Was "The Rock" Actually Known as The Gates of Hell in The Ancient World?

[JM]

Dr. Heiser was recently diagnosed with cancer please pray for him.

Dr. Heiser brings up some excellent points concerning the geography of the Caesarea Philippi / Grotto of Pan. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi" the early church would have made the connection to, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

His explanation makes perfect sense.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[Landon Caeli]

Dr. Heiser was recently diagnosed with cancer please pray for him.

Dr. Heiser brings up some excellent points concerning the geography of the Caesarea Philippi / Grotto of Pan. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi" the early church would have made the connection to, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

His explanation makes perfect sense.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

That sounds very reasonable. I'd definitely go with that if I were you guys.

 

[dqhall]

Dr. Heiser was recently diagnosed with cancer please pray for him.

Dr. Heiser brings up some excellent points concerning the geography of the Caesarea Philippi / Grotto of Pan. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi" the early church would have made the connection to, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

His explanation makes perfect sense.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

French archaeologists dug up the ancient Canaanite city of Ugarit in Syria. They found a library of cuneiform tablets with stories about El and Baal. It reminded people of the rivalries between El worshipers and Baal worshippers in the Bible.
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cana/hd_cana.htm

El was supposed to be the chief god.
El | Semitic deity

A temple of Baal was found at Ugarit.
Baal with Thunderbolt - Wikipedia

 

[tz620q]

Dr. Heiser brings up some excellent points concerning the geography of the Caesarea Philippi / Grotto of Pan. "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi" the early church would have made the connection to, "upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

His explanation makes perfect sense.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

Stephen Ray did a good talk on this subject after he visited the site of Caesarea Phillippi. The site was named after Herod the Great's son, Philip II, who changed the name from Paneas and made it his administrative capitol. On the top of the cliff overlooking the Gates of Hell, Herod the Great had built a new temple to the Roman God, Apollo. So as the apostles looked at this cliff, they could see both the old religion of Baal worshipers and the Gates of Hell and on top of that the new pagan temple of Apollo. Jesus' words about building a new church and overcoming the Gates of Hell had three related meanings, the overthrow of the Baal worshippers and the sacrifices they performed there, the overthrow of the new pagan Roman religions, and the building of a new church based on the Rock. I will leave it there and not venture into debate about the meaning of Rock. The geography suggests at least one literal meaning in the cliff.

 

[JM]

Stephen Ray did a good talk on this subject after he visited the site of Caesarea Phillippi. The site was named after Herod the Great's son, Philip II, who changed the name from Paneas and made it his administrative capitol. On the top of the cliff overlooking the Gates of Hell, Herod the Great had built a new temple to the Roman God, Apollo. So as the apostles looked at this cliff, they could see both the old religion of Baal worshipers and the Gates of Hell and on top of that the new pagan temple of Apollo. Jesus' words about building a new church and overcoming the Gates of Hell had three related meanings, the overthrow of the Baal worshippers and the sacrifices they performed there, the overthrow of the new pagan Roman religions, and the building of a new church based on the Rock. I will leave it there and not venture into debate about the meaning of Rock. The geography suggests at least one literal meaning in the cliff.

I own Upon this Rock by Ray.

 

[Ceallaigh]

Fascinating! Below is one of many depictions of an ancient icon called the harrowing of hell. In it Christ at His resurrection has knocked down the gates of hell and is raising Adam and Eve from the dead. Below are broken locks, chains and keys, and Satan/Baal/Death hogtied.

 

[The Liturgist]

Fascinating! Below is one of many depictions of an ancient icon called the harrowing of hell. In it Christ at His resurrection has knocked down the gates of hell and is raising Adam and Eve from the dead. Below are broken locks, chains and keys, and Satan/Baal/Death hogtied.

Indeed, it is very interesting. I had no idea that place existed, so this thread has been extremely enlightening for me.

Also, that is a particularly beautiful icon, and I strongly believe in the doctrine of the Harrowing of Hell.