Lies of The Roman Catholic Church - Part II; Peter is Not THE Rock of the church
In Part I of this series we examined the Catholic lie that Peter and Paul founded the church at Rome. This next lie, that Peter is the rock upon which the church is built, is based upon the views of individual men, bishops and priests, and their writings within the Catholic Church; which the Catholic Church has pronounced as traditions to be upheld higher than the scriptures.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Jesus made Peter the rock of the Church, and that the Church rests upon Peter; that Peter was the head of the apostles, and thus held the highest position of all of the Apostles. Consequently, the Pope maintains that he inherits, as it were, the chair of Peter, and the authority of Peter for the entire Roman Catholic Church over all other bishops. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that this supposed inherited authority that Jesus gave to Peter in Matt. 16:19 with the keys to the kingdom devolves upon the one bishop, the head of the Church, the Pope.
Ignatius, bishop of Syria Antioch, 115 A.D.in his Epistle to the Smyrnaeans: “Follow, all of you, the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the father; and follow the presbytery as the apostles. Let no man do aught pertaining to the Church apart from the bishop….. Wheresoever the bishop appears, there let the people be, even as wheresoever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church.” Chapt. 8.
Iranaeus, bishop of Lyon, writing in Book III of Against the Heresies: “By pointing out the apostolic tradition and faith announced to mankind, which has been brought down to our time by successions of bishops, in the greatest, most ancient, and well known church, founded and established by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, at Rome, we can confound all who in any other way… gather more than they ought.”
Tertulian, Catholic priest around 195 A.D. and writing in Scorpiace (Chapt 10) in 208 A.D.: “For though you think that heaven is still shut up, remember that the Lord left the keys of it to Peter here, and through him to the Church, which keys everyone will carry with him, if he has been questioned and made confession [of faith].” He later retracted that in his De Pudicitia, stating then that the keys given to Peter pertained only to Peter’s authority.
Cyprian, bishop of Carthage in 248 A.D., maintained in his writings that the Rock is Peter, and that the Church rests upon Peter, and that consequently the church rests upon the bishops in the tradition of Peter’s authority as given him. Writing in De Catholicae Ecclesiae Unitate, “He who deserts the chair of Peter, upon whom the Church was founded, does he trust himself to be in the Church?”
Augustine, bishop of Hippo, taught writing in Sermo, “But since in a figure Peter represented the Church, what was given to him singly was given to the Church.” and in Contra Epistolam Manichaei, “There are many other things which rightly keep me in the bosom of the Catholic Church… The succession of the priests keeps me, from the very seat of the apostle Peter (to whom the Lord after his resurrection gave charge to feed his sheep) down to the present episcopate.”
Pope Innocent, in 416 A.D. in a letter to Decentius ( bishop of Eugubium) wrote , “Who does not know or observe that it [the church order] was delivered by Peter the chief of the apostles to the Roman church, and is kept until now, and ought to be retained by all, and that nothing ought to be imposed or introduced which has no authority, or seems to derive its precedents elsewhere?”
These are but a few of the writings of the titled officers of the Catholic churches, and much more could be quoted. A tradition of reverencing the actual chairs in which the Apostles supposedly sat, while supposedly occupying positions the Roman Catholic Church declares they held as bishops of the congregations, became enshrined in Catholic teaching so that they have even designated a chair of Peter that they claim he sat upon while in Rome. This chair became a symbol of the authority the Roman Catholic Church assigned to Peter, and thus entailed upon the highest bishop, the pope.
The kindest thing we can say is that all of these men were misguided. And, still, all of this teaching is a distortion of the scriptures, reducing the spiritual down to a man-made game of who gets the highest authority and highest position and highest chair in the Roman Catholic Church. It contradicts Jesus’ teaching that his disciples were to serve others, and were not to elevate themselves above others. (John 13:4-16; Matt. 20: 20-27).
Again, the Catholics twisted the word of God to rationalize a hierarchy within a central organization which has grown over centuries into a degradation anointing itself in the name of Jesus Christ while ignoring the true spirit of His teachings and scriptures.
They have lied again, in order to support an authority they violate with every pronouncement against God’s word. Their authority is self-proclaimed in order to have dominion and control over all the earth. Anyone who teaches doctrine contrary to the word of God, the Bible, has no authority from God.
Let’s examine what the Bible really says about the keys Jesus gave to Peter. Bold emphasis is mine.
In Matt. 16:17-19, Jesus blesses Peter for his confession that Jesus is the Son of God, and tells him,
“……Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (KJV)
“ 17And Jesus answering said to him, `Happy art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [it] to thee, but my Father who is in the heavens. 18 `And I also say to thee, that thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my assembly, and gates of Hades shall not prevail against it; 19 and I will give to thee the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be having been bound in the heavens, and whatever thou mayest loose upon the earth shall be having been loosed in the heavens.’” (Young’s)
Young’s Literal translation helps us understand verse 18 a little better. Jesus tells Peter that he is “a rock”. Not THE rock, but a rock. The next question then is how the demonstrative “this” is used before the next “rock”. The Catholic church has insisted that “this” rock is the rock immediately preceding in verse 18, which is named in the KJV as “Peter” (Petros). They are making a grammatical error in treating the word “this” as a pronoun. Pronouns (he, she, him, her) have antecedents, and in grammar antecedents are the last noun or person in the sentence which the pronoun would replace. (Ex. John gave his book to Jane. The pronoun “his” refers back to the antecedent noun, John.)
But, “this” is not a pronoun; “this” is a demonstrative. Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) in grammar are referring to objects in a direction or proximity to a particular person. (Ex. This pen I am holding. That book on the table over there.)
In verse 18 “this rock” is Jesus. He is referring to himself, naming himself, as Peter just confessed Him to be the Son of God. Picture Him standing before Peter and pointing a finger at himself as he says, “upon this rock”. Jesus is the rock of Israel as prophesied throughout the entire Old Testament. Peter was “a rock” that would help build the church, but Jesus was THE rock, the cornerstone, and it was Jesus upon whom the church would be built. To state otherwise is contrary to all Old Testament scripture concerning the Messiah.
The Roman Catholic Church has twisted this scripture to rationalize and claim an authority they do not have.
Peter’s faith and confession, that Jesus is the Son of God was rewarded as Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom. Keys are symbols in earthly man’s view of authority as they are the items which opened locked doors to safes, storehouses, spice chests, and other doors to great wealth. And, the keys Jesus gave to Peter also opened doors of great wealth. They opened the doors to the spiritual kingdom of Christ.
It was Peter who opened the door of the Kingdom to the Jews on the day of Pentecost. And, it was Peter who opened the door of the Kingdom to the Gentiles at the House of Cornelius in Acts 10. In both instances the Holy Ghost fell upon those present. The Jews (those of the circumcision) were astonished that the Gentiles were receiving the same gift of the Holy Ghost as they had received, and began to understand that “…Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10: 34-35.
The keys given to Peter were not to provide him with a higher position than the other disciples, but to perform a function in establishing the spiritual kingdom of Christ. This kingdom is open to all those who will answer the call of the gospel of Christ. Peter tells exactly what a man or woman must do to answer that call and be saved in Acts 2. Believe, repent, confess, and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of sins, and then are you covered by the blood of Christ. Only then have you put on Christ, and have been added to the church of Christ, the body of Christ.
The Roman Catholic Church, is not the church of Christ; it is not the body of Christ. They have no right to name the Pope as a Vicar of Christ when they distort the word of God. The Roman Catholic Church has lied throughout the last 18 centuries claiming an authority they do not have, and have repeatedly twisted the scriptures to ensure they maintain control and authority on earth. They have twisted the scriptures into another gospel which is anathema, and thus are not of God.
All bold emphasis is mine. All posts are also at www.shreddingtheveil.org.
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (of faith – that whosoever believeth in him, Jesus Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life).
The Rock of the Gospel message is Jesus Christ and faith in Him will indeed prevail over the gates of the grave.
http://www.biblelight.net/petra.htm#
http://www.biblelight.net/sp-rock.htm
The ROCK is The Rock of the Gods (‘Babylon’). Mother Church is built on Babylon.
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Caesarea Philippi, the modern day reserve of Banias in the Golan Heights region of Israel, was established by Ptolemaic Greeks as a hellenistic city, where the worship of the god Pan was centered. By the early first century, Caesarea Philippi (named in 2 AD by Herod Philip in honor of Caesar Augustus) was reviled by orthodox rabbis, and it was taught that no good Jew would ever visit there.
This city, which sits at the foot of Mount Hermon, butts up against a large cliff, referred to as the ‘Rock of the Gods’, in reference to the many shrines built against it. Shrines to Caesar, Pan and another god (possibly the fertility goddess Nemesis) were all built up against this cliff. In the center of the Rock of the Gods is a huge cave, from which a stream flowed (after 19th century earthquakes, the stream began flowing out from the rock beneath the mouth of the cave). This cave was called the “Gates of Hades”, because it was believed that Baal would enter and leave the underworld through places where water came out of it.
In first century Israel, Caesarea Philippi would be an equivalent of Las Vegas – Sin City – but much worse than the modern city in the American West. In the open-air Pan Shrine, next to the cave mouth, there was a large niche, in which a statue of Pan (a half-goat, half-human creature) stood, with a large erect phallus, worshipped for its fertility properties. Surrounding him in the wall were many smaller niches, in which were statues of his attending nymphs. On the shrine in front of these niches, worshippers of Pan would congregate and partake in bizarre sexual rites, including copulation with goats – worshipped for their relationship to Pan.
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. (Mark 8:27)
he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (the ‘Rock of the Gods’) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:17-18)
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Might it be possible that he took his talmidim to the most degenerate place possible to say to them “THIS is where I want you to build my church. I want you to go out into the repugnantly degenerate places, where God is not even known. I want you to go out to places that make Caesarea Philippi look tame, and THAT is where I want you to build my church.” Because that is exactly what they did. They went to places in Asia Minor and the ends of the earth, where “gods” were worshipped in unspeakably awful manners and where Christians would be persecuted in horrific manner, and they gave their lives doing EXACTLY what they were told to do by their Rabbi.
I don’t think so. The information you are providing about the Rock of the Gods is interesting. Do you have a source for that?
But, the church of Christ, the body of Christ, is a spiritual body, and it is made up of all of the members across the world, and across time all the way back to the day of Pentecost. Every soul that has put on Christ through baptism, and I will discuss this one soon, has become a member of Christ’s church, or the church of me, correctly the church of Christ.
It is not a physical location, or physical congregation. It is spiritual group of the whole. Those that meet in physical buildings to congregate at a location who are practicing what the Bible teaches, what the Apostles taught, who are remembering Jesus’ sacrifice by partaking of communion each first day of the week are joining in fellowship both physically at their location, and spiritually with every other congregation. When Christ speaks of His church… he considers all members of the body and the spiritual temple as His church, both in the flesh and in the spirit.
So, those clothed with Christ’s righteousness, having remission of sins, are in a spiritual temple body which include all those who have already passed on from this physical realm. I don’t think He ever meant for one physical location to become the one and only. He never authorized a centralized organization structure for all congregations either.
Each congregation stands on it own, meeting in a local home or local building. Each was to have elders and deacons to see to the needs of the flock and to teach according the scriptures. Local government for each congregation. The local governing method keeps mistakes and errors from rising up and polluting a central organization which will then spread to all members. The Roman Catholic Church is the most egregious example of this problem.
But, the church of Christ, the body of Christ, is a spiritual body, and it is made up of all of the members across the world, and across time all the way back to the day of Pentecost. Every soul that has put on Christ through baptism, and I will discuss this one soon, has become a member of Christ’s church, or the church of me, correctly the church of Christ
———-
As it says at the end of my post
====
But, the church of Christ, the body of Christ, is a spiritual body, and it is made up of all of the members across the world, and across time all the way back to the day of Pentecost. Every soul that has put on Christ through baptism, and I will discuss this one soon, has become a member of Christ’s church, or the church of me, correctly the church of Christ
=====
“To the ends of the earth.”
It is not saying anything about Rome simply Peter and the sister churches of the other apostles ‘going to the gentiles’ (the heathens).
1 Peter 5:13
Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.
People argue about whether peter ever went to Rome. That he really could have been anywhere as he simply describes it poetically as ‘Babylon’ (the city of Babylon no longer existed in his day so it is just an expression when he says it. He is in the lair of the pagan God Pan as he was instructed to be by Jesus.
http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/44
That should be
———-
As it says at the end of my post
====
Might it be possible that he took his talmidim to the most degenerate place possible to say to them “THIS is where I want you to build my church. I want you to go out into the repugnantly degenerate places, where God is not even known. I want you to go out to places that make Caesarea Philippi look tame, and THAT is where I want you to build my church.” Because that is exactly what they did. THEY WENT TO PLACES IN ASIA MINOR AND THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, where “gods” were worshipped in unspeakably awful manners and where Christians would be persecuted in horrific manner, and they gave their lives doing EXACTLY what they were told to do by their Rabbi.
——
Saying nothing about Rome specifically.
Did you read the first post on Lies of the Roman Catholic Church? I pointed out that Jesus instructed the twelve disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It appears from the scriptures that the other apostles sent to the house of Israel probably were preaching the coming of the kingdom throughout northern Asia where the 10 lost tribes were probably located since the Assyrian Captivity. It does not appear that they would have gone to the Gentiles at least for the first few years.
Gina
Probably not. Who wouldn’t want some supportive community. A head has to lay down and sleep at night.
Gina
Are you aware that one of the 7 foundational doctrines of Jesus Christ is the Laying on of Hands.
It is BY the laying of hands that a repentant baptized person can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit of God the Father. This Spirit is the SEED of the Father, begetting or impregnating that person with the very LIFE of the Father.
It is “this” life that raised Christ from the dead to immortal life.
See Hebrews 6: 1 -3, KJV
1 Therefore leaving the principles — of the doctrine of Christ, — let us go on unto perfection; not laying again —the foundation — of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the ‘doctrine’ of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
By the way it is not the Church of Christ but the Church of God, Christ said at the last supper “keep them in your name”, If I remember correctly the name Church of God is used 7 times and the church of Christ once.
Gina, the spiritual Passover comes once a year not every week. the catholic church changed the Passover to sunday and changed its name to easter and began to take what they term “communion” on a weekly basis to force those that they rape in every way possible further under their control.
Are you under there control?
Whose 7 foundational doctrines are you referring to? I am aware of what most people believe concerning the Holy Spirit. The laying on of hands was a part of the powers given to the Apostles after the Holy Spirit fell on them on the day of Pentecost, and it was used to dispense the gifts of the Holy Spirit for two generations during the first century A.D. upon those who were baptized.
The first century A.D. was a very special time, and too many are confused as they are not paying attention to the time texts in the New Testament scriptures. This is the subject of the posts I have entitled It’s Not The End of The World, Part 1- X at my contributor link above. You might read them, especially Part VIII which addresses the confirmations of these time texts in Acts 2.
I also address the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit in the first century A.D.
Gina
If you will read what Paul wrote you will see those 7 ARE the doctrine of Jesus Christ and HE does not change.
The reason there are 4000 flavors of so called christianity is because they ALL reject The Doctrines of Jesus Christ — just as you have.
You are going by “dispensations” which is an attempt to make God CHANGE which He does not.
In this age it is done this way and in now in this new age we do it another — REALLY?
Most today do not call for repentance of sin just accept Jesus into your heart — and not one even knows what that means because it is not found in the Word of God.
Do you understand Joel 2 will happen three times and each time on the Feast of Pentecost?
The first time the Father’s Spirit was poured out from heaven was at the baptism of Jesus Christ.
The second time was recorded in Acts 2.
The third time will be during the Tribulation when again God’s Spirit is poured upon the 144,000 and the Great Multitude.
I too noticed the lack of a source, Gina, probably because DamnEl hopes to pass his comment off as personal endeavor.
http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/44
Nope. I just forgot. This is the second time today I have posted this today in response to Amminadab. I posted the source the first time I posted it. I have posted it a few other times too with the source.
If you say so, DamnEl, and it wouldn’t be the first time i’ve been wrong either.
Psa 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Take particular note of that last verse! Compare it with 1 Cor 10:4. Who fails to see the parallel? There is only one redeemer, Jesus Christ! Is it not perfectly clear that Paul was drawing on this passage in Psalms and not the rabbinic fable or tradition of the Tosephta?
Just how often does Scripture refer to God / Jesus Christ as a rock, or stone anyway? Here are some I have found-
Deut 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37, 1 Sam 2:2, 2 Sam 22:3, 2 Sam 22:32, 2 Sam 22:47, 2 Sam 23:3, Psa 18:2, Psa 18:31, Psa 28:1, Psa 31:2,3, Psa 42:9, Psa 61:2, Psa 62:2,6,7, Psa 71:3, Psa 89:26, Psa 92:15, Psa 94:22, Psa 95:1, Isa 8:14, Isa 17:10, Dan 2:34,35, Matt 7:24,25, Luke 6:48, Rom 9:33, 1 Pet 2:8.
So I ask you, what need did Paul have to rely on Jewish fables, when he had a positive wealth of Old Testament Scripture to allude to? Clearly Jesus was constantly with His people, leading them, following them, watching over them, the very Rock of their salvation, if they would only come to Him-
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
And oh yes, there is that pesky passage in Matthew-
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Isn’t it perfectly clear who the Rock of the Church of God is? None other that Jesus Christ! In this passage, Jesus Himself is referring back to all those Old Testament verses, to include Psalms 78:35, which is later recalled by Paul in 1 Cor 10:4. So what then of Jewish fables and tradition?
Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Good ones! Too many itching ears out there that are only interested in smooth things. There are not many souls that are enduring sound doctrine. They appear to prefer fables.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
—————–
Christ DID NOT say “You are Peter and upon YOU (1st rock option) I will build my Church.”
Christ DID NOT say “You are Peter and upon ME (2nd rock option) I will build my Church.”
Christ DID say “You are Peter and upon THIS ROCK (3rd rock option) I will build my Church.”
So he, by using, THIS ROCK, is referring to ‘THE ROCK OF THE GODS’.
Martyred Apostles to the PAN WORSHIPPERS.
I have read the link you provided for the information on the Rock of the Gods, and it is interesting. But, the author admits that he is only speculating that Jesus was standing before that cave. Speculation and probability is not concrete evidence. What is evident and concrete are all of the prophecies from the word of God, and those all are that Jesus is the rock upon which the church would be built.
The Lord is, after all, discussing a spiritual church, a spiritual body, and a spiritual kingdom. He would not be telling Peter to build a physical building upon a particular pagan site. I can appreciate the possibility that the Rock of the Gods would have been a very dramatic contrasting background. But, it doesn’t change the word of God. Jesus is the rock and the cornerstone of the church. To make “this rock” of Matt. 16:18 mean any other than Jesus Christ would be to change all prophesy of the word of God.
if Christ “had” picked Peter upon which to build His Church, why can we find not one word from the other 11 Apostles and from the Apostle Paul confirming and acknowledging this supposed huge event where Peter is given complete control?
And what of Peter himself, not one word from him? If, as espoused by Rome, Peter, a carnal human man was to be the foundation of God’s spiritual Church, why are there only a few scriptures that can even be twisted to infer such?
And to move the headquarters of God’s Church from Jerusalem (that same Jerusalem to which Christ will return) to the gentile city of pagan Rome with again not one mention in prophecy or the Bible — is not the Way of God?
All conformation of this event comes only from Roman gentile documents – NOT FROM THE WORD OF GOD and not from the Apostles.
As with all things of God, founding The Church of God on a Rock was not just a whim it was determined before creation that Christ IS that ROCK: Christ is that Rock that Moses and the children of Israel followed in the wilderness for 40 years.
I Corinthians 10: 4
4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them and that ROCK was Christ”.
The Rock of the Gods in Caesarea Philippi has the Gates of Hades and water flows from it. It is not in Jerusalem. It is a pagan area 2nd Temple Jews would avoid.
Why would Jesus build his CHURCH
in Jerusalem? Where? Down the street from the TEMPLE. In a side alley perhaps?
Mat 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now to see what Jesus was talking about, lets compare with other places in scripture:
Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Psa 9:13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Isa 38:10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.
Who has the keys to the gates of death and the grave?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
It is clear from the above texts that whoever has faith in Jesus Christ (the rock on which the church is founded) will gain eternal life and not perish. Those with a true faith are promised that they will triumph over the grave and live forever. This is exactly the same promise that Jesus made in Matthew 16:18 to Peter! He actually said there that the second death, the grave (the gates of hell), will have no claim on the people of God, who as their reward for faith will inherit eternal life. The gates of hell will, however, claim the wicked, who will perish forever. So, it was not a promise that the Catholic Church would be protected from apostasy and remain doctrinally pure from the time of Christ through to the second coming.
http://biblelight.net/gates.htm
Let’s examine some scripture on the subject of the church:
2 Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2 Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
From the above passage it is clear that “the man of sin” will be in control of the church, making blasphemous claims and exalting himself above God during a “falling away” or period of doctrinal apostasy. Note also that this apostasy is only brought to an end by the second coming of Jesus. Once in apostasy, this church does not recover, even until the very end of time.
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Again, here in the book of Acts, it is clear that apostasy and false teachers will arise within the church. In scripture the church is spoken of as a woman, and her fidelity is defined by particular attributes. For example, in Revelation 12 the church is described in admirable terms:
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
This woman is symbolically the doctrinally pure church at the time of Christ, which soon was to suffer severe persecution for their faith. Another woman in Revelation is described in a dramatically different manner:
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Note that this women is described as a harlot, indicating doctrinal apostasy, and that she is full of names of blasphemy. This is also a persecuting church, drunken with the blood of God’s true martyrs. Indeed the apostate church of Revelation 17 is the church that persecutes the doctrinally pure church of Revelation 12. Satan thru the apostate “mother” church makes war on God’s true people:
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Note that God’s true remnant church is defined as a “commandment keeping” church? This presupposes that the apostate mother church of Revelation 17 is by definition a commandment “breaking” church. So if the mother church falls into apostasy and becomes a persecutor.
Gina,
You speak against the catholic church and well you should — BUT – if you follow the mother churches doctrines are you not of HER?
Do you observe Sunday or the Sabbath?
Do you observe easter, xmas, or God’s Holy Feasts?
Do you espouse the immortality of the soul or that the soul that sins dies?
Do you teach going to heaven or that the Saints of God shall inherit the earth?
Do you observe the Lord’s Supper i.e. the spiritual Passover once a year or do you take communion once a week?
Do you espouse a trinity, or the Father and the Son.
All of the above is catholic invented doctrine and is just a few of their abominations.
Pixel is a post Jew Trollope. Maybe ask her patriot man.
“Peter, upon this Rock….”
The Rock of Revelation, the revelation from Father which you just manifested when you confessed who I Am, the Anointed One. from Father.
The Rock of Revelation of who Yehoshua the Anointed One is.