January 1, 2006 (Updated through: July 26, 2007)

“VICARIUS FILII DEI”

By Darryl Eberhart, Editor of ETI & TTT newsletters (www.toughissues.org)

            In Revelation 13:18 we read: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [Ed. Note: 666].”

            VICARIUS FILII DEI is Latin for: Vicar of the Son of God.  The Holy Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  One of the titles claimed by the popes of Rome is “Vicar of Christ”.  Author A. Jan Marcussen, in his book National Sunday Law, explains the following on page 27:

            “On the Pope’s official miter [i.e., tall, ornamental cap with peaks in front and back] has been seen the title ‘Vicarius Filii Dei’, which means ‘Vicar of the Son of God’.  The claim that this is his [i.e., the pope’s] official title has been stated publicly through the years. The April 18, 1915 issue of ‘Our Sunday Visitor’ states: ‘The letters inscribed in the Pope’s miter are these: VICARIUS FILII DEI, which is Latin for ‘Vicar of the Son of God’.’

            In Revelation 13:18 it says, ‘Count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666).’

            Let’s do it now and see what we find.  [Do you] remember the Roman numerals you learned in school?  

Please note that Latin was the language spoken by the men (i.e., the Roman soldiers) who carried out the execution (by crucifixion) of Jesus Christ.  I’m sure by now that Roman Catholic apologists are screaming that 666 can be obtained by adding up numerical values of other names in other languages. That’s true; however, Latin was one of the main languages of Christ’s day.  Additionally, the Holy Bible gives us a number of clues about this “beast” with a “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” (Revelation 13:5). Here is what author Steve Wohlberg has to say in his book End Time DELUSTIONS, in which he summarizes “Hell’s Harlot” from Revelation Chapters 14, 17, and 18 as follows:

·      “She is a ‘Mother’ (Revelation 17:5)

·      She has harlot daughters (Rev. 17:5)

·      She sits on ‘seven mountains’ (Rev. 17:9)

·      Her colors are ‘purple and scarlet’ (Rev. 17:4)

·      She is extremely wealthy with lots of ‘gold’ (Rev. 17:4)

·      She is ‘drunk with the blood of the saints’ (Rev. 17:6)

·      She is a ‘great city’ (Rev. 17:18)

·      She has ruled ‘over the kings of the earth’ (Rev. 17:18)

·      She intoxicates ‘all nations’ with her ‘wine’ [Ed. Note: her doctrine] (Rev. 14:8)

·      Many of God’s own people are still inside of her (Rev. 18:4)”

(End Time DELUSIONS; 2004; Page 186)

Indeed, the Papacy has Protestant denominations as her “daughters”, and she claims to be the “Mother” Church. The Papacy sits in Rome on “seven mountains/hills”.  The Papacy uses both “purple” and “scarlet” as colors for her high-ranking clergymen. The Papacy’s possessions of “gold”, precious gems, and other forms of wealth are immense, staggering, and legendary! The Papacy tortured, butchered, and murdered up to 50 million Christians just during the “official” timeframe of the Inquisition (1203-1808), using “holy” wars and “holy” crusades to exterminate the populations of entire provinces and regions for their failure to bow to papal supremacy! Rome is indeed a “great city” that has through the Papacy ruled over many monarchs throughout history. The doctrines of Roman Catholicism (her “wine”) have been spread all around the globe.  True Christians still reside “inside” this Church.

            What other institution or organization or religion fits the combined descriptions of this “religious-geopolitical-financial juggernaut” given in Daniel Chapter 7 and in Revelation Chapters 13, 14, 17 and 18 like the Papacy clearly does?  No other institution, organization, or religion in history even comes close to fulfilling all the descriptions given in the Holy Bible for this “beast” – this “little horn” – that has slaughtered millions of Bible-believing Christians (and many Roman Catholics too)! Indeed, she is ‘drunk with the blood of the saints’!

            Steve Wohlberg also tells us:             “John Wycliffe in England, Martin Luther in Germany, John Calvin in France, John Knox in Scotland, Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, and countless others, all preached that the humble Nazarene was the Christ and that the proud Roman papacy was the antichrist of [Holy] Scripture.  As a result of this high-impact, double-edged message – for Christ and against antichrist – the river of history literally changed its course. Hundreds of thousands of people in Europe and England forsook the Roman [Catholic] Church.” (End Time DELUSIONS; 2004; Page 112)

            If you would like to study these topics in more depth, then I would suggest that you read the Holy Bible: Daniel chapter 7; and Revelation chapters 13, 14, 17 and 18. Also, you can order Steve Wohlberg’s book End Time DELUSIONS by calling 1-800-78-BIBLE. For information on the Inquisition, you can order a 58-minute DVD (in color) entitled “The Inquisition” (for $6 – includes postage) by making check or money order payable to “Richard Bennett”, and mailing it to: Richard Bennett // C/o Berean Beacon // P.O. Box 192 // Del Valle, TX 78617.