What is Meant by "The Gates of Hell?"

[Charnock]

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 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.

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.

[Cindy]

Powers

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 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.

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.

"Hell" is a bad translation. The word is Hades, corresponding to the Greek Sheol, "The Grave".

Gates are meant to do one of two things, keep something in or out.

In this case what Jesus is referring to is those who have died in Christ, death and the grave have no hold over.

NET bible commentary
23 tn Or "and the power of death" (taking the reference to the gates of Hades as a metonymy).

sn In the OT, Hades was known as Sheol. It is the place where the unrighteous will reside (Mat_11:23; Luk_16:23; Rev_20:13-14). Some translations render this by its modern equivalent, "hell"; others see it as a reference to the power of death.

[freeatlast]

Does one have to believe in Hell to go to Heaven?

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

Does one have to believe in Hell to go to Heaven?

You have to repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Ghost. Somewhere I figure the Holy Ghost will reveal to you in some form that there's a Hell...

...maybe if he just tells you to open up your Bible and read it every once and a while.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

Does one have to believe in Hell to go to Heaven?

What verision of hell? The one that has been saved from the Roman state Church? No, you sure don't.

[John Hamilton]

The gates of every city is where the leaders held council, made decisions and laid out plans.
That'll preach!

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by John Hamilton

The gates of every city is where the leaders held council, made decisions and laid out plans.
That'll preach!

Do you have a reference for that?

[Praxeas]

In the typical town plan, the marketplace, often an open plaza, was just inside the gate complex. Close by might be either administrative buildings, military buildings, or a shrine or temple. The biblical description of various activities within the gates of the city/town indicates the business of that area. When Abraham was negotiating for the purchase of a burial plot for Sarah, he met with the landowner and the elders of the town at the city gate (Gen. 23:10, 18), as did Boaz when he negotiated the purchase of Elimelech’s property (Ruth 4:1–11). Elders gathered at the city gate to administer justice or judgment (Deut. 21:19; 22:15, 24) as well as transact sales. The prophets have a number of references to proper justice at the city gate (Amos 5:10–15; Zech. 8:16). King David had a seat at the gate (2 Sam 19:8). At Tel Dan a platform has been discovered just inside the gate complex that may have been for a royal throne or may have been a shrine. Shrines have been excavated at several sites around the gate complex. In particular Bethsaida, probably ancient Geshur, had a cultic platform adjacent to the gate and several steles in the gate complex. Also at Mudayna on the Wadi eth-Thamid in Jordan, a shrine has been discovered adjacent to the gate complex.
Many have suggested the various activities described above took place literally in the city gate. “Benches” have been found within the chambers of some city gates. However, the benches are often of such height and size that it is unlikely they were used for sitting. It is more likely such benches were for depositing and storing items or for other purposes. It is probable that the activities took place “at” the city gate or “inside” the city gate [i.e., within the open plaza] rather than necessarily “in” the gate itself. The presence of the marketplace and of administrative buildings just inside the gate complex provided the rationale for the elders to gather there. And where the elders gathered would be the ideal place for transacting business or dispensing justice that fell to them.


Drinkard, J. F., Jr. (2003). City Gate. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler, Ed.) (306). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

[Michael The Disciple]

The gates of Hades are the gates of death that enclose everyone who has ever died. They are all still there at the moment except one man.

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:15Which in his times he shall shew , who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings , and Lord of lords ; 16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen , nor can see : to whom be honour and power everlasting. 1 Tim. 6:14-16

The Christians who attain to the resurrection will gain the victory over the gates of Hades (death) at that time not before.

Note how Paul says the victory over death (Hades) comes at the resurrection.

51Behold , I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep , but we shall all be changed , 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound , and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed . 53For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written , Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O HADES, where is thy victory? 1Corinthians 15:51-55

Notice the Greek in verse 55 is HADES. When the resurrection occurs then Paul asks the question O HADES WHERE IS THY VICTORY! In other words until the resurrection HADES has the victory over Christians. They are dead in the grave. When Jesus gives them immortality then is fulfilled the saying by Jesus the gates of Hades will not prevail against the Church.