Matthew 16:18 commentary
The ‘gates of hell’ did not prevail in the true church, which is the body of Christ. The true followers of Jesus reformed the Catholic church. The “Reformed Protestant tradition” continues today, faithful to the “apostolic teaching,” not man-made doctrines of the Pope.
“…and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.“
Rome drifted away from apostolic teachings and replaced them with man-made assumptions. For example, the immaculate Mary and the origin of the papacy are not in the Bible. The Catholic version omitted the prohibition against graven images (second original commandment) and split the ninth commandment to make it ten.
They have turned the papacy into supreme authority, not God’s Word—but the gates of hell did not prevail. Satan brought hell’s gate closer to the Catholic church, and many remain deceived.
The phrase “If you can’t beat them, join them” best applies to Satan’s strategy in luring people to his kingdom by introducing ‘false doctrines,’ such as the worship of saints, indulgences, and the Pope’s infallibility.
Satan introduced pagan rituals in the guise of the rosary, veneration of relics, and the Catechism itself. These pagan traditions, in part, shaped Roman Catholicism as we know it today.
WHAT RELIGION IS THE TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS.
ROME drifted away from apostolic teachings.
The early popes forced its false doctrines—but it did not prevail among true believers
In 1571, Martin Luther’s thesis sparked the protestant reformation. God purged the church. The eyes of the King of England opened, and Protestantism returned the faithful back into apostolic preaching.
Protestantism RETURNED the FAITHFUL back into apostolic preaching.
THE RISE OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
VICAR OF CHRIST: MATTHEW 16 COMMENTARY.
The hope for Roman Catholicism
Paul Washer said, “I don’t like to say Catholic church because Roman Catholicism has never been a church; it’s an abomination from the beginning.” It presupposed that what the papacy teaches does not lead people to heaven but hell.
The Vatican must repent and align its doctrines with faithful apostolic preaching. For example, it must remove all its pagan images, reject the veneration of saints and Mary, and restore Jesus’ words as the supreme authority, not the papacy or its man-made sacraments.
In 2019, Pope Francis called the idea of Mary a co-mediatrix of Jesus is foolishness. “She never introduced herself as co-redemptrix. No. Disciple,” the Pope said.
However, Pope Francis still holds non-scriptural traditions. His role in the ecumenicism of religions, leading to a one-world faith, is disconcerting.
MAIN BRANCHES OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY.
The “Reform tradition” continues today.
God continues to purify His church
The unity of the church (whose members are all within the body of Christ) was dispersed geographically. First was diaspora, the dispersion of the Jews outside Palestine after the Babylonian Captivity. Then in the first, second schism, and understood in the protestant reformation.
Schism in 21st century Christianity
Today, hell breaks loose in churches deceived by “equality and diversity.” For example, LGBTQ pastors ordained; Beth Moore, Steven Furtick, and Joyce Meyers preached humanist-Christianity.
Millions are drawn to prosperity Gospel, superstar pastors, Joel Osteen’s moralistic theistic deism. But the true church of Jesus will continue to rise above deception. The “Reform tradition” continues today.
