Ekklesia: The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail
by Dr. Patti Amsden
by Dr. Patti Amsden
One of the most often quoted passages concerning the church is found in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus declared, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. Jesus identified the distinguishing mark of His Ekklesia – “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This statement was in context of another ekklesia – another called out people. The former called out ekklesia, as has previously been discussed, was the nation of Israel called out by God under the leader Moses.
The question beckons the reader as to whether or not Moses’ called out people could prevail over the gates of hell or if this proclamation applies only to the church Jesus would build. Before an answer can be given, the gates of hell should be defined. Hell, which is the English word for the Hebrew sheol and the Greek hades, is defined as a place for the dead or for departed souls. Hell was created by God and “all things were made by Him” (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).
Accepting that Scripture teaches that God created hell, attention must next be focused upon the purpose of that creation. Originally mankind was created as one whole, unified being with a body, soul, and spirit to dwell upon the earth. When death entered, the body was doomed to return back to dust (Gen. 3:19), while the soul and spirit were sentenced to depart the earth and go to a waiting place (Luke 16:22, 23). God warned Adam about the penalty of death for eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). Satan did not promise punishment for disobeying God. On the contrary, Satan promised reward (Gen. 3:4, 5). Because Satan is not the judge nor rewarder of mankind, he was unable to bring his promised blessing upon a rebellious Adam. God, on the other hand, executed death upon mankind just as He had promised (Rom. 5:12). Hell, hades or sheol, is that place created by God as a waiting place until the resurrection and final judgment (John 5:25-29).
Hell is also a place of punishment for evil spirits. II Peter 2:4 reads, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” The Greek word translated hell in this passage is tataroo and, according to the Strong’s concordance, means the deepest abyss in hades. This passage seems to indicate that God placed certain transgressing angels into a special holding compartment in a particularly deep part of hell. Scripture indicates that the future of Lucifer is confinement in hell. Listen to Isaiah 14:15 (speaking to Lucifer): “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (sheol), to the sides of the pit.” Satan did not create a place designated for his own punishment. Satan is lawless. God is the author of all law, the sustainer of law, and the judge of the lawless (Jas. 4:12).
Scripture also teaches that Satan and the non-incarcerated demonic forces currently dwell in and operate from the heavenly realm (Eph. 6:12). Yet the Bible promises that a day of permanent punishment in the lake of fire remains for Satan, his demons, and all unredeemed souls that are dead and in hell. Revelation 20:10, 13-15 states: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Lawless men don’t create jails. Jails were made to enforce law and justice. God created both hell and the lake of fire for that very same purpose. God, as the judge of the whole earth (Gen. 18:25), is the author of punishment for disobedience. Hell and the lake of fire are tools of God’s righteous judgment. Hell is not the fiery abode of a devil in a red suit with a pitchfork, as the cartoons have portrayed. Likewise, hell is not the place where Satan fiendishly punishes and torments lost souls. Satan operates from the heavenlies (Eph. 6:12) trying to deceive people and oppose the plan of God on the earth. The Scriptures make no reference to Satan taking people to hell, punishing people after death, or having any voice in the righteous judgment God brings upon all the disobedient.
Popular literature and songs have painted pictures of Jesus being tortured by Satan in the lower parts of the earth; Jesus throwing off the ‘hoards of hell’; and as King victoriously rising from the grave. Although this image gives rise to cheers of triumph and feelings of exhilaration, it is not a true picture. There is, nonetheless, great victory and cause of worship to be found in the truth. Jesus did defeat the devil. Colossians 2:15 says, “He thus stripped the principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Williams). The victory was at Calvary, not during a three-day demonic torture session in hell. Christ’s victory was a legal victory not a pugilistic struggle.
Jesus did descend into the lower regions or the place of departed souls (hell). Ephesians 4:8-10 clearly defines that He descended in order to lead the righteous dead out of their captivity into the throne of God. Ephesians 4:8-10: "Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" Prior to Christ’s resurrection, hell had two compartments: 1)Abraham’s bosom for those of the household of faith and 2) the place of torment for the condemned. We find this information by reading the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31.
Next week’s article will continue to discuss the purpose of hell and how the church will prevail over hell. Stay connected for the next paper on this topic.
The question beckons the reader as to whether or not Moses’ called out people could prevail over the gates of hell or if this proclamation applies only to the church Jesus would build. Before an answer can be given, the gates of hell should be defined. Hell, which is the English word for the Hebrew sheol and the Greek hades, is defined as a place for the dead or for departed souls. Hell was created by God and “all things were made by Him” (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16).
Accepting that Scripture teaches that God created hell, attention must next be focused upon the purpose of that creation. Originally mankind was created as one whole, unified being with a body, soul, and spirit to dwell upon the earth. When death entered, the body was doomed to return back to dust (Gen. 3:19), while the soul and spirit were sentenced to depart the earth and go to a waiting place (Luke 16:22, 23). God warned Adam about the penalty of death for eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17). Satan did not promise punishment for disobeying God. On the contrary, Satan promised reward (Gen. 3:4, 5). Because Satan is not the judge nor rewarder of mankind, he was unable to bring his promised blessing upon a rebellious Adam. God, on the other hand, executed death upon mankind just as He had promised (Rom. 5:12). Hell, hades or sheol, is that place created by God as a waiting place until the resurrection and final judgment (John 5:25-29).
Hell is also a place of punishment for evil spirits. II Peter 2:4 reads, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” The Greek word translated hell in this passage is tataroo and, according to the Strong’s concordance, means the deepest abyss in hades. This passage seems to indicate that God placed certain transgressing angels into a special holding compartment in a particularly deep part of hell. Scripture indicates that the future of Lucifer is confinement in hell. Listen to Isaiah 14:15 (speaking to Lucifer): “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (sheol), to the sides of the pit.” Satan did not create a place designated for his own punishment. Satan is lawless. God is the author of all law, the sustainer of law, and the judge of the lawless (Jas. 4:12).
Scripture also teaches that Satan and the non-incarcerated demonic forces currently dwell in and operate from the heavenly realm (Eph. 6:12). Yet the Bible promises that a day of permanent punishment in the lake of fire remains for Satan, his demons, and all unredeemed souls that are dead and in hell. Revelation 20:10, 13-15 states: “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Lawless men don’t create jails. Jails were made to enforce law and justice. God created both hell and the lake of fire for that very same purpose. God, as the judge of the whole earth (Gen. 18:25), is the author of punishment for disobedience. Hell and the lake of fire are tools of God’s righteous judgment. Hell is not the fiery abode of a devil in a red suit with a pitchfork, as the cartoons have portrayed. Likewise, hell is not the place where Satan fiendishly punishes and torments lost souls. Satan operates from the heavenlies (Eph. 6:12) trying to deceive people and oppose the plan of God on the earth. The Scriptures make no reference to Satan taking people to hell, punishing people after death, or having any voice in the righteous judgment God brings upon all the disobedient.
Popular literature and songs have painted pictures of Jesus being tortured by Satan in the lower parts of the earth; Jesus throwing off the ‘hoards of hell’; and as King victoriously rising from the grave. Although this image gives rise to cheers of triumph and feelings of exhilaration, it is not a true picture. There is, nonetheless, great victory and cause of worship to be found in the truth. Jesus did defeat the devil. Colossians 2:15 says, “He thus stripped the principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Williams). The victory was at Calvary, not during a three-day demonic torture session in hell. Christ’s victory was a legal victory not a pugilistic struggle.
Jesus did descend into the lower regions or the place of departed souls (hell). Ephesians 4:8-10 clearly defines that He descended in order to lead the righteous dead out of their captivity into the throne of God. Ephesians 4:8-10: "Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" Prior to Christ’s resurrection, hell had two compartments: 1)Abraham’s bosom for those of the household of faith and 2) the place of torment for the condemned. We find this information by reading the story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31.
Next week’s article will continue to discuss the purpose of hell and how the church will prevail over hell. Stay connected for the next paper on this topic.
