hile the subject of Peter as the Rock "upon whom the Church is built" is beyond the scope of this short study, suffice it to say that nowhere (other than in Roman Catholicism's interpretations of this chapter) in Scripture do we ever find even a single suggestion that Peter alone is the single foundational apostle upon whom the church would rest. Quite the contrary, the twelve apostles are all identified as the foundation stones (Ephesians 2:20) that make up the church. Christ "alone" is the foundational Rock, the chief corner stone upon which all the twelve other stones ultimately rests. Throughout the scriptures, Christ is identified as the primary foundation Rock of ages. The Twelve Apostles (which includes Peter) are built up a Holy Temple upon that Rock. It is an undeniable fact that neither Christ, nor any of the Apostles ever recognized, was subservient to, or acknowledged Peter as Pope. Nor did the Apostle Peter ever speak, act, or claim to be Pope, pontiff, or Holy Father. This is all Roman Catholic church tradition, not the divine word of God. In Matthew chapter sixteen, Peter simply acknowledges the Lord as Christ, the Son of the living God. And it is in this context that it is stated by Christ that upon this Rock the church would be built. Peter, upon Christ, as well as the other eleven apostles who are also the foundational building blocks of the church. All the Apostles are foundations of the church, but only because they all rest upon the primary keystone, who is Christ.
Ephesians 2:20-22
- "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
- In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
- In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
Clearly Christ is the petra [petra] or Rock (1st Corinthians 10:4; 1st Peter 2:7-8) or foundation stone upon whom Peter petros [petros] and the church will be built. Peter and the other apostles are as spiritual stones built up into a living house of God upon the foundation Rock, Christ. Speaking of this building, we read in 1st Peter chapter 2:
1st Peter 2:5-6
- "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
- Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."
We are living stones or lithos or [lithos], just as Christ is called the stone or lithos or [lithos] which the builders disallowed, but that has become head of the corner. There is but one stone upon which the weight of the church rests, and that is the Rock, Christ. The very fact that God's word identifies Christ here as the chief corner stone or primary foundation, and declares that the apostles are also the building stones representing a living, spiritual house, illustrates that He alone is the stone upon which all the other stones are built. Without Him, there is no church, foundation, building, or house.
Thus, in the context of the passages of Matthew chapter sixteen, the apostle is acknowledging Jesus as the prophesied Christ, the son of God. And in this revelation, the Lord begins to illustrate the power He has given Peter and the apostles to build His church, the representation of the Rock of His person. In other words, because He is this prophesied cornerstone, He gives Peter the permission and power (signified by the keys) to build His house through divine binding and loosing. That is why Christ tells him that this was not revealed to him by flesh, but by the Spirit of His Father who is in heaven. He then instructs Peter and the Apostles to tell no one of this revelation. Because to them it was given to receive the understanding of the mystery in revelation, but to others it was not given. Likewise, the keys or authority that they might bind and lose what was already bound and loosed in heaven, is the power of the Spirit of God that they would receive (Acts 1:8; Revelations 11:3) enabling them to be vessels chosen to do God's will.
2nd Thessalonians 2:19-21
- "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
- But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
- If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."
We are sanctified vessels unto honor, being used of God as faithful witnesses of the truth to a corrupt and fallen world. We go forth as spiritual soldiers in the army of the Lord, breaking down strongholds and freeing captives through the word and Spirit of Christ. The fortifications of Satan hold the power of death over his captives, but it cannot prevail over or withstand the army of the messengers of God. The Christian life is an offensive battle or spiritual warfare consisting of pulling down fortifications or strongholds so that the captives may be set free. This is illustrated in 2nd Corinthians chapter ten:
2nd Corinthians 10:3-4
- "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
- (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
This puts forth the doctrie of evangelism as a spiritual warfare. It is the gospel that we preach that sets men free from behind the gates or strongholds of hades [hades], which is the standard term for the realm of darkness and death. And in this mission we are more than conquerors where Satan's gates do not prevail over the onslaught of Christ's church. Moreover, our weapons as not carnal or weapons of the flesh, but spiritual and mighty in God to accomplish the task of tearing down Satan's gates to loose his prisoners. The controversy arises when some Christians are predisposed to understanding the word "gates" as if they were some sort of offensive weapons. Gates are a defensive armament, implying their function is to hold people in or prevent access to what lies behind them that they protect. Hell is not on the offensive, the church is. Its gates are to repel attacks, not to attack the church. Moreover, we should not forget that this phrase (Matthew 16:18) was uttered in the context of Christ being the foundation upon whom His Church would be built, and the power and authority (symbolized by keys) of God given to the apostle to do so. It is in this setting or backdrop of the church being built that the gates of hell cannot prevail against this purpose. Christ didn't give just Peter the keys of the kingdom to loose and bind, but it was a gift to all the apostles.
Matthew 18:16-19
- "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
- And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
- Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."
The gates of Hell would not prevail or have force against the church, because all of the apostles have been given the Spirit, the authority by which mankind would be bound and loosed on earth. And that is only what God has predestinated bound or loosed in heaven. At this point, we should define some Biblical terms. The word translated prevail is katischuo [katischuo], meaning the power to overcome, withstand, or succeed against. It is from the two Greek words kata [kata], in this context meaning against, and ischuo [ischuo], meaning to have force or have power. So it means these gates will not have the force or power to stand against the building of Christ's church. The meaning is that God's servants are given the power and authority to be conquerors against the gates of hell/death. The gates of Hades does not have the power to prevail against the assault of the church against it. The church truly is built from the dead that were once held captive behind those gates.
The second word we need to define is the Greek word hades [hades], which is translated as hell. In this instance, it literally means that which is "not seen," and by extension, the state of the dead. It is also translated "grave" in other places of scripture, which is a synonym for the place of the dead.
The third word we need to look at is the Greek word pule [pule] that is translated gate. It means the entrance to something, or the guard door of the entrance to some place. For example, a gate could be the entrance door to a city, a entrance section of a wall, or the entrance to a fenced-in area. It can be opened to allow access or closed to restrict it
(Deuteronomy 3:5-6). Throughout the history of the world, cities were sometimes surrounded by walls with gates, and the gates were the defensive doorway by which the city was entered and protected from entrance. Christ Himself used the gate to symbolize the way of Life and the way of death.
Matthew 7:13-14
- "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
This is the same Greek word [pule], and Christ is using this term to illustrate the way or entrance into some entity. Either to enter the kingdom of heaven or the domain of destruction and death, where men will receive the wages of sin. This is in contrast to the gate whereby men would enter into everlasting life. The gate is the defense, the doorway by which we gain access to these things. Even as we see in Jeremiah 51:58 where the gate is the defensive entrance to a city to keep invaders out. The gates of Jerusalem represent Christ's dominion, wherein is life. The gates of hell, which are the entrance to the dominion of Satan, wherein is death and destruction. In that context of the power that was given to the apostles of Christ, wherein the kingdom would be established on earth, Christ prophesied that the gates of hell would not be unable to withstand the power of His spreading kingdom. In other words, the elect would be freed from captivity behind the gates of that adversarial kingdom (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18). This is the power of Christ's kingdom as it is extended to the ends of the earth. When Christ said to Peter that He gives him the keys to bind and loose, this is in reference to the evangelistic ministry of the church. Peter and the apostles, and by extension the church, go forth with the keys with power and authority to bind and loose, because they are chosen vessels used of God to get His will in heaven, done on earth. This is our prayer (Matthew 6:10) that it be done. This whole scenario of Matthew chapter sixteen illustrates this work of power in the body of Christ. It is realized through the faithful witnessing of the church in assaulting the gates of hell and tearing down Satan's strongholds, spreading the knowledge of the gospel. In this we effectively loose the captives held behind those spiritual gates of death, and bind those who are blinded by our God. By witnessing to God's word, we bring its judgment (Revelation 20:4), and prayerfully declare that His will be done, as it is established in heaven. Through God's Spirit and word, the bondage is either broken or it is sustained.
Hebrews 2:14-15
- "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
- And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Those who were held captive in that spiritual prison of Satan, who were all their lives subject to serve under this taskmaster, are by the power of Christ set at liberty (Romans 8:21). By Christ giving the Apostles the keys, He is signifying that He is the fulfillment of prophecy and gives power to bind and loose on earth what God has bound and loosed in heaven. What God sent Him to do, He sends His messengers to do. Thus, when He ascended to Heaven, He gave the apostles His Keys, the power and authority of Christ in the gospel, that they might carry on His ministry of freeing the captives (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18-19)) who were held behind the gates of the grave in hell and death. For gospel knowledge and authority in the Spirit, is indeed the Spiritual power Christ gave (Luke 10:19-20; Acts 1:8-9). This is Christ giving His messengers the power of the Holy Spirit, the keys of the kingdom as witnesses of the gospel, which binds and looses on earth what God has predetermined in Heaven.
Revelation 1:17-18
- "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."
He is the great and eternal "I AM," the only one who could empower the church unto judgment with the gospel that looses the captivity. Because Christ went to the cross and overcame/prevailed over death and the grave, His church is thereby commissioned to carry that banner of truth to the world. They are tasked with the work of spreading the knowledge of Christ that the whole world might also be loosed from behind the gates of that prison of Hades/Hell and death. Christ is putting the building of His church in the historical framework of assaulting the gates of a Kingdom or dominion that holds men in bondage. And in the spiritual warfare of this battle, its gates would not prevail. When one army comes against a city, the first thing they do is to assault its gates. Thus, the old adage is confirmed that, "a city is only as secure as the strength of its gates." The gates of the grave are strong, and its gatekeeper formidable, but not as strong or formidable enough to keep Christ from freeing its captives (Isaiah 49:24-25). In the children of God building the church, prevailing over the "gates of hell" signifies that through Christ, the power of the grave or Hades is defeated, for this is how the Kingdom is advanced on earth and mankind is loosed or set free from the spiritual chains of darkness.
John 8:34-36
- "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
- And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
- If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
The wages of sin are death, but the power of Christ is freedom from the death of the grave. It is through the gospel of Christ that we who were subject to its bondage might be set at liberty. Christ uses this spiritual language of the gates of the grave not being able to prevail or be strong enough to withstand the building of His church, in order to signify our ministry to go forth as more than conquerors to make disciples of men. The stronghold of Satan will not withstand the church, which will set free the captivity from his gates. The keys or power of knowledge in the Spirit will bring them out, that they might be translated into Christ's Kingdom.
Romans 6:6-11
- "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
- For he that is dead is freed from sin.
- Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
- Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
- For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
- Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Death has no more dominion over us. Because if Christ makes us free, then we are free indeed. We are truly loosed because the gates of that grave couldn't prevail against Christ's church to thwart His power of deliverance (Joel 2:32). We should understand this deliverance in the same spiritual context as when we are sent to feed the spiritually hungry with the flesh of Christ, or give the thirsty to drink of the waters of life, or clothe the naked in the robe of Christ's righteousness that the nakedness of their sins will be covered. In this same way, the word that we bring is judgment to bind and living waters to loose. We loose those in prison that they might find liberty in Christ Jesus. As the church goes forth with the gospel, which is the sword of the Spirit, it is on the offensive in breaching the gates of the dominion of the grave, and with the power to loose the captives that the Devil holds in spiritual bondage. Again, this fits the context of the Lord declaring that He gives the Apostles the Keys (power/authority) that what they will bind in earth, "shall have been" bound in heaven, and whatsoever they shall loose in earth, "shall have been" loosed in heaven. It illustrates that the power of hell and death, which Christ alone controls, is given to Gd's vessels of the church in its ministry of evangelism.
Matthew 18:18-20
- "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
I should make it clear here for anyone who doesn't know, that verse in the original Greek actually reads, "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth have been bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth have been loosed in heaven." it is an unfortunate translation that leads some to believe that the apostles are the ones deciding. In reality, Christ said the Apostles were only binding and loosing what "had already been" predestinated and decided before by God. Instead of God's messenger's action determining a reaction in heaven, it is the exact opposite, where the divine reality in heaven predetermines the earthly loosening or binding. Even as can be understood as recorded in Young's "Literal Translation:"
- "Verily I say to you, Whatever things ye may bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever things ye may loose on the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens."
-Matthew 18:18
The essential foundation to understanding this verse lies in the Greek verb dedemenon [dedemenon] that is translated "bound." The Greek verb tense and voice in Matthew 18:18 indicates that what is bound on earth has already been bound in heaven, and what is loosed on earth has already been loosed in heaven. The verb form of the Greek is a future perfect periphrastic construction, which combines the future form of "to be" with the perfect passive participle of the verb "to bind." This combination indicates a state of being that is the result of a past, completed action. Therefore, the most accurate and literal translation is "shall having been bound" or "will have been bound." This clear grammatical detail of the text fundamentally changes the verse's meaning by reversing the order of events. The text declares that those they loose on earth, will have already been loosed in heaven. In other words, the Apostles are merely the vessels used of God to get done on earth what He has already predetermined in heaven. Not Peter alone, but all the Apostles (Matthew 18:18), and the church that is built upon their foundation.
Ephesians 2:19-22
- "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
- And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
- In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
- In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."
Whoever becomes saved, or who is loosed because the church prevailed over the gates of hell, was before predestinated of God unto that liberty. The church is merely the tool that God uses to get the work done. The work that was truly already finished at the cross. In this mission of the church, it breaches the gates so that those prisoners might be set free from death. Unfortunately, there are some who have the idea that the key of the knowledge of Christ is a New Testament phenomenon, but in the Old Testament dispensation, the Jewish congregation represented the Kingdom just as the church represents it in the New. It had been given those same keys or authority and power of knowledge of the gospel. But the Priests and Leaders abused that power and their corporate standing with God, and so they hindered the deliverance into the kingdom, rather than promoted it. Thus, the keys and corporate kingdom representation were eventually taken from them (Matthew 21:42-43). Christ touched on this when He spoke to the lawyers of Israel about entering the Kingdom, and being an impediment or obstacle for others who would enter the kingdom.
Luke 11:52
- "Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered."
They (as we) were the appointed messengers of God's covenant, and as such symbolically have the keys of the Kingdom. What are keys for? They are the divine tools to bind and loose, or to open and shut. However, these lawyers (experts in the Mosaic law of Israel had stumbled. They not only hinder others from being loosed by the opening of knowledge to them that they might enter the spiritual Kingdom, but they also couldn't even enter themselves. This is a spiritual portrait about the necessary work of the congregation and the negligence of God's people in doing their divine duty. The keys of knowledge signify the authority and power of the spirit and the word of knowledge of Christ. He who has the keys is appointed by God with power to bring the good news to God's people. The key will open up the gates where Satan enslaves the natural man in bondage to sin and set him free from the power of the grave. But these lawyers of Israel, whom Christ condemned, couldn't understand these spiritual truths, having already been rejected and bound from doing so in heaven. No man could receive the knowledge of Salvation in Christ except it is given to them of God. Even as it is written:
Luke 8:10
- "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."
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In superficially looking at these passages in Matthew chapter sixteen, it is easy to come to the conclusion that it refers to the church as being in a defensive stance with the gates of Hell attacking it. However, pule [pule] or gates are not an offensive item. It is defensive and blocks the entrance to a city, land, or house. Many Christians will subconsciously reverse the actual text and read it "as if" it actually says or means, "Hell will not prevail against the gates of the church." But that's not what the text says. A careful reading of this passage illustrates that this is clearly speaking of Hell's gates not being able to withstand the onslaught of the church. The context also supports this as it speaks of the building of the church, which is offensive, and the gates of hell not being able to prevail when that happens. Hell or the hades of the grave isn't assaulting the church "with a gate," the church is assaulting the gates of the grave, and the gates do not prevail. i.e., they cannot overcome its great power to build God's church from those behind the Devil's fortification. Again:
Matthew 16:18
- "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
It says the gates of hell will not prevail (have strength to withstand or overcome) the church's onslaught. It is not the other way around, as it is commonly explained by many. It is the gates to a graveyard, so to speak (Ezekiel 37:3-5) that is being breached and prevailed over that many would rise from the prison house of death. It is not the gates attacking the church. The simple fact of the matter is, gates are certainly not used for attack, and so it should be evident that the gates of Hades represent the doorway to the dominion of death and the grave. It is that thing which is there to repel those outside of the graves, and to confine those who are on the inside. Gates are either to keep people in, or to keep them out. The common misreading of this as, it is gates attacking the church is a misunderstanding. And this is partly due to this view being taught without careful consideration by many theologians. More than it being about Christ's Kingdom withstanding Satan's attacks, it is actually about Satan's covenant of death not withstanding Christ's assault through the church. We are commissioned and sent to break through the gates of Hades, overcoming its stronghold, and delivering or rescuing the Lord's elect that are held captive within.
2nd Corinthians 10:3-4
- "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
- (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"
That Greek word translated stronghold is ochuroma [ochuroma], meaning to stronghold, through the idea of "holding something safely. For example, the gate is a type of fortification used for keeping in people or possessions. These gates or defenses of the grave aren't strong enough to withstand the building of Christ's church. That is the symbolism of the building of the church and our spiritual warfare in pulling down strongholds. These strongholds and gates are simply not able to prevail against us. And this is not at all unlike the faithful prophecy to the Fathers of just such spiritual gates that the church comes against, "in Christ".
Genesis 22:17
- "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
- And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
The seed possessing the gates of his enemies signifies Christ taking control and dominion over those who are His enemies, overcoming or prevailing over his gates or strongholds and claiming victory over his house (Matthew 12:29). Christ is the Seed that assaulted Satan's house, possessed the gate, and set free the captives that were all their lives subject to his bondage. He is the one who spoils (takes by conquest) His enemies and caused their warfare to end. It is only in Abraham's seed, which is Christ, can his children become as the stars of heaven. The prophecy of the children of Abraham being as the stars for multitude and possessing the gate of Christ's enemies illustrates our victory over these enemies' strongholds. Not these gates attacking the Seed as the stars for multitude, but the Seed is the possessor or overcomer of the gate. The children of God prevailing over the gates of their enemies through one Seed, which is Christ. It is by the efficacy of Christ's death and resurrection that they possess the gate. Because they have been given the keys (symbolizing authority) that they might loose what has been bound behind that gate.
So we can indeed see how this can be, because we recognize Christ (Thee Seed) as the Rock upon which the church is built. He is the pontiff of High Priest who empowers us with the keys of hell and death, that we might go with that power to open the gates and loose those under the power of the grave. The church goes forth prevailing over the gates of the enemy, a spiritual army that is much more deadly than any physical or earthly military. Prevailing over the gates of Hades through Christ's power to loose men from the power of the grave. As it is written"
1st Corinthians 15:55-56
- "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
- The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law."
That word translated grave there is the same Greek word [hades]. The grave can not prevail or have the victory if the church overcomes its gates that the election might be set free. That is our victory in Christ over sin and the grave. There is no sting of death when the spoil is loosed, and there is no victory for Hades when we are given the keys to open the gate that we might take a spoil. We can also see part of this in the parable of the strong ruler of the Palace, who is spoiled by Christ. Christ spoke of just this type of removing of his defenses and spoiling (taking by right of conquest) from this strong man's house.
Luke 11:20-22
- "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
- When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
- But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."
This strong man represents Satan. Satan is armed and keeping his palace with armor (his defenses). Likewise, Gates are also a defensive structure to keep people out. This armed Palace or court, with this armored strong man ruling over his goods, is the dominion of Satan and the power of the grave. But when a man stronger comes along (Christ in this parable) and takes away all his armor (defenses), that man can then spoil (take by right of conquest) his goods. The palace here, as well as the gated dominion of the dead in Matthew 16, represents the captivity that Christ came to spoil (Matthew 12:28-29). This is Spiritual warfare, kingdom against Kingdom, which we should all be prepared for.
Ephesians 6:10-17
- "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
- Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
- Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
- And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
- Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
- And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
As Messengers of God, we are the ministering Spirits, soldiers in the spiritual army of the Lord. The spoil of this warfare represents the elect who are being loosed from their captivity of Satan's prison house, the covenant of death that they toiled under. That is the same picture we see in the Apostles being given the keys of the Spirit to be able to go forth and build the church. By this word and power, they go forth to bind and loose. It is only in the Spirit of Christ that they have been given power and authority (represented by keys) of His word to open (Revelation 3:6-7) and shut on earth what God has opened and shut in heaven. In other words, we are used of God as vessels doing His will on earth, as it is determined in heaven. With the power of these keys of the witness of the word and the Spirit, we overcome or prevail over Satan's defenses, delivering men from the chains of darkness. And indeed, if we look at all of the verses of Matthew chapter sixteen carefully, in context, we can see that the elect given the keys to bind and "loose" illustrates this.
Matthew 16:16-19
- "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
- And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
- And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Again, gates aren't offensive weapons, and through evangelism we loose on earth what has "already been" loosed in heaven. This language of the gates of Hell, Hades, or the grave, is illustrative of those who are held in bondage to Satan, slaves of sin, and the church going forth to lose them from his prison house. it's illustrative of the church's work in witnessing as vessels of God's salvation. Comparing Scripture with Scripture, we see similar language illustrating salvation in Psalms chapter nine:
Psalms 9:13-14
- "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
- That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation."
Here notice that the gates of death are contrasted with the gates of Zion, and are portraits of the precondition of man who is spiritually dead before being lifted up from the gates of death before obtaining salvation. He is brought from one state to the gates of Zion or salvation. The gates of death here are equivalent to the gates of Hell or Hades in Matthew 16:18. It should be clear by allowing God to be His own interpreter that the meaning of the gates of Hell not being able to prevail over the building of the church is that its defenses won't withstand it. The gates of hell will be spoiled, its captives taken by conquest. With all its strength, all death's power, all Satan's grip to hold men in captivity, it cannot prevail over the power of Christ given the Apostles (and indeed the church) to loose then from their chains, and bind those who would harm or prevent them from that task. Consider the message of God in Hebrews chapter two:
Hebrews 2:14-15
- "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
This is the witness of the work of Christ in the world. Satan had the power of the grave, representing death. And he held the elect in bondage behind those darkened gates in slavery to sin all their lives. Until Christ, through His own death and resurrection, delivered them from the grave. The elect are the spoil that was held behind the gates (Matthew 12:28-29). Christ did cast out the Devil by the Spirit of God, and "therefore" the Kingdom of God had come, and Satan was bound, and His house was spoiled (taken by conquest). Indeed, the whole purpose of the strong man Christ binding the Devil was to loose the nations so that they could not be deceived throughout the church's millennial reign in spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. This overcoming of the gates and the conquering of the Devil's house are the dead that Christ came to loose or set free. It's the dead being raised up from the grave, made alive (Colossians 2:11-13), and translated into the kingdom of His dear son. This has been taking place from the time of Christ's death and resurrection until now, and this is the understanding in the imagery of God building His church upon the Rock, which is Christ, and Hell's gates not prevailing against it. This is the imagery of Him giving the church the keys to bind and loose what has been bound and loosed in heaven.
The question might then be raised, "what does the church loosing that which was already loosed in heaven mean?" And the answer is, the souls that were held in bondage to sin behind the gates of hell or the grave, but were predestinated unto this loosing by God in heaven, before the world began. Because of original sin, people were in bondage of the will (2nd Timothy 2:26), because the wages of sin is death. So behind those gates of hades we languished in our bondage, unable to escape, dead in our trespass and sin. But by the work of Christ, the church was empowered to so forth feeding the sheep and setting the elect free. The whole passage is a declaration that the church will go forth in Christ Conquering and to conqueror. They are empowered to gain the victory over the power of the grave, and to spoil that dominion. That's the power given to Peter, and it is the power given to all those instituted to build Christ's church. To deliver from one dominion into another.
Colossians 1:13
- "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"
Before we are saved, it is as if we were held captive in a dark spiritual prison. But after we have been loosed from the power of the grave through the spirit and the testimony in the preaching of the gospel, we are delivered as spoil from the power behind the gates of Hades. We are translated into the kingdom of Christ and reign on earth through Christ in the churches.
Isaiah 42:6-7
- "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
- To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
To loose the prisoners in bondage to the grave is by the work of Christ, and the church, bringing the gospel to the nations of the world, accomplishes this. As Christ told Peter, "feed my sheep!" Which is just another way of saying, if you love me, go evangelize the world. The gates of the grave will not withstand your assault to loose men from the power of the grave, because you are equipped with the spirit and power of the Lord.
In conclusion, if the gates of hell are the defences preventing us from escaping the wages iof our sins. That is to say, this represents the power of the Devil and sin to hold men in bondage reserved unto the judgment of death. It necessarily follows that in Christ's words to the Apostle, he was presenting a portrait of the deliverance of the New Covenant church, their great commission to go forth in the power of the Spirit of Christ, carrying out that same work of evangelism to set the captives free as He has done. That indeed is the work of the church, the fruit of the spirit (John 20:21-22) in God's people. we go forth unto the ends of the earth and overcome those gates. It is our encouragement that the church should have no care about failure, as they have been given the keys of Hades and death, that in the power of Christ they will prevail over those gates--for whomever has been loosed in heaven, shall be loosed on earth. It is their destiny! And because they are built upon Christ, the true Rock and foundation of the church, ultimate sovereign success against the power of the grave is inevitable. His church is commissioned to take the word of the victory over Hell and death to the ends of the earth. As it has been given the keys or the power, whatsoever they loose from behind those gates, shall have been loosed from above. And been given judgment, that whatsoever they bind on earth, shall have been bound in heaven. We can see that by the word "gates," Christ is painting a portrait of the strong fortifications and entrance to the dominion of death in the grave. A stronghold that can only be prevailed over with the key of knowledge, given to the church that is established upon the one true Rock of ages. When Christ says in Revelation 18:1:
May the Lord who is wise above all, give us of His wisdom to correctly understand His most precious word.
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