Who is the “Vicar of Christ”? There is someone who has claimed for centuries to be the earthly representative of Christ, indeed God himself on earth. But the Bible is clear about who the actual representative is.
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Self-discovery as Christ’s representative
For around 1700 years there has been someone in this world who claims to be the representative of Christ. Other self-designations are “Supreme Bridge Builder” (Pontifex Maximus) and also “Vicar of the Son of God” (vicarius filii dei – Info). A bold thesis, because this would at least have to be provable and not just an assertion. Difficult, because the recognition of these self-assigned characteristics is based on pure faith and this was promoted by the “divine authority” by simply removing non-believers from their lives.
It is not difficult to guess that the supposed “representative of Christ” on earth is the papacy with the Bishop of Rome at its head. Even in the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, a unit of a religious group striving for more influence and power that had long since distanced itself from the gospel. In its self-understanding, the Bishop of Rome (Pope) is the successor of the “first Pope” Peter and the Church itself is the successor of the Apostles and is the “mystical body of Christ”.
Alleged evidence
Therefore, it is self-evident that the Pope is also Christ’s representative on earth. After all, the keys of heaven were given to Peter, and he is also the rock upon which the Church is built. The statements of some popes even go further, declaring themselves to be “God on earth.” (Info).
A whole chain of claims based purely on an idiosyncratic interpretation and distortion of biblical statements. Peter, for example, is not the “rock” but the “stone” of the rock, thus a part. The actual rock was and is Jesus Christ himself. (Info). The thesis that the Pope is Christ’s Vicar, on the other hand, requires ignoring clear biblical evidence that the Bishop of Rome cannot possibly be who he and his good sheep believe him to be.
The True Vicar of Christ Was Announced
Jesus Christ Himself announced that His Vicar would come to earth, soon after He left this world.
John 14:25-26:
“These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.“
John 15:26:
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:“
John 16:7:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.“
Jesus Christ clearly stated that He would send the Holy Spirit into this world as His representative. He then explained the reason for this.
John 16:8-11;13:
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.“
The imposter was also announced
However, the Bible also speaks of someone coming who will carry out the exact opposite of what Christ’s true representative, the Holy Spirit, has seen as His mission since His arrival.
Even Daniel, long since taken to Babylon, received a vision that the “little horn” would speak great words of blasphemy and attempt to change God’s times and laws (Daniel 7:25):
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.“
Times and laws change
The papacy, which grew out of the former Roman Empire, actually ignored God’s laws and predetermined times and dictated its own rules to humanity. This particularly applies to the observance of the 7th day of the week (Sabbath – Info), the definition of Sunday as the “Lord’s Day,” (Info) and the alteration of God’s Ten Commandments. (Info). In addition, there is a sheer confusing accumulation of idiosyncratic traditions that are completely contrary to God’s instructions (Info).
The outlaw had long been at work
Paul warned in his day that the adversary would soon begin his evil work. 2 Thessalonians 2:5-9:
“Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,“
Revelation 17:5;18 also brings to the point who the “woman” dressed in purple and scarlet actually is:
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.“
Merely comparing teachings with the Gospel
One need only compare the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in the context of its openly offered liturgies with the Gospel to easily recognize the contradiction. This also fits seamlessly when one considers that the term “Christian” means nothing other than “anointed one” (Hebrew “Messiah”), and the “Christ” of the Roman Catholic Church is, in truth, quite different from the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
It was therefore fitting that the Pope, the head of an institution according to Mithraic structures (Info), certainly sees himself as the “Vicar of Christ”, but not as the vicar of the Christ of the Bible, but rather as the descendant of Roman paganism (Info).
The opposite of the Vicar of Christ
The structure around the Bishop of Rome is therefore not the visible representative of Christ (the Bible) on earth, but simply an impostor within a power set up by the great adversary (Revelation 13:2-4), with the aim of sending as many people as possible straight to ruin. It is the power that Daniel, Paul and Jesus Christ himself warned against, the mother of harlots, the abomination of the earth, the man of sin and the Antichrist. (Info).
Simple: It is not the Pope who is the Vicar of Christ, but the Holy Spirit.
For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Revelation 19:2
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
