Caesarea Phillipi sits at the Northern edge of Israel. In 333 BC Alexander conquored the lands and built a magnificent temple dedicated to Zeus. Later this site became a site dedicated to Pan from which we get panic... Pan was half goat half man with horns... sound familiar... You got it. This cave and the stream that flowed from it was thought to lead to the underworld and the home of Pan in Hades or HELL. You are literally looking at what the people of the day thought were the gates of hell. It is here that after three years of ministry Jesus said to Peter and the disciples, "Who do you say that I am."
Peter answered, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God." Jesus responeded, Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:17-18
Peter answered, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God." Jesus responeded, Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. [18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:17-18
The temple to Pan and Zeus before him had been built here because rulers of the world and Kings felt the stream leading to the god of the under world could give them power.
All the kingdoms that looked great in their day and followed the god of the underworld have failed. They have crumbled to nothing. ... But the God of Peter... The rock Jesus Christ the Son of God has built an empire 2 billion strong that grows by thousands a day and is invinceable and eternal!
Jesus promises that hell will not prevail. Every ounce of this world is contested by Satan. Every heart that does not know Jesus Christ is in rebelling but Jesus continues his conquest of the human heart. When Jesus came preaching a Gospel of repentance and good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand he initiated a Declaration of war against the Devil. We are now the soldiers in this conquest. We are to usher in the presence of the kingdom everywhere - our homes - our places of work - the ball fields everywhere... LET's MARCH ... Let's follow the conquorer that goes forth conquoring ... Rev. 6:2 & 19:11-14
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