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'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.
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