Text: Rev. 17:1-18
TWO MEN SAW VISIONS OF THE SAME BEAST WHICH TYPIFIED THE OLD ROMAN EMPIRE. IN DANIEL’S VISION THIS BEAST HAD ONE HEAD AND TEN HORNS WITH A MYSTERIOUS LITTLE HORN PROTRUDING ABOVE THE OTHERS IN POWER. EVENTUALLY PLUCKING UP THREE HORNS. HOWEVER, IN JOHN’S VISION THIS SAME BEAST WAS SEEN HAVING NOT ONE HEAD, BUT SEVEN HEADS!! ONE HEAD HAD BEEN WOUNDED UNTO DEATH. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALL THE SYMBOLICAL PICTURES ON ONE BEAST? WHY TWO MEN SAW ONE BEAST IN DIFFERENT LIGHT IS THE TOPIC FOR OUR STUDY THIS MONTH.
In case you may feel this title a bit catchy, allow me to say, it is no more catchy than when John the Revelator spoke of the beast which was, is not, and yet is! Or again when he stated the 8th head is of the 7th and what about Daniel’s language concerning his vision of the same beast when he said, out of the 10 horns came another little horn, yet there still remain only 10 horns on the beast. Therefore, “From Rome to the Vatican” is no more a catchy title than the statements of John and Daniel. To say – from Rome to the Vatican – truthfully you haven’t gone anywhere have you, and that’s the point we want you to see in this message. By referring to many sketches and pictures with this message, I personally feel we can better convey the actual meaning of the writer as he uses such symbolical language. Oftentimes while teaching upon such subjects if there isn’t something to point the reader to as a means of illustration, people find it difficult to keep up with the line of thinking. Referring to history, I realize it’s not everyone who has access to history that could verify these symbolical scriptural settings. Watch carefully as we enter this study and refer to bonified history in verifying these scriptural facts showing how each one (symbol) was fulfilled. Please note carefully in your mind how the first man who was the head of the Roman government as well as the last man shall come out of Rome. Though we shall pass through the lives of multitudes of men nevertheless that last man who is referred to as a beast (Rev.17:11) shall come from no place other than Rome. In other words, the setting or location of these men serving in these various heads found on the 4th beast as seen by John the Revelator will never change from Rome.
ROME-SETTING OF ALL 7 HEADS
Therefore banish the thought that so many of these religious instructors are trying to plant in one’s thinking that the antichrist shall come out of Russia, Yugoslavia, Egypt, England, America, yes and even from outer space. These are all false theories and are based strictly upon Current events rather than plain historical events, not to mention the holy scriptures. Since it is the final world empire to exist before the coming of Christ, this is why I continually emphasize and shall emphasize over and over that the setting of the fourth beast of the fourth world empire according to John’s vision (Rev.17) can never change from Rome – – it is a permanent location remaining so throughout the entire existence of the fourth beast. Therefore by-passing history and examining only current events, these religious instructors make their diagnosis of where they feel the antichrist will appear and it is always some place other than Rome. The antichrist will come out of Rome as we shall prove beyond any shadow of doubt in this article FROM ROME TO THE VATICAN It shall be none other than a breakdown of these various heads forming itself on the fourth beast that shall declare this beyond any doubt!
DANIEL’S VISION OF THE 4th BEAST
Our first scripture is taken from Daniel 7: where we note that Daniel has just received 4 great night visions. The prophet Daniel who is still in Babylonian exile has practically lived through the existence of the life of the 1st beast he saw in his vision because the first beast in Daniel’s vision represented the Babylonian Empire. Almighty God had given Daniel in symbolic form, a preview of 4 world empires that were to come upon the earth! However our only concern in this message is not with the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd empire but with the 4th and final one because, according to Daniel’s vision, the 4th one would continue (in some form) unto the coming of the Lord at which time all world empires, governments, kings, and potentates shall be made subject unto the Almighty God. I Tim. 3:16 II Cor. 5:19. Reading in Daniel 7:13 Daniel says “I saw in the night vision and behold one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the ancient of days and brought him near before him and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed.” Christ is pictured in Daniel’s vision as receiving the invested kingship from the great Eternal Spirit. The setting takes place in heaven as also does Revelation 19. Placing these two scriptures side by side you find it is at the time Christ is taking unto himself a wife – the little bride which he has married – and there they are waiting for that transaction to take place wherein Christ is literally invested with this ancient authority granting unto him complete authority to become king and ruler on the earth. That is why Daniel saw the kingdom (Millennium) and all nations and lands serving him. And notice furthermore that it was at the ending of the existence of the 4th beast that he sees this vision in its prophetic context. Continuing into verse 15 we have a repeat because after having seen all this in Daniel’s mind there is a question. “I Daniel was grieved in my body and the vision of my mind troubled me!” Daniel’s trouble was that he couldn’t understand all of this which he had seen unraveled nor could he place these 4 beasts and other visions in their proper setting therefore he approaches an angel who is standing nearby – “I came near unto one of them that stood nearby.” Daniel approaches one of the angels with his question and the angel is going to make the interpretation known to him, “These great beasts, which are 4, are 4 kings, which shall arise out of the earth.”
FOUR KINGS EQUAL – FOUR KINGDOMS
Were we to take these 4 kings and go into history we would discover that as these 4 different kings are broken up in respective order to time they would be none other than 4 separate kingdoms. Nevertheless, within each kingdom illustrated in Daniel’s vision as a beastly system (in itself), you would have many men who were kings in these various empires and out of that vast number of men would always be one, two or perhaps 3 that would be more outstanding and responsible for the kingdom reaching its peak of prophetic setting fulfillment. Therefore these 4 kings are none other than 4 earthly kingdoms which will appear at some time upon this earth. Note verse 18 speaks of a time after these 4 kingdoms have been seen – “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, and ever.” Who are the saints of the most High spoken of here in verse 18? None other than the gentile bride, the wife of Christ!
A LITTLE HORN RISING
Verse 19 “Then I would know the truth of the 4th beast.” For some reason this 4th beast fascinated Daniel far above the other three, perhaps it was the fact it was different from the others, far exceeding in fearfulness. Daniel’s description spoke of its teeth being iron and its claws of brass which devoured, brake in pieces and stomped the residue of the remnant; meaning it overran everything that stood in its way and we note that although the beast developed 10 horns, which is most unusual on the head of any beast, that is not what seems to attract his attention, it’s the fact that a little horn sprang out of the midst of these 10 horns! Continuing on Daniel says “Each of the 10 horns that were in his head, and of another horn which came up, and before whom three fell” (already mentioned in verse 8). Daniel is going to describe the little horn which he saw protrude up out of the 10 fastened to the head of the 4th great beast, “even of that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. And I beheld the same horn, made war with the saints, and prevailed against them until the ancient of days came. (referring back to Christ whose coming is at the end of this 4th world system and entering into the millennium) and judgment was given the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom (millennial kingdom) – – the 1000 year reign, “thus he said, the 4th beast shall be the 4th kingdom” -(note this takes it away from mere men and applies it to a system, doesn’t it?) “Upon earth, which shall be diverse of all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
TEN HORNS AND THE LITTLE HORN DOES NOT MAKE 11 HORNS
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are 10 kings that shall arise and another shall arise after them and he shall be diverse from the first, AND HE SHALL SUBDUE 3 KINGS AND SHALL SPEAK GREAT WORDS AGAINST THE MOST HIGH, AND SHALL WEAR OUT THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, AND THINK TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS: AND THEY SHALL BE GIVEN INTO HIS HANDS (how long) until a time, times and the dividing of time,” (317 years) “But the judgment shall sit, (referring you back to Christ as millennium begins ) and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom unto the whole heaven SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH, WHOSE KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM, AND ALL DOMINIONS SHALL SERVE AND OBEY HIM” (Daniel 7:17-27). What Daniel has actually seen is a general profile of four world empires, which have lasted until the 2nd coming of Christ and Christ taking his gentile bride and going into the millennium to rule and reign over the subjects in mortal flesh who were not destroyed through the period of the battle of Armageddon where Christ has re-entered the picture coming to earth with his bride and destroying the fourth beast, Rev.19:20. To understand what all of this means we will be forced to break down the component parts of this beast to show how in the last days the power of this very beast will be in the Battle of Armageddon and as scripture states it shall be this very beast that Christ himself shall destroy with the coming of his glorious presence, 2 Thes.1:8 2:8. subject which we have entitled “From Rome to the Vatican,” I am sure anyone who has studied history and knows anything about geographical locations realizes when you say from Rome to the Vatican you haven’t gone anywhere but remain strictly within the same territorial geographical boundary, haven’t you? That’s right, you’ve gone nowhere in fact you haven’t left Rome. Our main concern in this article is throughout the life of this 4th beast referred to as the Roman Empire just actually what has transpired through this setting that never left Rome causing it to be the beastly system spoken of first by Daniel and later seen on 2 separate occasions by John the Revelator with more heads added to it than that which Daniel say. Why, it was given iron teeth and brass claws to destroy everything that got in its way until it literally devoured the whole earth. This will be a message that must involve a great deal of historical references seeing that so much of this empire has transpired yet according to prophecy the worst of it is yet to appear in this last day. Therefore we shall be referring to history verifying these scriptures that we have read. Recall any true history always runs in true parallel with biblical prophecy. After all what is prophecy but unfolded history once it has been fulfilled. Upon fulfillment prophecy then becomes recorded history of the past which you read in a history hook, however at first it was history in advance yet once fulfilled it then becomes history of the past, therefore true history and biblical prophecy must run parallel. As Daniel goes into this 4th vision he tells us of seeing this beast coming up out of the sea. Sea in scripture always refers to the great masses of people, in this case held by the Roman Empire (Rev. 17: ). Bear in mind the Roman Empire not only included vast geographical territories but within those territories were the masses of people ruled from the city of Rome. Just as in the case of the other beast empires before it, each had their own particular city from where the governments of the various empires were launched. Therefore, according to prophecy Rome would remain the city throughout the existence of the 4th beast empire which would be the headquarters throughout the whole prophetical picture until the 2nd advent of Christ. Let’s examine it closely throughout its long life in order to see if its headquarters or seat of governmental authority ever did leave Rome. In Daniel’s vision of the Roman Empire which differs somewhat to John’s two visions in the fact that Daniel simply did not record as many heads on the beast as did John therefore not discussing the wounded head which eventually was healed and all the world wondered after (Rev. 13:3-8 13:12-14). Naturally since Daniel only recorded the one huge head that went with the body of the beast he could not discuss the fact of the wounded head which received a deadly wound and was healed – as did John, however in Daniel’s vision he does discuss the 10 horns that grew out from the head of the beast and spent much time elaborating on the little horn which had a big mouth and deceiving eyes and plucked up three horns.
DANIEL SAW BEAST UNDER GREAT LEADERSHIP NOT DECLINING PERIOD
At first in Daniel’s vision he only saw one large head having iron teeth and brass claws. We might add here, the one head which Daniel recorded seeing illustrates the first major form of Roman government or rulership carried on by that long line of men who fell heir to the throne through heirship as that of a Caesar or Emperor of Rome and actually before the 10 horns would appear on the beast that one head would mushroom into seven heads (heads of which Daniel never did discuss but only appears in John’s vision). The other six heads represents six forms of Roman government (other than the Caesars) which continues uncontrollably to grow weaker and weaker until finally around 800 or 900 A.D. the pope of Rome, who is none other than the 8th head or 8th form of government to be added to the head and, is also the little horn who plucked up 3 kings destroying their national authority proving himself through the Dark Ages to be far superior than all the other horns gained control by the Roman Government. Having seen 7 heads appear and knowing what they mean and realizing the Roman Empire is to exist though in other forms mainly that of the horns until the 2nd coming of Christ who destroys this 4th beast. How could anyone believe that the government of this beast system ever operates anywhere but out of the city of Rome itself!
MEANING OF THE HORNS SEEN ON THE BEAST
Daniel witnessed 10 horns grow out of the head of this beast. It is important to note here that there is only one place from which horns ever grow on any animal and that is out of its head. Yet, we realize that the horns themselves are not the seat of thinking of any animal. What is the purpose of horns on an animal other than to serve as a matter of defense; it is from the head and not from the horns that comes thought, speech, and thinking or maneuvering ability. Yes, it is inside the head of an animal that decides when, where, and how these horns are to be used, isn’t it? Therefore it is important we discover what these horns symbolize.
HORNS SYMBOLIZE POWER
All power in scripture must have a thought behind it else it ceases to be a power likewise these horns also symbolize power and in them we notice certain types of power. Although noticing more closely the head than any other part of the body of the beast, Daniel did observe the feet were made of iron and its claws brass. However only in reality Daniel was seeing the 4th beast as it was rising up among the nations, coming Into its great world power and authority under only its first form of government, that of the Caesars. Daniel never saw it in completeness as it changed its other various forms of government throughout its many hundreds and hundreds of years of existence as John the Revelator on the Isle of Patmos in 96 A.D. recorded. Daniel never recorded it breaking up from a one-world empire; he never witnessed it going into its seven stages of government nor developing into its 10 nations throughout western Europe, although Daniel did say that it continued until the coming of Christ who destroyed it. Daniel only saw it coming into its greatness of power (not its decline) and not until it began to move out from under the prophetic spotlight did he notice what was growing out from its head — these horns!
DANIEL’S FAILURE TO DESCRIBE FOURTH BEAST
Strange isn’t it that Daniel would describe in full detail all the other beasts in his vision such as bodily structure etc. Surely there must be a reason why. Personally, I believe he saw, although for some reason he did not describe. the entire bodily structure of the fourth beast although some 500 years later on the Isle of Patmos God allowed another man to foresee the future, into the very hour which is considered our day and we note that man seeing in two visions this very beast which Daniel described only in part. This man describes more the 10 horns which Daniel saw but furthermore he also discusses something that is of great importance to our lesson today.
SEVEN HEADS
Instead of this one great huge head as Daniel recorded, John pictures the beast as having 7 heads! Why 7? Recall John on the Isle of Patmos sees the beast rising up, not at the time Daniel saw him rising up before the 1st advent of Christ, but John saw it rising up having 7 heads and 10 horns to appear before the 2nd coming of Christ. What had happened to this single head since the vision of Daniel and why do 7 heads appear at the hour John saw it, when we realize perhaps only the 2nd head or at the most the 3rd had even am peared on the beast in reality during the time John saw the beast therefore what John is witnessing is every change and form of government that would be throughout the existence of the Roman Empire unto the 2nd coming of Christ. To bring this beast into the full spotlight of its prophetic fulfillment we must turn to the assistance of history to learn what we can concerning every setting, every form and every change within this empire until its final destruction when Christ and his saints return.
ROME AND ITS BEGINNING
History reveals some fascinating things about the city of Rome, its beginning and purpose of existence. Furthermore, it records that each of the 7 hills on which Rome sits carries a particular name. Rome was founded by 2 young men named Romulus and Remus approximately 800 years before Christ. At first Rome flourished as a sanctuary for cut-throats, hoodlums and what-have-you, therefore Rome became a city with a far different beginning than any other on record becoming a vast barbarian territory of western Europe. While eastward many of your newer far eastern empires were rising into their greatness, Rome simply remained in the background as a city in the wilderness furnishing refuge for every kind of evil, murderous, barbarian cut-throat in existence. Believe it or not, that’s how Rome developed into a city flourishing in that fashion for many many years. As Rome begins to expand she starts reaching out laying hold upon smaller territories just outside her own borders. Rome soon developed a reputation of being the city to house any person who didn’t approve of their own form of government. Even in far away lands Rome became known as the city where one could do as they pleased henceforth multitudes fled to Rome and for approximately 3 to 400 years Rome continued in such fashion. Such a setting was in progress during the first beast’s rise and fall of Babylon. As Rome continued to grow in size she mustered a good sized army and set out upon great conquest conquering territories. By the time we arrive at ap-proximately 100 B.C. (or less) thanks to a long line of Roman Caesar Emperor rulers, Rome has been brought into her glory as a world empire. Rome’s governmental authority is headed by a man called Caesar or Emperor. This Caesar line being a kinward line would remind you of the Kaiser’s 41 Germany before World War I although to be a Caesar you had to be of a kinward line but like the German Kaisers who passed away at the end of World War I, so did this line of men Called Caesar pass out of existence and not with the downfall of the empire, not with a war or a revolution but with the very simple fact that the last man to rule of the line of Caesars left no heir to inherit the throne that man in 61{ a.d. was Nero who left no descendants for heirship to the Roman throne!
THE CAESAR LINE
This Caesar line of men who ruled Rome under the first head (1st form of Government) continually passed the throne from father to son or whoever would be the nearest of kin. When speaking of a great throne I have no reference merely to a great chair but I speak of the greatness for which that chair stood. It was that certain kinward line of men called Caesars who sought diligently with one purpose and that was to advance the throne of the Caesars of Rome into something so great that it would be recognized throughout the world. Each Caesar’s ambition who sat on that throne in Rome was to be the supreme ruler of the world. Strange isn’t it that practically every beast system prior to this one also had their leaders who sat on a throne but were referred to as kings, never emperors or Caesars. Webster defined the word Emperor to mean sovereign, imperial, universal ruler, and beloved, to attribute such a title to a mere man is blasphemy for we realize that God alone is imperial, is universal, and only God himself is sovereign ruler. Yet for a mere man to contribute such a title to himself as emperor is blasphemy. True, in respect to his descendants in line, in that respect he is the Caesar, however it is the title that goes with that position which the man holds in respect to his authority that makes him emperor meaning universal sovereign ruler of the earth. And let it be stated here that each ruler throughout those heads proclaimed themselves to hold this position even though they were not Caesars and were not of the Caesar kinward line, yes, and even the 8th head which John saw in his vision which was actually of the 7th also declared himself to be universal sovereign ruler of the earth! And how the anti-christ himself is of that 8th head and is considered by his office as universal sovereign ruler of the earth will be discussed more fully later in the message. Continually these men who formed the rank and file of the Caesars from a kinward line advanced the throne of Rome therefore as we approach the period of approximately 180 B.C. on up into the life of Christ himself we have formed such a line of Roman Caesars as Julius Augustus, Claudia, Cicero and on down the descendant line until you come to the last man to fill the Caesar position, the man who fiddled while Rome burned and accused the christians for the evil work of burning the city for which he himself was guilty. With his death the long Caesar kinward line comes to an end because evil Nero had made no provision for a successor to till his shoes when the throne was vacated by his death. His death came in 68 A.D. and because no one could inherit the throne the long line of Caesars came to an end, henceforth, the first powerful form of government or the large head on the beast has ended! Recall Daniel only recorded the one huge head however by the time John saw the beast it had developed six more smaller, less prominent heads. Thus with the death of Nero in 68 A.D. we end what is referred to as the first long lengthy line of the Caesar period, ending the first head and now preparing to take on the 2nd form or Roman government which was not mentioned by Daniel. In 68 A.D. time had arrived for the great beast to put forth another head.
During Nero’s reign half of Rome was laid in ashes by a great fire, which raged for a week. But a new Rome speedily arose. It was a much finer city than the old, with wide, straight streets instead of narrow alleys, and with houses of good stone in place of wooden hovels. Except for the loss of the temples and public buildings, the fire was a blessing in disguise. After the death of Nero the dynasty that traced its descent from Julius and Augustus became extinct. There was no one who could legally claim the vacant throne. The Senate, which in theory had the appointment of a successor was too weak to exercise its power. The imperial guard and the legions on the frontiers placed their own candidates in the field. The Roman world fell into anarchy, and Italy became once more the seat of civil war. The throne was finally seized by the able general, Flavius Vesasianus, supported by the armies of the East. He and his two sons, Titus and Domitian, are called the Flavian Caesars.
Let us note things that are transferable to the 2nd head or form of government that was in the old Caesar line. The old Caesar line itself could never be transferred else how could you begin a 2nd form of government or head? The title the Caesar held was transferable; the throne was transferable however the authority with which the Caesars had ruled Rome for such a long period of time was not transferable nor did any of the heads seem to master that great authority that was responsible for Rome being the great power that she had been. (All the other heads are shown as smaller, weaker heads.)
WHAT THESE HEADS SYMBOLIZE
That first huge head on the body of the beast symbolized that imperial Caesar form of government that had been established through that lengthy line of emperors of kinward descent. Yes, that first huge head represented the Caesars and their masterful form of government of ruling their subjects for recall each Caesar demanded worship and honor to be bestowed upon himself from all his subjects. Let that Caesar, regardless of who he might have been, ride by in his chariot and watch what would happen. His subjects would line the streets and toss all kinds of flower bouquets before his chariot allowing the horses to run over a bed of flowers. Whenever possible they would bow and kiss his feet (and recall each form of government after the Caesars required the same dignity of their subjects. Yes and this even includes that one which John the Revelator spoke of as the 8th head or 8th form of government to rule Rome, the one who received the deadly blow and after a literal period of time was healed with all the world running after him again. Recall all of these other forms of government or 6 other heads on the beast could never hold the dignity of the empire as did the Caesars although they still sat in the Caesar’s chair; they still portrayed themselves as a god or as imperial emperor which meant he and he alone was the rightful one to rule the earth and believe me his subjects were well informed of that fact.
VESPASIAN BEGINS SECOND HEAD
Jerusalem destroyed by Rome Vespasian Titus Flavius
Therefore the one head which Daniel recorded when it actually came into fulfillment was none other than that imperial Caesar line of government which ended with the death of Nero in 68 A.D. shortly before Gen. Vespasian who was busy putting down a Jewish revolt at Jerusalem was suddenly called away back to Rome to become the new emperor thus beginning the 2nd head or form of government in the Roman empire. No wonder Vespasian took Josephus the Jewish historian back to Rome with him because of the outstanding prophecy delivered unto Gen. Vespasian by the Holy Spirit through Josephus. The prophecy was “Vespasian knoweth not that thou shalt be ruler of Rome,” undoubtedly Vespasian must have thought this was the most ridiculous statement he had ever heard, ( he was not in a Caesar line as being kin to Nero the emperor, he was merely a soldier general, head of the Roman army on a mission of disbursing a revolt created by the high priest in Jerusalem and their rival parties struggling for the high priest position which had caused great disorder and insurrection among the Jews. For centuries no man other than one of the kinward line had been ruler at Rome – how could such a statement be true, but it was! Yes, even at that very hour a runner was on his way bearing the news of Nero’s death and how the Roman senate had sought diligently for one in the kinward line to sit on the throne as a replacement for Nero but none could be found – not even a distant cousin! Thus for the first time in Roman history was a man being chosen to rule the Roman empire that was not of a kinward Caesar line. Vespasian returns to Rome to sit in the Caesar’s chair ruling the Roman empire, During the reign of Vespasian a revolt of the Jews was crushed and Jeusalem was captured by Titus, Vespasian’s son. It is said, doubtless with exaggeration, that one million Jews perished in the siege, the most awful that history records. The Holy City, together with the Temple was destroyed and a Roman camp was pitched upon the spot. Titus caused the destruction of the city thus dispersing the Jew out into the Roman Empire at the beginning of the 2nd head or form of government of Rome where they have remained until the revival of the wounded 8th head is being healed.
ROME AND HER SENATE
Rome naturally depended upon her vast army for protection of her city and empire, however the Roman senate was not military men but political men who were appointed by the various territories to represent them before Caesar, similar to our house of representatives representing the various states to the president. However with Caesar as emperor and dictator there was very little voting as would be in our form of government for whatever the Caesar said was law. Although we desire far more to discuss John’s unusual vision of this head especially the little mushroom head on the beast or 7th and 8th form of government, we cannot simply ignore the various other heads that formed on the head of the beast where it is spoken of as the 8th being of the 7th because to do that we would not have a clear understanding as to what had developed in the Roman Empire under those other forms or heads causing the statement to be made the 8th being of the 7th. Therefore we must spend time going through each one of these heads to give an indisputable reason for there being the 8th which was of the 7th. If this is confusing to you now perhaps it will not be once the message is completed. Rome’s first head or first form of government with the Caesars extended through Christ’s life span down through Nero’s period of 68 A.D. At this point no horns in reality have appeared on the beast, only one head has appeared on the 4th beast yet as John portrays the beast in his vision in Rev. 13: in reality they had still not appeared though invasions they were again seen. Only time itself will bring all of those 10 horns into focus (mainly the Dark Age period up through the 20th century).
THE MYSTERY OF THE LITTLE HORN
The mystery of the little horn in Daniel’s vision would not appear on the horizon until the 10 horns had all completely formed, taking on their respective locations throughout the broken territory of the Old Roman Empire. Later we shall learn when and how these horns were portrayed in both Daniel’s and John’s visions and especially we shall study 1 when we reach the final stage of the Roman Empire government about the little horn that was seen growing out of the midst of the 10 horns in Daniel’s vision which gave the appearance there were 11 horns to appear on the beast. Not so, the appearing of the little horn with the 10 horns does not place 11 horns on the head of the animal for the little horn is an ecclesiastical power that rises into enough authority and prestige that it simply sits over the other horns in all power and authority and as history reveals and prophecy stated that 3 horns are 3 kings during the Middle Ages who would attempt to throw off the power and authority of the little horn only to be broken themselves. But before reaching that point in the history of the empire we must go through 6 heads or forms of government that shall affect the lives of not only millions during the Dark Ages but shall affect untold millions of lives in that one prophetic hour before the return of Christ. That beloved will be in what is known as that long awaited 70th or final week of Daniel’s prophecy. It shall be the appearing of the office of the little horn, the one who is spoken of in Dan. 9:27 as the prince who made a covenant with many (nations) and in the middle of a prophetic week broke that covenant with Israel after their sacrifices at the Jewish temple will have been reestablished and the worst period of 3 1/2 years of tribulation, especially against the Jewish race will have begun. This will be at a time yet in history when the last form of the Roman government which in the past had received a deadly wound is now completely healed and the world wonders after the beast – – The beast being none other than a man who is still in that 8th form of Roman rulership. Friends, if you know the office that received the deadly blow in religious history under Martin Luther and the Reformation leaders and he for whom Napoleon sent Gen. Berthier to take this little horn power and cast into prison, YOU WOULD KNOW THE OFFICE OF THE LAST FORM OF ROMAN IMPERIAL RULERSHIP WHO DEMAN-DED THE SAME PRESTIGE (including human worship) FROM THE ROMAN SUBJECTS AS nin THE CAESARS OF OLD. However we do not want to jump these other 6 heads to reach this most exciting point of our message for it shall be through the growth of those last remaining heads the office that fulfills the 8th form which actually is of the 7th was finally able to take complete control of the Roman Empire after the empire had broken up into the 10 horns powers located in western Europe. Furthermore we shall understand when the message is completed how John could record from a vision in Rev. 17 that he saw this beast with the 7 heads and the 10 horns not at that point coming up out of the sea as in Rev. 13 but is seen walking through a swampy area and this time carrying a rider on its back.
THE BEAST AND ITS RIDER
The rider is none other than a woman and across the forehead of this woman was written these words MYSTERY BABYLON THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. The angel spoke of the woman as the great whore who gave birth to (many) daughters. Who was this woman of mystery who has appeared in many places in the scripture under various names such as in Matt. 13:33 Rev. 2:20- 22 and is now seen appearing in Rev. 17:1-5 as MYSTERY BABYLON MOTHER OF HARLOTS (Roman Catholic Church) and her protestant daughters who chose the same walk of life that she chose. Why is the woman riding this beast? When did it begin carrying her? Rev. 17:7 refers to John as having marvelled when he saw the woman riding the beast which was the Old Roman empire system. The angel, noticing John being so fascinated and almost carried away with this phenomena, says to John “Why didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carried her which has the 7 heads and 10 horns.” (First let me say) “the beast that thou sawest that was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and shall go into perdition with all those names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life wondering after the beast which was, and is not and yet is.”
WHAT ASCENDED OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT?
Beloved what is the only thing that could ascend up out of a bottomless pit? Could you bring a physical human being up out of the bottomless pit? No, of course not! Could you bring a tangible object up out of the bottomless pit? Again the answer is no, what then can you bring pp out of the bottomless pit? ONLY A SPIRIT! Therefore you are dealing in Revelation 17:7 strictly with the beast spirit which includes 3 outlets (1) the beast spirit of the system (2) the beast spirit of church (3) the beast man himself, and once you bring all that into focus you have the spirit of a system, church and man lined up, what is it? Through these three we see the final climax which is Satan’s way of incarnating himself into these three systems, church and man. This of course will be projected through that final or 8th head spoken of to be of the 7th seen on the beast. Through these 3 steps Satan has incarnated himself into the very fullness of all this diabolical plots land plans and there he sits in a man ruling the world (8th head) showing and portraying to the world that he himself is to worshipped and adored by the inhabitants of the earth as God, henceforth that is why they bow before him and kiss his feet whenever possible. Let’s break this down for even a clearer understanding of what the angel meant when he said the beast that thou sawest, was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go (much later) into perdition or the Lake of Fire; and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder after the beast (8th head) whose names were not written in the book of Life from the foundation of the earth when they beheld the beast that was and is not and yet is. Using such terms as the angel has used in his description of what is before us, what is he speaking of – this 8th is of the 7th. Why have we entitled our message FROM ROME TO THE VATICAN? To show that it has been Rome all the time, it is the Vatican which forms that form of government and the Vatican has always been within Rome, hasn’t it? The angel continues on saying, “the 7 heads are 7 mountains, on which the woman sitteth. There you are unquestionable proof that throughout every form or head of government those heads did not move around from place to place but stayed in one locality that was Rome! Bear in mind here is a dual purpose however the location will never change, it remains in Rome. Everyone knows that Rome has always been referred to as the city of 7 hills and as the angel says where the woman sits (and is a conjunction connecting two separate objects) and there are 7 kings, John says, 5 are fallen (already passed off the scene) and one is (meaning there is one headship in Rome at the time John lived) and the other is not yet come, and when he cometh he shall continue a short space (that is the 7th head or 7th form of government that extended briefly before the beast. which is the 8th which is of the 7th. has come into full power.
HEAD NUMBER TWO (SHAKY)
Head number two, the second form of Roman government was made up by soldier generals who filled a position of headship in the Roman Army. The first man in this line was General Vespasian. Nero’s death closing out the Caesar kindred line had left no heir to the throne, not even a distant cousin, therefore the Roman senate for the first time in its history was forced to search out another type headship to rule Rome, and maintain that imperial dignity and respect that the Caesars had demanded from their subjects for so long. Vespasian, no relationship to Nero or his kin, was chosen to head the Empire, which position he held from 68 A.D. until his death (79 A.D.). His two sons Titus (79-81 A.D.) and Domitian (81-96 A.D.) could in no way control the unrest and schism that was going on in the imperial form of government in Rome. Rome begins now to be badly shaken and is never able throughout its other forms of headship to regain that lost image that died with the Caesars. We might illustrate the schism and division with the turmoil that goes on in Washington for such is what had set up in Rome. No one could truthfully say, “WE HAVE A UNITED SENATE BODY OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES” when six rise to vote for one thing and ten oppose. Such was what was transpiring in the Roman Senate government. With the second headship Rome nose-dived into a political decay. She was never able to pull out!! That great Imperial government established under that first head of the long line of Caesars was never regained and naturally as this begins to happen Rome slowly loses her influence over her vast territories. Rome, you recall, controlled everything from the Atlantic to the borders of India unto the northern parts of Africa and all of western Europe. Time had arrived again within the structure of government for the beast to still take on other heads until it has completed seven. Rev. 17 stated these heads were seven mountains on which the woman sitteth, THAT IS ROME! No matter how many heads form on that beast never pull your setting out of Rome. Remember Rev. 17 carries a duel fulfillment meaning as that great Imperial Caesar form of government began to break up it would enter into seven major, distinct changes in history, enabling Satan who had once set in that power throne of the Caesars to use those men to rule the world and declare themselves as sovereign, universal rulers (a title which can be held only by Almighty God). Through time that throne position continually weakens and enters into seven major changes before that old Imperial power would be completely broken off and recall Satan maintained position of that throne throughout the seven heads and by the time the seventh head had formed which lasted for only a short period of time, the pope of Rome who sat in another chair in Rome also was in power and position to take over by the time the seventh head faded out. Thus Satan merely transfers all that the Imperial chair represented over into the religious chair. All that the Caesars built Rome to be, though much was lost during the other six forms of government, all is now dumped upon the religious chair and through this chair Satan now pushes himself through a system through a church and through a man. Satan simply does a quick hand magician act, as he sees the seventh head and form of government completely collapse in Rome, he has been grooming another office chair in Rome to take over. Therefore, if you will note, not another head ever forms on the beast, although after the healing of the wounded head there shall be a revival of his office-however, there shall never be another form of government to rule Rome. Through the long Dark ages we saw recorded in history how that new throne power or eighth head which Satan had raised up to take both state and church under one throne operated, and put to death millions and millions of people who served the true and living God. Thus fulfilling Daniel’s statement ‘the little horn made war with the saints and overcame them.’ A continuation of punishment against God’s people until he received his deadly wound that eventually was healed. During that long Dark Age period under this new established rulership of Rome, the papal office is recorded as cracking such a whip over those ten horned nations that no one was able to withstand his power and authority. And where is this authority coming from – still as always out of the city of Rome only now from a different throne but from a throne that still carries all the authority and the prestige and titles such as Imperial Ruler, bowing and kissing the feet, etc. as that which belonged to the Caesar chair, all of which was now transferred to the new chair.
FIVE ARE FALLEN
Now to discover John’s meaning when he stated, “Five is fallen, one is and one is yet to come who shall continue only a short space” – and then the new form of government, the eighth which is of the seventh shall take over – never to be erased as a head until Christ comes. Let’s turn back in our historical account to discover if we can know what actually took place. Beloved, it just so happened the very year that John was imprisoned being projected into the day of the Lord in visions, these five fallen emperors of whom he spoke according to history were the following men! Recall, these five were not Caesar Emperors but they were mainly soldier or army emperors. Vespasian, passing the throne to Domitian and Titus as he left the scene, left it in somewhat of a weakened condition though it was still weaker when his sons passed off the scene. The Roman senate searched now in vain for a man who could sit on that Caesar throne (though aware he could never be a Caesar) and control the government in such fashion and dignity, demanding respect of all its citizens as it once had under the first headship of the Caesars.
THE 5 GOOD EMPERORS 96 – 180 A.D.
The five rulers – – Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Aurelius – – whose reigns cover the greater part of the second century, are sometimes called the Antonine Caesars, because two of them bore the name Antoninus. They are better known as the “Good Emperors,” a title which well reached its greatest prosperity. According to prophecy John stated five had already fallen. According to history these were referred to as the good emperors in the respect these five men desperately strove to contribute something to try to capture or re-establish that image which was lost at the death of the Caesars. First man of the five was Nerva. History informs us how he tried to better establish the Imperial government during his time of reign and for a little season succeeded, however, with his passing the authority slumped again and the second man, Trajon, tried desperately to revive the position of the throne before the people by re-enacting the military genius and ability of Julius Caesar. For some reason it only lasted a short time and then diminished. Note, each one of these five emperors or heads of government is trying desperately to re-establish that Imperial authority which goes with the Caesars throne which has deteriorated so badly. For centuries those Caesars, one after another, had lifted their throne power to its very peak and now all at once after reaching its peak, observe what happens; decay has set in. The throne position begins to slip and deteriorate. Each ruler fighting desperately through every means possible to re-establish that ancient Imperial caesar authority in his own form of government. Hadrian, the third man who came to the throne in the latter part of the second century made a trip to the Holy Land whereupon seeing people singing and worshiping on a certain hill inquired of the officials of the city of Jerusalem what these people were doing out there? Hadrian was informed that these people were Christians who worshipped the one called the Christ. The hill they worshipped on was supposed to be the one upon which he was crucified. Hadrian, as all Roman rulers, held such hatred and detest for the christians and had them arrested and martyred -many of them on crosses similar to the death of the one whom they worshipped. Hadrian distinguished himself as an administrator. He may be compared with Augustus in his love of peace and in his care for the interests of the provincials. Hadrian made two long journeys throughout the Roman world. On the frontiers he built fortresses and walls; in the provinces he raised baths, aqueducts, theaters, and temples. Scarcely a city throughout the empire lacked some monument to his generosity. Hadrian left behind him the memory of a prince whose life was devoted to the public welfare of the first servant of the state. The fourth man was Antonitus, who through the field of education and other things attempted to gain sway over the people. This too was unsuccessful. The last of the “Good Emperors” Marcus Aurelius was a thinker and a student, but he enjoyed little opportunity for meditation. His reign was filled with an almost uninterrupted series of campaigns against the Parthians on the Euphrates and the Germans on the Danube and the Rhine. These wars revealed the weakness of the frontiers and rapidly growing strength of the barbarians. Aurelius tried to introduce a period of peace to Rome and as he did history records that during the period of his reign he introduced sports and education but no wars however, through his methods he introduced a period of time to everyone of soft, easy living. Note how each period is signified by a different man trying desperately to keep that old Caesar image alive in his form of government, though all were unsuccessful. It has often been said that America, like Rome, is going downhill. In a recent national public opinion poll held in June 1971 it was recorded that 47 per cent of all Americans believe that the civil order in this country will collapse. Our country was founded on a democracy, though shameful to say it isn’t much of a democracy anymore, wonder why? A spirit of decay has gotten into it. Therefore, if in your mind you could use that as a yardstick you might easily see now what is happening to Rome. We have seen these men desperately try to relive the former imperial glory that goes with the position of the caesar of Rome. By every means possible, though unsuccessful these men have tried to restore that form of government and image. Desperately five men tried one through the military, another through education, another through this or that until we have reached the fifth man who has instilled into the life of the Roman people something similar to what we have in America today. Rome had such a high taxation that the people in Rome itself were living as what we know as social welfare, in other words, everyone was getting a free handout. Even the people in the countryside were leaving the farm and journeying to Rome to receive this free handout. At one time over 200,000 in Rome alone were receiving a free daily distribution of grain – NOBODY WORKED, EVERYBODY AROSE, HAD A HEARTY BREAKFAST AND LOOKED FORWARD TO ANOTHER EXCITING EVENING WHICH WOULD BE SPENT AT THE ARENA, EITHER WATCHING CHRISTIANS BEING FED TO THE LIONS OR GLADIATORS FIGHT AND KILL ONE ANOTHER. The remainder of the day was spent in lascivious living and luxury. Do you have any idea where and how the people of Rome were receiving all their food under the social welfare program. High tariff and taxation were imposed on the outlying territories. By this time Rome, her people and government has become so corrupt and pleasure mad they are unable to control these outlying territories. The image of the old caesar who cracked the whip and the people bowed was no longer in the hearts of the mad, crazed, lascivious living population of the empire. At last Rome had lost its imperial sway over the mass of her territories and the people throughout all the great geographical territories of the empire trembled no more. Tribes from the north, where to day Germany lies, heard of the debauchery in Rome. The Gaul, a vast barbarian, warlike people who for so long had been under the Caesar’s rule once Rome was powerful, now decides time has come to destroy that thing which for so long has ruled over them. Rome became a city which was nothing but a target for every kind of cult, assassination, plot, demonstration, revolt and what have you out of the vast territories which she had once ruled so magnificently. During these lean periods we had five heads or forms of government who unsuccessfully had attempted to re-establish and keep alive that caesar image and influence. According to John, Five have come and gone. From that period on, the Roman government or heads coming on the scene were men who carried such little influence that Rome continued to be nothing more than a city or target under constant attack. These men who followed the five fallen, John spoke of, are another interlinking group of men who carried such little influence that history only records them as soldier emperors. A period to cover 180 A.D. – 284 A.D.
THE SIXTH HEAD -180 to 395
After Marcus Aurelius passes off the scene, from the years 1130 A.D. to around 284 A.D. the Roman empire, especially the imperial government of the old caesar throne, has now become so weak and corrupt – WATCH WHAT HAPPENS! Rulers occupying the caesar throne during the first half of the trouble period were commonly known as soldier emperors who were removed from the throne by assassinations, one after the other. These were referred to as ‘soldier emperors’ because they owed their position to the sword, having led the legion Roman army. Emperor after emperor enjoyed the caesar throne for only a brief period before facing the hands of an assassin who cut him down in what we today call a revolt. See what is happening in Rome! In one single year between 237-238 six rulers were chosen, worshipped as a caesar would have been worshipped only to be murdered by their own troops! What has the old imperial caesar throne government in Rome now become? Rome has become powerless! Although it still carried the authority in name only as to how it had once ruled and controlled its vast territories, these men who sat on the throne now have only become targets as Rome becomes still weaker decaying from within.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR HORNS TO FORM
Those years between 284-295 A.D. shall witness the sixth head or that sixth form of Roman government on the beast still growing weaker as the empire becomes more and more in turmoil; a turmoil that releases a rebellious spirit among the people, causing them to demand freedom. Territorial, tribal people once ruled by Rome now demands to be an identifiable people. That in itself sets a stage for a new country to be born, doesn’t it? The territorial people now fully aware of Rome’s decay and debauchery, though the emperor tries to maintain that caesar image, revolts. Once this happens, throwing that revolting spirit into territories, people begin to break away and through a process of time these territories become countries known as France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, England etc., once the horns have formed themselves on the beast. Not that we are going to dwell on this but only to say in passing recall after World War II, the European Common Market was established which was nothing more than an economical way of trying to unite the old ten horns on the beast together which would eventually be turned back over to the eighth head as it was before. This European Common Market is the economical way that will bind together these ten horns again and fulfill the scripture in Rev. 17 where it stated that these ten will give their power to the beast for that one prophetic hour (beast spoken of here is not the animal itself but the eighth form of government at its head). It was the eighth form that took over the position of the seventh. emperors were assassinated continually – – We have now reached a lengthy period in the history of the Roman Empire when its imperial ruler could no longer rule this vast shaky territory without constantly somewhere being engaged in warfare – – constantly and continually having to bring riotous territories under control. This eventually brings us up to the time when some of the emperors decided because of the conditions and splits within the empire, perhaps it would be better to attempt to rule the empire from two cities. That way they might better control the empire. One city would be Rome; the other Constantinople. Are you aware of what this split did in prophecy? It brought into fulfillment Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the gentile image for recall from the image’s belly, down through its thighs and legs was all Roman Empire! Here the empire was divided into two parts. For a brief period of time the Roman Empire had two capitals, the new headquarters being in Constantinople while the main position remained in Rome. According to Daniel’s prophecy of the gentile image the empire would remain divided until the coming of Christ. Watch how the imperial authority disappears from the old caesars chair coming into something new. Time now stands where Constantinople and Rome becomes two rival cities, ruling and governing the old Roman Empire. I am taking from history two emperors by the name of Constantine who ruled the west from Rome and Lescenius who ruled from the east in Constantinople. Another civil war breaks out in Lescenius’ territory and in his attempt to subdue it he is assassinated thus leaving Constantine at Rome as the supreme ruler of the Roman Empire! For the first time in a considerable period there was a man sitting on the caesar throne with enough influence and support from the people to reach out —egiarmbrare the vast territory again.
CONSTANTINE’S VISION 312 A.D. (Oct. 27)
Watch what happened in 312 A.D. that drastically changed the course of history! During this time Constantine was engaged in warfare trying to control the vast internal strife and problems. At the head of his army on his way to put down a trouble spot in the territory, according to his own testimony, he had a vision in which he saw the sign of the cross in the sky and the words written BY THIS SHALL YOU CONQUER AND BY THIS SHALL YOU OVERCOME. Seeing this vision Constantine thought the God of the christians was instructing him that if he would only accept the Christian faith (which all the emperors before had heavily persecuted) he would succeed in his battle. The following day Constantine informed his army of the night vision, instructing them to paint the sign of the cross on their shields and then had a mass baptism in the ocean before entering battle. Constantine defeated his enemy and became a well-known ruler who supported the (so-called) christian faith. As you recall, he made a decree that the christian faith was now to become the recognized religion within the empire, however he failed to abolish other pagan religions. Now they are all equal. Pagans and christians are on equal footing. This is all under the sixth head or form of government on the beast. Is Constantine now a caesar? Certainly Not! There could never be another caesar, the kindred line vanished with the death of Nero. Constantine is emperor but he is far from holding the true image of the caesars. When Emperor Constantine became a so-called christian he issued an edict of toleration (313 A.D.) granting everyone the right to choose his own religion. Emperor Theodosius (378-398 A.D.) made church membership compulsory and this was the worst calamity that had ever befallen the church. This forced religion filled the churches with unregenerated people. By his Edict, Constantine granted to “Christians and to all others full liberty of following that religion which each may choose,” the first edict of its kind in history. Constantine went a step further for he favored Christians in every way; filled chief offices with them; exempted Christian ministers from taxes and military service; encouraged and helped in building churches; made Christianity the religion of his court; issued a general exhortation (325 A.D.) to all his subjects to embrace Christianity!
Constantine and the Bible
He ordered, for the churches of Constantinople 50 bibles to be prepared under the direction of Eusebius, on the finest vellum, by skillful artists; and he com-missioned two public carriages for their speedy conveyance to the Emperor. It is possible that the Sinaitic and Vatican Manuscripts are of this group. Constantine issues his first Sunday law. He made the first day of the week, Sunday, the christians’ day of assembly and worship – a compulsory day of worship and rest day; forbidding ordinary work; permitting christian soldiers to attend church services. This com-pulsory rest day once a week meant much to slaves. Houses of Worship. The first church building was erected during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235 A.D.). However after Constantine’s edict they began to be built everywhere. Reforms, Slavery, Gladiatorial Fights, Killing of unwelcome t children and crucifixion as a form of execution, were abolished with the Christianiza-tion of the Roman Empire. By the time Constantine had come to full emperorship of Rome and had issued an Edict of Tolerance, the empire which totaled over 120,000,000 was over half in the christian faith. Thus ended the long imperial persecutions which are said to have taken the lives of possibly 7,000,000. As the christian faith has battled through over three centuries of imperial persecutions Halley’s Handbook records 12 major persecutions where millions died. It isn’t long now until the christian faith has become something that is open to every kind of dignitary of Rome. Her ranks are filled with pagans who were never truly converted. Once this happened the stage for the first ecumenical council is set.
NICEA COUNCIL 325 A.D. ARIANISM CONDEMNED
Arius’ teaching of the Godhead up to this hour had brought much confusion unto the leaders of the christian world. Constantine having already made christianity a state religion is fully aware that the bishop of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Egypt, Jerusalem, and Antioch and their congregations are all fuming over this one teaching. Constantine, being Roman emperor, feels he must do something about this problem but what can he do, he isn’t a spiritual leader with any jurisdiction over the ministry or the word of God, yet, because of his political position and influence he calls for a council at Nicea where he invites the bishops of all the christian faiths to sit down and discuss this problem and come up with a solution. 318 bishops and nearly a thousand presbyters and deacons who were invited at the expense of the state began to wrestle, debate and lay out their ideas (mostly carnal) and eventually came up with the doctrine of the trinity, that is, 3 persons in the Godhead. The theory of 3 persons in the Godhead is now born, voted on and accepted to be the foundational doctrine from that day on for the christian church. Arianism was condemned and voted out as a completely false teaching (which it was) however since so many pagans had psychologically been converted to the christian faith, they now hold the majority rule in all votes. The new doctrine which was accepted at Nicea as to Jesus Christ who he was now makes him the second person of a trinity, as it is established by these leaders God was 3 persons all co-equal with one another in this great Godhead which was a teaching completely contrary to that of the early church! For 300 years early church fathers had constantly fought that spirit which had so desperately sought to divide God and deviate from the truth of the oneness of God. Satan, through this great political maneuver of Constantine under the 6th head beast power, has established this doctrine that shall later be responsible for giving to Rome the 8th head or form of government in later years. By using Ariaism as a scarecrow Satan inserted the trinity doctrine into the church and Constantine is now referred to as the BISHOP OF BISHOPS. Constantine succeeded in causing the church and state to be united together resulting in the christian faith becoming a part of political Rome. As Constantine passed from the scene history records how Rome again plunged deeper and deeper into political decay. While that imperial spirit that was once established by the ancient Caesars became weaker and weaker, the ecclesiastical chair of Rome through the boost of Constantine and emperors who preceded him, gains more and more strength becoming more and more powerful. Therefore we must say, keep your eye on this chair for soon we shall see the fulfillment of Daniel’s vision concerning the little horn and John’s vision concerning the wounded head that was healed and all the world wondered after it.
WHO IS TO BE HEAD BISHOP?
Having gone through the 6th head and seeing what effect it has had on leadership once Constantine married this christian faith to pagan or political Rome in 325 A.D., watch what now begins to happen under two leaderships or under 2 separate chairs which are both in Rome -one from the imperial political government and the other from the ecclesiastical chair. After Constantine’s death and political Rome becomes weaker, observe what now begins to happen in the church. There arises another squabble in the midst of the church, this time it’s not over Godhead but over who or which bishop should have the final say in christendom. Our main bishops centers at this hour are by the end of the 4th century found throughout Jerusalem, Antioch, Constantinople, Rome, and Alexandria, Egypt. The squabble is which bishop should have the most authority? Recall at this time the Roman Catholic church has no (one) head bishop who would be referred to as a pope, but only bishops scattered throughout the empire. No one had recognized the pope at this hour and there will be no recognition of one until Leo I (444-461) the bishop of Rome will declare himself the official pope; However it is not until Gregory I (590-604 a.d.) that most historians declare the church actually had a pope. Yet seeing this squabble concerning who is to be the most influential bishop and to have the last say in Christendom we now witness the ground-work of the 8th head and the little horn. Some felt the bishops should have equal authority while others insisted that since the Roman empire was ruled from Rome politically was it not sensible also to look unto the bishop of Rome to have the final say in all christian matters. Seemingly the last idea was what Satan had planted into the thinking of the multitudes of congregations of the Roman empire because finally the theory was established that the bishop of Rome should become the head bishop of all the christian faith; whenever a squabble or a confusion would arise the final an-swer would come from the bishop in Rome, whatever he would say would be the final answer, however it is doubtful that any who were surrendering to this line of thinking was fully aware of what Satan had in mind once he would bring the 8th form of Roman government into power.
DIVISION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Into West and East A.D. 395 Siricius (385-398 a.d.), bishop of Rome, in his lust for worldly power, was quick to claim universal jurisdiction over the Church but unfortunately for him in his day the empire divided (395 a.d.), into 2 separate empires, east and west, which made it more difficult for the Roman bishop to get the east to recognize his authority. After the division of the empire into the east and the west the patriarchs (bishops) of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, gradually came to acknowledge the leadership of Constantinople henceforth the struggle for the leadership of christendom lay between Rome and Constantinople. The word pope meaning papa (father) was first applied to all western bishops however about 500 A.D. it became restricted only to the bishop at Rome who was soon referred to as the universal bishop. The idea that the bishop at Rome should have the authority of the whole church was a slow growth, and bitterly contested every step of the way, and never has, at any time been universally recognized.
THE FALL OF POLITICAL ROME (West) 476 A.D.
For hundreds of years since the death of the last Caesar (Nero 68 A.D.) the political power of Rome through the last 6 heads upon the beast has constantly declined. That great Caesar imperial chair where once such mighty Caesars as Julius, (46 b.c.) Augustus, Tiberius, Caliuga, Claudius, and Nero (68 A.D.) had sat, has now completely collapsed as these 10 horns on the beast are forming their own separate national identity. These 10 horns on the beast symbolize national territories, territories of land populated by barbarian tribes who were tired of Roman rule and wanted their own freedom from this imperial government. Furthermore, they wanted their own national identity as being the people to the world and as many of them succeeded in withdrawing from the weak imperial political power of Rome – Rome now too weak to hinder this break-up collapses as these people become identifiable under their own national structure. Today we give those horns such names as Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxenburg and such, however during the hour they made their break; they were not called by these names, only referred to more by the tribal names of the people who fought for the separation from the imperial government of Rome. Recall although the Roman Empire (especially the western empire) came to an end around 476 A.D. and the people or the horns dispersed their political imperial rulership becoming national governments of their own, they did not disperse their religion which ruled their life and the popes now being left free from all civil authority and the various new small kingdoms of the barbarians into which the western empire is now broken furnishes the pope grand opportunity for advantageous alliances, and gradually the pope became the most commanding figure in the west. Innocence I (402-417 a.d.) that far back had already declared himself to be the ruler of the church of God claiming the right to settle the more important matters of the whole universal church. Out of the ruins of the fallen western empire arose the papal empire and Rome still continued to rule the world for a 1000 years (recall this rule comes under the 8th head which is not a new head only a continuation of the old 7th, only now under ecclesiastical rule.)
BEGINNING OF ECCLESIASTICAL ROME’S DOMINEERING POLICY
Leo I (440-461 A.D.) declared himself the first pope, proclaiming himself the whole lord of the church saying to resist his authority was a sure way to hell. Leo I advocated death penalty for heresy, although this is what Leo I declared to be a universal law to be observed by the church. However he was not quite powerful enough to have it enacted for once the ecumenical council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) composed of assembled bishops from all over the world met, in spite of Leo’s boastful claims, the world bishops gave the bishop of Constantinople equal rights with the bishop of Rome! And it was not until another 100 years or so had passed 590-604 A.D. that the world knew and now recognized one man as the final say within the church of the western territory, that man was Gregory I. Although he exerted great influence in the east he did not claim jurisdiction over the eastern (Orthodox) church. Gregory I established himself in complete control over the churches of the new territories of Italy, Spain, Gaul, and England. Although the church of Rome’s list of popes reached from the 1st century forward, it was not until 500 years before the bishops at Rome became popes. Although there was no pope at Rome for the 1st 500 years of Christianity this did not hinder the bishops at Rome from trying to push their authority upon others even as far back as 154-168 A.D. when Anticetus tried to influence Polycarp, Bishop of Symaria to change the date of Passover (Easter) observance but Polycarp refused to yield. The changing of the Passover observance, which was later called Easter by the catholic church, still troubled them, for again in 190-201 A.D., Victor I threatened to excommunicate the eastern churches for celebrating Easter on the 14th of Nisan. Polycrates Bishop of Ephesus replied he was not afraid of Victor’s threat and asserted his independent authority and Araneus of Lyson, rebuked Victor for trying to dictate to the churches. Calixtus (218-223 A.D.) was the 1st bishop of Rome to base his claim on Matthew 16:16-18, Stephens I (253-257 A.D.) of Rome objected strongly to certain baptismal practices namely in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ instead of titles as Rome uses) being used by the North African church, Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, in North Africa, answered the bishop of Rome saying each bishop is supreme in his own diocese, and refused to yield to Stephen. Nevertheless the feeling continued to grow that Rome, being the capital city, should be the head of the church even as it was the head of the empire. The council of Sardis (343 A.D.) composed strictly of western clergymen only (not an ecumenical council) was the 1st council to recognize the authority of the Roman bishops. This reveals to us how the influence of the Roman bishops continually grew until Daniel’s vision of the little horn enters the picture in all its fierceness. From the council of Nicea (325 A.D.) Rome receives her official doctrine of the trinity of persons where she is able by 500 a.d. (shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire) to be in an established position ruling over ecclesiastical matters throughout the western empire. Millions of people have been mass converted to the christian faith (R.C.C.) although multitudes of them became Roman catholic christians at the point of the sword. This they thought was the proper way of changing the spirit of the individual, throughout their barbarian territories. Forcing them to be christians, making them a brother to the people in Rome was a growing philosophy that was supposed to keep the barbarians from attacking the Roman government, its power, army, and etc. We are now better able to see the pope’s position as he sits in his ecclesiastical chair in Rome while also the emperors of these same periods still sit on the old ancient throne of Caesar. From the two chairs in Rome we now see the emperor supposing to rule over secular, political and military matters while the other man (little horn) voiced his authority over ecclesiastical and spiritual matters and through those years of (500-800 a.d.) various popes in succession continually worked politically to move their office still into a higher position. During which time the popes, having now lost their spiritual vision altogether, becomes more and more interested in political prestige and ambitions – now he wants all the authority that he can get and leaves no stone unturned to achieve it. It was said during these periods it was difficult to know where the authority of the imperial chair left off and the papal chair began. Recall we are now approaching the 7th head on the beast and we are witnessing throughout the 7th head the pope has almost as much control and authority over government and political matters involving the nation as does the emperor himself. Truly he will be in a fine position to take over the Roman empire (under the 10 horns of course) by the time the 8th head which is of the 7th is ready to be formed. As these emperors from (400-800 a.d.) constantly grew weaker that vast territory has begun to break up causing those 10 horns to make their appearance. Recall christianity through this period is now already being ruled by the papal power as these horns break away forming their own national identity.
NEARING THE 7th HEAD
As already stated, the various new kingdoms of the barbarians into which the west is now broken, furnishes the pope superior opportunity of advancing his office throughout the 10 horns. Gregory I (590-604 a.d.) became the first recognized pope. His appearing was at a time of anarchy and great public distress throughout western Europe (10 horns). Italy, for example, after the fall of Rome (476 a.d.) had changed hands from a Gothic kingdom to a Byzantine province and was being pillaged by the Lombards by Gregory’s Time. This gives you an example of how unstable the territories were after the fall of Rome and through the administration of some 28 popes the territories continued to change hands and through the lifetime of some 28 popes the Vatican throne continued to grow stronger and stronger while the imperial chair grew weaker and weaker. Actually through these periods the papal office was even more powerful than the weak emperors who could now do only what they were told from the Vatican.
A PRESENT TO POPE MAKES HIM KING
Therefore, even the 7th head itself is greatly influenced by the papal authority as we come into the middle of the 8th century for it seems that now since Roman catholicism is the domineering religion controlled strictly by the Vatican in Rome kings throughout these 10 horns want only to be one thing, pleasing in the sight of the papacy. Take for instance. Pepin, the father of Charlemagne, was helped into his kingdom position by pope Zacharias (741-752 a.d. I. Pepin was the king of the Franks, a Germanic people occupying western Germany and Northern France. Zacharius leaves the scene and pope Stephens II (752- 759a.d.) comes to the papal throne and at his request Pepin led his army to Italy conquered the Lombards and gave their land which was a great portion of central Italy to the pope, thus beginning the papal states or temple dominion of the popes.
POPES BECOME KINGS OVER CENTRAL ITALY
The civil control of Rome and central Italy by the popes, thus established by Pope Zacharius and Stephens and recognized by King Pepin (754 a.d.) was later confirmed by Charlemagne (774 a.d.) Thus central Italy which was the head of the Roman empire later a Gothic kingdom is now ruled by the head of the church. This temporal kingdom of the church lasted 1100 years, until 1870 when on the outbreak of the war between France and Germany King Victor Immanuel of Italy took possession of Rome and added the papal states to the kingdom of Italy. Thus we have witnessed through the life of King Pepin, king of the Franks and father of Charlemagne the next man who we are about to study and through his efforts to please the pope was granted the title of Roman Emperor or what Pope Leo III considered the revival of the old Roman Empire. What did this man Charlemagne do who was only a king of the Franks (742-814 a.d.)? After the death of his father, King Pepin, Charlemagne comes to the throne to become one of the greatest rulers of all times. His reign lasted 46 years and made many wars and conquests of vast magnitude. It was said that he helped the pope and the pope helped him; it was he who was the greatest influence in bringing the papacy to a position of world power. Charlemagne was a man of great zeal for the Roman catholic church, he did everything within his power to rescue most of this vast territory that had been broken off from imperial Rome. Regaining it he tried to make it an established old Roman Power. Because of his military ability he succeeded in putting down many insurrections and conquered vast territories bringing them all under subjection and forcing them at the point or a sword to become Roman catholics. As city after city surrendered to him he forced them to become christians (in name only) making their lives subject to the pope. During the 8th Century the alliance of the popes and the (Germanic) Franks who never embraced Arianism as did the other tribes of that area gave to the church of Rome protection beyond the Alps. Henceforth, this newly converted Germanic tribe defeated the Lombards, forcing them to turn to the Catholic faith. Note, it was this empire consisting of these two tribes that was later crowned the 7th head under Charlemagne’s period! The Roman Church at the height of its power now holds sway over western Europe, Italy, Sicily, the larger part of Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, Poland, the British Isles, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, had now all become territorial extensions to the church, yielding obedience to the pope of Rome. Membership into the Roman Church was not a matter of free choice, (especially in all these conquered territories), everyone except Jews were required to belong to it. A person joined the church by Baptism, a rite usually performed in infancy, and remained in it as long as he lived. Compare that to apostolic christianity Acts 2:37-42. Everyone was expected to conform at least outwardly to the doctrines and practices of the Roman church and to attack its authority was libel by punishment as a heretic (by death).
GERMANIC TRIBES (ARIUS’ FOLLOWERS) CONSTANTLY ATTACK ROME
Christinaity as it was known before the 3rd Century as Arius, bishop of Alexander, believed and taught it was defeated at Nicea when the trinity doctrine was accepted and the baptism of Acts 2:38 declared unscriptural and was banned as a heretic. However, this did not end his ministry, he simply moved into those Germanic tribes who in later years continually invaded Italy, overrunning Rome. Those Teutonic invaders because of this teaching never mixed with the 1 Roman believers. Theirs’ was the teaching of the Oneness of God, although Arius had failed to recognize the dual nature of Jesus, that is – him being both God and man in one body. Arius did observe Acts 2:38 baptism, apparently having the revelation of Mat. 28:19 and was definitely opposed to chopping God up into three persons as did the Nicean Council, making a trinity of three distinct persons. The following groups are referred to in history as followers of Arius and definitely considered heretics opposing the teaching of the Roman church. Converted to the Arian form of religion were the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vanvals, Burgundians, and Lombards. Strictly regarded by the Catholic Church as heretics who labored desperately among them to re-convert them to the Roman Catholic idea of God. At last in the 7th Century their work was completed (mainly by forced conversion. The Lombards of Europe were the last to accept the Catholic faith. What did it? Now were they changed? The conversion of the Franks and the Anglo-Saxons to the Roman Catholic theory of Christianity provided the Roman church with its strongest and faithful adherents among all the Teutonic Germanic tribes. In other words after the conversion of the Franks, they simply one by one beat the others into submission to the Roman faith. Catholic monks made inroads into these areas to spread their Roman Catholic teaching and the Roman Church was planted also in Ireland, Scotland, and the British Isles. An Anglo-Saxon monk, St. Boniface through missionary efforts did much to carry the Roman gospel into remote tribes of Germany, however it was not until after his death that Charlemagne. King of the Franks, forced his way into all of these other areas, such as the Saxons etc., to accept Roman christianity at the point of the sword. Therefore all Germany eventually became Roman Catholic, devoted to the papacy. Note, not until the 7th Century was Arianism wiped out although it had been branded as heretical at Nicea 323 a.d., under the 6th head Constantine! Is there any wonder that the pope would not crown Charlemagne imperial ruler of the old caesar chair in Rome?
POWER OF THE PAPACY
The pope was now the supreme lawgiver of the church thanks to the German Franks who embraced his teaching rather than Anus as did their sister tribes in Germany and did you know that had the Franks accepted the Arius teaching probably all western Europe would have been in that belief instead of trinity? Now the pope’s decree may not be set aside by any person. He made new laws in the form of “bulls” and by his ”dispensations” could, in particular cases, set aside old laws such as those forbidding cousins to marry or monks to obtain release from their vows. The pope was also the supreme judge of the church for all appeals from the lower ecclesiastical courts came before him for decision. He was referred to as the supreme administrator of the church and may call general councils of the church whenever he desires.
CHARLEMAGNE CROWNED EMPEROR OF OLD ROMAN EMPIRE SHOWS 7TH HEAD ON BEAST
Charlemagne’s period (742-814 a.d.) is that 7th head or 7th imperial form of government that had been established by the Caesars for through the pope and the accomplishments of Charlemagne we are on the verge of seeing what was referred to as the revival of the imperial chair of Rome. Charlemagne, having been so successful in turning multitudes of souls over to the Roman church makes a trip to the pope in Rome where he is crowned in 800 a.d.) by Leo III -emperor of the old Roman empire. The pope seemed pleased with his activities in having converted so many to the Roman faith – we wonder if the pope was well pleased in his methods of forced conversion, for to mention one instance only, having conquered, and converted the Saxons he savagely massacred 4500 prisoners at one time who refused baptism into the church. On Christmas Day, Charlemagne went to the old St. Peter’s church where the pope was saying mass, as the king knelt in prayer before the high altar dressed in the rich robes of a Roman Patrician the pope suddenly placed on his head a golden crown while all the people cried out in one voice “long life and victory to Charles Augustus the great and Patrician of the Romans,” crowned by God! Although Charlemagne seemed surprised at the pope’s coronation the pope was more than glad to reward the man who had protected the church and done so much to spread the catholic faith among the heathens. The people were proud because they themselves felt that it was again time for Rome to assume her old place as the capital of the world. Charlemagne, whose dominion already included what is known as modern Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, and part of Spain and Italy felt and believed that the old Roman Empire had truly been revived and that a German king now sat on the throne once occupied by Augustus and Constantine. However, Charlemagne’s dominion was not truly the entire old Roman Empire because it did not include the domains in the east over which the emperors at Constantinople were to still reign for centuries. (Eastern empire did not fall until 1453 a.d.). Charlemagne, Pepin’s son, of the Germanic kingdom consisting of the Franks and conquered Lombards, Arius’s converts who were forced into Roman Catholicism by the Franks, becomes Emperor of what is called by the Pope the re-establishment (revival) of the Old Roman Empire. Following the death of Charlemagne, the western Roman Empire takes another plunge downward as Charlemagne’s son, Louis the Pious, becomes Emperor in 814 A.D. Louis would have fitted more into the quiet life of a monastery than he would have on the throne (of the Roman Empire). Western Europe now en-ters into a long period of confusion and violence during which time Charlemagne’s possessions broke up into separate and warring kingdoms. Louis the pious, Charlemagne’s son, could no more control the throne than he could his rebellious sons who throughout his lifetime could hardly wait until his death to divide the inheritance that would come to them. Even had Charlemagne been followed by strong and able rulers it would have been a difficult matter to hold the Roman Empire together in the face of all the fresh series of barbarian inroads which began immediately upon his death. The 10th Century saw another movement toward the restoration of law and order as still another German king called Henry I (the fowler) named so because of his fondness to hunt birds, spent the greater part of his reign in wars fighting off invaders. And it was not until the reign of his son, Otto I, whom history calls Otto the Great, 936-973 a.d., who, like Charlemagne some 150 years before, was also crowned Roman emperor of the (restored) Roman Empire by a grateful pope. The empire of Charlemagne who is our seventh form of government on the beast is now having somewhat of a revival. The so-called imperial title had about died out again and there was no longer a Roman emperor in the west until Otto the Great, this German king of Franks and Lombards who, like Charlemagne 150 years before, also marched to Italy and drove out the pope’s enemy, (more Arius’s followers). The pope, you recall, already was a ruler or earthly king over a certain amount of territory called states in Italy which had been given to the Papal office as a present by Pepin, king of the Franks, when conquering the Lombards (752-757). Sure, there was a king over Italy but because of his political problems in the Italian state he was rendered powerless in assisting the pope, therefore Pope Stephen II called upon Pepin to free him from the Lombards. Otto the Great was crowned Roman Emperor of the western empire 962 a.d. by Pope John XII. Watch carefully, the empire of Charlemagne 7th head) now restored by Otto the Great shall later be called by the popes the Holy Roman Empire! This title points to a new idea of a world monarchy, namely the Roman Empire and a world religion. Roman Christianity united in (under) one institution. However, instead of the pope and emperors being bound closely together they became more enemies than friends and much of the conflict that goes on now will be between emperor and the papacy! In other words, the pope’s office is getting ready to shove the emperor office completely out of authority! These emperors served more as a figurehead, sitting on the thrones of the ancient caesars, becoming more and more an ancient relic -something simply kept around for sentimental reasons. Where now, I might ask, is that great imperial spirit that once established by the caesars when they ruled with such an iron hand, demanding such submission that once he rode into town his subjects would bow and kiss his feet and worship him. Soon I shall read to you where the pope declares the feet of no one but himself should be kissed! Can’t you see how this great Roman head on the beast has now gone through seven major changes of imperial government and is now ready for the 8th head to take over the 7th? Each head being emperor of the Roman Empire and under the 7th head it was the pope himself who made and crowned Charlemagne (devoted Roman Catholic) Emperor of the Roman Empire and now 150 years later, as the world emperor has almost become antiquity, a grateful pope has again made another one of his German subjects. Otto the Great, head of what he calls this time the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE – a title I might add chosen by the pope himself, for now the two men shall be serving in a joint throne position (until the emperor’s position is taken away). Then who does that leave to serve as Holy Roman Imperial Emperor? The pope of course! We are now about to witness that eighth head or the little horn as Daniel spoke (Dan. 7:8) coming into his full power as the Pope exerts more and more authority and pushes out the very emperor (office) that he himself had re-established! Giving the little horn full possession of the Roman Empire, calling it the Holy Roman Empire.
BEGINNING OF THE LITTLE HORN (EIGHTH HEAD) or THE PAPACY AND THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE 962-1273 A.D.
We have waited a long time haven’t we to see the prophecy of Daniel fulfilled and witness where that little horn (office) plucks up three horns? All the christians in the west (not east) of the Roman Empire by the 5th and 6th Century had been converted (many by the sword) to the Roman Church and by this time accepted the jurisdiction in religious matters of the Bishop of Rome who is later known as the pope and his office is called the Papacy. The supremacy the pope acquired over all western christians in the empire was contributed to four outstanding causes (1) it was the feeling throughout the Roman Empire that the Roman Church was exceptionally sacred as tradition had taught and that St. Peter had founded the church and served as its first bishop or pope. (2) the Roman Church was regarded as the mother church which had planted so many off-shoots in Gaul and Spain and afterward Germany and Britain. (3) the Roman Church had stood more firmly behind the Nicene creed, 325 a.d. than all the others and highly recommended it (mainly at the point of a sword) to christians in the west. (4) The invasions of the Teutonic (many German tribes having been converted to christianity not by Rome’s teaching but were converts of Arius’s teaching which was condemned at Nicea) contributed greatly toward the western Christian believers uniting more and more to the support of the powerful bishop of Rome who not only became head of spiritual matters but also became a Temporal ruler. Pope Leo I, 440-461 a.d. intervened and saved Rome from total destruction when the vandals (more of Arius’ converts) sacked the city of Rome. History records how there was never any fellowship between Arius’s followers and those of the trinity of persons believers as taught by Rome until finally all Arius’ believers of one God teaching were swallowed up by the trinity believers. (Again thanks to Charlemagne)
POPES AND EMPERORS 962 – 1122 A.D.
After the restoring of the Holy Roman Empire to Otto The Great by the pope and the emperor and pope began working jointly together, one might suppose, says history, there could be no interference between pope and emperor since these two men administered in separate spheres of action. It was said that God had made the pope, as the successor of Peter, supreme in spiritual matters while the emperor was made heir to the Roman Caesars’ throne, supreme in temporal matters. The pope, ruling men’s souls while the emperors ruled men’s bodies. The only problem was, the theory did not work: It appeared the pope did not know the end of his jurisdiction. After the death of Otto the Great, who was used by the pope to begin the phase of the Holy Roman Empire which shall become the 8th head once popes take over, restored imperial rule in the west and even gave the pope some opposition before his death is now followed by Henry III, Otto’s son, who also tried to be a good emperor over the western empire, gave the pope far more trouble than those who had previously sat on the throne. Otto the Great, after having made the city of Rome the Imperial capital of the Roman Empire deposed a pope who proved disobedient to his wishes and by his own AUTHORITY APPOINTED ANOTHER. Otto’s successor. Henry III repeatedly interferred with the election of the papacy until he received the title “pope maker.”
1059 A.D. CARDINALS ACCEPTS NEW DUTY ELECTING POPES
The popes and bishops of Rome feared that if such a situation should continue in the future such as Henry III had done putting in high church officers whom he desired, the papacy itself would soon become an election from the imperial office – this high office would simply merge into the empire. Therefore upon the death of Henry III and with the Roman Empire left in weak hands, this gave the papacy the chance to escape the complete control of the Imperial power once and for all. In 1059 a.d. a church council was called which would erase all possibility of an emperor ever again electing another church official. The council decreed that henceforth the right of choosing the supreme pontiff should belong exclusively to the cardinals who represent the clergy of Rome, and tended to interfere with the election of popes by any of Roman pope or foreign sovereigns. With this as a universal law, the papacy will never again have to face an election by an emperor!
8TH HEAD AND THE DARK AGES
A monk by the name of Hildebrand is elevated to the papacy, taking the name of Gregory VII. It was he who said the Roman pontiff alone is properly called Universal (a title held only by Caesars and their descendants). He alone may depose bishops and restore them to office; he is the only person whose feet are to be kissed by every prince (recall before this it as the caesars feet that were kissed but now watch he may depose emperors- he may be judged by no one; he may absolve from all allegiance the subject of the wicked; the Roman church 1 has never erred and can never err, (1073-1085). Although Gregory did not originate these doctrines, he was the first pope who ventured to make a practical application of them, it is the office of Gregory VII that Daniel first sees the little horn reach and pluck up three horns. The little horn is now speaking with a loud mouth. Gregory soon issues another decree, this time against what is called “lay investiture” which declared that no emperor, king, duke, marquis, count or any other lay person should presume to grant investures under pain of excommunication. This decree applied to all states in Western Europe however, mainly affecting Germany.
FIRST HORN PLUCKED UP BY GREGORY (LITTLE HORN) 1077 A.D.
Henry V, ruler of Germany, did not refuse an opportunity to challenge the pope. He wrote Gregory calling him no pope but a false monk, telling him Christ never called him to the priesthood and bidding him to come down. Come down from Saint Peter’s throne! Gregory in quick response deposed Henry as Emperor excommunicated him and freed his subjects from their allegiance. This severe sentence made a profound impression in Germany. Henry’s followers fell away and it seemed probable that the German nobles would surely elect another ruler in his stead. Henry then decided on abject submission. He hastened across the Alps and found the pope at the castle of Canossa, on the northern slopes of the Alpines. It was January and the snow lay deep on the ground. The emperor stood for three days shivering outside the castle gates, barefoot and clad in a coarse woolen shirt, a garb of penance. At last upon the entreates of the Countess Matilda of Tuscany, Gregory admitted Henry and granted absolution.
2ND HORN PLUCKED UP
A hundred years passed by and Fredrick I, called Barbarossa from his red beard, became Emperor. He was imaginative and ambitious taking Charlemagne and Otto the Great as his models and aspired like them to rule christian Europe and the church. However, things have gone too far – – NOONE IS GOING TO TELL THE POPE NOW WHAT TO DO, NOT EVEN THE HOLY ROMAN EM-PEROR! ! Soon Fredrick was in conflict with the papacy over an Italian policy. The ambitious Fredrick suffered a severe defeat and sought reconciliation with the Pope, Alexander III. In the presence of a vast throng Frederick knelt before the pope and humbly kissed his feet.
3RD HORN PLUCKED UP
The papacy reached the height of its power under Innocence III, 1198-1216 a.d. Innocence III declared, as the moon receives its light from the sun and is inferior to the sun so do kings receive all their glory and dignity from the Holy See. Continuing, Innocence III said, God has set the prince of the apostles over kings and kingdoms with a mission to tear up, plant, destroy, scatter and rebuild. Innocence’s) claims were not idle boasts either for when the King of France. I Philip Augustus divorced his wife 1 and made another marriage, Innocence declared the divorce void and ordered him to take back his discarded queen. Phillip refused and Innocence III put France under an interdict. From this hour all religious rites ceased. The church doors were barred; the church bells were silent; the sick died unshriven, the dead lay unburied. Phillip. deserted by his retainers was compelled to submit.
WOUNDING THE HEAD
We are now fully into the 8th form of Roman rule, THE PAPACY. See how the 8th was of the 7th as declared by Rev.17:11? Throughout that Dark Age period one pope after another cracked the whip of superiority over these ten horns and every place else the influence of that gospel had gone. We are aware that the new world has not been discovered as yet, for Columbus has not sailed the ocean blue to make his startling discovery in 1492. This is only the 13th Century however, three horns have already been plucked up to fulfill Daniel’s vision. Everything now goes well for the 8th head which is of the 7th. However we are less than 300 years away from the hour that the 8th head (which is of the 7th) will receive such a deadly wound that it almost is never able to recover. Recall since this is the final head on the beast, there shall never another head appear although we are instructed in Rev. 17 there will be somewhat of a revival of the Old Roman Empire presently under the ten horns working frantically to unite themselves through an economical program, the European Common Market of nations and since there will never be another head over this beast it is the 8th head, 8th form of government on the beast that shall have recovered completely from its deadly wound given to it through the PROTESTANT Reformation around 1520 when it received its religious wound followed by its political wound Feb. 10, 1798 when Gen. Berthier was ordered by Napoleon to imprison the pope. From that time until World War I the pope’s office was more a figurehead among nations. The religious wounding of that 8th head was under a German monk named Martin Luther. Now is it not strange that it was first of all a German king converted to the Roman faith who was responsible for so many being brought into the Roman faith forcibly by the sword and then was made to fulfill the office of the 7th head (Charlemagne) who in turn sets up the office for the pope to become 8th form of government which receives the deadly wound, religiously, by a German who toppled his kingdom, taking a spiritual sword, slashed such a gash in the papacy that millions, first of all Germans, ran free of his jurisdiction. The wounding of the papal head by the military sword is as follows: taken from Joseph Richaby writings found in the Catholic Truth Society of London entitled “The Modern Papacy” page 1 – When in 1793 on Nov. 26 a convention of seventeen bishops and some clergy were members, made a decree to abolish all religion this was under Napoleon Bonaparte. Then in the year of 1797, Pope Pius 6 fell grievously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the event of his death no successor should be elected to his office, and that the papacy should be discontinued.” But the pope recovered, the peace was soon broken; General Berthier entered Rome on the 10th of Feb. 1798 and proclaimed a republic. The aged pontiff refused to violate his oath by recognizing it and was hurried from prison to prison in France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died on the 19th of Aug., 1799, in the French fortress of Valence, aged 82 years old. No wonder that half of Rome thought the papacy was dead by what Napoleon had done.” Another Catholic writer Canon Trevor says, “the papacy was dead and among all the Roman Catholic powers not a single finger was lifted in defense of it.”
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