ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER NUMBER 146

“The Saga of the Adventist Papal Tiara: Part 2”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D,

Retired Professor of Church History and Theology,

Andrews University

The short introductory essay I posted in the last newsletter No. 145 about “The Saga of the Adventist Papal Tiara,” has generated an unusual number of responses. The vast majority of the comments have been very positive. In fact, some Conference Presidents have invited me to present this new research at their workers’ meeting. Elder Marvin Moore, the Editor of Signs, ordered 15 DVD albums for himself and for the chief officers of Pacific Press.

But a few concerned fellow believers, expressed their deep disappointment over what they perceive to be a serious abandonment of a major Adventist teaching. Some evangelists are especially upset, because this study raises questions about their preaching on the Mark and Number of the Beast. Confidently they have preached for years that the number of the Beast (666) is clearly found in the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, inscribed in his golden tiara. Now they are learning that recent Adventist studies raise serious questions about this popular teaching. Obviously this development is upsetting them.

One could be tempted to ignore the negative reactions of a few concerned Adventists. After all, some will always disagree with any new interpretation of the Mark and Number of the Beast, no matter how true it is to the text, context, and historical setting of Revelation 13. But to totally ignore the critical arguments, would reveal a lack of pastoral concern on my part for the struggle of some fellow believers to come to terms with a new interpretation. Thus, I decided to devote this newsletter to respond to the major arguments presented in defence of the traditional application of 666 to the Pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, supposedly inscribed in the papal tiara.

Much time and effort has gone into preparing this lengthy newsletter, which some may dismiss as tedious because it deals with critical arguments that they deem irrelevant. But before you decide to ignore this essay, I would warn you that this discussion of our past and present Adventist interpretation of the Mark and Number of the Beast, has many ramifications. Ultimately it affects the method we use to interpret the book of Revelation. Thus, my recommendation is to be sure to store this lengthy study for future reading and use. You may need it more often than you think in future discussion of this subject.

Before proceeding with our study, there are several important announcements that need to be made.

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Few days ago, I met the President of TAGnet, Dan Houghton, at the Fallbrook SDA Church (near San Diego), where I was speaking. Dan and his team have been most gracious to offer me their services to improve the delivery of my newsletter as well as to enable people to subscribe or unsubscribe automatically. From now on our ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER will be mailed directly by TAGnet. I trust that this service will improve the delivery of the newsletter and facilitate the subscribe/unsubscribe procedure.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE END OF THE NEWSLETTERS

A detailed description of the special offers on goods and services is provided at the end of this newsletter. This is a brief listing of the announcements that are expanded at the end of this newsletter.

1. CALENDAR OF FORTHCOMING WEEKEND SEMINARS for the months of May and June 2006. See the details at the end of this newsletter.

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“The Saga of the Adventist Papal Tiara: Part 2”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D,

Retired Professor of Church History and Theology,

Andrews University

The brief, 21 bullet-points outline of my essay on “The Saga of the Adventist Papal Tiara” posted in the previous newsletter (no. 145), hardly offered all the documentation and explanation needed to understand the subject. This may explain why some subscribers reacted negatively to the essay. Most likely, they would have reacted differently, had they been given the opportunity to view the newly released DVD album containing the live two hours and twenty minutes lecture recorded at the Andrews University Towers Auditorium.

In fact, some critics who later viewed the DVD recording, have written to me apologizing for their premature negative judgements. After viewing the DVD and reading the script attached to the 200 powerpoint slides, some concerned fellow-believers have became convinced that the traditional Adventist application of the number 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei of the tiara, can no longer be legitimately defended exegetically and historically.

For the sake of those who have not had the chance yet to view the two hours DVD live lecture or to examine the powerpoint slide version of the lecture, I will attempt to respond to the major arguments used to discredit the new symbolic interpretation of 666 presented in the DVD recording and in recent Adventist studies.

Reasons for Responding to Critical Messages

The reason for taking time to respond to some critical messages, is that they are circulating via email far and wide in many countries. For example, a retired Australian Pastor, Bruce Price, a personal friend and author of the well-known book Our Friends: The Jehovah’s Witnesses, emailed to a selected group of people a message with an attached article from the Catholic magazine Our Sunday Visitor, November 15, 1914. The article states: “The title of the Pope of Rome is Vicarius Filii Dei. This is inscribed on his mitre.” The problems related to this statement will be discussed later. The intent of Price’s message was to show that Vicarius Filii Dei is indeed found in the papal tiara. He added this comment: “I listened to and worked with most of the great evangelists this [South Pacific] Division has known. They did not teach, ‘cunningly devised fables’!”

Within a few days Pastor Price’s message was relayed to a countless number of people in many parts of the world. For example, someone emailed Pastor Price’s message to Elder Loren Nelson, Ministerial Secretary of the Michigan Conference. In turn, Elder Nelson forwarded Elder Price’s message with a brief personal note, where he associates me with Jesuits, to the pastors of the Michigan Conference. Some pastors forwarded the expanded message to some of their members. Eventually, dozen of individuals emailed me various expanded versions of this message with their own personal comments. In today’s instant communications, no one can tell how far and wide will go a message that was originally emailed to a selected group of friends.

In view of the wide circulation of some critical messages, it is imperative for me to respond to a few arguments. Failing to do so, would leave many readers confused, if not critical, of the new symbolic interpretation of the number of the Beast, presented in recent Adventist studies. For the sake of brevity, I will respond to five major sets of critical arguments. Thus, the response is divided in five parts:

Part 1

A response to the accusation that the latest newsletters reveal that Bacchiocchi is part of a Jesuit conspiracy attempting to destabilize the Adventist church.

Part 2

A response to the claim that the application of the number of the Beast (666) to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei is an official Adventist teaching that no scholar or church leaders has the right to change without an official vote taken at the General Conference session.

Part 3

A response to imaginative arguments used to defend the existence of Vicarius Filii Dei on the papal tiara or inside the mitre.

Part 4

A response to arguments used to defend the traditional numeric interpretation of the number of the Beast (666).

Part 5

A response to charge that Adventist scholars are abandoning the historicist method of prophetic interpretation, and adopting the preteristic method instead.

Part 1

IS BACCHIOCCHI PART OF A JESUIT

CONSPIRACY?

During the past 30 years time and again I have been accused by some “concerned” Adventists of being part of a Jesuit conspiracy to destabilize the Adventist church. Usually the accusation stems from disagreements with some aspects of my research. While other Adventist leaders have also been suspected to be “Jesuits,” I have been the primary target because I studied and graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome—the leading Jesuit university in the world founded by Ignatius of Loyola.

The latest research on The Mark and Number of the Beast, has rekindled the “Jesuit” accusation, because some feel that I clears the papacy of any connection with the Beast of Revelation 13. By questioning the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, supposedly I am rejecting the prophetic role of the papacy in promoting the endtime idolatrous worship.

These accusations are blatantly false. They are fabricated by people who prefer to spend their time trying to assassinate my character, instead of seeking to understand what I wrote and what I preach every weekend across North America and overseas. Jesus said: “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt 7:20). The fruits of my ministry speak for themselves. Thousand of people around the world have accepted the Sabbath and joined our church after reading my books and attending my seminars. Such ministry could hardly be the fruits of a “Jesuit Infiltrator.”

For the sake of brevity, I will limit my response to three observations:

1. I have never had any formal or informal contacts with Jesuits since my graduation at the Pontifical Gregorian University on July 14, 1974.

2. At this time the Jesuits have too many problems of their own to find time to infiltrate in the Adventist church.

3. Numerous Adventist scholars have defended the symbolic interpretation of 666 long before me.

No Contact with Jesuits since my Graduation in 1974

Since my graduation on July 14, 1974, I have not had any formal or informal contacts with Jesuits. The controversy generated by my dissertation From Sabbath to Sunday in dominant Catholic countries, eventually led Pedro Arrupe, the General of the Jesuit Order, to instruct my beloved adviser, Prof. Vincenzo Monachino, not to receive me any more at his office at the Gregorian University. Prof. Monachino supervised my dissertation and thus, he was largely blamed for approving it and helping me to obtain the imprimatur—approval for its publication.

Over a year ago I received a document issued by the Academic Dean office of the Gregoriana, which negates my academic achievements, such as the reception of the gold medal donated by Pope Paul VI for earning the summa cum laude distinction. I have asked the Dean for an opportunity to show the original documents, including the gold medal, to Bishop Murray of Kalamazoo, whose jurisdiction includes Berrien Springs, where we live. But such meeting has not yet taken place and I doubt that it will ever take place. These facts suffice to dispel the rumor of any contact or cooperation on my part with Jesuits.

Jesuits Have too Many Problems of their Own

Adventists who indulge in the “Jesuit” conspiracy speculations, ignore that Jesuits at this time have too many problems of their own to conspire to infiltrate in the Adventist church. The very existence of the Jesuit order has been threaten in recent times by their spirit of insubordination. The editor of Mensajero, the official Jesuit publication in Spain, recently wrote: “The Jesuits went from being the defenders of the Roman Pontiff, to the object of suspicion because of progressivism, sympathy for Communism, and excessive concern for human justice, thus down playing eternal salvation.” (http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=42011).

Some Jesuits have been known for questioning papal pronouncements on birth control, abortion, homosexuality, priestly celibacy and the ban on female priests. Their outspoken criticism of Vatican policies, has placed the existence of their order in jeopardy. In a highly publicized incident, Pope John Paul II in 1981 named a temporary replacement to lead the Jesuit order.

Even Pope Benedict XVI few days ago on April 22, 2006, reminded members of the Jesuit order of their vow of obedience to the pontiff. Following a Mass celebrated in St. Peter to honor Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of their order, Benedict XVI reminded the Jesuit prelates to follow the example of Loyola, who was a faithful servant of the church (Los Angeles Times, April 22, 2006).

At a time when the Catholic church is facing her greatest losses in membership in South America and an alarming decline in church attendance in Western Europe, Jesuits can hardly afford to destabilize other churches. Their hand are full just to salvage their own church. In my native country of Italy, it is estimated that 95% of Catholics go to church three times in their lives, when they are hatched, matched, and dispatched. At this critical time the Jesuits need to use all their resources to revive their own Catholic church.

Adventist Scholars Have Defended the Symbolic Interpretation of 666 Long Before Me

Detractors who accuse me of originating the new symbolic interpretation of the number of the Beast in order to clear the papacy of any connection with the Beast of Revelation 13, ignore two things. First, I firmly believe that the papacy fulfills today the prophetic role of the Beast of Revelation 13 by promoting endtime idolatrous worship. But, I propose that the unholy trinity of the Dragon, Sea-Beast, and Land-Beast of Rev 13, is using other agencies besides the papacy, to lead the whole world away from the true worship of God into idolatrous forms of worship.

Second, numerous Adventist scholars have presented the symbolic interpretation of 666 long before me. Already in 1992, contributors to the Symposium on Revelation sponsored by the General Conference, proposed the symbolic interpretation. Some of their statements will be cited shortly. More recently the Adventist church at large was informed of the new symbolic interpretation of the number 666, by the Sabbath School Lesson of June 1-7, 2002, which dealt explicitly with “The Mark and Number of the Beast.” The author of the lesson, Dr. Angel Rodriguez, has been serving for the past 5 years as Director of the Biblical Institute. In many ways, my study popularizes and expands what Dr. Rodriguez and other Adventist scholars have written in recent years.

The reason I accepted Prof. Jon Paulien’s invitation to investigate the historic interpretation of the number of the Beast, is because I felt protected by the studies of respected Adventist scholars. Having suffered great pain in the past for attempting to break some new ground on our prophetic understanding of the Antichrist, I promised my wife that I would never again venture into a controversial subject. I feel that at this late stage of my life (68 years old), the time has come to enjoy some peace. But, I accepted Prof. Paulien’s invitation, because I felt that my investigation would simply build upon and possible expand the new symbolic interpretation of 666 presented in recent Adventist studies.

Unfortunately, a few Adventists are reacting negatively because they are unfamiliar with recent Adventist studies. They even missed the June 1-7, 2002 Sabbath School Lesson, where Dr. Angel Rodriguez presents three brief, but compelling reasons for rejecting the Vicarius Filii Dei interpretation. The DVD recording offers a defense and expansion of the three reasons mentioned in the Sabbath School Lesson.

I would recommend to interested readers, especially the writings of Jon Paulien, Ph. D., Chairman of the New Testament Department of Andrews University Theological Seminary and of Ranko Stefanovich, Ph. D., Professor of New Testament at Andrews University. Both men are rightly regarded as the foremost authorities on the book of Revelation.

Paulien has written his doctoral dissertation as well as several books related to the book of Revelation. On May 1, 2006 was released a new CD-ROM containing a dozen of the books and scores of the articles Paulien wrote during his past 20 years of research. You will find this collection a priceless resource to enrich your understanding and experience of biblical truths. Paulien examines fundamental biblical beliefs in a profound and yet popular way. To order this newly released CD album, see the information at the end of this newsletter.

Stefanovich has authored the Revelation of Jesus Christ (over 700 page), which was recently published by Andrews University Press. This monumental book is by far the most authoritative commentary on Revelation produced by our Adventist church. It represents many years of dedicated research. It has been adopted worldwide as a textbook by practically all our College Religion Departments and Theological Seminaries. It is one of the best selling books of the Andrews University Press. You can order your copy directly from Andrews University Press at https://secure.andrews.edu/universitypress/cart.cgi or by calling their office at 269-471-6915.

The unfamiliarity with these and other major studies prepared by dedicated and competent Adventist scholars, has led some well-meaning, but uninformed Adventists, to accuse me of denying the Three Angels Messages, at the very time when “we are preparing for the final push.” The truth is that recent Adventist research affirms the Three Angels Messages by helping our believers to understand, experience, and proclaim more fully these timely messages.

The fact is that most Adventist today do not have the faintest idea of what the Three Angels Messages are all about. Part of the reason is that traditionally these messages have been associated primarily with the prophetic role of the papacy in promoting endtime false worship. There is no question that the papacy has and is playing a major prophetic role in leading the mankind into apostasy, but thinking Adventists today recognize that the warning of the Third Angel Message against “the worship of the beast and its image” (Rev 14:9), extends beyond the idolatrous worship promoted by the Catholic Church. It is a warning against the global false worship promoted today by a variety of satanic agencies, including the papacy. By putting all our eggs in the basket of the papacy, we fail to see the global nature of End-time false worship.

Part 2

THE APPLICATION OF 666 TO VICARIUS FILII DEI IS AN OFFICIAL ADVENTIST TEACHING

Some Adventists firmly believe that the application of 666 to the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei of the papal tiara, is a long-standing and official Adventist teaching, that no scholar or church leader has the right to change it, without first putting it to a vote at a General Conference session.

This view is best expressed by an English Adventist attorney (Barrister), Philip Moore. He sent me several lengthy messages, where he articulates his convictions with clarity and persuasion. He writes: “If the G.C. Leadership believe that they have such a cast-iron argument against the SDA Church’s continued application of the title Vicarius Filii Dei to the Pope’s Mitre then why are they so coy of putting it to a vote at a General Conference Session?. . .

“The G.C’s apparent attempt to alter long standing church teaching/doctrine by the backdoor—via your Newsletters and by a sneaky paragraph in the June 2002 Adult Sabbath School Lesson, is not a responsible, open or fair way of dealing with such an important matter. This approach is very Catholic! —i.e. doctrinal changes from the top to the laity, without debate, consultation or given them the opportunity to have any say in the matter.”

“If they [G. C. leaders] wish to change the Church’s stance on this matter, to be transparent, and courageous and [they should] do this the proper way. That is, [they should] bring the matter before the World Church at a General Conference Session, and have an open and fully informed debate and then vote on it. Rather than this back-door attempt at changing our major teachings–rightly or wrongly. To put it to the World Church at a G.C. Session would be good and accountable leadership.”

This argument appears very logical, but it has two major flaws. First, it mistakenly assumes that the application of 666 to Vicarius Filii Dei, has been an official teaching of the Adventist church. Second, it ignores the repeated warning issued by church leaders against this interpretation.

A Popular but Not an Official Teaching

The Adventist church has never officially taught that the number of the Beast (666) is to be found in the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, inscribed in the papal tiara. Unfortunately, this teaching has become popular in spite of several warning issued against it by the General Conference, Ministry, the Symposium on Revelation published by the GC Biblical Research Institute, and even the recent Sabbath School Lesson of June 1-7, 2002. Shortly we shall refer to these warnings.

For example, in the Symposium on Revelation, sponsored by the Biblical Research Institute of the GC, William G. Johnsson, our current Editor of Adventist Review, cautiously warns: “It is possible that the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei of the papal tiara is the name indicated by the prophecy, as many Seventh-day Adventist expositors have taught. But in my view the text suggests that 666 is the code for the name of the sea monster, which is blasphemy. It points to a parody of perfection: imperfection upon imperfection, despite the beast’s monstrous claims” (vol. 2, p. 31).

In the same Symposium on Revelation, Prof. Kenneth Strand, my seminary Church History professor, presents a similar symbolic interpretation of 666. He writes: “There is obviously an intentional play on the number 6, heightened by the triple repetition of it. It is a ‘human number.’ The phrase arithmos anthropou can properly be translated, ‘a human number,’ and thus represents incompleteness and inadequacy. This contrasts with the number 7 that is used frequently throughout the book of Revelation and elsewhere in Scripture to designate totality, fullness, and complete adequacy. The number 7 may thus be considered as a ‘divine number,’ and the number 6 a ‘human number’” (vol 2, pp.202-203).

Is the Inscription Vicarius Filii Dei on the Papal Tiara?

Johnsson’s reference to “the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei of the papal tiara,” reflects a popular Adventist view that title is inscribed in the “papal tiara.” In fact, many subscribers expressed their total dismay when they learned for the first time through our newsletter that no tiara has even been found bearing the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei. An Adventist sister wrote to me in an email that she could not believe that what she has taught for many years in Revelation Seminars about the number of the Beast found in the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei inscribed in the papal tiara, may not be true after all. She wrote: “This came as a shock to me!” It is reassuring to know that God can use even our mistaken interpretations, to lead people to salvation.

Most Adventists ignore that this teaching was first introduced to our church, not by Ellen White, but by Uriah Smith. Surprisingly, in all her voluminous writings, Ellen G. White makes only one brief statement on the number 666 of the Beast. The statement is found in her vision of 1847, which was printed on one sheet under the title “A Word to the Little Flock.” The statement reads: “I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up; and that it was the beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope’s, and not God’s Sabbath.” (Emphasis supplied. First printed by Joseph Bates on April 7, 1847).

We do not know for sure what Ellen White meant by the phrase “I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up.” Some of the pioneers, including John N. Andrews initially believed that the number 666 was made up by the number of Protestant sects influenced by the Catholic Church.

The Role of Uriah Smith

The view that the number of the Beast (666) is to be found in the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, inscribed in the papal tiara, was first presented and promoted by Uriah Smith. In his book The United States in the Light of Prophecy (published in 1884), Smith affirms unequivocally that “The number over which the saints are also to get the victory, is the number of the papal beast, called also the number of his name, and the number of a man, and said to be six hundred three scores and six. The pope wears upon his pontifical crown in jeweled letters, this title, Vicarius Filii Dei, vicegerent of the Son of God. The most plausible supposition we have seen on this point is that here we find the number in question. It is the number of the beast, the papacy; it is the number of a man, for he adopts it as his distinctive title; it is the number of a man, for he who bears it is the ‘man of sin’” (4th edition, 1884, p. 224).

Smith’s interpretation was accepted and promoted even by John N. Andrews, a leading Adventist scholar. In his book The Three Messages of Revelation 14:6-12, Andrews wrote: “The number of the name of the beast is also to be enforced as a test of submission to him. This number, which is said to be that of a man, is seen, without doubt, in the title of ‘Vicar of the Son of God’ which the pope has caused to be inscribed upon his mitre. It is written in Latin, and the numeral letters employed make the sum of 666. The design of this test is to cause men to acknowledge the authority of the papacy” (pp. 108-109).

Andrews believed that the number 666 was visible “without doubt” in the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei found in the MITRE, while Smith placed the inscription on the TIARA. Most likely Andrews did not know the difference between the two, because the oral testimonies used to support the inscription always speak of the TIARA, not of the MITRE.

Uriah Smith and John N. Andrews played a major role in leading the whole Adventist church to accept the application of the number of the Beast to the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei, allegedly inscribed in the papal tiara. The wide circulation of Smith’s book Daniel and the Revelation contributed significantly to popularize this teaching.

Unfortunately, in spite of the painstaking efforts by private and official Adventist investigators commissioned by the GC, no tiara has ever been found with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei. Of the 13 existing papal tiara, only two of them have inscriptions, but these inscriptions are considerably different from Vicarius Filii Dei. You can see the stunning pictures of the inscribed tiaras in the DVD recording. This factor as well as other compelling exegetical reasons to be mentioned shortly, have led respected Adventist scholars to abandon the traditional numeric interpretation in favor of a symbolic interpretation of the number 666.

Part 3

A RESPONSE TO ARGUMENTS THAT DEFEND

THE EXISTENCE OF VICARIUS FILII DEI

ON PAPAL TIARAS OR INSIDE THE MITRE

To salvage the traditional Adventist view that the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei is inscribed in the tiara, some Adventists have emailed me some imaginative arguments. Let me briefly respond to three of them:

1. Documents and Tiaras with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei may have been destroyed to prevent the identification of the Papacy with the number of the Beast (666).

2. The Vatican has hidden away the tiaras with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei to prevent Adventists from photographing them.

3. The inscription Vicarius Filii Dei is found inside the MITRE, not in the TIARA.

I shall respond to these three arguments in their respective orders.

1. Documents and Tiaras with the Inscription Vicarius Filii Dei May have Been Destroyed

Some Adventists argue that the Catholic church may have destroyed the documents and the tiaras with the inscription “Vicarius Filii Dei,” in order to prevent the identification of the Papacy with the Antichrist of Revelation 13. In other words, the Catholic Church allegedly tried to suppress the incriminating evidences in order to prevent any attempt to identify the Papacy with the number 666 of the Beast.

This claim has two major flaws. First, there are at least 7 important Catholic historical documents shown in the live DVD lecture and slides, that refer to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei—Vicar of the Son of God. Even the world-renowned Catholic Patrologist, Prof. Johannes Quasten has admitted in writings: “The title Vicarius Christi, as well as the title Vicarius Filii Dei is [sic] very common as the title of the Pope.”

This means that the allegation of the Catholic destruction of documents mentioning Vicarius Filii Dei is totally false. There has been no destruction of documents because documents with the notorious inscription still exist. This argument is based on ignorance and ignorance breeds arrogance.

The second claim, is similar to the first. It contends that the incriminating tiaras with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei, may have been destroyed to suppress the possible identification of the papacy with the number of 666 of the Beast.

This is an argument from silence. What we know is that the only tiaras that have been destroyed are those that existed prior to 1800. They were destroyed, dismantled, or seized by invaders, most notably by Napoleon’s General Berthier’s army in 1798. Even some popes dismantled tiaras to meet financial obligations. For example, Pope Clement VII had all the tiaras and papal regalia melted down in 1527 to raise the 400,000 ducats ransom demanded by the occupying army of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. However, the destruction of the pre-1800 tiaras was motivated by financial concerns, not theological considerations.

Since 1800 a total of 13 tiaras has been produced and donated to the pope by various Catholic countries or cities. Of the 13 existing tiaras, only two of them have inscriptions, but their inscriptions are substantially different from Vicarius Filii Dei. You can see these stunning tiaras in the DVD recording and the powerpoint slides.

Tiaras Inscribed with Vicarius Filii Dei have been Hidden Away

The failure of private and official Adventist investigators to document the existence of any papal tiara with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei, is being explained by some Adventists as a proof of a Vatican scheme to remove from public sight any incriminating evidence. A reader writes that only a person with a gullible mind would think that the pope is so naive to have his crown displayed publicly “to be photographed by a SDA delegation.”

There are four major problems with this argument. First, tiaras are made to be worn publicly, not to be hidden away. If the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei was considered risky by the Vatican, it would not have been placed on any tiara in the first place. Second, the 13 tiaras that have been made since 1800, have been photographed and published. Two of them have an inscription, but the inscriptions are substantially different. You can see the pictures and the inscriptions in the DVD recording.

Third, if the Vatican considered the title Vicarius Filii Dei incriminating, they would have removed it from their official documents, especially the Corpus Iuris Canonici, which is their official church manual. The fact that Vicarius Filii Dei is still used on rare occasions, goes to show that the Vatican attaches no special significance to such title. It is simply one of lesser used papal titles. The more frequently used titles are: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Most Holy Father, Successor of St Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Primate of Italy, Pontifex Maximus, Patriarch of the West (recently abandoned), Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of Vatican City and Servant of the Servants of God (a commonly used salutation in papal correspondence).

Fourth, no Adventist delegation was ever sent to Rome by the GC to look for the inscribed tiara. To my knowledge only two men were officially commissioned by the GC to search for such tiara. The first one was Chas T. Everson, an Adventist missionary serving in Italy, and the second was LeRoy Edwin Froom, Editor of Ministry. A brief report of the efforts of these two men is instructive.

Chas T. Everson’s Investigation

At the request of several General Conference leaders, especially Prof. William Prescott, a leading Adventist educator, Elder Chas T. Everson, an American missionary serving in Italy, conducted a thorough investigation of papal tiaras in Rome in the early 1900s. The search providentially led him into the very dressing room of the pope, where some tiaras were kept. His fascinating report was published in the July 27, 1905, issue of the Advent Review, under the title “The Inscription on the Pope’s Tiara.” In his informative report Everson does not divulge the secret of how he managed to enter into the very dressing room of the pope—a permission that was denied him by Vatican officials. Coming from Rome, Italy, where money talks, I have reasons to believe that Everson offered a generous gift to the pope’s housekeepers to sneak him into the pope’s dressing room to take some stunning pictures of the tiaras.

In spite of his unique opportunity to view several tiaras at close range in St. Peter’s Treasury, to watch Pope Leo XIII coronation, and to examine the tiaras in the very dressing room of the pope, Everson was disappointed in not finding the notorious inscribed tiara. He wrote: “But while we were pleased to see this brilliant crown [1836 Tiara used for coronation], yet we were disappointed in not finding the object of our search; for the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei was nowhere to be found inscribed upon the tiara, as the accompanying photographs show very plainly.” Everson concludes his report, saying: “to be perfectly correct in our statements, we cannot say that there is an inscription of this nature on the tiara at present” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 27, 1905, p. 10).

A Fraudulent Adventist Tiara

One of the stunning pictures of the papal tiara sent by Everson to the General Conference, was modified by an Adventist artist who added the words Vicarius Filii Dei to the picture. The Southern Publishing Association used this “doctored” picture of the tiara in the revised edition of Uriah Smith’s Daniel and the Revelation. When Prof. Prescott received the book and noted the plate with the fraudulent tiara, he immediately presented to the General Conference the incriminating evidence. The GC Committee took immediate action to stop the printing of the book until the manipulated picture was removed.

Prof. Prescott, our leading Adventist educator, had a passion for truth that did not dim to the end of his career. Twice he presented to the GC committee the facts about the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei. The first time was shortly after 1910 and the second time on April 16, 1936, after the editor of Our Sunday Visitor challenged Francis D. Nichol to prove what he published in Present Truth regarding the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei. We shall return to this episode shortly.

Prescott labelled as completely false the claim that Vicarius Filii Dei was inscribed in the papal tiara. He argued that the Adventist claim was just as much fraud and forgery as anything the Catholic church had done. He added: “When we are driven to such a conduct as this to prove some of our theology, we had better stop” (A full transcript of Prescott’s presentation was made. See “Meeting with Elder W. W. Prescott,” April 16, 1936, RG p. 14. Correspondence Prescott Fld 1936 II, GCar).

Most leaders of the General Conference acknowledge the weight of the evidence, but they decided to shelve the matter for further study. In the meantime, they recommended that “the interpretation should not be repeated.” Apparently the recommendation was largely ignored because until his retirement Prescott had to deal with persistent claims that 666 applied to the title in the pope’s tiara. (See, Gilbert Valentine’s dissertation, “William Warren Prescott: Seventh-day Adventist Educator,” Andrews University, 1982, vol 2, p. 602)

William W. Prescott’s Intervention

Prof. Prescott, our leading Adventist educator who served as president of four colleges, including Battle Creek, had a passion for truth that did not dim to the end of his career. His unwillingness to compromise truth, sometimes resulted in criticism and loss of support from some church leaders. He serves as a worthy example for all of us to follow. An Australian scholar, Gilbert Valentine has captured the spirit of Prescott in a masterful 650 pages doctoral dissertation presented at Andrews University (1982) on “William Warren Prescott: Seventh-day Adventist Educator.”

The Review and Herald recently published Valentine’s abbreviated version of his dissertation, under the title W. W. Prescott: Forgotten Giant of Adventism’s Second Generation. Reading this book has been of great encouragement to me, because it has reassured me that our Adventist church has been blessed by men like Prescott who have suffered for daring to expose some of the doctrinal problems of our church.

Twice Prescott presented to the GC committee the facts about the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, allegedly inscribed in the papal tiara. The first time was shortly after 1910 and the second time on April 16, 1936, after the editor of Our Sunday Visitor challenged Francis D. Nichol to document what he published in Present Truth regarding the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei. We shall return to this shortly.

Prescott labeled as completely false the claim that Vicarius Filii Dei was inscribed in the papal tiara. He argued before the GC brethren that the Adventist claim was just as much fraud and forgery as anything the Catholic church had done. He added: “When we are driven to such a conduct as this to prove some of our theology, we had better stop” (A full transcript of Prescott’s presentation was made. See “Meeting with Elder W. W. Prescott,” April 16, 1936, RG p. 14. Correspondence Prescott Fld 1936 II, GCar).

Most leaders of the General Conference acknowledged the weight of Prescott’s evidences and recommended that “the interpretation should not be repeated.” But the recommendation was largely ignored and “right up to his last days Prescott was still corresponding with authors who advocated it” (Gilbert Valentine, W. W. Prescott: Forgotten Giant of Adventism’s Second Generation, p. 319).

Valentine notes that the GC Brethren “wished that Prescott would not respond so vigorously to such problems.” But Prescott did not share their viewpoint. “As he saw it, if no one spoke up, the denomination would go backward, and he could not allow his church to do that, even if it was on a minor point of prophetic interpretation” (Ibid. p. 319). Personally, I share Prescott’s conviction, because over the years I have felt the same burden to help our Adventist church strengthen its teachings.

LeRoy Froom’s Investigation

The second man sent to Rome by the GC to investigate the use of the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei on tiaras, was LeRoy Froom, who served for several years as Editor of Ministry. What precipitated Froom’s investigative trip to Rome, was an article published in 1935 by Francis Nichols, editor of Present Truth. Nichols was a leading Adventist apologist, author of several books including Ellen G. White and Her Critics. He served also as the Editor of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary.

In his article published in Present Truth, he repeats the popular Adventist application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei inscribed in the tiara. No sooner the article appeared, that the Editor of the popular Catholic magazine, Our Sunday Visitor, challenged Nichols to produce the evidence for his claim or to stop using biased and dishonest anti-Catholic sources.

The challenge took Nichol by surprise, because he believed that Uriah Smith’s interpretation was based on reliable sources. To respond to the challenge, he appealed for help to Adventist scholars around the world, asking them to provide him any information they could find to substantiate the Adventist claim. But no information was ever provided. Prof. Prescott informed Nichols that he had conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence that Vicarius Filii Dei was ever inscribed on papal tiaras.

Eventually a special study group was set up by the General Conference chaired by Elder Howell, hoping to find reliable information on the use of the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei. LeRoy Edwin Froom, a respected church historian and Editor of Ministry, was sent on a special research assignment to the Vatican to seek information on the use of the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, especially on tiaras, but he found nothing of significance.

The investigation led LeRoy Froom to issue a strong warning in Ministry against the use of fraudulently inscribed tiaras in evangelistic meetings. He wrote: “In the name of truth and honesty this journal protests any such use by any member of the Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventist denomination (our worker body), of which The Ministry is the official organ. Truth does not need fabrication to aid or suppress it. Its very nature precludes any manipulation or duplicity. We cannot afford to be party to any fraud.” (The Ministry, November 1948, p. 35).

The warnings given over the years by the General Conference, Ministry, and more recent by the Sabbath School Lesson (June 1-7, 2002), have not stopped the application of the number 666 to Vicarius Filii Dei, claimed to be inscribed in the pope’s tiara. The reason it has been hard to abandon this interpretation is because it fits too neatly to Revelation 13:18.

The repeated warning mentioned above, should dispel the myth that the application of 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei of the papal tiara, has been the official Adventist teaching, which is being challenged today for the first time by “liberal scholars.” The fact is that during this past century, several times our Church leaders have disapproved this interpretation, even by means of the recent Sabbath School Lesson of June 1-7, 2002. But the success has been limited, partly because legends that capture popular imagination do not easily die.

The Inscription Vicarius Filii Dei May Be found inside the Mitre, not on the Tiara

An unusual argument presented by several Adventists is that our church has been looking for the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei in the wrong place, namely on the TIARA, when they should have been searching for it inside the MITRE. This argument is based on the two different set of statements published in the popular Catholic magazine Our Sunday Visitor.

Briefly stated these are the facts. In the November 15, 1914 issue of Our Sunday Visitor, the editor stated: “The title of the Pope in Rome is Vicarius Filii Dei. This is inscribed on his mitre; and if you take the letters of his title which represent Latin numerals and add them together they come to 666” (Emphasis supplied). The same statement appears almost verbatim in the April 18, 1915 issues of Our Sunday Visitor.

The Recantations of Our Sunday Visitor

Years later, however, the same magazine twice published a recantation. The first recantation occurred in the September 16, 1917 issue of Our Sunday Visitor. The Editor writes: “if present-day writers are so anxious to see the fulfillment [of 666] in the person of the Pope, why not be consistent? Such interpreters have never shown that the title ‘Vicarius Filii Dei’ is really inscribed upon the Pope’s tiara. Moreover, the pa