I acknowledged your minor point in that Christ built his church upon Peter. Peter didn't build it.
Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Now move on and address my main point. Why would Christ establish his church then send it to hell? Christ specifically says that the church built upon Peter will not go to hell or Hades. Therefore the Catholic church cannot be Mystery Babylon because that faith (or should I say its followers) do go to Hell.
Mathew 16 is a great place to learn about the antichrist (one the Serpent, Satan ) and the antichrists (many) men under the influence of Satan, the god of this world. Mathew 16 holds one of the main the keys to understanding.
It ,unlocks the gates of hell that could never prevail against the gospel of Christ.
Sometimes its the little words like
it that do the most work in helping us to understand God's mysteries that he reveals through the scriptures.
The word
it in regard to what the gates of hell could never prevail against in the verse you offered, represents the faith of Christ, the anointing Holy Spirit of God. The previous verse 17 establishes the use of makes
it. clearly
it was not of flesh and blood Peter. It is the same use of the word
it in as
it is written. Again
it established the faith of Christ not that of the imaginations of men's sinful heart.
Mat 16:17-18 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. 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.
If the second it is attributed to Peter than it follows the first it .That is called blasphemy attributing the work of one to another god in the likeness of men.That is what the Catholic at all costs must do to take away the grace of God not seen and make it rather in respect to men, seen.
The idea that
it was revealed by sinful Peter as that in which the gates of hell could ever resist the gospel key from opening and save men form eternal damnation .This would show just the opposite .It would show the gates of hell have prevailed by suggesting Peter is the key to salvation rather than Christ.
It in the end of the matter that portion of scripture presents a clear picture of the antichrist(Satan) who has no form, deceiving men as antichrists(many) that do have form.
Using Peter as one of the antichrists to give an body seen that men can put their faith in t. This is avenue Satan does His work in. It the same motive of operation he used in the garden to take away the faith, as it is written, that unlocks the gates of hell. God who has no form wanted men to trust Him and not learn by experience. If satan could of not taken on tha form that one could behold with his eyes .there would be no fall. The same MO continues all the way through history. Pride comes before the fall
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the l
ust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Peter having form being influenced by the devil who has no form.
Then
Peter took him, and began to rebuke
him, saying, Be it far from thee,
Lord: this shall not be unto
thee.But
he turned, and said unto
Peter,
Get thee behind me, Satan:
thou art an "offence unto me": for thou savourest
not the "things that be of God" (invisible things) ,
but "those that be of men." Mat 16:22
That defines the antichrist (Satan) working with men as that seen to make to no effect the purposes of God.
A clear distinction must be made or we can easily find us in the place of Peter.
It provides a valuable lesson not to have the faith that comes from hearing God, in Christ, the anointing Holy Spirit in respect to any man . The things of God belong to God . The things of men influenced by the father of lies remain locked up in the gates of hell.
Seeing we are warned it offends God as clearly shown we understand it’s the gospel as the key that we heed the warning..not in respect to men seen.
1 John 2, is used to extend that warning and reveal the methodology of the antichrist (Satan) who has no form, and antichrists (many men) influenced by the god of this world as was Peter used to show
it.
The methodology of the antichrist doctrine begins with a description of the tools of the antichrist (Satan the serpent) who has no form and uses that seen (men) to draw men other towards himself.
For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1Jo 2:16-17
Note My added opinion to make a point in
(purple parentheses.)
1Jo 2:18-27 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist
(singular) shall come, even
now (not later)are there
many antichrists;
(many) whereby we know that
it is the last time.They
(the antichrists plural ) went out from us, but they
(the antichrists plural) were not of us; for if they
(the antichrists plural) had been of us, they
(the antichrists plural )would no doubt have continued with us: but they
(the antichrists plural ) went out, that they
(the antichrists plural )might be made manifest that they were not all of us.But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
These things have I written unto you concerning "them"
(the antichrists plural )that
seduce you.But the anointing which ye have received of him
(Christ, the anointing Holy Spirit of God) abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing
(Christ) teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it
(the faith that comes from hearing God) hath taught you, "ye shall abide" in
him.
Now move on and address my main point. Why would Christ establish his church then send it to hell? Christ specifically says that the church built upon Peter will not go to hell or Hades. Therefore the Catholic church cannot be Mystery Babylon because that faith (or should I say its followers) do go to Hell.
Having the anointing work of Christ's faith, as a labor of his love that works in the heart of those who believe God, by rather having it in respect to Peter(Blasphemy) or any person shows men are already equipped to work as antichrists .It the gospel that open those gates and sets the prisoners free. Not sinful men.
The Pope in respect to Peter would simply be one of the many antichrists. Its like God new that in advance as has given us the warning in respect to antichrists in Mathew 16. The Pope (a daysman) would make a perfect picture how Satan gets his foot in the door. .