BobRyan, that's funny, I can see from reading the Bible from Matt. to Rev. - Peter is mentioned 155 times.But Bob, I can't find the name of Ellen White mentioned at all,
I find in
1Cor 14 -
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual
gifts,
but especially that you may prophesy....5 greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues.. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but
prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe...24
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters,
he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the
secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
Paul does not "name the prophets" in Corinth -- he simply admits they are there - as we all can see.
To despise God's prophets is never stated in the Bible as "a virtue" - I think we can all see that point.
Still I am not sure how this relates to Matt 16 - since the RCC does not claim that the popes are all prophets.
Neither Matt 16 nor Luke 22 say "Pope Peter you are Satan" Matt 16 says Christ said this "to Peter".
Matt 16
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 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.
18 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.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
23 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, but those that be of men.
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I believe it is fair to say that everyone on this thread - including me has high regard for Peter as one of the 12 apostles -- in fact he is one of the 3 apostles held in high regard even among the Apostles. Paul said that Peter James and John were directing their ministry primarily to Jews - as he was directing his primarily to gentiles. Peter's name is written on one of the 12 foundations stones that serve as foundations "For the wall" of the city of the new Jerusalem as we are told in Rev 21.
This subject is not about non-Catholics despising Peter as a way to correct the error of worship to Peter and the Papal claims made about themselves and Peter. I fully expect that Peter would be just as opposed to the Papal succession doctrines and all that comes with it - as many other Christians are.
This is not about "non-Catholics against Peter". The reason for pointing out the issue in Matt 16 is that it shows that Christ still had a lot of work to do in getting Peter to stand for the right in all cases.
Christ is about to take Peter, James and John up to the mountain where Peter and his friends will be bowed low before Christ, Moses and Elijah. Still highly honored above the other nine disciples to even be there at all.
Still in Matt 16 Peter was on his way to denying Christ 3 times at the trial. So Peter has some rough edges to be worked out by the Holy Spirit yet he does eventually get passed that.
in Christ,
Bob