I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
Who do you think that is? Those who claim to be apostles (plural - more than one) but are not.
The so called apostolic succession. The popes. You know those guys who wear long robes and put on a show that call themselves the "Vicar of Christ" and people call them "Holy Father"?
"Do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven."
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"For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many."
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"Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Vicar comes from the Latin Vicarious, which means substitute. They literally claim to be a substitute Christ and claim His authority.
They base the so-called papal authority on claiming apostolic succession to Peter, also called Simon, and Jesus saying to him…
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
The word used for Peter in the scripture was Petrus, which means Stone, not rock. The word used for rock in the very same sentence was Petra, which means rock.
"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
Peter is stone, not the rock. Remember the 12 stones placed in the Jordon?
Jesus is the bread of life.
“Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?”
https://imgur.com/a/x7yMeNx