Testimony Of R. C. Shimeall

“It is to be observed as a singular circumstance, that the title, vicarivs filii dei (Vicar of the Son of God), which the Popes of Rome have assumed to themselves, and caused to be inscribed over the door of the Vatican, exactly makes the number of 666, when deciphered according to the numeral signification of its constituent letters, thus:FAFA 230.1

Vicar	of the Son	of God
V I C A R I V S	F I L I I	D E I
5 1 100 1 5	1 50 1 1	500 1

Added together thus:

V	5
I	1
C	100
A	0
R	0
1	1
V	5
S	0
F	0
I	1
L	50
I	1
I	1
D	500
E	0
I	1
	____
	666

Our Bible Chronology, Historic and Prophetic, Critically Examined and Demonstrated,” R. C. Shimeall, p. 180. New York: A. S. Barnes and Co., 1867.FAFA 230.2

Appended to the above is a footnote, giving the author’s reply to a correspondent:FAFA 230.3

“Answer to a Querist....FAFA 230.4

“Sir, - In answer to your observation and queries, permit me to say - the things I have asserted are stubborn, clear facts, not mere suppositions or fancies.FAFA 231.1

“The inscription in question, was actually written over the door of the Vatican at Rome, in express Latin words and characters, as inserted in this publication, Viz., VICARIVS FILII DEI; and those Latin words and characters contain Latin numerals to the amount of 666, exactly corresponding with the number of the beast.FAFA 231.2

“With respect to the supposition you have conjured up, that the Pope might he called Vicarius Christus, or Vicarius Christus Filii Dei (a sort of gibberish that is neither Latin, German, nor English), it is a matter I have nothing to do with. Mr. D. may adopt these or any other fancies to amuse himself, and to screen the head of his holiness, but when he has done all, this question will still remain to be answered: Have those inscriptions ever appeared over the door of the Vatican at Rome?FAFA 231.3

“As to Mr. D’s attempting to obscure the number of the beast 666, contained in the numerals of the words VICARIVS FILII DEI, by objecting to a V; however the Pope or his emissaries may be obliged to him for his kind exertions on their behalf, yet I presume neither of them will condescend to appear his humble fool in Latin, for the sake of sheltering themselves under his ignorance of the Latin alphabet and the ancient inscriptions.” — Id., p. 180.FAFA 231.4

Dr. S. T. Bloomfield gives us the following rule for finding the number:FAFA 231.5

“It means the number which is made up by reducing the numeral power of each of the letters of which the name is composed, and bringing it to a sum total.” — “Greek Testament with English Notes,” Note on Revelation 13:17, Vol. II, p. 175.FAFA 231.6

Samuel Hanson Cox, D. D. - “Can they [Protestants] accord to the present dominant Gregory, the pompous titles which he claims - VICARIUS FILII DEI, Vestra Sanctitas, Servus Servorus Domini, with other profane and blasphemous appellations without end?” — Introduction to Bower’s “History of the Popes,” Vol. I, p. x. Philadelphia: 1847.FAFA 231.7

The fact that some may have seen a crown at the Vatican which did not have the above inscription does not disprove the statements of the men who saw the crown that has the inscription. According to a copyrighted news report from Milan, Italy, dated December 11, 1922, and published in the Des Moines (Iowa) Register, December 12, 1922, the pope has five crowns, the last one made being decked with two thousand precious stones. The important part is not that the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei is on the pope’s tiara, but that it is the official title of the popes. It designates their official position, and is given to them at their coronation, just as the head of the United States government is called “President,” without it therefore being necessary for him to, wear that title on his hat.FAFA 232.1

Mr. H. S. Weaver, of Baltimore, Md., wrote to James Cardinal Gibbons, of the same city, under date of January 18, 1904, inquiring:FAFA 232.2

“Does the inscription, ‘Vicarius Filii Dei,’ appear on the crown or mitre of the pope, or has it at any time in the past appeared on the crowns or mitres of any of the popes?”FAFA 232.3

“Yours sincerely,
(Signed) “H. S. Weaver.”

To this letter the Cardinal answered through his secretary, as follows:FAFA 232.4

“Baltimore, Md., Jan. 26, 1904.
“Mr. H. S. Weaver.
“Dear Sir:FAFA 232.5

“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.FAFA 232.6

Yours truly,
(Signed) “Wm. T. Russell, Secretary.”

The New Catholic Dictionary says:FAFA 232.7

“Tiara, papal crown.... It is placed on his head at his Coronation by the second cardinal-deacon, with the words: ‘Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns and know that thou art Father of princes and kings, Ruler of the world, Vicar of our Saviour Jesus Christ.” — The New Catholic Dictionary, art. “Tiara,” p. 955.FAFA 233.1

We have already seen that Catholics have several free translations into English of the Latin title, “Vicarius Filii Dei.” Some try to find in the Greek word Lateinos, or the Latin Empire of the Papacy, a fulfillment of Revelation 13:18 (see “Bishop Newton on the Prophecies,” — pp. 548-550), but there is no need of going to the Greek. For while it is true that the apostles used mostly the Aramaic and the Greek, Latin was the official language of Rome, the world empire at that time. The Romans everywhere used Latin, all their laws were written in that language, and Latin has remained the official language of the Papacy to this day. The apostle was prophesying of a strictly Latin power, whose language was in use in his day, and it is quite common for Bible writers to borrow foreign words and phrases belonging to the subjects of which they are speaking. (John 19:20; Revelation 9:11; 16:16)FAFA 233.2

Then, too, the power represented by Revelation 13:1-10, 17, 18, must not only have the name indicated, but must also fulfill all the other specifications in this prophecy, and the Papacy does this. M. James Durham, Professor of Divinity in Glasgow (1658), says:FAFA 233.3

“He that hath all the characters of Antichrist’s doctrine, and hath a name which, in the numeral letters, makes up 666, he is Antichrist. But to the Pope both these do agree.” — “A Commentary Upon the Book of Revelation,” Revelation 18:18. Glasgow: 1680.