“…and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18b)
The spiritual realm is more real than the natural realm. Almost everything that we see or experience in the natural world in which we live originates from the realm of the spirit. In that realm there are two kingdoms that are diametrically opposed to each other; the kingdom of darkness, commanded by satan and the Kingdom of Light which operates under the sovereign rulership of Jehovah, the Almighty God.
Since God gave man dominion over the earth, both the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness seek to advance their purposes on earth by using a human vessel. Once the vessel agrees to be used that is called legal rights.
As a living, created, functioning being God has already given man total dominion to operate His kingdom on earth. However it is the will of the Father that the Kingdom of God functions on earth as His kingdom functions in Heaven. *(Genesis 1:26-28) * On the other hand, satan fights to oppose the will and purposes of God from manifesting in the earth realm. The enemy operates from the realm of darkness and gains dominion in the earth realm by using demons as his wicked agents. The enemy may also influence or manipulate a man or woman to carry out his evil purposes.
Matthew 11:12 warns that “Ever since the days of John, the Baptist until right now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force.” Every believer, as a citizen of the kingdom of God must understand that we are in a perpetual spiritual warfare against satan and the kingdom of darkness. Although this warfare is coming from the invisible realm, it is very real.
In Matthew 16, Jesus reveals that even the gates of hell will wage war against the Kingdom of God but will never prevail. As long as the Church maintained the position that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the One who came to save and set His people free from the enemy, no matter what attack comes from hell, the righteous would prevail.
When Jesus died, He went to hell and took the keys of access to death, hell and the grave and gave you, as a believer power on earth to bind and loose, with all of Heaven backing you. Therefore, you have been given power over all the plans and schemes of the enemy and the Spirit of God will not allow any trap of the enemy to overtake you. (Matthew 16:19, Luke 10:19, 1 Corinthians 10:13) The shed blood of Jesus Christ fights for you and not even the gates of hell can prevail against you because Jesus died so that you could live!
