In its immediate sense, this phrase, "gate of his enemies," refers to the gates of the Canaanite cities collectively, which Abraham’s descendants would conquer, thus inheriting the land as the Promised Land. Metaphorically, however, it alludes to the future moment when the gates of the domain of death, ruled by the spiritual enemy, Satan, would be shattered by Abraham’s single descendant, Christ, thereby establishing the Church, the Kingdom of God. This is the significance behind the words Jesus spoke earlier: