ENDTIME ISSUES NEWSLETTER No. 196

“THE SAGA OF VICARIUS FILII DEI ON THE PAPAL TIARA”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.,

Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University

INDEX OF TOPICS OF THIS NEWSLETTER

* AN UPDATE: Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical?

* William Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues is out

and is ready for shipping

* Cristina Picardi’ New DVD Recording done in Loma Linda

on February 8-10, 2008.

* “The Saga of Vicarius Filii Dei on the Papal Tiara”

This is the essay of this newsletter which is excerpted from

the DVD recording on The Mark and Number of the Beast

* How to Contact the Center for Cancer Care that

shut down 95% of my Liver Cancer

* Forthcoming Rallies in England from March 1 to 15.

* Prof. Jon Paulien’s DVD on Simply Revelation

* SPECIAL OFFER on 12 DVD and CD albums for only

$150.00, instead of the regular price of $1150.00

* New Video Recording of Prof. Roy Gane on the Sanctuary

* Incredible Offer on the new Hitachi 3000 Lumens Projector

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* The Smallest and most Powerful Remote Presenter

* Does your church or School Need a Screen?

* Bed and Breakfast in London, England.

AN UPDATE – POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

The research and writing of the new book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical? is proceeding well. Currently I am working on chapter 9 which deals with the popular belief “Once Saved Always Saved.” I am writing this chapter in London, England, where Cristina Piccardi (an outstanding soprano) and myself, have been invited to present our seminars with words and songs at six rallies. By God’s grace, I plan to complete this chapter before leaving England on March 17, 2008.

A research project of this nature has been very expensive in time and money. During this past year I have invested an average of 15 hours a day on this manuscript, because I believe it is desperately needed to call out of Babylon many sincere people who are sincerely seeking to know and to do the revealed will of God.

There are million of sincere Christians who do not realize that most of their popular beliefs are biblically wrong, while our Adventist beliefs are biblically right. This book Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? is designed to help these sincere Christians to re-examine their beliefs in the light of the normative authority of Scripture.

When Will the Book Be Out?

God willing, I plan to complete the writing of the book by the end of March 2008, and have the book printed and ready for distribution two weeks later by April 15 (tax time). Eight of the ten chapters are done. I am now working on the two remaining chapters on “Once Saved Always Saved” and “Infant Baptism.” These should be completed rather speedily, because I have researched these subjects before.

Your encouragement has meant a lot to me. Four months ago I was ready shelf the project for the time being, especially because of the new ministry we started with Cristina Piccardi–a powerful and passionate soprano who touches the hearts of people and greatly enriches my seminars. In my view, she is by far the best Adventist soprano in the Adventist Church. Three years ago she won the first price at an international opera singers competition.

We present our SABBATH, or ADVENT, or LIFESTYLE SEMINARS together with words and song. Cristina sings several sacred songs before and after each of my lectures. Her powerful and passionate singing moves people to tears. The reception and response we have received during the past four months has truly been incredible. If your church wishes to invite us, feel free to contact us by phone (269) 471-2915 or even better by email: <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com> We still have several open weekends in the latter part of this year.

Planning this new ministry has consumed a lot of my time, especially in processing the invitations we are receiving from across the USA and overseas. This is why I was considering shelving the manuscript for the time being. But your letters caused me to reconsider my priorities. Some of you have reminded me that our Adventist Church desperately need Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? to witness to people who are sincerely seeking to know and to do the will of God. The many pre-publication orders I have already received, have strengthen my determination to complete this project by the end of March 2008.

The book consists of about 400 pages with a nice four colors, laminated cover. We are in the process of redesigning the cover, after receiving many valuable suggestions.

Thank You for Your Advanced Orders

At this time we wish to offer our readers the opportunity to place an order at the special pre-publication prices listed below. Your advanced orders will offer me, not only the encouragement needed to speedily complete this very demanding project, but also an approximate idea of how many copies we should print. Thank you for your encouragement and support. Your order will be processed as soon as the book comes out early in April.

Special Pre-publication Offer of Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?

1 copy of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $30.00 per copy. Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $10.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

10 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $10.00 per copy, postage paid, instead of the regular price of $30.00. ($100.00 for 10 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA.Add $40.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

30 copies (one case) of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $5.00 per copy ($150.00 for 30 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $80.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

100 copies of Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at $4.00 per copy, postage paid. ($400.00 for 100 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $160.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

HOW TO ORDER POPULAR BELIEFS: ARE THEY BIBLICAL?

You can order Popular Beliefs: Are they Biblical? at the pre-publication prices given above, in four different ways:

(1) ONLINE: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_35

(2) PHONE: By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) EMAIL: By emailing your order to <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.

(4) REGULAR MAIL: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order as soon as the book comes off the press.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON’S BOOK SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS OUT AND READY FOR SHIPPING

In the latest newsletters I proposed the possibility of reprinting William Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues: Is It Still the Gift of the Spirit? The book was originally printed in 1994 by the Review and Herald but it has been out of print for several years.

The response surpassed my fondest expectations. I received pledges for orders from different parts of the world, including from some Division offices. In the light of the overwhelming interest, I hastily delivered the book to my printer who reprinted it in a record time of two weeks. Now we are ready to process all your orders.

As a rule I do not publish or reprint books of other authors, because my hands are full with promoting and distributing the 18 books that I have authored. The only other book of another author that I have published, is More than a Prophet: How We Lost and Found Again the Real Ellen White, by Prof. Graeme S. Bradford.

I decided to publish More than a Prophet because I believe that this book has been long overdue and will do a lot to restore confidence in the validity of the gift of prophecy, manifested in the writings, preaching, and teachings of Ellen White. The response has been most gratifying. About 20 conferences in the USA and a few oversea, have donated the book to their workers. If you did not have a chance before to order this timely book before, we still have a small supply left of the second printing. We will be glad to mail you copies immediately. To place an order call us at (269) 471-2915 or click at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_28

William Richardson, Ph. D., the author of Speaking in Tongues, has served with distinction our Adventist church for over 35 years as Professor of NT, Chairman of the Religion Department (my chairman for many years), and finally as the Dean of the School of Art and Sciences. He has written numerous articles and books.

Let me explain why I decided to reprint Richardson’s Speaking in Tongues. After reading a dozen of books and scores of articles in preparation for chapter 8 “Speaking in Tongues” of my book Popular Beliefs: Are They Biblical?, I came to appreciate Richardson’s book for his clarity and objectivity.

Most Adventist authors and literature have tried to prove that the gift of speaking in tongues described in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14, are identical, namely, the ability of speaking foreign languages. This position has been used to refute all charismatic tongues-speakers as impostors, because they do not speak foreign languages, but unintelligible, ecstatic utterances.

Through a painstaking analysis of Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14, presented in his doctoral dissertation at Andrews University, Richardson shows that there is a difference between the speaking in tongues in Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12-14. For one thing, the tongues in Acts 2 are known as languages (dialektos) clearly understood by the Jews from different countries present in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. By contrast, the tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14 are characterized as “sound—phonon” (1 Cor 14:10) that needed to be interpreted. No interpretation was needed for tongue-speakers in Acts 2.

Ultimately Richardson shows that a careful study of the restrictions Paul places on tongues-speaking during the worship service, disqualifies much of the Pentecostal speaking in tongues today as an unbiblical, illicit activity. The confusion caused by several people speaking in tongues at the same time without any translation, is an illicit activity clearly condemned by Scripture.

Richardson’s concern, however, is to let Scripture speak for itself, rather than twisting Scripture to make the gift of tongues something we want it to be. His research shows that there can be instances when a believer is impressed by the Spirit to pray or praise God with sounds too deep for words. Spiritual realities are experienced in different ways by different people

I believe that Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues is a most timely, witnessing book, at a time when the Pentecostal/charismatic movements are growing 10 times faster than our Adventist church, that is, at the rate of over 20 millions a year, and thus becoming the second largest religious body in the world after the Catholic Church. Their membership today is already over 550 million and within 10 years it is expected to reach 750 million.

Special Introductory Offer of Richardson’s Speaking in Tongues

1 copy of Speaking in Tongues at $25.00 per copy. Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $10.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

10 copies of Speaking in Tongues at $7.00 per copy, postage paid, instead of the regular price of $25.00. ($70.00 for 10 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $40.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

30 copies (one case) of Speaking in Tongues at $5.00 per copy, postage paid. ($150.00 for 30 copies). Mailing expenses are included for the USA. Add $80.00 for AIRMAIL postage to any overseas destination.

You can order William Richardson’s book Speaking in Tongues at the introductory prices given above, in four different ways:

(1) ONLINE: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/index.php?cPath=26_36

(2) PHONE: By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) EMAIL: By emailing your order to <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.

(4) REGULAR MAIL: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

CRISTINA PICCARDI’S NEW DVD RECORDINGS

A brand new recording of Cristina Piccardi’s sacred concert and of our SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS was made in Loma Linda on February 8, 9, 10. The recording was done with four state-of-the-art high definition cameras that provide an exceptional clear and crispy video images.

We felt the need to make a high quality recording to share our new ministry with fellow believers in different parts of the world. We are happy that at this time we can offer a professional recording both of Cristina’s Sacred Concert and of our SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS.

The SACRED CONCERT consists of 16 sacred familiar songs that cover the major themes of God’s creative and redemptive love. Her marvellous singing will touch your heart and inspire you to devote your life more fully to the Savior. You can see the picture of this new album by clicking at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/pic.htm

The SABBATH SEMINAR consists of 3 DVD disks containing a total of 6 hours of recording, that is, the Cristina singing and my preaching done on Friday evening, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath afternoon. Cristina sings a few songs before and after each of my lectures. You can enjoy this informative and inspiring 6 hours seminar in the privacy of your home or church, without having to travel long distances or investing money to fly us in. You can see the picture of this new album by clicking at this link:http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/sabbathandsong/index.htm

Who is Cristina Piccardi?

In my view Cristina is by far the best Adventist soprano I have heard in my life. Surprisingly she is a slim, only 118 pounds, 5.6 feet high—not the typical heavy-set soprano. When my wife asked her: “How can you project such a powerful voice when you are so slim?” She replied: “It is God’s gift.”

Cristina was born in Brazil 26 years ago and came to Andrews University two years ago to accompany her husband who is studying at the seminary. She has earned degrees in voice performance both in Brazil and at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, where she received full scholarship during the two years of her studies, graduating in December of 2005.

She has performed in a leading role with symphonic orchestras in the USA and overseas. In the year 2005 she won the first price at an International Competition for Opera Singers.

I officially met Cristina on October 6, 2007 at Andrews University Pioneer Memorial Church. I was spellbound by the three sacred songs she sung during the communion service led by Pastor Dwight Nelson. When we met after the communion service, we both immediately felt that the Lord was bringing us together in a providential way to proclaim with words and songs our timely Adventist Message. She told me that after singing for five years in a leading role with various symphonic orchestras, she felt the call of God to leave glitzy opera stage, in order to dedicate the gift of her voice to sing sacred music. This means that now we are presenting together with words and songs my powerpoint seminars on the SABBATH, SECOND ADVENT, and CHRISTIAN LIFE STYLE.

You can enjoy a preview of Cristina’s outstanding singing by clicking at this link: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cristina/ She sings the first stanza of THE HOLY CITY.

Special Package Offer of Cristina’s Recordings.

At this time we wish to offer the complete package of Cristina’s three albums, together with the newly recorded SABBATH SEMINAR with WORDS AND SONGS for only $80.00, instead of the regular price of $230.00. The package included the following four albums:

1) THE CD ALBUM REJOICE IN THE LORD which consists of 11 sacred songs recorded with Marcelo Caceres, Professor of piano at Andrews University. The regular price of the album is $30.00.

2) THE DVD ALBUM SING UNTO THE LORD which consists of 10 sacred songs recorded at the Andrews University Pioneer Memorial SDA Church. The regular price of the DVD album is $50.00.

3) THE DVD ALBUM BY HIS GRACE which consists of 16 sacred songs recorded in Loma Linda with four high-definition cameras. The regular price of the DVD is $50.00.

4) THE DVD ALBUM OF THE SABBATH WITH WORDS AND SONGS which consists of three DVD disks with 6 hours of recordings of Cristina singing and my preaching done on Friday evening, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath afternoon. The regular price is $100.00.

The special offer on the above package of 4 albums is only $80.00, mailing expenses included even overseas, instead of the regular price of $230.00.

How to Order Cristina’s Package of Four Albums

You can order the package of the four albums containing Cristina’s Sacred Concerts and the SABBATH SEMINAR in WORDS AND SONGS in four different ways:

(1) ONLINE: By clicking here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/cart/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=122

(2) PHONE: By calling us at (269) 471-2915 to give us your credit card number and postal address.

(3) EMAIL: By emailing your order to <sbacchiocchi@biblicalperspectives.com>. Be sure to provide your postal address, credit card number, and expiration date.

(4) REGULAR MAIL: By mailing a check to BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES, 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103, USA. We guarantee to process your order immediately.

“THE SAGA OF VICARIUS FILII DEI ON THE PAPAL TIARA”

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D.,

Retired Professor of Theology, Andrews University

EDITORIAL

This newsletter was inspired by the unusual volume of both positive and negative responses I received from readers of my appeal for historical accuracy that I posted in the Endtime Issues Newsletter 194. Several readers took issue with my rejection of the traditional interpretation of the number of the Beast “666.” Some of them told me that my rejection raises serious questions about my commitment to the traditional Adventist interpretation of the Mark and Number of the Beast.

Some critics attempted to challenge the findings of my research by appealing to two articles on Our Sunday Visitor which appeared on November 15, 1914, and April 18, 1915. The latter explicitly states: “The letters inscribed in the Pope’s miter are these: VICARIUS FILII DEI, which is the Latin for the Vicar of the Son of God.”

My critics ignore that this admission is faulty on at least two counts. First, there are no inscriptions on the pope’s miter, which is a liturgical headdress worn by even by bishops, cardinals, and abbots. Inscriptions are only found on a couple of papal tiaras, which are used especially for the coronation of the pope. But the title VICARIUS FILII DEI in not found on these tiaras.

Second, the editors of Our Sunday Visitors on two subsequent issues denied their previous admission saying: “As a matter of fact, the tiara of the Pope bears no inscription whatsoever. . . . It is very strange that people can regard themselves as religious and still engage in an apostolate of vituperation and slander” (Our Sunday Visitor, August 3, 1941, p. 7; see also September 16, 1917). This statement is supported by a visual analysis of all the tiaras that have been produced since 1800. The previous ones were confiscated and melted down by previous invaders.

What is most significant is the fact that our General Conference sponsored an investigation into the alleged existence of a papal tiara with the inscription VICARIOUS FILII DEI. But the only tiara that was found with such an inscription, was the one designed by an Adventist artist. That picture of this tiara was used for many years by evangelists and by the publishers of Uriah Smith’s Daniel and the Revelation. When our Adventist church leaders learned that the picture was fraudulent, they protested against its use and had it removed from Uriah Smith’s book Daniel and the Revelation.

The story of the Adventist search for the inscribed papal tiara, is most fascinating. I investigated this question over a period of six months while researching for the DVD lecture on The Mark and Number of the Beast.

This research project began when Prof. Jon Paulien, Chairman of the NT Department at Andrews University Theological Seminary, and Prof. Ranko Stefanovich, Professor of NT and author of the widely acclaimed Commentary on Revelation, invited me to investigate the Revelation 13’s prophecy of The Mark and the Number of the Beast. The plan was for me to share my findings with their three seminary classes on Revelation.

Being a church historian trained at a the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, both professors were eager for me to investigate the origin and use of the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei—Vicar of the Son of God, both in official documents and on papal tiaras. The aim was to establish if the numerical value of the letters of this title, represent a legitimate interpretation of the number 666 (Rev 13:18).

Approximately 150 seminary students, plus numerous visitors attended my lecture. With the help of powerpoint slides, I shared my preliminary finding. The response surpassed my fondest expectations. Practically every person who attended the lectures, was eager to order the CD album with the powerpoint slides and text. Eventually a professional crew was invited to made a video recording of the lecture, which has been well-received by Adventist leaders, pastors, and lay members in different countries.

If you have not had the chance to view this two hours DVD lecture delivered with 195 stunning powerpoint pictures, we will gladly mail you the album. To order the DVD album on The Mark and Number of the Beast, simply click here: http://www.biblicalperspectives.com/BeastAD/

For the sake of brevity, in this newsletter I am posting only the transcript of 40 slides which relate to the identification of the number 666 with the numerical value of the letters of Vicarious Filii Dei. Interested readers are welcomed to view and read the whole study which consists of 195 slides.

Importance of the Identification of the Number and Mark of the Beast

Most Evangelists view their lecture on the Mark and Number of the Beast, as the most decisive lecture of their evangelistic crusade. It is the lecture that gives a prophetic reasons for taking a stand for the Sabbath. It is the lecture when most people decide whether or not to join the
Remnant Church that keeps the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Thus, it is not surprising that the study of the prophecy about the mark and number of the beast (Rev 13:18), has played an important role in the prophetic self-understanding of the Adventist Church. It has provided a prophetic understanding of the role of the Sabbath versus Sunday controversy in the final showdown.

In view of the important role this prophecy has played in Adventist history, it is instructive to learn the historical origin and development of its interpretation. To accomplish this objective we shall sketch briefly the stages of developments of the Adventist interpretation

.

The Adventist Identification of 666 with Vicarius Filii Dei

The identification of the number 666 of the Beast with the numerical value of the letters of Vicarius Filii Dei was adopted by our Seventh-day Adventist Church relatively late in our history, largely due to the influence of Uriah Smith. As editor or member of the editorial staff of The Review and Herald for almost 50 years, he influenced the beliefs and practices of the Adventist church more than any other leader, with the exception of Ellen White.

Uriah Smith appears to have been the first Adventist leader to mention Vicarius Filii Dei as a possible interpretation of the number 666. In an editorial entitled “The Two-Horned Beast,” published in The Review and Herald issue of November 20, 1866, Uriah Smith comments on the views expressed by H. E. Carver. Smith commends Carver for producing historical testimonies showing how some popes and rulers passed decrees against heretics “to prevent their buying and selling, or holding even the ordinary intercourse of life.”

But, on the question of the number of the beast, Smith takes issue with Carver’s identification of 666 with the word Lateinos, a longstanding popular choice among commentators, because its letters add up to 666. Smith objects to this interpretation on two grounds. First, 666 can be found in the numerical value of the letters of many names. “This drawing the number from a name, we must regard as rather conjectural than otherwise, seeing that names can be found almost to any extent, making just that number” (p. 4). Second, Lateinos is not the name of a man, as indicated by the prophecy, but “the name of a people or kingdom” (p. 4). In actuality, the text says that “it is a human number” (Rev 13:18), not “the number of a name.” The meaning of this phrase will be discussed shortly.

After rejecting Carver’s identification of Lateinos with 666, because all sorts of names can add up to that number, Uriah Smith ignores his warning by proposing his own phrase, namely the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei. “The most plausible name we have ever seen suggested as containing the number of the beast, is the blasphemous title which the pope applies to himself, and wears in jeweled letters upon his miter or pontifical crown. That title is this: Vicarius Filii Dei—‘Vicegerent of the Son of God.’ Taking the letters out of this title which the Latin used as numerals, and giving them their numerical value, we have just 666” (p. 4). Note that at this point in time Smith offers this interpretation as a most plausible suggestion. A few years later, as we shall see, the plausible suggestion becomes a certain interpretation.

The Sources of Uriah Smith’s Interpretation

To support his interpretation, Uriah Smith quotes an eyewitness account from a source entitled The Reformation, bearing the date of 1832. The source says: “‘Mrs. A.,’ said Miss Emmons, ‘I saw a very curious fact the other day; I have dwelt upon it much, and will mention it. A person, lately, was witnessing a ceremony of the Romish Church. As the pope passed him in procession, splendidly dressed in his pontifical robes, the gentleman’s eye rested on these full, blazing letters in front of his miter: ‘Vicarius Filii Dei,’ the Vicar of the Son of God. His thoughts, with the rapidity of lightning, reverted to Rev. 13:18.’ ‘Will you turn to it?’ Mrs. A. Alice opened the New Testament and read: ‘Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.’ She paused, and Miss Emmons said, ‘He took out his pencil, and marking the numerical letters or the inscription on his tablet, it stood 666’” (pp. 4-5).

On the basis of this testimony, Smith affirms: “Here we have indeed the number of a man, even the ‘man of sin;’ and it is a little singular, perhaps providential, that he should select a title which shows the blasphemous character of the beast, and then cause it to be inscribed upon his miter, as if to brand himself with the number 666” (p. 5).

This editorial article by Uriah Smith is informative for two reasons. First, it shows that in 1866 when the article was published, there was still uncertainty among Adventists about the meaning of 666. H. E. Carver identified 666 with Lateinos—a longstanding interpretation that goes back to Irenaues in the second century—while Uriah Smith found it more plausible to apply 666 to the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei. At this point in time (1866) the latter interpretation was only a plausible suggestion, not a unanimously accepted teaching. It took a few years for Smith to gain general acceptance for this interpretation.

Second, Smith bases his preferred interpretation on an eyewitness account published 34 years earlier. No attempt was made to verify the accuracy of the account or to locate a more trustworthy historical source mentioning the use of Vicarius Filii Dei in Catholic official documents. Furthermore,the credibility of the account is questionable. First, because as mentioned earlier, there are no inscriptions on the papal miter.

Second, tt is hard to believe that upon seeing the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei upon the pope’s tiara, a person turned “with the rapidity of lightning” to Revelation 13:18, read the text, and then calculated the numerical value of the letters found in the tiara. No common person can perform all these functions “with the rapidity of lightning.”

The Gradually Acceptance of the Vicarius Filii Dei’s Interpretation

Slide 93

In the ensuing years Uriah Smith’s identification of the number 666 with Vicarius Filii Dei gained wide acceptance in the Adventist church. An indication is the report by G. W. Mitchell about the Ohio Campmeeting, published in the November 11, 1875, issue of the Review. Mitchell reports that on Saturday evening Brother St. John gave a Bible study “showing that the two-horned beast which was seen coming out of the earth is a symbol of the United States. . . . The number of the beast is found in the Latin words expressing his title, Vicar of the Son of God” (p. 7). The fact that Mitchell reports Brother St. John’s interpretation casually without any questioning suggests that by that time (1875) this interpretation had become widely accepted in the Adventist church.

The gradual shift from a plausible to a certain identification of Vicarius Filii Dei with the number 666 can be seen in Uriah Smith’s writings. We noted earlier that in his Review article published in 1866, Uriah Smith mentions Vicarius Filii Dei as a plausible interpretation of the number 666. Eighteen years later, in his book The United States in the Light of Prophecy (published in 1884), Uriah 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).

In his later books Smith repeats this view almost verbatim. For example, in The Marvel of the Nations (published in 1886), he wrote: “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 score and six (Rev 13:18). Where is the number to be found? The pope wears upon his pontifical crown, in jeweled letters, this title: Vicarius Filii Dei vicegerent of the Son of God. The numerical value of which title is just six hundred and sixty-six” (p. 266).

Slide 94

The sources cited by Uriah Smith to support his identification of the number 666 with the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei are the accounts of two eyewitnesses who claimed to have seen the inscription on the pope’s tiara while in Rome. Elder D. E. Scoles of Washburn, Missouri, personally met these two eyewitnesses and wrote their story. Uriah Smith quotes this story in his book Thought on Daniel and Revelation.

“I have met two men who declare that they have seen this specific crown; and their testimony is so perfectly in agreement that I am convinced that what they saw is true. The first man was M. De Latti, a Sabbath-keeper who had previously been a Catholic priest, and had spent four years in Rome. He visited me when I was pastor in St. Paul, Minnesota, several years ago. I showed him my tract, ‘The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast.’ He at once told me that the inscription was not correctly placed in my illustration. He stated that he had often seen it in the museum at the Vatican, and gave a detailed and accurate description of the whole crown. When my tract was published, I was ignorant of the arrangement of the words of the Latin inscriptions, hence, in the illustration of the crown, placed them in one line. Brother De Latti at once pointed out the mistake, and said the first word of the sentence was on the first crown of the triple arrangement, the second word on the second part of the crown, while the word Dei was on the lower division of the triple crown. He also explained that the first two words were in dark-colored jewels, while the Dei was composed entirely of diamonds.

“During a tent-meeting which I held in Webb City, Mo., I presented the subject, ‘The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast.’ I used charts to illustrate it, one being a reproduction of the crown as Brother De Latti had described it. A Presbyterian minister was present, Rev. B. Hoffman, and when I described the crown, he spoke out publicly and made a statement to the congregation, saying that while in Rome studying for the priesthood, he had seen this very crown, and noted its inscription, and that the word Dei was composed of one hundred diamonds. I met him and learned his name, and visited him at his home, and was convinced from his description that this was the identical crown that Brother De Latti had seen, but which has been denied by many. I then asked him for a written statement, and he gave me the following:—

‘To Whom It May Concern:

‘This is to certify that I was born in Bavaria in 1828, was educated in Munich, and was reared a Roman Catholic. In 1844 and 1845 I was a student for the priesthood in the Jesuit College in Rome. During the Easter service of 1845, Pope Gregory XVI wore a triple crown upon which was the inscription, in jewels, Vicarius Filii Dei. We were told that there were one hundred diamonds in the word Dei; the other words were of some other kind of precious stones of a darker color. There was one word upon each crown, and not all on the same line. I was present at the service, and saw the crown distinctly, and noted it carefully.

‘In 1850 I was converted to God and to Protestantism. Two years later I entered the Evangelical Church ministry, but later in life I united with the Presbyterian Church, of which I am now a retired pastor, having been in the ministry for fifty years. I have made the above statement at the request of Elder D. E. Scoles, as he states that some deny that the pope ever wore this tiara. But I know that he did, for I saw it upon his head.

‘Sincerely yours in Christian service,

(Signed) “‘B. HOFFMAN.

‘Webb City, Mo., Oct. 29, 1906’” (Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation, pp. 624-625).

An Evaluation of Uriah Smith’s Sources

The credibility of the two testimonies used by Uriah Smith, is undermined by several inaccuracies. For example, Mr. De Latti claims to have seen the inscribed tiara several times “in the museum at the Vatican.” The fact is that papal tiaras are displayed not at the “Musei Vaticani—Vatican Museum,” but in the Treasury of St. Peter Basilicas, which is located inside the basilica.. In the Treasury are displayed ancient and recent ecclesiastical art, vestments, tiaras, and liturgical vessels.

On several occasions I have visited the Treasury of St. Peter when guiding tourists through St. Peter. I have searched in vain for tiaras with inscriptions. The two inscribed tiaras, namely, the 1871 Belgian tiara donated to Pius IX and the 1903 Golden tiara given by the people of Bologna to Leo XIII, are not displayed in the Treasury. But these two inscribed tiaras do not contain the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei.

The Informative Report Filed by Pastor Chas T. Everson

Slide 95

My experience is confirmed by a most informative report filed by Chas T. Everson, an Adventist missionary serving in Italy. He filed regular reports for The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald about significant church events happening in Italy. For on the July 27, 1905, issue of the Advent Review, Everson wrote a fascinating article entitled “The Inscription on the Pope’s Tiara.” In response to inquiries from various countries about the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei, Everson made “a special effort to gain the desired information” by conducting a thorough investigation that providentially led him into the very dressing room of the pope, where some tiaras are kept.

Everson wrote: “I have seen the tiara upon the head of the pope on various occasions, when great functions were held in St. Peter’s Cathedral, such as the Jubilee of Pope Leo XIII, the coronation of the present pope, etc. And on occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of the Immaculate Conception. I had a position in the church very near where the pope passed, and with the aid of an opera-glass saw the tiara quite plainly. Also on a later occasion, when two ‘saints’ were canonized, I had a reserved seat in front of the church, and then I saw the tiara exceptionally well. But in order to leave no possible room for doubt in this matter, I sought to gain the opportunity of seeing the tiara privately and of examining in minutely.”

Everson continues recounting the unique opportunity he had one day, through the aid of a friend well acquainted with Vatican officials, to visit the very room where the pope dresses himself for the great occasions. “Here we were given an opportunity of seeing the tiara close at hand. We also saw two other tiaras that had been presented to the pope, one from France and the other from Bologna, as well as the miter of the pope. . . .

“Now, as to the tiara, which is the triple crown worn solely by the pope, I shall say a few words. The present tiara has been in use since 1836, and was worn by Pius IX, Leo XIII, and Pius X. This is the official tiara with which popes are crowned, and which they wear on great occasions. There is no tiara extant that was worn before 1836; for when Napoleon came to Rome on his famous pillaging tour, he destroyed all the tiaras existing, in order to utilize the jewels and the precious metals contained in them . . .” (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 27, 1905, p. 10).

No Tiara Found with the Inscription Vicarius Filii Dei

Slide 96

In spite of his unique opportunity to view several tiaras at close range, Everson was disappointed in not finding the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei on any of them. He wrote: “But while we were pleased to see this brilliant crown, 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 continues describing the gold tiara presented to Leo XIII in 1903. This tiara, as shown earlier, contains three inscriptions, but none of them reading Vicarius Filii Dei . He 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).

Slide 97

Everson does not discount the possibility that the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei could be found in the older tiaras dismantled by Napoleon and even by some popes forced to raise money to pay tributes to occupying rulers. In fact, he writes: “I shall not leave the question at this point, but shall endeavor to prove in another article that also upon the tiara was found the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei at one time” (p. 11).

I spent considerable time looking for Everson’s follow-up article in the volumes of the Advent Review running from 1905 to 1920, but I was not able to locate such an article. It would be interesting to read what information Everson was able to gather on the inscription of Vicarius Filii Dei on pre-Napoleonic tiaras. The limited resources at Andrews University make it impossible for me to conduct this investigation locally. When I next have an opportunity to visit Rome, I will make it a priority to look for sources on the history of the papal tiaras that may be available in some Vatican libraries. I have reasons to believe that this inscription may be found on some papal tiaras, as we have found it in numerous official documents.

Problems with Uriah Smith’s Sources

Slide 98

Everson’s eyewitness account of his close range inspection of the papal tiaras, even of those found in the dressing room of the pope, discredits the two eyewitness stories used by Uriah Smith in several of his publications, including Daniel and the Revelation. Mr. De Latti could not have seen a tiara with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei in the Vatican Museum in Rome for two reasons. First, the tiaras are displayed in the Treasury of St. Peter basilica, not in the Vatican museum. Second, the investigations of all the existing tiaras done by men like Chas Everson and later by LeRoy Froom have failed to find a single tiara with the inscription under consideration.

The same conclusion holds true for the testimony of Rev. B. Hoffman, who claims to have seen Pope Gregory XVI wearing a triple crown tiara with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei during the Easter service of 1845. This testimony is discredited by the fact, pointed out by Catholic critics, that the pope NEVER wears the tiara for the celebration of special Masses. Its use is strictly reserved for historical events like the coronation service.

Undoubtedly Uriah Smith accepted at face value the testimonies he had received because he was eager to substantiate the prevailing Adventist interpretation of the number of the Beast. The lesson to be learned from Smith’s mistake is that our Adventist church cannot afford to base our prophetic interpretations on undocumented reports. Our commitment to teach the truth demands that we must be truthful to the witness of Scripture and history.

Uriah Smith’s Interpretation Defended by J. N. Andrews

Slide 99

Uriah Smith’s interpretation of the Number 666 became widely accepted in the Adventist church largely because it was ably defended by J. N. Andrews, who was highly respected as the leading scholar of the Adventist church. He agreed with Uriah Smith in the identification of the Mark of the Beast with the enforcement of Sunday observance and of the Number of the Beast with Vicarius Filii Dei.

Slide 100

John N. Andrews firmly believed that the number 666 is found in the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, which is inscribed on the pope’s miter. In his book The Three Messages of Revelation 14:6-12, Andrews wrote: “There is no other papal institution [like Sunday observance] that directly sets aside one of the ten commandments, that the whole Protestant world observes. This mark is very conspicuous in the forehead or hand, and signifies not a literal mark, but a public profession, or act, that all may see or know.

“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 miter. 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).

Uriah Smith and John N. Andrews played a major role in leading the whole Adventist church to accept their new interpretation of the number of the Beast as being the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei, allegedly inscribed in the papal tiara. Surprisingly, the two men never attempted to investigate the historical use of this title and its alleged inscription on the papal tiara.

Uriah Smith based his interpretation largely on stories he heard about a few people who saw the inscription on the tiara while in Rome watching the pope wearing the tiara in some religious ceremonies. The credibility of such stories is negated by the fact that popes do not wear the tiara for religious ceremonies. The use of the triple tiara is strictly reserved for major historical events like the coronation of a new pope. At the coronation ceremony, the triple tiara used to be placed on the head of the new pope to signify the reception of special pastoral, ecclesiastical, and temporal power. The last three popes have chosen to decline the coronation ceremony with the wearing of the tiara, replacing it with an inaugural Mass. The reason for this decision is the recognition that the coronation with the tiara is a sad reminder of the days when popes were crowned as temporal rulers.

Wide Acceptance of Adventist Numeric Interpretation

Slide 101

The interpretation of the number 666 as representing the numerical value of the letters found in the pope’s title Vicarius Filii Dei, became the standard Adventist interpretation for several decades. In fact, even today there are many Adventists who zealously defend this traditional interpretation. This is evidenced by the critical messages received from readers of my comments posted in the Endtime Issues Newsletter No. 194.

A large percentage of the over 100,000 online studies found in GOOGLE dealing with the number and mark of the beast, are authored by Adventists who use all their ingenuity and resources to defend the traditional interpretation. These fellow believers feel betrayed by Adventist leaders and scholars who today are questioning the traditional numeric interpretation, proposing instead a symbolic interpretation of the number 666.

The Design of a Fraudulent Tiara

Picture 102

The wide acceptance of the numeric interpretation of Vicarius Filii Dei as the fulfillment of the number (666) of the beast, led some zealous Adventists to design fraudulent tiaras with the famous inscription. The story of how this happened is reported LeRoy Froom, a respected Adventist church historian and author of several books, including the classic four-volume set on The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers. He offers a concise but stern account of how the fraudulent Adventist pictures of the papal tiaras were produced.

In a short article entitled “Dubious Pictures of the Tiaras,” published in The Ministry, Froom wrote: “Years ago one of our leading evangelists, when in Rome, secured some impressive pictures of one of the tiaras. But the photographs were without any wording of any sort on any of the three crowns, front or back. Later, an artist, in attempting to re-illustrate one of the standard books on the prophecies, took this genuine photograph of a plain tiara and lettered upon it the three words Vicarius, Filii and Dei—one on each of the three crowns—on the premise that such was the name the pope bore, and if were not actually on the tiara, it might well be by way of illustration. One of our leading publishing houses, and the General Conference, to whom the altered photograph was submitted, emphatically rejected it as misleading and deceptive, and refused to allow its use. (All honor to them!)

“Regrettably, some of our evangelists who do not have all the facts, and to whom the appeal of the moment has sometimes outweighed the ethics of the case, and who perhaps have not thought through the fraudulent character of such plausible but specious evidence, have occasionally continued to use this or similar fabrication” (The Ministry, November 1948, p. 35).

Slide 103

“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 reflex action upon our souls should be a sufficient deterrent. We must never use a quotation or a picture merely because it sounds or looks impressive. We must honor the truth and meticulously observe the principle of honesty in the handling of evidence under all circumstances” (The Ministry, November 1948, p. 35).

Slide 104

Froom’s stern warnings may have discouraged the use of fraudulent tiaras in evangelistic meetings, but not the identification of the number 666 with the papal title Vicarius Filii Dei. This identification remained largely unchallenged until the 1930s, when Francis D. Nichol wrote an article for Signs in which he mentions a person in Rome who saw that title on the Pope’s tiara. Stories of people who sighted the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei on the papal tiara while in Rome circulated freely in Adventist circles at that time. The “eyewitness stories” cited by Uriah Smith in his publications may have contributed to the fascination with these stories.

The Challenge of a Jesuit Editor