Caesarea Philippi, Peter's Confession of Christ! Church Stands Against Gates of Hell! Matt. 16:18

An in-depth look at Caesarea Philippi and one of the most powerful truths ever given. Learn about the meaning of the Gates of Hell, Peter's confession of who Christ is, the meaning of the rock upon which Christ is building His Church, and more. Filmed on location in Israel.<br />
<br />
DONATE: www.paypal.com/donate<br />
TOUR TRIPS TO ISRAEL BY TODD FINK: www.holylandsite.com/holy-land-trips-israel<br />
BOOKS ABOUT ISRAEL BY TODD FINK: www.toddmichaelfink.com/books<br />
<br />
Caesarea Philippi is north of the Sea of Galilee. Message on the meaning of Matthew 16:18. Is the church built upon Peter or Christ? Learn about the power of Christ's Church from the Holy Land. Caesarea Philippi is the famous place where Christ asked His disciples who He was. Peter responded, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God." Christ responded, "Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not stand against it." This is a Bible teaching from Israel, the Holy Land. See many more Bible teachings from Israel on our YouTube channel or at www.HolyLandSite.com<br />
<br />
Location<br />
1. Few other places in Scripture will provide so much meaning by understanding the location.<br />
2. It was here that Peter made the divinely inspired declaration that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.<br />
3. Caesarea Philippi was an impressive Greco-Roman city near a huge spring that comes out of a cave and is one of the main sources of the Jordan River. <br />
4. It’s about 30 miles (48 km.) north of the Sea of Galilee and is at the foothills of Mount Hermon.<br />
5. It was close to a High Place where Jeroboam set up a golden calf for the northern tribes of Israel to worship, which led to their downfall.<br />
6. In around 1000 AD, there was an earthquake that collapsed part of the cave and changed the water flow. Now the water comes out of the ground below the cave. <br />
<br />
Historical Background<br />
1. This place has been associated with intense false god worship and evil for many years.<br />
2. Baal worship took place here during the period of the kings of Israel.<br />
3. King Jeroboam set up a golden calf not far from here and commanded all the Israelites in this area to worship it.<br />
4. Later, under the Greeks, it became the key place of worship to the fertility god, Pan. Pan was a half-human, half-goat-looking, creature.<br />
5. Then the Romans incorporated it into a place of false god worship as well.<br />
6. Caesarea Philippi was originally called Panion or Panias, after the Greek god Pan. Later it became known as Banias.<br />
7. Herod the Great’s son, Philip, established it as the capital of his territory and named it Caesarea to honor the emperor of Rome. It became a large, flourishing Roman city.<br />
8. It was known as Caesarea Philippi, distinguishing it from other cities with the same name.<br />
9. During the time of Christ, there were 6 main areas of worship to false gods that took place here.<br />
* Herod the Great built a temple right at the mouth of this huge spring to honor Augustus Caesar. <br />
* A courtyard area to the worship of Pan. <br />
* A temple dedicated to the false god Zeus.<br />
* Court of Nemesis: Female goddess of vengeance.<br />
* An upper Tomb Temple of the Dancing Goats.<br />
* A lower Tomb Temple of the Dancing Goats.<br />
10. It was a worldwide gathering place of worship to numerous false gods.<br />
11. It was literally considered the “Gate of the Underworld (Hades)” by the known world at that time.<br />
12. Children would be thrown alive into the entrance to the cave as a sacrifice to the god of Pan, believing this would appease the gods and bring fertility to their crops.<br />
13. Some even believe that men would mate with goats in the courtyard of Pan and on the Tomb Temples in ritualistic fertility acts, believing this would help their crops. They would also have goats mating with goats as well in these areas.<br />
14. It was a sick cesspool of evil and represented the worst Satan and sinful humanity could offer.<br />
15. The disciples were very uncomfortable coming to this eerie, demonic, dark place, and no good Jew would have even considered coming here.<br />
16. However, Jesus purposefully brought His disciples here to embed within their hearts the imperative truth of who He was, what the mission of His church would be, and the astounding power His church would have over evil through Him. <br />
<br />
Places of Interest<br />
1. Cave Entrance (the place where the large spring was located)<br />
2. Temple of Augustus<br />
3. Courtyard of the false god, Pan<br />
4. Temple of Zeus<br />
5. Court of Nemesis: Female goddess of vengeance.<br />
6. Upper Tomb Temple of the Dancing Goats<br />
7. Lower Tomb Temple of the Dancing Goats <br />
8. Hermon Stream (flows from the cave entrance)<br />
9. Byzantine Church<br />
10. Cardo<br />
11. Moat<br />
12. Church<br />
13. Crusader Church<br />
14. Palace of Agrippa II<br />
15. Flour Mill<br />
16. Roman Bridge<br />
<br />
Bible Teaching and Faith Lession Taken from Matthew 16:13-27.