p. 142 | PAPACY AND FRANCE by Otis Nichols

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jan 20, 1853

PAPACY AND FRANCE.

By Otis Nichols

BY OTIS NICHOLS.

THE revival of Papacy, and of the empire France, has caused some alarm to the Protestant countries of Europe; particularly, England, who stands at their head. And also, it has awakened the jealousy of the Czar, who has protested against an imperial government in France. It has been thought that the days of Papacy were numbered. Papacy has always lived by its connection with the civil governments, and without their aid and co-operation, its power would cease.

The secret of Louis Napoleon's triumphant success in obtaining the imperial crown, and of the recent revival of the Papal power throughout Europe, is his favor to the Pope and the Catholic priesthood in the cause of the church of Rome, and their mutual aid in the civil affairs of the government. This confederacy has given strength and power to both the church and the state.

Since the days of Pagan Rome, the little horn, Papacy, has been the principal noted power referred to in the prophecy of Daniel's visions. Chapters vii, viii, xi, 32—39. Verses 40—45, refers more particularly to the doings of France, as that nation had the ascendancy from "the time of the end" in A. D. 1798, and effected the reversion of the Papal power, and subjected the Pope to its dictation. The civil governments are only referred to as agents of power that patronize, or effect the changes of the church of Rome, to which the saints were subjected. Although the Pope has been dethroned, and his dominion subjected to the civil power, yet it should be remembered that the "little horn" is to continue in warfare against the church of Christ, until the saints possess the kingdom; and just before Michael stands up for their deliverance, will again speak "great words." Dan. vii, 11, 21, 22.—This could not now be literally accomplished in Europe without the aid of France, or a confederacy with some powerful nation.

France has fulfilled many important events foretold in the scriptures. The kingdom was established in A. D. 486, by Clovis, a Pagan king. Since his conversion in 496, it has continued the chief of the ten kingdoms of the western empire of Rome, and one of the main pillars of the Papal church. France, under the reign of Clovis, to the time of his death in A. D. 511, was the principal actor in causing the overthrow of the Pagan governments, and afterwards in the establishment of Papacy. Dan. xi, 31. See Signs of the Times, Vol. IV, Nos. 13 and 14, 1842.

The Papal power was overthrown in France in A. D. 1793, and in 1798, the Papal dominion, which had continued 1260 years, was abolished, the Pope made a prisoner, and Italy a Republic, subject to their first consul, Napoleon Bonaparte. But finding it impracticable to establish a government in France without religion, and a connection with the Pope as the spiritual head of the Catholic church, he re-established the Pope in his seat at Rome, (not with the supreme authority as he formerly had, but) subject to the civil government.

In A. D. 1815, the French empire was suspended for a period. (Not come to its final end, as Bro. Miller and others supposed, Dan. xi, 45, latter clause.) Then the allied powers of Europe dictated the limits of the Pope's power, until they were dissolved by the revolution of 1848, when the people had the reins of the government, and the Pope lost his temporal power in Italy. Since that time the Pope has again been restored to his dominion over Italy, by France, under Louis Napoleon, where he now reigns. Thus France has been the principal acting power in all the important events that have affected the little horn. And it remains to be seen whether France, under the reign of Napoleon III, in confederacy with the Pope and his priesthood, will be the principal actor, on the one part, in the closing scenes of "the little horn that waxed exceeding great," when it "shall come to its end with none to help." Dan. xi, 44, 45.

As the empire of France, under Napoleon III, is viewed with alarm and jealousy by England and Russia, the northern and eastern powers of Europe, it is not improbable that "tidings out of the east and out of the north" may trouble him; [verse 44,] the French empire confederate with the Pope. England stands at the head of the Protestants in Europe, "the king of the north," France now stands as the head of the Papal power, "the king of the south," and Russia is the power of the Greek church in the east,—the three divided parts of the great city, Babylon. Rev. xvi, 19. The French nation is now powerful, and well prepared for the final contest. Dan. xi, 32—39, is the continuance of the angel's explanation of the "little horn that waxed exceeding great," in "the latter days," Chap. x, 14, during the 1260 years reign of Papacy. No historian could more correctly describe the doings of that desolating power in a few words, than in the words of the angel. "At the time of the end shall the king of the south [France] push at him." [The Papal power.] Verse 40. This refers to the reversion of the Papal authority to France by Napoleon I. "The time of the end" applies to the end of the 1260 years of the Papal rule, the "time appointed." Verse 35. "And the king of the north [England] shall come against him [Napoleon or France] like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen." Verse 40. This was literally accomplished by England and their allies under the Duke of Wellington, by whom Napoleon was made a prisoner to England. "And with many ships."—This was accomplished by England when they blockaded the French coast with their ships, and also under Lord Nelson in the memorable battle of the Nile, when the French fleet was mostly destroyed.

"And he [Napoleon] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over." Verse 40. "He shall enter into the glorious land, (or land of delight, margin, which applies to Italy,) and many countries shall be overthrown." Verse 41. This was literally accomplished by the armies of Napoleon, who, in a short period, made all the continental governments of Europe subject to the influence and control of the French nation. The latter clause of verse 41, and verses 42, 43, were accomplished by the French expedition into Egypt and Syria, under Napoleon. Verse 44, has been noticed; it remains to be fulfilled. "And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas, in the glorious holy mountain," or, as it is in the margin, "goodly mountain of delight." Verse 45. This, no doubt, means Italy, which is called the most delightsome country in the world. It is a long promontory of more than six hundred miles, extending between the seas, the gulf of Venice, and the Mediterranean. The tabernacle of his palace may refer to Rome as the seat, or tribunal of the little horn, or it may refer to Italy, while under the French empire, when Bonaparte was crowned the king. And "he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."—This is the closing scene of Papacy, as France is the head of their civil power, hence that nation is the subject of prophecy.

Dorchester, Mass.