There is no evidence to support this speculation. It is no coincidence that Peter went to Rome when Simon Magus did, because the trouble Simon Magus was causing there (in Rome) was precisely what brought Peter to Rome. Likewise, according to the tradition, Simon Magus died on the very same day as Peter and Paul, in conflict with them before Nero. Again, at a deeper level, the reason it is no accident that they were in Rome over the same period is that Simon Magus was the type of the Antichrist at that time, and it is no accident or coincidence that the Vicar of Christ would be in direct conflict with him at the very center of the political center of the world.
-A8
Just to clarify, Simon Magus was the prophetic (not political) type of the Antichrist. Nero, of course, was the political type of the Antichrist.
-A8
Peter did not go to Rome.....Paul did. In my post #1238 I showed that Peter's ministry was to the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel"......not Rome, or any other Gentile nation. A large contingent of Israelites still lived there and were, according to God's timetable, awaiting the message of the Messiah. Peter and the other eleven saw to it.
History puts Peter in Babylon....not Rome, as do the scriptures. I realize this discredits much of your theology but don't you think that God's word would have said something about Peter being there if that had been the case?
It is not a strange thing at all that the Church of Rome has managed to take on the appearance of the "Mystery Religion" over the years as practiced by Simon Magus. Simon Peter had nothing to do with the development of your organization. He was an Apostle to the Circumcised.
This constant mentioning '1500 years', 'Church Fathers', 'Tradition', etc., by some posters, as proof of being THE Church, is just your opinion, no matter how large the congregation.
Consider:
Satan is transformed into an angel of light, and his ministers into ministers of righteousness.
To achieve that level of deception, is there a line the devil will not cross when wanting to look 'Christian'?
Can you imagine Satan saying, "Oh, I would not lay claim to preserving the scriptures." ? Answer: He knows that God will not let his word pass away. So the devil, who can quote it cover to cover, is more than willing to cross that line. He's gotta look like an angel of light.
Can you imagine Satan saying, "No, I would never set up my own lineage of church leaders, or even claim Peter and the other apostles as their predecessors, to further enhance my way as legitimate." ? To appear to be an angel of light, the line is crossed in hastily.
Upon seeing the phenomenon of the pouring out of God's Spirit on Pentecost, can you imagine Satan saying, "I'm going to need a long, long time to make something that would look like God's church." ? I can't, since the devil is the master deceiver. He would waste no time. In fact, the apostles said such deceivers were present even then.
Sure, some of Satan's efforts are easier to spot than others (such as the ones that claim to be the last prophet from God), but how to spot them?
By the WORD OF GOD, of course.