The Greek word used to denote church in Matthew 16:18 is ecclesia, which literally means a “calling out” and originally referred to a civil assembly.

For why would Sheol or purgatory wage war against the Church?

1953, pp. They came halfway around the world just to thank us for what we had done.

And thus, even if there is a distinction between Hades and Gehenna, they now seem, in a text like this, to be quite coterminous, indeed they become one reality. But the Greek word Jesus used is hades. … The justice of God did … divide the wicked from the righteous.” (1 Ne. If you have a Facebook account, you may comment below: Permissions and restrictions: You are permitted and encouraged to use and distribute the content on Keep Believing Ministries free of charge. That is our hope. And then I could have said no. I never had any problem with understanding that “gates” was being used metaphorically by Our Lord to refer to the powers or kingdom of hell and Satan. Recently I have found a persistent line of questioning in reference to the traditional understanding of the Lord’s promise to the Church: the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18) . You sent him over here and he died in the middle of his studies. This statement is sometimes taken in a mystical sense, as if Jesus meant to say, “Don’t worry, it will all work out in the end .” Or, some have supposed that Jesus is saying that the church will be protected from Satanic attack. You die and then you come back from the dead. The Greek word most often used for that place is gehenna. Gates are for defensive purposes & not offensive; so here we see two actions: a defensive hell … But why did he say that? Remember that Christ was speaking before entering into the abyss. It’s as if in medieval times you were to say figuratively that such and such kingdom or such and such castle or fortress prevailed over some other kingdom, castle or fortress — its obviously not the physical kingdom or building that is doing the fighting. How would the church go on? There are really only three parts to this expression—"The gates” is one part. And “Shall not prevail against it” is the third part. But he gave it all up.

But Jesus did. Up from the grave He arose,With a mighty triumph o’er His foes.He arose a victor from the dark domainAnd He lives forever with His saints to reign.He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ Arose. There is. At that funeral, to use the Nigerian’s exact words, Dele Olatoye “decided for Jesus Christ.”, Not only that, but Dr. Fatunwase said, “There were so many people in our churches who had grown complacent.” They thought it wasn’t that important to live for the Lord. “Of Hell” is another part. Thus according to this position, Hades refers only to the place where all the dead went prior to the coming of Christ, and never means the place of the damned. I can still see them, in my mind’s eye, sitting in a row on a couch in our living room.