The Vicar of Christ, or even the Vicar of the Son of God. According to the (self-)understanding of the Roman Church, this represents the Pope, the Pontifex Maximus, elected by cardinals. But Jesus Christ himself described and announced His earthly representative. It’s definitely not the Pope.
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The would-be vicar
The popes, in their self-image as “representatives of Christ” (“vicarius christi”) on earth, or even “representative sons of God” (“vicarius filii dei” – Info), would actually have to be able to provide biblical evidence that this claim is justified. Also they themselves Peter’s formulated succession does not indicate the function as representatives of Christ on earth. Peter and his eleven followers were apostles of Jesus. The papacy constructs an apostolic succession from this.
Jesus Christ spoke to Simon Peter and referred to him as a stone (“petros”), a component of the rock (“petra”) that Jesus Christ himself represents. This would address the first error of the Roman Catholic Church, which refers to Peter as the rock. This church uses the next statement of Jesus Christ to ascribe complete authority to itself in the claimed succession to Peter, Matthew 18:19:
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.“
“Somewhat” aloof nature
The Roman Church thus claims that Peter was given authority for all earthly and even heavenly matters. As an “authorized representative” he holds the earthly representative of Jesus Christ, and thus also every pope in Rome. This self-aggrandizement even went so far that this church sees itself as being necessary for salvation and even authoritarian above the Word of God. That’s why the Pope can even change times and laws as part of his “inability to make mistakes.”
Just as Jesus made the same statement in Matthew 18:18, “binding and loosing” has nothing to do with God-given authority to change, abolish or introduce God’s laws. “Binding and loosing” were measures within the Jewish community at that time. A community member with serious violations could be expelled from the synagogue. However, the gates remained open for those who were thrown out to return with remorse and penance.
The perverted interpretations of the Gospel and the countless victims of Roman Catholic tyranny in the Middle Ages testify to the boundless arrogance of this institution that claims to be Christian (Info).
The true representative of Christ on earth
The claim that the Pontifex Maximus is the earthly representative of Christ and therefore (actually) godlike is based on quicksand. Jesus Christ Himself announced to His disciples that when He had left this world, He would send His representative. This representative will be able to work even more effectively than Jesus Christ himself. In John 16:5-15, Jesus Christ announces the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus already did this in John 14:16-17 and again in verse 26:
“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.“
The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Today this event is known as Pentecost. The apostles received special abilities, such as speaking in foreign languages (speaking in tongues – Info), the authority to forgive sins and also the ability to heal.
Demonstrated imposture
The supposed authority to forgive sins is one of the other blasphemies of the Roman Catholic Church. A claim that cannot be proven, in contrast to the power to heal the sick. That’s probably one reason why the Catholic clerics don’t swarm into the hospitals to bring the many sick people back to health. The reality would be too embarrassing.
The Pope is neither the “vicarius” of the biblical Jesus Christ, nor the representative of all areas symbolized by the arrogant tiara, the triple crown of the Pope, the kingdom of heaven, earth and the underworld. The papacy is “merely” an expression of arrogance and imposture, with the authority and throne bestowed by the dragon (Revelation 13:4). Pope Gregory XIII, the “father of the Gregorian calendar”, was at least kind enough to openly display the real situation with the red dragon depicted on his coat of arms. The true nature of the papacy is evident (Info).
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Revelation 13:4-6
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)