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SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 18, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 20.

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“SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX.”

By Editor

THE above is given as the number of the beast in Rev. 13:18. The position has been frequently taken in this paper that the beast of Rev. 13:1–10 is a symbol of church-and-state government; and that that particular phase under the head which continued forty-two months, which was wounded unto death and was healed, had reference to the Papacy as a persecuting power.
We think there is sufficient proof of this apart from verse 18; but that verse has been given as corroborative evidence. The evidence is found in one of the titles of the pope, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” the “Vicegerent of the Son of God.” The numerical value of the Roman letters in the above Latin title is as follows: V=5; i=1; c=100; i=1; u (the same as v in Latin)=5; i=1; l=50; i=1; i=1; D=500; i=1;total, 666. The letters a, r, s, f, and e have no numerical value in the Roman system. This has been disputed. It has been said that there is no such assumption of title, and that no miter of the pope ever bore such inscription. In view of this the following correspondence between Mr. H. S. Weaver, of Baltimore, and Cardinal Gibbons and his secretary will be of interest:—
Copy of a Letter from H. S. Weaver to Cardinal Gibbons, Baltimore, Md.
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 13, 1904. HIS EMINENCE, JAS. CARDINAL GIBBONS, Baltimore, Md. Dear Friend: There is a claim made by the Seventh-day Adventists that on the crown or mitre of the pope there is, or at some time in the past has been, the following inscription, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” which inscription means, “In stead of the Son of God.” Would you kindly oblige me with the information as to whether or not this claim is true? Thanking you in advance for your kindness, I beg to remain, Yours very sincerely, 903 Woodley Street. H. S. WEAVER.
Reply of the Cardinal's Secretary to the Above.
Cardinal's Residence, 408 N. Charles Street, Baltimore. Jan. 18, 1904. DEAR MR. WEAVER: Your favor is received. In reply, his eminence desires me to inform you that “Vicarius Filii Dei” means the “Representative of the Son of God.” Yours truly, WM. T. RUSSUT, Secretary.
Copy of Second Letter to the Cardinal's Secretary.
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 18, 1904. MR. WM. T. RUSSUT, Cardinal's Residence, City. Dear Friend: I have received your answer to my letter to his eminence, for which favor I feel indebted, but it did not contain the answer to the main question, which was, Does the inscription, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” appear on the crown or miter of the pope, or has it at any time in the past appeared on the crowns or mitres of any of the popes? Trusting you will pardon me for troubling you again, I beg to remain, H. S. WEAVER.
Copy of Answer to the Above.
Baltimore, Md., Jan. 26, 1904. MR. H. S. WEAVER— Dear Sir: In reply to yours of 18th inst., I beg to say that I can not say with certainty that the words, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” are on the pope's tiara. But the words are used by the cardinal who imposes the tiara at the coronation of a pope. Yours truly, [Signed] WM. T. RUSSUT, Secretary.
This is quite conclusive. “The words [Vicarius Filii Dei] are used by the cardinal who imposes the tiara at the coronation of a pope.” That of itself would meet the prophecy; the inscription on the tiara, which may have been, would be corroborative of the main fact, the assumption of a self-imposed title.