Death will not prevail!!

One of the most controversial texts in the world may very well be Matthew 16:13-20. While there is a lot to unpack in this passage, I want to focus on verse 18b, “the gates of Hades (death) shall not prevail against it (the church).” What does “Hades, or death, will not overtake the church” mean? Well here are my thoughts….Jesus died, but death did not win. He rose from grave. Death did not win.

Throughout the history of the church, governments have tried to stop Christianity by using physical force.  Men like Nero, Stalin, Hitler, and Ceausescu are just a few who have physically persecuted Jesus’ church, resulting in the death of pastors and Christians. This passage should bring comfort for believers around the world when physical persecution occurs. Death did not win.

Matthew 16:18 should make us bold in the midst of persecution. I just returned home from a trip to Romania. Ceausescu was a horrible dictator in Romania for 24 years. I was able to hear firsthand accounts of his physical persecution. I rode by the jail cell of Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand. He was arrested and confined to a jail cell with no widows or light. Wurmbrand was in complete darkness. Many other pastors were thrown in jail, killed, or intimated by the Romanian government. A friend of mine told me he kissed his wife and 6 month old son goodbye, not knowing if he would ever see them again. These stories exist all over the world. Yet, death did not win!

When heat comes from governmental authorities, have faith. Death will not win. Christians may and will die for the faith. It has happened since Jesus died. It could happen in America. BUT, stand fast, the gates of Hades will not prevail. As Believers our biggest need has been met. We have peace with the living God. We can be extremely bold with the Gospel. We can take the Gospel to the hard places in the world. We can live boldly for our Lord in a world that is in constant conflict with us. We may suffer, we may die, but the church will prevail. So my friends -be bold. Share the Gospel boldly. Take risk for the Gospel boldly. Teach the word of God boldly.