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In a time where evil seems to surround us from every side, we are reminded that God’s power remains supreme, and His glory shines brightest in darkness.

Matthew 16:13

“When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’”

This passage is set in Caesarea Philippi, a city notorious in ancient times as a center for pagan worship and idolatry. It was a place filled with temples to false gods—a “spiritual Chicago,” with the equivalent of the Willis Tower looming over everything.

When Jesus brought His disciples there, it wasn’t accidental. He intentionally took them to one of the darkest places known in that region, a site the pagans called “the Gates of Hades.”

The World Is Full of Many Gods

Just as in ancient times, today’s world is full of idols—false gods disguised as money, relationships, media, and self-worship. We romanticize people, possessions, and power, often placing them above God.

The ancient Greeks worshiped countless deities. As Paul said in Acts 17:22–23,

“Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects... I found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.”

Paul introduced them to the true God—the Creator and Sustainer of all things, not one among many.

Caesarea Philippi: The Gates of Hades

Archaeologists identify the “Gates of Hades” as a cave entrance at Caesarea Philippi. In ancient times, a spring flowed from this cave, believed to be a gateway to the underworld. Temples were built around it to honor pagan gods—particularly Pan, the half-man, half-goat god of fertility and nature.

Worship here was gruesome. People sacrificed animals—and even children—into the waters to appease their gods. The depravity included acts of sexual immorality performed in front of idols. Truly, it was a hotspot of evil and demonic activity.

Here is what Caesarea Philippi: The Gates of Hades looks like today:

And it was here—of all places—that Jesus stood and declared:

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Christ intentionally proclaimed His authority at the very doorstep of evil. His message: No darkness is too great for the light of God.

Pan and the Nature of False Gods

The ancient god Pan was half man, half goat — a symbol of lust, chaos, and rebellion against God’s order. His name means “all,” reflecting his claim to represent every pleasure and impulse. Pan was youthful, playful, musical, and mischievous, yet immoral and lawless, glorifying sensuality and “freedom from rules.” He was half goat and half man and in order to worhship him, follower would have intercourse with a goat in order to please this demonic false god.

His following died off as christianity grew in that region, until years later in London & in America when the play "Peter Pan" was created.

Here is a depiction of the false god "Pan" from Greek Mythology:

It’s no coincidence that the spirit of Pan lives on in modern culture. Think of Peter Pan — the boy who never grows up (just like the false god pan), who lives in Neverland without rules or responsibility. Though innocent on the surface, the same idea is echoed: eternal youth, rejection of authority, and self-indulgence. The enemy often reimagines ancient false gods into “harmless” cultural icons, hiding rebellion behind fantasy and nostalgia. They even gave him the same instrument.

In Caesarea Philippi, Pan’s temple stood at what was called the Gates of Hades. Here, people sacrificed goats and even children, and performed immoral acts in front of idols to appease this false god. It was one of the darkest sites of idolatry in history.

Here was one of the site below: "Caesarea Philippi: The Gates of Hades" during Jesus' time

Yet it was in that very place that Jesus declared,

“On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18

Even where evil was strongest, Christ’s power was greater. The worship of Pan faded as the gospel spread — proof that no matter how the enemy tries to disguise or revive false gods, or how dark the practices of false God's was, the light of Jesus Christ always overcomes the darkness.

Understanding Through the Holy Spirit

When Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus answered:

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17)

Understanding of Christ doesn’t come from human reasoning—it comes through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

As Jesus said in John 14:26:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

The Holy Spirit equips us with understanding, remembrance, and readiness. Even when we don’t know why God has us studying or preparing in certain ways, He is always equipping us for future encounters and conversations.

Staying in Step with the Spirit

To walk in the power of God, we must stay in step with the Holy Spirit—not ahead, not behind.

Sometimes we rush ahead in zeal, and other times we lag behind in distraction. The Spirit calls us to walk beside Him, listening, learning, and obeying. The more we stay in His Word, the more He prepares us for the challenges and darkness around us.

It his spirit that prepares us and protects us in a world of evil. Not only does He (the Holy Spirit) protect us, but he gives us power.

Power and Authority Through Lordship

When Jesus declared that the gates of Hades would not prevail, He revealed a powerful truth:
Authority belongs to Him.

Through His lordship, believers share in that authority. We are ambassadors of Christ, speaking on behalf of the King. Satan cannot touch what God has not authorized. Even when hardship or persecution arises, it is allowed only under God’s sovereign purpose—to refine, strengthen, and prepare His people.

Luke 10:17–20 (NASB)

17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
19 Behold, I have given you authority to walk on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will harm you.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

Conclusion: God’s Power Overcomes All

No matter how dark the world becomes—no matter the evil in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or nations—God’s power is greater. The same Jesus who stood before the gates of hell and proclaimed victory still reigns today.

So when we face spiritual darkness, we can remember:

• Christ has already won.

• The Holy Spirit reveals truth and empowers us.

• The Church will stand firm in the darkest places—the gates of hell shall not prevail.

Let us walk in that victory, not in fear, but in faith—proclaiming the power of God in a world filled with evil.

“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4