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What does the Bible say about gates of hell?

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The Bible teaches that the powers of death and hell cannot overcome Christ or His church, because Jesus holds authority over life, death, and final judgment. In Matthew 16:18, Christ promises that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, expressing the certainty of His victorious kingdom. Scripture also speaks of the gates of death as a fearful human reality, yet one from which God can save, as in Psalms 9:13 and 107:18. Revelation 1:18 declares that the risen Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades. Those who remain apart from Him face eternal judgment, while all who trust in Him receive everlasting life.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 16:18 9 votes

    I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

  • Revelation 1:18 5 votes

    and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.

  • Isaiah 38:10 4 votes

    I said, “In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years.”

  • Job 38:17 3 votes

    Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

  • Psalms 107:18 3 votes

    Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.

  • Revelation 20:14 2 votes

    Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

  • Psalms 9:13 2 votes

    Have mercy on me, Yahweh. See my affliction by those who hate me, and lift me up from the gates of death,

  • Matthew 25:46 2 votes

    These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

  • Luke 16:19-26 2 votes

    “Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted and you are in anguish. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’

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