Rome vs. Bible

WHO IS THE “ROCK”?

“Little children,
Make sure no one deceives you.”
(1 John 3:7)

Choose Wisely …

Like a bright light switched on in a dark room, the words found here (which are taken directly from the Bible) may feel uncomfortable for some who have been taught to believe in a different “Rock,” and since the words below will compare their teaching to what God’s Word in the Bible says, not all will feel comfortable, even with just a simple comparison …

“This is the verdict:
Light (Jesus Christ, the “truth” of God’s Word)
has come into the World,
but people loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light
for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth (God’s Word)
comes into the light,
so that it may be seen plainly
that what they have done
has been done in the sight of God.”
(John 3:19-21)

“But if we walk in the Light,
as He (Christ) is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus His Son
cleanses us from ALL sin.”
(1 John 1:7) (Though simple love and faith)

“For God so loved the World
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should NOT perish (in Hell)
but have everlasting life (in Heaven).”
(John 3:16)

The choice will be yours …

Choosing which “Rock” in which to believe is the critical choice we must all make at some point during this short life.

The right choice brings life … the wrong choice brings death.

As noted, it’s not my job to tell anybody what to believe.

My job is to simply present what God’s Word says, and to let people choose for themselves what (and whether) to believe.

The Warning

The Bible warns over and over again that the Serpent (Satan) is a deceiver, and his “Son of Perdition” (Antichrist) will also be a deceiver who will convince many that he is the “Rock.”

“Little children, it is the last hour,
and as you have heard that Antichrist is coming,
so now many antichrists have come.
Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
They went out from us (the early Christian Church),
But they were not of us.”
(1 John 2:18-19)

“Little children,
make sure no one deceives you”
(1 John 3:7)

Now, let’s simply compare what the Roman Catholic Church teaches with what the Bible says concerning this critically important issue as to who the “Rock” actually is in order to help choose which “Rock” to place our faith in …

First, let’s hear Roman Catholics explain their belief …

The ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH teaches:

Catechism of the Catholic Church
http://www.biblicalcatholic.com/apologetics/PeterRockKeysPrimacyRome.htm

“The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, “the Rock” of his Church … This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.”

Vatican News
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-07/primacy-and-infallibility-150-years-after-vatican-i.html

“And Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in Krakow on 27 May 2006 with young people … explained in simple words what was affirmed in those truths of faith proclaimed long ago:

“Do not be afraid to build your life on the Church and with the Church. You are all proud of the love you have for Peter and for the Church entrusted to him. Do not be fooled by those who want to play Christ against the Church. There is one foundation on which it is worthwhile to build a house. This foundation is Christ. There is only one Rock on which it is worthwhile to place everything. This Rock is the one to whom Christ said: ‘You are Peter, and on this rock (Peter) I will build My Church’ (Mt 16:18).

“Young people, you know well the Rock of our times. Accordingly, do not forget that neither that Peter who is watching our gathering from the window of God the Father, nor this Peter who is now standing in front of you (Pope Benedict XVI), nor any successive Peter (Pope) will ever be opposed to you building a lasting house on the Rock (Peter)”

Council of Chalcedon

“Wherefore the most holy and blessed Pope Leo, archbishop of the great and elder Rome, through us, and through this present most holy synod, together with the thrice blessed and all-glorious Peter the apostle, who is the Rock and foundation of the Catholic Church.”

Excerpted From: “Catholic Answers”
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/peter-is-the-rock-upon-which-the-church-is-founded

“For Catholics, Matthew 16:18 is a key passage when establishing a biblical basis for the papacy: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”

“Catholics argue that because Jesus makes Peter, the first Pope, the Rock of his Church, his papal successors (Popes), as Peter, remain head of the Christian Church on Earth.”

“But Protestants offer a series of counter arguments …”

“It’s argued that … Jesus must have been referring to something other than Peter, like his (Peter’s) declaration of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“Does this (the Protestant) argument prove that Catholics are wrong about PETER being the Rock upon which Jesus established His Church … The answer is, “No!”

So, the Roman Catholic Church teaches:

– That the Apostle “Peter” is/was “the Rock”
– That Peter was the first Roman Pope (“Bishop”)
– That ALL Roman Popes are both “The Rock” and “Peter”
– Even the current Pope is now “The Rock” of the Bible

Now, let’s hear what the BIBLE says about “The Rock”:

“For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a Rock, except our God”
(Psalm 18:31) (The Bible clearly says Jesus is “Lord”)

“Truly my soul silently waits for GOD;
From HIM comes my Salvation.
He ALONE is my ROCK and my Salvation (Savior) …
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him.
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation (Savior) …
Trust in HIM at all times, you people.”
(Psalm 62:1-8)

“There is no one holy like the Lord,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any ROCK like our God.”
(1 Samuel 2:2)

“Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord,
we have an everlasting ROCK.”
(Isaiah 26:4)

‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid …
And you are My witnesses.
Is there any God besides Me,
Or is there any other ROCK?
I know of NONE.’”
(Isaiah 44:8)

“And they remembered
that GOD was their ROCK,
And the Most High God
their Redeemer.”
(Psalm 78:35)

“Are You not from everlasting,
O Lord, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die.
You, O Lord,
have appointed them to judge;
And You, O ROCK,
have established them to correct”
(Habakkuk 1:12

“For You are my ROCK and my Fortress.
Therefore, for Your Name’s sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Pull me out of the net
which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me,
O LORD God of truth.”
(Psalms 31:3-5)

David’s Song of Deliverance

“The LORD is my ROCK …
my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior” …
“For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a Rock, except our God?
(Excerpted from 2 Samuel 22)

And here, the Apostle Paul delivers the final blow …

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,
that our fathers were all under the cloud,
and all passed through the sea,
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
and all ate the same spiritual food,
and all drank the same spiritual drink.
For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them,
and THE ROCK was CHRIST!!!”
(1 Corinthians 10:1-4) (God’s Word divides truth from lies)

Q: Was Peter EVER the Bishop (Pope) of Rome?

A: From “The Gnostic Origins of Roman Catholicism”
(by Dr. Ken Johnson)

According to the Early Church Fathers
The Apostasy of the Church of Rome
Began Creeping In Early

“The early church leaders and writers Polycarp, Iraneus, Hippolytus, Eusebius all wrote letters correcting, reproving, and rebuking some of the early Bishops (Popes) of Rome. They warned and rebuked the Roman Bishops when they began to teach they (in Rome) were over all the churches.”

Early Bishops of Rome From Recorded Church History:

Linus 67-79 AD (Godly)
Anacletus 79-92 AD (Godly)
Clement I 92-97 AD (Godly)
Evarestus 97-105 AD (Godly)
Alexander I 105-115 AD (Godly)
Sixtus I 115-125 AD (Rebellious)
Telesphorus 125-136 AD (Rebellious)
Hyginus 136-140 AD (Rebellious)
Pius I 140-155 AD (Rebellious)
Anicetus 155-166 AD (Rebellious)
Soter 166-174 AD (Rebellious)
Eleutherus 174-189 AD (Rebellious)
Victor I 189-199 AD (Rebellious)
Zephyrinus 199-217 AD (Heresy)

Peter was NEVER listed as a bishop of the Church of Rome!

Note: This list was documented by the Early Church leaders’ writings and history of the Church in Rome.

The Roman Church uses this exact same list except they have now inserted “Peter” into their #1 spot.

Here, the Apostle Paul’s LETTER to the “Romans” confirms Peter could not have been “bishop” of the church in Rome …

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you … I am eager to preach the Gospel to you also who are in ROME.”
(Romans 1:8-14)

“I (the Apostle Paul) have made it my aim to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was (already) named (or taught), lest I should build on another man’s foundation (such as the Apostle Peter’s).”
(Romans 15:20)

The Apostle Paul NEVER could have written this to the church in Rome if the Apostle PETER was already there “imparting spiritual gifts” and “preaching the Gospel”!!!

Also, IF Peter had been the Bishop of Rome, then WHY did not Paul list him in his greetings to all of those who were notable in the church of Rome?

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila,
my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
who risked their own necks for my life,
to whom not only I give thanks,
but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Likewise greet the church that is in their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus,
who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
Greet Andronicus and Junia,
my countrymen and my fellow prisoners,
who are of note among the Apostles,
who also were in Christ before me.
Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ,
and Stachys, my beloved.
Greet Apelles, approved in Christ.
Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
Greet Herodion, my countryman.
Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus
who are in the Lord.
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa,
who have labored in the Lord.
Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,
and the brethren who are with them.
Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus
and his sister, and Olympas,
and all the saints who are with them.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
The churches of Christ greet you.”
(Romans 16:3-16)

The Bible clearly says PAUL was the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans) while Peter was Apostle to the Jews …

“For the same God who worked through Peter
as the Apostle to the Jews
also worked through me (Paul)
as the Apostle to the Gentiles (and Romans).”
(Galatians 2:8 TLB)

From “Got Questions”
https://www.gotquestions.org/apostle-to-the-Gentiles.html

“Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles by God’s choice. The Lord Jesus declared that He had a specific mission for Paul: “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Paul had been set apart from birth and called by God’s grace so that he might “preach [Christ] among the Gentiles” (Galatians 1:15–16).

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles because he was under obligation to serve in Gentile lands. Paul’s testimony was that “this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8).

Peter preached (mainly) to the Jews.

Paul was well-qualified to be the apostle to the Gentiles. He was well-educated, being thoroughly trained in the Mosaic Law under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and having received a classical Roman education in Tarsus. He had the ability to argue his point from Jewish Law (Galatians 4:21–31) and to illustrate it from Greek literature (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul’s training as a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) allowed him access to synagogues everywhere, and he also held the privileges of Roman citizenship, which opened doors of opportunity throughout the Roman world (Acts 22:3, 25–29; 28:30)..

The Lord specifically chose Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles to show that salvation is offered to all people.

May the Lord continue to reach people everywhere for His glory, and may we display Paul’s willingness to go wherever God calls us.”

Now, consider the following words from Jesus …

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the Rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did NOT fall, because it had been founded on the Rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand (or the Pope). And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27)

Upon which “Rock” will you place your faith to help find hope, strength, and comfort during those times of trouble, distress, suffering, and affliction which all will experience at times during this short life on Earth?

The Answer will determine our future destiny …

The answer to “Who is The Rock?” is a crucial choice we will all have to make sometime along our way to Heaven.

The Bible passages we have read are very clear.

Either the Bible is true … or the Roman Church is true.

Pick one.

Your Salvation depends upon your choice …

Choose wisely.

“Little children, it is the last hour,
and as you have heard that Antichrist is coming,
so now many antichrists have come.
Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
They went out from us (the early Christian Church),
But they were not of us.”
(1 John 2:18-19)

Grace and Shalom

ADDITIONAL STUDIES:

Prophetic Rise of Rome & The Roman Church

An Unholy History of Roman Popes

Unholy Quotes From the Vatican

Roman Church and NAZI (Socialist) Germany: An Unholy Alliance

Prophecy: The Woman Who Rides The Beast

Study: Number of Bible-Believing Protestants Killed By Roman Popes