V. Papal Establishment and Overthrow Are Counterparts

The evidence is incontestable that the eighteenth-century overthrow of the Papacy, stemming from the French Revolution, was the clear counterpart of the sixth-century papal establishment. Justinian first recognized by law the pope’s absolute ecclesiastical supremacy, and virtually gave the saints into his hand, placing the civil sword at his ultimate disposal. And now, 1260 years later, springing from the French Revolution, the land that for centuries had been the mainstay of the Papacy, abolished the pope’s age-old supremacy, declared the clergy totally independent of the See of Rome, vested the election of bishops in departmental authorities, made a national profession of atheism, and then actually overthrew the papal government.PFF2 763.3

In 533 was given the notable decree of Justinian, the pope’s powerful sixth-century supporter, recognizing his ecclesiastical supremacy. And by a decisive stroke of the Roman sword at Rome, in the spring of 538, the way was opened for a new order of popes and the beginning of a new epoch. And now in 1793, just 1260 years after Justinian’s 533 imperial fiat, came the notable decree of the Papacy’s once powerful supporter, France—eldest son of the church—aimed at the abolition of church and religion, and their unholy union with the state, followed by the decisive stroke of the sword at Rome in overthrow of the Papacy in 1798-an act marking the end of the epoch begun 1260 years before.PFF2 763.4

The two are clearly counterparts. In the first the supreme civil power of the time was employed for the aggrandizement of the pope, framing laws with that special objective in view, and subjecting all spiritual authority to him. And now, in the reaction, the supreme civil power of the hour was bent on the pope’s overthrow, and on the recovery of all the usurped political authority which he had assumed. One was the beginning, and the other the termination, of an epoch foreknown of God, and determined—perhaps unwittingly—by men.PFF2 764.1

Amid the chaos of falling kingdoms and decaying pagan religions of the early centuries, the massive plans of the Papacy occupied the central place. They formed the point of integration, and constituted the principle around which the ancient world could wrap its wracked form. Constantine realized that in the vast, unorganized Christianity within his realm lay the essential principle of unity needed by his empire, and which later became the dominating concept in the Middle Ages. Rome is thus seen to be the meeting point of all history, the papal succession filling the space from Caesar, and Constantine, and Justinian, and binding all ages into one. ^{40William Barry, The Papal Monarchy, p. 428.} And similarly the final events of prophecy cluster decisively around her.PFF2 764.2