Matthew 16:18 NKJV
“And I also say to you that you are Peter (first thing-renamed
him), and on this rock I will build my church (second thing), and the Gates of
Hades shall not prevail against it (the third thing-it- is the church).”
This discussion between Jesus and the disciples took place in Snir,
in Northern Israel near Galilee at the Sanctuary of Pan, the pagan god known
for causing mischief. It’s where we get the terms: pandemic, panic, and
pandemonium. Google has an extensive post about this sanctuary and photos/art
of the place as it was known in Jesus’ day.
While on a trip to Israel under the leadership of
our pastor in Spartanburg, SC, we visited the site.
Here is a photo of the grotto beneath the sanctuary. The rock is some 10-12 feet in diameter and
sits on the floor of the grotto. It's at the bottom left center in the photo below.
Our small group meeting today before the church
service we attend spurred a vision. The discussion led by a member of the
group compared Simon bar Jonah’s path from the earthly life he’d led up to the
point where Jesus renamed him Peter in Snir. The change went from
self-centeredness to the one Peter is known for: focus on God, servitude, and
forgiveness, amongst other attributes of a Godly way of life.
What occurred to me in a mental image is of an inverted pyramid over this rock. The sequence of things most
often interpreted by preachers has Peter being the rock on which the church would be
built. However, considering the 1-2-3 aspect noted above, it seems to me there
is a separation between the naming of Peter and the rock Jesus seems to be
pointing at, namely the one that covers the gates of Hades.
I have no scriptural references to quote. Perhaps you
can assist me with that. What I think is there was an earlier time when the
Gates of Hades in front of Jesus that day, remained open, and demons traveled in
and out (or mostly out) of Hades through this portal. Then one time (perhaps an
earthquake?), that large rock fell from the ceiling of the grotto and shut off
the way new demons could be released. Hence, there was a limit as to how many
demons satan could release into the world.
Christ seems to be indicating His church will bear
down on this rock and prevent any more demons from escaping hell. If the church does its job, no number of demons will be able to prevail against God’s will.
It’s the church's responsibility to stand with God’s
Word on that rock until his return. It's then we know he’ll make the final
elimination of the entire rebellious lot known as demons and angels from hell,
along with satan.
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