The Gates of Hades are upon us, but it's not what you think

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,433
3,684
113
#1
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
 
P

persistent

Guest
#2
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
Psalm 82 is probably addressing the people you are referencing in your post.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
6,066
1,948
113
#3
A gate is not an offensive weapon, It is a defensive weapon, to keep people out.

The gates of hell is the gate that i sused to try to keep the church out from its cities to rescue people in those cities and bring them to christ.

thats the way I have always seen it anyway

The gates of hell will not keep the church from doing its purpose which is to go into the world and help rescue people from hell
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,044
1,799
113
#4
Hades had a right to keep men dead. Christ's kingdom came to free all men, even those already kept by Hades.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,661
5,908
113
#5
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
the serpent was an enemy within as well . And we see how dangerous that is to be unaware of it

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

your right the enemy came from without but infiltrated through false doctrine turning minds against the truth which all believers know

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can’t let false doctrines turn our minds from the gospel that’s all Satan can do to get us and all we have to defend against
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#6
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
Amen.
The Church is defiled by the same means that men are.

Mark 7
18And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#7
I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.
"The gates of Hades" was either used as a metaphor as an actual description of the gates of Hades (in the heart of the earth). Since Christ said there was an actual chasm (or gulf) within Hades, those could well have been literal gates. But Sheol/Hades was a virtual prison for the OT saints until the resurrection of Christ. And when He arose from the dead He either literally or metaphorically destroyed those gates in order to bring the OT saints to Heaven.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,801
8,618
113
#8
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
There are a lot of misconceptions regarding that phrase.

The "gates" spoken about were the portico/hall at the gates/entry to most sizeable cities, at which the city fathers sat daily (shaded from the elements) to hold council together.

So the best exegesis that I have heard is that the [councils of the world/Satan/unbelieving world governments] will never prevail to destroy the Church that Jesus is building.

Really it has nothing to do with the living and true Church at all. Rather it is their antagonist.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,801
8,618
113
#9
There are a lot of misconceptions regarding that phrase.

The "gates" spoken about were the portico/hall at the gates/entry to most sizeable cities, at which the city fathers sat daily (shaded from the elements) to hold council together.

So the best exegesis that I have heard is that the [councils of the world/Satan/unbelieving world governments] will never prevail to destroy the Church that Jesus is building.

Really it has nothing to do with the living and true Church at all. Rather it is their antagonist.
Here is their fate BTW.....

Isa 24:21
It shall come to pass in that day
That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones,
And on the earth the kings of the earth.

Isa 24:22
They will be gathered together,
As prisoners are gathered in the pit,
And will be shut up in the prison;
After many days (GWT judgement) they will be punished.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,433
3,684
113
#10
the serpent was an enemy within as well . And we see how dangerous that is to be unaware of it

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

your right the enemy came from without but infiltrated through false doctrine turning minds against the truth which all believers know

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can’t let false doctrines turn our minds from the gospel that’s all Satan can do to get us and all we have to defend against
My friend, at this point you seem to be the only one who sees this situation with an unclouded mind.
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,526
2,609
113
#11
INSIGHT & GROUNDING:

A.) Sometimes a good Christian will have some legitimate, and biblical, insight into the state of the world.

B.) Sometimes, in an effort to properly ground that insight, that good Christian will, quite reasonably, go to the scripture.

C.) Sometimes, although that insight is biblical, the Christian will pick the wrong verse to ground that spiritual insight.



Sometimes a Christian will have spiritual insight that is right, and good, and biblical... but they pick the wrong verse to ground their insight.



Hope you all have a great weekend.
.
 

Eli1

Well-known member
Apr 5, 2022
5,024
2,180
113
46
#12
INSIGHT & GROUNDING:

A.) Sometimes a good Christian will have some legitimate, and biblical, insight into the state of the world.

B.) Sometimes, in an effort to properly ground that insight, that good Christian will, quite reasonably, go to the scripture.

C.) Sometimes, although that insight is biblical, the Christian will pick the wrong verse to ground that spiritual insight.



Sometimes a Christian will have spiritual insight that is right, and good, and biblical... but they pick the wrong verse to ground their insight.



Hope you all have a great weekend.
.
I love your reasoning, logic, knowledge and manner of communication.
Thank you. (y)
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#13
And when He arose from the dead He either literally or metaphorically destroyed those gates in order to bring the OT saints to Heaven.
And it is these souls (among others) that he shall bring down to the clouds to meet us in the future when we are raptured up?

1 Thessalonians 4
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

So "sleep" = waiting for the Rapture?

(Sorry to have gotten off-topic.)
 

soberxp

Senior Member
May 3, 2018
2,511
482
83
#15
Lay a new foundation is not so wrong, But it depends on whether it is systematic and correct. If it can maintain a complete architecture without departing from Christ and Bible, I don't think it is a problem.

The Gates of Hades means a dark place outside of our world to keep the dead.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#16
So "sleep" = waiting for the Rapture?
"Sleep" is a metaphor for the death of the saints. When you lay a person in his grave, it gives the appearance of repose -- sleep. But no one sleeps six feet under.
 

JTB

Well-known member
Aug 31, 2021
2,270
737
113
#17
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
I would add the ELCA, and the conservative conflation of the Cross and the elephant
 
Oct 20, 2022
352
121
43
#18
Jesus famously said in Matthew 16:18, " . . . on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."

I've always considered the "gates of Hades" to mean forces from without. However, in light of current trends I've come to believe it means forces from within: mainly false teachers and apostasy within the church.

There are people who want to "remake" Christ's church, to lay a new foundation. I'm talking primarily of the "NAR" and Word of Faith. They claim great authority and new revelation. They proclaim "thus says the Lord" when the Lord has said no such thing. But no foundation can be laid other than that which has already been laid. " . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . " Ephesians 2:20

A lie from without can easily be seen as a lie, but lies from within aren't as easily recognized as lies. Stay alert.
NAR?
 
Oct 20, 2022
352
121
43
#19
the serpent was an enemy within as well . And we see how dangerous that is to be unaware of it

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

your right the enemy came from without but infiltrated through false doctrine turning minds against the truth which all believers know

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
‭‭John‬ ‭18:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We can’t let false doctrines turn our minds from the gospel that’s all Satan can do to get us and all we have to defend against
I don't think we should discount the fact Christ forums are not immune to this either.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,433
3,684
113
#20
I would add the ELCA, and the conservative conflation of the Cross and the elephant
Yes, there's that. And there has always been the false Roman and Orthodox Catholic sects posing as Christian churches.