The Men of Sin and the Son of Perdition
These men of sin not only practice wickedness but also promote and command sins and wickedness in others. They are the son of perdition mentioned in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, because they are fully devoted to total destruction. They are apostates and instruments meant to destroy the churches of Jesus Christ, the world at large, their followers, and many others, both in soul and body.
They have made themselves God, being worshipped as such, especially in the Roman Catholic Churches through their apostasy. These antichrists, known as the beasts or Papacy, usurp God’s authority in the Christian church. They claim divine honors and introduced many abominable feast days like Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Corpus Christi, and All Saints Day, as well as the worship and prayer to idols for help, protection, and supply.
The Power That Withheld the Men of Sin
Currently, something is hindering these men of sin from being fully revealed. It is the power of the Roman Empire, which controlled the world with its wickedness—a power the Apostle didn’t clearly name at the time.
That evil Roman Empire was destroyed by the Lord Jesus when it fell and was completely wiped out, never to rise again. The corruption by these antichrists—false doctrines and worship—came gradually and in degrees. The usurpation of power was slow, allowing the mysteries of iniquity to prevail. Magic, false miracles, superstitions, and idolatry advanced under the guise of devotion, while bigotry and persecution rose with a false zeal for God.
These mysteries of iniquity began even while the apostles were still alive. Some pretended zeal for Christ but truly opposed Him. The fall and ruin of the revelation and the evil state of the antichrists were declared. The truth of God’s word, through the Holy Spirit, now reveals these mysteries of iniquity, which will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming.
False Signs and Wonders
False signs, wonders, visions, and miracles are pretended to support false doctrines. These lying wonders confuse people and back the diabolical deceits that have supported the antichrist state, despite being widely known as false.
The antichrists are identified as the apostate Papacy, and their willing subjects are the people in the apostate Roman Catholic Churches worldwide. Their sin lies in their refusal to seek the truth or believe it when they see it. They are pleased with false doctrines taught by the antichrists, so God gave them a spirit of delusion, leaving them to their own ways. Their sins, spiritual judgments, and eternal punishments follow, as they love falsehood.
Prophecies and Their Fulfillment
These prophecies have largely come to pass, confirming the truth of Scripture throughout the Bible. The description fits the apostate Papacy and the beast system as it exists in apostate Roman churches worldwide under Roman rule.
Though this son of perdition has been partially revealed, they have exalted themselves above all called God, making themselves vicars of God, successors to Peter the Apostle, and even worshipped. They proclaim infallibility, holiness, and insolent pride, supporting their delusions through lying miracles and frauds.
The Vatican, where they reside, is one of the richest places on earth. The Lord has not yet fully destroyed them because certain prophecies remain to be fulfilled before the end comes.
Clarifying the Misinterpreted Verse: Matthew 16:18
One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible is Matthew 16:18. Let’s look at the original Greek and Aramaic meanings:
-
Cephas or Petra means “rock.”
-
In Aramaic, Cephas means “Peter,” but in Greek, Petros refers to a small pebble or stone.
Jesus said:
“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.”
Did Peter, called Cephas or Petros, die for the salvation of the world? No.
Millions believe Jesus chose Peter as the rock on which the church would be built, making him the foundation or head of the church. This belief honors Peter greatly. But to understand this verse properly, we must study it in the context of Matthew 16.
Who Truly Died for the Salvation of the World?
The truth, as revealed by Scripture and prophecy, is clear:
-
Jesus Christ died for the salvation of the world.
-
Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of the world.
This is supported by the Old Testament prophecies and the New Testament gospels, including the sufferings, execution, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ’s Birth and Life as Predicted
-
Genealogy and birth predictions are found in Matthew 1:1-25 and Matthew 2:1-23.
-
The forerunner of Christ was predicted in Luke 1:5-25 and 39-80.
-
Virgin birth is foretold in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:1-16, and confirmed in Luke 1:26-38.
-
Jesus was born in a manger (Luke 2:1-7).
Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God
Peter, or Petros, addressed Jesus as the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:18). Titles given to Jesus in the Bible include:
-
Messiah, the Anointed One
-
Saviour
-
Christ
-
Master
-
Rabbi
-
The Word (John 1:1-5)
-
Creator of heaven and earth (John 1)
-
Light of the world (John 8:12)
-
The rock that gave water to Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4)
-
The cornerstone and foundation of the church
-
King of the Jews
-
Redeemer
-
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)
-
Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8, 1:11)
-
Emmanuel, God with us
The True Foundation of the Church
Without any controversy or argument, the rock on which the church of Jesus Christ was built is Jesus Christ Himself.
The Bishop of Rome’s significant departure was the falling away from the true church Jesus founded with His precious blood and handed to His apostles.
It is important to understand that the true foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ Himself, not any human leader, including Peter. When Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church,” He was referring to the revelation Peter had just made—that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God—not Peter himself.
This distinction is vital because Jesus never intended for any man to be the ultimate foundation of His Church. The foundation is Christ, the “cornerstone” as described in many scriptures (Isaiah 28:16, Ephesians 2:20). The apostles and prophets, including Peter, were part of the early Church’s foundation, but they were always building upon Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.
When Jesus rebuked Peter in Matthew 16:23 by saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” it shows that Peter was not beyond correction and that he was not the supreme authority over Christ’s Church. Instead, Peter was a faithful servant and leader who loved Jesus deeply and served Him until his death.
The claim by the Roman Catholic Church that Peter was the first pope and that their church was built upon him is not supported by Scripture. The Papacy’s interpretation is a human tradition that conflicts with the biblical teaching that Christ is the only foundation. Peter’s role was significant, yes, but not as a singular, infallible head of the Church.
In John 21:15-19, Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my sheep,” a call to care for the believers. This shows Peter’s pastoral role but does not elevate him above Christ or make him the Church’s foundation.
Peter died a martyr’s death, remaining faithful to Christ until the end. His life was a testament to Christ’s power and grace, not a claim to supreme ecclesiastical authority.
In summary, the “rock” in Matthew 16:18 is the revelation and truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. This truth is the unshakable foundation upon which the Church stands, resisting all opposition and false teachings.
