth as Jesus has commanded:65 From THE LIVE RAGGED EDGE RADIO BROADCAST/SHATTER LIVE TV WEBINAR RUSS DIZDAR ©“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Ihave commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20). HEREHADES IS: THE GATES OF HADES WILL NOT PREVAILGATES …pýlē (a feminine noun) – a large door; an entrance-gate to a city or fortress; a doorgate. 4439 /pýlē ("a door-gate") typically refers to the exit people go out, i.e. focusing on what proceeds out of it.hadésPhonetic Spelling: (hah'-dace) Definition: Hades, the abode of departed spiritsUsage: Hades, the unseen world. 86 hádēs (from 1 /A "not" and idein/eidō, "see") – properly, the "unseenplace," referring to the (invisible) realm in which all the dead reside, i.e. the present dwelling place of all thedeparted (deceased); Hades.https://biblehub.com/greek/86.htmPREVAILKatischuó Phonetic Spelling: (kat-is-khoo'-o) Definition: to overpower Usage: I prevail against, overpower, get the upperhandkatischusousin Root: κατισχύω1) to be strong to another's detriment, to prevail against 2) to be superior in strength 3) to overcome 4)to prevail/ net bible“…the gates of hades represent the apex and forefront of the sum total of th