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However, a study of history actually disproves the
SDA claim.
The two previous Popes Agapitus and Silverius had stood firm
in their opposition against the heresy of
Monophysitism. Monophysitism is a heresy that
denies that Jesus Christ has a Human Nature, as it
only accepts that Christ has a Divine Nature.
It is possible that Agapitus suffered martyrdom because of his
opposition to this heresy. We know that his
successor, Pope Silverius, did so.
Justinian I was crowned Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 527
AD at Constantinople and his wife Empress Theodora
was proclaimed Augusta. She ruled by his side, as
his partner, and joint monarch sharing his throne as
she took an active role in decision making.
Patriarch of Constantinople Anthimus was a secret Monophysite
and a favorite of the Emperor’s wife Theodora. He
had become the patriarch of Constantinople.
However, when Pope Agapitus went to Constantinople and
Anthimus refused to affirm the two natures of
Christ, Agapitus deposed Anthimus. In a determined
effort to have Anthimus restored Theodora conspired
to get Vigilius elected as Pope.
“But before Vigilius left Constantinople, Theodora called him
to her in secret. She asked him to make her a
promise of what he would do if, by her help, he
achieved his great ambition of becoming Pope.
Under her prodding, he promised to abrogate the
Council of Chalcedon and approve the Monophysite
belief of Patriarchs Theodosius, Anthimus, and
Severus.
She then promised in her turn to order Belisarius, and when he
took Rome, to make Vigilius Pope - and to give
Vigilius seven hundred pounds of gold. “With
pleasure Vigilius made the promise,” we are
told, “for love of episcopacy and gold; and
after making the promise, he set out for Rome.”
[The Building of Christendom, the second volume
of Warren Carroll’s history, page 168]
Pope Vigilius before he had become Pope had promised to
Empress Theodora to do the very thing the
anti-Christ would do and promote this heresy denying
the Incarnation, that Christ came in the flesh and
became the God-Man.
2
John 7 “Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not
acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh;
such is the deceitful one and the antichrist.”
Theodora sent her General Belisarius to get rid of Pope
Silverius. Belisarius delivered Silverius to
Vigilius. And Vigilius sent the Pope Silverius into
exile on the island of Palmaria where he starved to
death in AD 538.
Vigilius obviously knew that – as now the new Pope - his life
was on the line to support that heresy that he had
embraced before becoming Pope.
The election of Vigilius to the papacy had taken place in the
most desperate of times.
A.D. 538
“The clergy of Rome, the faithful of the Church, must accept
as Pope this man [ Vigilius ] who had in all
probability martyred his predecessor, who had
promised to embrace heresy to gain the Papacy –
and collected seven hundred pounds of gold in
the bargain. Even if few then knew this last,
something of the kind must have been suspected.
In all the history of the See of Peter there is
no darker moment than this, the Year of Our Lord
538, with Rome in the hands of Theodora’s
minions while she waited in Constantinople for
the fulfillment of the remainder of the promise
of “our most dear deacon Vigilius.”
“She waited. And She waited. Silverius lay in his forgotten
grave. …”
[The Building of Christendom, the second volume
of Warren Carroll’s history, page 171 -172.]
Empress Theodora was waiting for the new Pope to restore the
heretic Anthimus who denied that Christ had a Human
Nature.
If ever the Devil had his chance, now was his time.
Everything was now in place in AD 538.
It was set up for what should have been a slam dunk win for
Satan - and all those who hate the Catholic Church.
Pope Vigilius prior to becoming Pope had promised
Empress Augusta Theodora to promote the heresy of
Monophysitism.
This would have fulfilled what was prophesied that the
Anti-Christ would do, that is deny that Jesus Christ
came in the flesh, that God the Son, would Become
true God and true man, cf. 2 John 7.
But remember Jesus’ promise to Peter and his successors.
Pope Vigilius responded to Empress Theodora in 538 or 539 AD who had taken the
title of Lady Augusta ,
“Far be this form me, Lady Augusta; formerly I spoke wrongly
and foolishly, but now I assuredly refuse to
restore a man who is a heretic and under
anathema
[the deposed Monophysite Patriarch of
Constantinople, Anthimius.]
Though unworthy, I am vicar of Blessed Peter the
Apostle, as were my predecessors, the most holy
Agapitus and Silverius, who condemned him. ”
[The Building of Christendom, the second volume
of Warren Carroll’s history, page 161.]
Strengthen by the grace of Jesus Christ, Pope Vigilius who had
previously promised to promote the heresy consistent
with the teaching of the Anti-Christ and who used
immoral means to ascend to the Papacy was now
transformed. He preached the truth that Jesus
Christ is True Man and True God.
See
SDA
Adventist claim 538 – 1798, 1260 years prove the
Papacy is the Anti-Christ
Part
1. The
Events of 538 AD. - this page
Part
2.
The Events between 538 – 1798
Part
3.
God’s Gift
Jesus’
Promises, see
Matthew 16:13-19, Luke 22:28-32, and John
21:15-18 |
