Within a couple of generations, the church Jesus founded had been corrupted from within and without. Despite this, Jesus' promise holds true that He established His church, and it endures despite death and the schemes of satan the devil, continuing to this day. By the beginning of the second century, the church appearing under the name Christian bore no resemblance to the one that transformed the world after Pentecost in AD 31. When corruption took hold, it seemed the church might collapse, yet a few faithful children of God went underground, fleeing to remote areas of the Roman Empire and beyond to practice their faith without persecution. The visible church left behind became corrupted, appropriating the name Christian and adopting a form of righteousness that initially aligned in some ways with Christ's teachings but increasingly failed to uphold them over the decades. By the fourth century, during the time of Constantine and the great councils, this visible church had rejected much of true Christianity, yet persisted as the dominant entity. This corruption became especially evident in the late Middle Ages, during the 14th and 15th centuries, when the church, now known as the Roman Catholic Church, emerged as a powerful, wealthy, and worldly institution. It governed large territories in Italy, known as the Papal States, and held sway over many European kingdoms, including the Holy Roman Empire. Claiming authority from Matthew 16:18-19, the popes asserted universal rule as the Vicar of Christ, twisting the meaning of these verses. During the tumultuous 14th century, marked by the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, and widespread calamity, the church became entangled in political struggles between kings and popes, with each side seeking to control the other for power and influence. The corruption of this visible church was further displayed in moral and spiritual failings, including sexual scandals among the clergy and an insatiable greed for wealth. Using Matthew 16:18-19 as divine sanction, the church hierarchy believed they held the keys to the kingdom and the power to bind and loose, interpreting these verses as unrestricted authority to do as they pleased. They raised money through threats of excommunication or anathema, sold indulgences, and amassed wealth through tithes, first fruits, dues from papal fiefs, and fees for church offices, nominations, appointments, dispensations, judgments, pardons, and voluntary gifts. They imposed taxes like Peter's Pence, sold extra indulgences during jubilee years, and used excommunication to extort money, prioritizing financial gain over spiritual integrity. These actions stand in stark contrast to the church Jesus founded. Yet, to this day, the Catholic Church claims these powers based on Matthew 16:18-19, misinterpreting the authority and responsibility Christ granted to His apostles for their carnal desires for power, prestige, control, and wealth.