The Gates of Hell: A Deeper Understanding
In Matthew 16:18, Yahusha (Jesus) declares:
“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.”
Many pastors and preachers interpret this passage as a call for believers to be strong and unshakable in their faith, likening them to a rock that the enemy cannot overcome. While the importance of a firm foundation is undeniable (Matthew 7:24-25), there is a deeper and often overlooked meaning in this passage regarding the role of the church in spiritual warfare.
What Is the Purpose of a Gate?
A gate, by design, is not an offensive weapon—it does not attack or advance. Instead, it serves as a barrier, keeping something in or out. A gate is only effective as long as it remains intact and unbroken. If a gate is torn down, opened, or breached, it has not prevailed because it has failed in its purpose.
Now, consider Yahusha’s words again: “The gates of hell shall not prevail.” If a gate cannot move or attack, then the church is not meant to be passively defending itself against hell—the church is meant to be on the offensive, tearing down the gates that hold people captive.
Spiritual Warfare: The Church’s Duty to Tear Down Strongholds
Scripture repeatedly affirms that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of wickedness that seek to imprison the people of Yah (Ephesians 6:12). The “gates of hell” represent these oppressive powers, which include false doctrines, principalities, and systems of control designed to keep Yah’s people in bondage.
The duty of the church, therefore, is not to remain stationary on the rock, waiting for the enemy to come. The duty of the church is to tear down these gates and liberate those held in spiritual captivity.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 reinforces this:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Biblical Precedents: Yah’s People Breaking Free
Throughout history, Yah’s people have found themselves entrapped behind the gates of oppressive nations due to their disobedience. The Old Testament reveals a repeated cycle:
- Israel rebels against Yah by following other gods and refusing to heed His prophets.
- Yah gives them over to their oppressors, allowing them to experience hardship and captivity.
- In their suffering, they cry out to Yah for deliverance and repent.
- Yah raises up a deliverer, leads them out, and restores them—until they fall into rebellion again.
This pattern is evident in multiple accounts:
- Egyptian Captivity (Exodus 2:23-25): “And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.” Yah then raised up Moses to break them free from Pharaoh’s gates.
- Judges Cycle (Judges 2:18-19): “And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge.” Each time they repented, Yah provided a deliverer to help them escape their oppression.
- Babylonian Captivity (Jeremiah 29:12-14): “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity.”
The extra-biblical texts also confirm this pattern:
- Book of Jasher 75:12-14 records how the Israelites suffered under Egyptian bondage until Yah heard their cries and sent Moses.
- Book of Jubilees 23:22-23 warns that disobedience leads to oppression, but repentance leads to deliverance.
- Book of Enoch 46:6-7 describes the wicked rulers and kings who oppress Yah’s people but will ultimately be overthrown.
Historical Examples of “Gates” Built Through the Destruction of Knowledge
One of the most effective ways rulers and oppressors have historically kept people in bondage is through the destruction of knowledge and the rewriting of history. By eliminating access to truth, they have built “gates” to imprison entire civilizations in ignorance.
1. The Burning of the Library of Alexandria (circa 3rd-4th century BCE)
The Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest centers of knowledge in the ancient world, housed vast records of history, science, and philosophy. The destruction of this library—whether by Julius Caesar’s forces, later Roman emperors, or religious zealots—was a massive blow to historical knowledge. Many ancient writings that could have provided deeper insight into the world’s true history were lost forever.
2. The Council of Nicaea and the Suppression of Texts (325 CE)
At the Council of Nicaea, Emperor Constantine and church leaders decided which books would be included in the Bible and which would be deemed heretical. Many ancient texts—including the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, and other writings used by early believers—were removed from common circulation. These books, which contained deeper revelations about fallen angels, the Nephilim, and the spiritual battle between Yah’s people and wicked rulers, were labeled as “apocrypha” or “forbidden.”
The rewriting of religious history helped establish a controlled version of faith that aligned with imperial rule, making it easier to keep people under religious and political domination.
3. The Destruction of Indigenous Knowledge by European Colonizers (1400s-1800s)
During the colonization of Africa, the Americas, and other parts of the world, European powers systematically destroyed or suppressed the records, oral traditions, and religious practices of indigenous peoples.
- The Burning of the Maya Codices (1562 CE): Spanish conquistadors burned nearly all of the Maya civilization’s written records, which contained advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and history. Only a few codices remain today.
- The African Slave Trade & The Erasure of Identity: Enslaved Africans were stripped of their original languages, histories, and spiritual beliefs. European and Arab slave traders actively suppressed knowledge of their Hebrew and Israelite heritage, severing them from their true identity.
- The Berlin Conference (1884-1885): European powers divided Africa and rewrote its history, promoting the idea that African civilizations were primitive. This false narrative was used to justify colonial rule and keep people mentally enslaved.
4. The Systematic Suppression of Black History in America
During slavery and segregation in America, enslaved people were forbidden to read or write. Laws were passed to prevent literacy because knowledge leads to liberation. Even after slavery, efforts to rewrite history continued:
- The Lost Cause Narrative: After the Civil War, Southern historians promoted a false version of history that glorified the Confederacy and minimized the horrors of slavery.
- The Destruction of Black Wall Street (1921): In Tulsa, Oklahoma, an entire thriving Black community was burned to the ground, and many records of Black economic success were lost.
- Education Suppression: Even today, there are ongoing efforts to control how history is taught, ensuring that certain truths remain hidden or distorted.
The Call to Come Out from Behind the Gates
Many of Yah’s people today remain trapped behind these gates—bound by false doctrines, oppressive governments, corrupt leadership, rewritten history. and worldly systems. Just as in ancient times, Yah is calling His people to come out from among them before judgment falls.
Revelation 18:4 echoes this command:
“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
This is why Yahusha’s message is not just about standing firm—it’s about storming the gates of oppression and setting the captives free (Luke 4:18). Those who remain behind these gates when judgment comes will suffer the same fate as their oppressors, just as Israel’s disobedient remnant perished in Egypt, Babylon, and other captivities.
