Mat_16:18

4. Matthew 16:18.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and (but) upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell (Hades-Torment) shall not prevail against it."

Peter is the Greek, "petros," meaning “a small piece of rock”. The word “rock” is the Greek word "petra" meaning a “solid rock,” (Christ, see 1 Corinthians 10:4). The Greek word for "and" can also be translated "but," and should be in this case. Gates are used for opening and shutting, as Torment of Hades has gates that will open to let one in, and shut to keep them there. When we add all this together, it literally means thus, "Peter, you are just a man (piece of rock) but upon Christ (the Solid Rock) I will build my church (i.e. all believers within the Body of Christ) and the gates of Hades (Torment side) will never close upon the Christian."