Gates of hell

A fairly well known passage in Scripture (Matt 16:18) speaks of Jesus establishing his church and the gates of hell not prevailing against it.  There has been a large amount of discussion about this passage over the centuries, most of it in defense of the Roman Catholic church.  But I have been thinking, as of late, about the straightforward meaning of this passage.  Regardless of ones opinion of the church of Rome, Jesus makes an incredible promise here.  The church will never fall.
It really is that simple.  All of the modern day hoo-ha about end times, the mark of the beast and the rapture is nonsense, in light of this passage.  Satan is not going to gain the upper hand,  the church is not going to be driven off the face of the earth.  Satan is not going to rule, for any length of time.  Hell will not prevail.
Aside from the fact that dispensational premillenialism has no support from Scripture or the history of the church,  this passage destroys such pessimistic nonsense.  God has promised to give, has given and continues to give the Holy Spirit, for the direction of his church.  He is never going to leave us or betray us.
Simply stated, the church will always stand and she will always be filled by and led by, the Holy Spirit.