Kingdom Parables
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M. M. NINAN<br />
chief of Apostles all bishops were subject to him. However at the death<br />
of Leo, the subsequent Popes were not that powerful and they fell into<br />
disrepute and in AD 537 Pope Silverus was deposed and Vigilius who<br />
took over was carried away as a prisoner and died in labor camp<br />
Papacy had to wait till 590 AD when Gregory became Pope. The<br />
political situation in Rome gave him the total control of the City and he<br />
declared himself as the ruler of Rome. His strong administrative abilities<br />
soon put power in his hands within the Church and also in the State. It<br />
was by the efforts of Gregory that Britain became Christian.<br />
4.5 JESUS WRITES A LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN<br />
PERGAMOS<br />
Jesus addresses this church as Pergamos in Revelation 2:13-17. The<br />
name Pergamos means certainly married. A very significant name. The<br />
empire of Rome married the Church which is supposed to be the Bride<br />
of the Lamb. The bride waited and waited for nearly three centuries for<br />
the bridegroom to come from the heavens as he has promised. When<br />
the eschatology did not take place, she decided to take a husband from<br />
among the empires of the world - at least in Rome and that was the<br />
most eligible bachelor of the place - the Empire of Rome itself. Thus the<br />
harlotry begins<br />
Rev. 2:12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of<br />
him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.13 I know where you live--where Satan<br />
has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in<br />
me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your<br />
city--where Satan lives.14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have<br />
people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the<br />
Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual<br />
immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the<br />
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