"THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL."
By W. N. Glenn
NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that the best scholars of all ages since the translation of the Bible into the English language testify that the word hell in the New Testament comes from different Greek words of varied significations, a majority of professed Christians insist upon giving it but one definition—endless torment. Let us take just one instance, and see how completely such theology overturns itself. "Upon this rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. 16:18. The statement that the gates cannot prevail implies an attack and unsuccessful resistance. The gates of hell resist only one way, and that is against the escape of those already within. They open readily to receive those from without. The church (the true church, built upon a rock) certainly would not try very hard to break inward through those gates, and would meet no resistance if it did so attempt. All theories of hell will agree with this proposition. The effort to force the gates, therefore, must come from within, else these words of the Saviour have no meaning. Consequently, either Christ must have planted his church in hell, or by some means and for some reason it subsequently passed into that place. No one will maintain that he planted it there. Then, having entered in some way, at some time, and the gates being powerless to prevent an exit, what becomes of the idea of endless torment in hell.67Granting the exposition of unbiased scholars, that in this as in many other instances the word hell is translated from the Greek word hades, signifying grave, the whole subject becomes clear. When the gates here referred to shall have failed to prevail against the church at the resurrection, then will have come to pass the saying, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades) where is thy victory?" 1 Cor. 15:55.