Not that I like to be different but the number 666 don't apply to the pope and I don't see that EGW thinks so either.

Not true and what do you think after reading  this of EGW.

 
"In Revelation we read concerning Satan: "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:13-17). . . .  {3SM 393.1} 

     "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (chap. 16:13-15). . . .  {3SM 393.2}
 
OK, you will notice she exactly posts the KJV version of Re 13:13-17 leaving off only verses 11,12 and 18.
 
Now here is Re 13:11-18 and see if you can leave off verses, 11,12 at the beginning and verse 18 at the end, I guarantee you cannot and so without a smidgen of doubt 666 is Satan's number!
 
Re 13:11 ¶ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
Re 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Re 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Re 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Re 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Re 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Re 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Re 13:18 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.

We have great need of not listening to men to such a great degree and listen to the one who will and does always give us the Truth, Jesus Christ.

Yes He must dwell in you by His Spirit, He is the Spirit of Truth and Paul tells us He alone is our Hope of Glory.

Hear Jesus first,

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Col 1:26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The Great Teacher is available to us 100% of the time and we have no excuse to not know any Truth of His Word to us as He is with us 100% of the time guiding us.

He not only convicts of sin but of Truth also.  It does require we be absolute sticklers for the Truth and will not take up any others.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5

I will try, knowing this is not conventional thinking among SDA's but at the same time EGW made it clear to the people long ago her thesis of it.

I think the scripture  also makes it clear and first to clear this thought we read,

Re 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Notice it is the "dragon", Satan gives to the first beast of Re 13: his power and his seat and great authority. Now notice from verse one this beast has 7 heads and 10 horns same as he. So I submit his "image" beast.  Now we will notice that after the deadly wound to that ONE head is healed his first "image" beast is given power to continue 42 months, has to be literal time.

Re 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Re 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Re 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Notice Re 13:3, ONE head is wounded to death and then makes it clear that ALL the world wonders after the beast not just the ONE wounded head!  Note! this first beast has 7 heads and 10 horns,

Re 13:1 ¶ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ( much can be said of the name of blasphemy upon the heads)

Then it is put further together in these verses,

Re 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Re 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

That is a likeness of himself or copy and that is being done well is apparent and Satan is demanding all to make an image of his image beast, likeness and copy his image of him and so then him.
eikon i-kone'
from 1503; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance:--image.

See Greek 1503 eiko i'-ko

apparently a primary verb (perhaps akin to 1502 through the idea of faintness as a copy); to resemble:--be like.

The verses Re 13:11-18 cannot be broken, they cling together because of context and they are about our adversary Satan!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

There are many AN antichrists but there is but one who is THE antichrist.  THE antichrist is soon to come and for sure will personate Jesus Christ.

All others are AN antichrist after their father the devil.  We must be of the truth of which AN antichrist is not.  Satan is the father of these of whom there is no truth in them or of him their father,   Joh 8:44.

I should have posted these 4 profound verses in above post and will now as so much is realized of these,

( Speaking of Christ ) 

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Dear folks we see that all things are put in Jesus Christ's hands until all is righted and sin will be no more.

It, sin will not rise up no more for all eternity!  Na 1:9 ¶ What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Paradise is soon to be now for all the redeemed.

"And to all the faithful ones who were striving against evil, John heard the promises made: "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Verse 7; 3:5, 21.  {AA 588.2}

There we read the big one, our name not blotted out of the book of life.  Oh there is where it, our name must remain and not blotted!

part 2 of above post

Testimony of Dr. H. Grattan Guinness. - "An English officer of high rank, who in the year 1799, by a special favour, was given the opportunity, while in Rome, to get a close view of the Pope's jewels and precious things, discovered thereby, that the papal tiara bore this inscription: 'Vicarivs Filii Dei.' {1943 CE, FAFA 229.1} 

"When you take out the Latin letters, which have numeral value, and which still are used to represent numbers, and which are: V, I, C, L, and D, these letters form the number given below. In these Latin words there are two V's, which letter denotes 5, six I's denoting 1, one C, which denotes 100, one L, which denotes 50, and one D, which denotes 500, thus: V,V= 10; I,I,I,I,I,I = 6; C = 100; L = 50; and D = 500, the sum 666." - "Babylon and the Beast," p. 141; quoted in " Kyrkans Strid och Slutliga Seger," Professor S. F. Svensson, pp. 126, 128. Stockholm: 1908. {1943 CE, FAFA 229.2} 

Other Protestant Witnesses

Robert Fleming, V. D. M., wrote a book entitled "Apocalyptical. Key. An Extraordinary Discourse on the Rise and Fall of the Papacy." It was published in London, 1701, 1703, and 1929. In the 1929 edition, p. 48, we read that an "explication may be found in the title which the Roman pontiff has assumed, and which is inscribed over the door of the Vatican, 'Vicarius Filii Dei' (Vicar of the Son of God). In Roman computation this contains the number 666, as will be seen below. {1943 CE, FAFA 229.3} 

V5F0D500

I1I1E0

Cl00L50I1

A0I1

R011 

I0

V5

S0

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: {1943 CE, FAFA 230.1} 

Vicarof 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

D500

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. {1943 CE, FAFA 230.2} 

 Appended to the above is a footnote, giving the author's reply to a correspondent: {1943 CE, FAFA 230.3} 

"Answer to a Querist. . . . {1943 CE, FAFA 230.4} 

231

"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. {1943 CE, 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. {1943 CE, 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? {1943 CE, 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. {1943 CE, FAFA 231.4} 

words of the adventist pioneers - search "vicarius" = 54 hits 

""VERSE 18. 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." {1897 UrS, DAR 624.1} 

The Number of His Name. - The number of the beast, says the prophecy, "is the number of a man;" and if it is to be derived from a name of title, the natural conclusion would be that it must be the name or title of some particular man. The most plausible expression we have seen suggested as containing the number of the beast, is the title which the pope takes to himself, and allows others to apply to him. That title is this: Vicarious Filii Dei, "Vicegerent of the Son of God." Taking the letters out of this title which the Latins used as numerals, and giving them their numerical value, we have just 666. Thus we have V, 5; I, 1; C, 100 (a and r not used as numerals); I, 1; U (formerly the same as V), 5 (s and f not used as numerals); I, 1; L, 50; I, 1; I, 1; D, 500 (e not used as a numeral); I, 1. Adding these number together, we have just 666. {1897 UrS, DAR 624.2} 

This title, there is reason to believe, was formerly inscribed upon the pope's crown. The following testimony on this point is given by the late Elder D.E. Scoles, of Washburn, Mo.:- {1897 UrS, DAR 624.3} 

"I have met two men who declare that they have seen this specific crown; and their testimony is so perfectly in agreement that I am convinced that what they saw is true. The first man was M. De Latti, a Sabbath-keeper who had previously been a Catholic priest, and had spent four years in Rome. He visited me when I was pastor in St. Paul, Minn., several years ago. I showed him my tract, "The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast.' He at once told me that the inscription was not correctly placed in my illustration. He stated that he had often seen it in the museum at the Vatican, and

625

gave a detailed and accurate description of the whole crown. When my tract was published, I was ignorant of the arrangement of the words of the Latin inscriptions, hence, in the illustration of the crown, placed them in one line. Brother De Latti at once pointed out the mistake, and said the first word of the sentence was on the first crown of the triple arrangement, the second word on the second part of the crown, while the word Dei was on the lower division of the triple crown. He also explained that the first two words were in dark-colored jewels, while the Dei was composed entirely of diamonds.  {1897 UrS, DAR 624.4} 

"During a tent-meeting which I held in Webb City, Mo., I presented the subject, 'The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast.' I used charts to illustrate it, one being a reproduction of the crown as Brother De Latti had described it. A Presbyterian minister was present, Rev. B. Hoffman, and when I described the crown, he spoke out publicly and made a statement to the congregation, saying that while in Rome studying for the priesthood, he had seen this very crown, and noted its inscription, and that the word Dei was composed of one hundred diamonds. I met him and learned his name, and visited him at his home, and was convinced from his description that this was the identical crown that Brother De Latti had seen, but which has been denied by many. I then asked him for a written statement, and he gave me the following:- {1897 UrS, DAR 625.1} 

"'To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that I was born in Bavaria in 1828, was educated in Munich, and was reared a Roman Catholic. In 1844 and 1845 I was a student for the priesthood in the Jesuit College in Rome. During the Easter service of 1845, Pope Gregory XVI wore a triple crown upon which was the inscription, in jewels, Vicarious Filii Dei. We were told that there were one hundred diamonds in the word Dei; the other words were of some other kind of precious stones of a darker color. There was one word upon each crown, and not all on the same line. I was present at the service, and saw the crown distinctly, and noted it carefully. {1897 UrS, DAR 625.2} 

"'In 1850 I was converted to God and to Protestantism. Two years later I entered the Evangelical Church ministry, but later in life I united with the Presbyterian Church, of

626

which I am now a retired pastor, having been in the ministry for fifty years. {1897 UrS, DAR 625.3} 

"'I have made the above statement at the request of Elder D.E. Scoles, as he states that some deny that the pope ever wore this tiara. But I know that he did, for I saw it upon his head. {1897 UrS, DAR 626.1} 

"'Sincerely your in Christian service,

(Signed) "'B. HOFFMAN.

"'Webb City, Mo., Oct. 29, 1906.'" {1897 UrS, DAR 626.2} 

The following extract is from a work entitled The Reformation, bearing the date of 1832:- {1897 UrS, DAR 626.3} 

"'Mrs. A.,' said Miss Emmons, 'I saw a very curious fact the other day; I have dwelt upon it much, and will mention it. A person, lately, was witnessing a ceremony of the Romish Church. As the pope passed him in procession, splendidly dressed in his pontifical robes, the gentleman's eye rested on these full, blazing letters in front of his miter: "VICARIUS FILLII DEI," the Vicar of the Son of God. His thoughts, with the rapidity of lightning, reverted to Rev.13:18.' 'Will you turn to it/' said Mrs. A. Alice opened the New Testament and read: '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.' She paused, and Miss Emmons said, 'He took out his pencil, and marking the numerical letters or the inscription on his tablet, it stood 666.'" {1897 UrS, DAR 626.4} 

Here we have indeed the number of a man, even the "man of sin;" and it is a little singular, perhaps providential, that he should select a title which shows the blasphemous character of the beast, and then cause it to be inscribed upon his miter, as if to brand himself with the number 666. The foregoing extract doubtless refers to a particular pope on a particular occasion. Other popes might not wear the title emblazoned on the miter, as there stated. But this does not affect the application at all; for the popes all assume to be the "Vicar of Christ" (see Standard Dictionary under "vicar"), and the Latin words given above are the words which express that

627

title, in the form "vicar of the Son of God;" and their numerical value is 666. {1897 UrS, DAR 626.5} "

Man of Sin 

(man of sin = 244 hits )

( man of sin pope = 5 hits )

(man of sin pap* = 81 hits )

    The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in his day. That day shall not come, he says, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. [2 Thessalonians 2:3.] Not till after the great apostasy, and the long period of the reign of the man of sin, can we look for the advent of our Lord. The man of sin, which is also styled the mystery of iniquity, the son of perdition, and that wicked,  represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years. This period ended in 1798. The coming of Christ could not take place before that time. Paul covers with his caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798. It is this side of that time that the message of Christ's second coming is to be proclaimed.  {GC88 356.1} 

     No such message has ever been given in past ages. Paul, as we have seen, did not preach it; he pointed his brethren into the then far-distant future for the coming of the Lord. The reformers did not proclaim it. Martin Luther placed the Judgment about three hundred years in the future from his day. But since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the Judgment near.  {GC88 356.2}

********************************************************************

Here we are taught that finite man is not to be placed where God should be. He is not to be honored as a god, or to be bowed down to. "Worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." The man of sin is worshiped in the person of the pope, and his representative, the cardinal. But God has not given this power to pope or prelate. The pope is not regarded by God as anything more than a man who is acting out in our world the character of the man of sin, representing in his claims that power and authority which Satan claimed in the heavenly courts.  {5MR 102.2}  

     Satan inspired these men who claim to be Christ's vicegerents upon earth. Prayers are offered to private saints in heaven for many favors. But these men are not in heaven. They lie in their graves until the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. Mary, the mother of our Lord, has not been raised. She is waiting the sound of the trump of God that shall call the dead from their prison house. All the prayers offered to Mary fall to the ground. Mary's ears have not yet been pierced by the sound of the trump of God.  {5MR 102.3}  

     The question has been asked, Do you not believe that we should pray to the dead apostles and saints? No; for this would teach for doctrine not a "Thus saith the Lord," but the "thus saith" of the man of sin, "the son of perdition; who opposeth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."--Ms 163, 1897, pp. 8, 9. ("The Third Angel's Message," December 17, 1897.)  {5MR 103.1}  

2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

His Coming ='s Second Coming

<459>

Mark 15:28  And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors <459>.

Luke 22:37  For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors <459>: for the things concerning me have an end.

Acts 2:23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked <459> hands have crucified and slain:

1 Corinthians 9:21  To them that are without law <459>, as without law <459>, (being not without law <459> to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law <459>.

2 Thessalonians 2:8  And then shall that Wicked <459> be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

1 Timothy 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless <459> and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

2 Peter 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful <459> deeds;)

Context of 

2 Thessalonians 2:

3 ¶  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  

8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:   (Second Coming )  Satan is not killed by the Second Coming > he is bound 1000 yrs.

9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

"is after the working of Satan", is not satan but in imitation of Satan.

( " mystery of iniquity  "  =  67 hits)

"Paul's words were not to be misinterpreted. It was not to be taught that he, by special revelation, had warned the Thessalonians of the immediate coming of Christ. Such a position would cause confusion of faith; for disappointment often leads to unbelief. The apostle therefore cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from him, and he proceeded to emphasize the fact that the papal power, so clearly described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise and wage war against God's people. Until this power should have performed its deadly and blasphemous work, it would be in vain for the church to look for the coming of their Lord. "Remember ye not," Paul inquired, "that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"  {AA 265.2}  

     Terrible were the trials that were to beset the true church. Even at the time when the apostle was writing, the "mystery of iniquity" had already begun to work. The developments that were to take place in the future were to be "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish."  {AA 266.1}  

************************

"History will repeat itself. In this age the great test will be upon the point of Sabbath observance. . . . A rival sabbath is exalted, as was the great golden image in the plain of Dura. Leaders claiming to be Christians will call upon the world to observe the spurious sabbath that they have made. All who refuse will be put under oppressive laws. This is the mystery of iniquity, the devising of satanic agencies, carried into effect by the man of sin. . . . {CTr 178.5} 

*******************************************************

"The apostle Paul warned the church not to look for the coming of Christ in his day. That day shall not come, he says, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. [2 Thessalonians 2:3.] Not till after the great apostasy, and the long period of the reign of the man of sin, can we look for the advent of our Lord. The man of sin, which is also styled the mystery of iniquity, the son of perdition, and that wicked, represents the papacy, which, as foretold in prophecy, was to maintain its supremacy for 1260 years. This period ended in 1798. The coming of Christ could not take place before that time. Paul covers with his caution the whole of the Christian dispensation down to the year 1798. It is this side of that time that the message of Christ's second coming is to be proclaimed.  {GC88 356.1} 

6  And <2532> now <3568> ye know <1492> (5758) what withholdeth <2722> (5723) that <1519> he <846> might be revealed <601> (5683) in <1722> his <1438> time <2540>.

7  For <1063> the mystery <3466> of iniquity <458> doth <1754> <0> already <2235> work <1754> (5731): only <3440> he who now <737> letteth <2722> (5723) will let, until <2193> he be taken <1096> (5638) out of <1537> the way <3319>.

8  And <2532> then <5119> shall <601> <0> that Wicked <459> be revealed <601> (5701), whom <3739> the Lord <2962> shall consume <355> (5692) with the spirit <4151> of his <846> mouth <4750>, and <2532> shall destroy <2673> (5692) with the brightness <2015> of his <846> coming <3952>:

revealed in his time ( Satan was revealed centuries beforehand ) but after Pauls lifetime when the imperial Caesars and imperial Rome were gone - in the year 508AD the Bishop who declared himself Head of all Bishops and sole Judge of the Church - arose, and in 538 AD assumed power through political intrigue . That created the office of Pope and Papal rule for 1260 years, and Satan gave the Papacy his seat and a portion of his power - but the Pope is the office of the Wicked One who as a human declares and accepts declaration that he is God on Earth. 

Until Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place, Satan is not allowed control at a level such as would happen if he could do in person what the Scripture shows the Popes office to do, it would have long since overwhelmed all nations of Earth preventing the gospel from completing its job and the final call of the Latter Rain, thus it would have been more than the human race could endure. Jesus made a way of escape for His faithful across their eras, He refused to allow Satan to dop that, and only allowed a lesser creature to do a similar but greatly lesser work. Had Satan be given no restraints Earth would have been depopulated of all life.  Once the redeemed are sealed and certified, Satan is allowed free reign while the most intense part of the time of trouble is going on and the seven last plagues begin.

601. apokalupto ap-ok-al-oop-to; from 575 and 2572; to take off the cover, i.e. disclose:  reveal. 

459. anomos an-om-os; from 1 (as a negative particle) and 3551; lawless, i.e. (negatively) not subject to (the Jewish) law; (by implication, a Gentile), or (positively) wicked:  without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked. 

3551. nomos nom-os; from a primary  nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):  law. 

Enough conflicting discussion: on to reviewing the book it's self.

"The Truth About 666   and the Story of the Great ApostasyWith this trilogy on the enigmatic number 666 in the Book of  Revelation, Edwin de Kock has presented  us  with the  most exhaustive  study on the subject currently available from the Historicist perspective.  

William H. Shea, M.D., Ph.D.  

Retired professor of Old Testament, Andrews University Former Associate Director, Biblical Research Institute  

    The Truth about 666 is the most extensive treatment of the Historicist  prophetic interpretation of 666. It brings out abundant evidence for the  view of Vicarius Filii Dei as the best interpretation of Revelation 13:18  and exposes the problems with the Preterist and Idealist interpretations.  The book should be required reading for anyone studying the end-time  prophecies of the Bible. 

 P. Gerard Damsteegt, Dr. Theol. 

 Associate Professor, Church History Department, Seminary, Andrews  University 

 With The Truth About 666 and the Story of the Great Apostasy, Edwin  de Kock has both recovered and magnificently delineated a precious mine  of Historicist truth. He provides by far the most comprehensive treatment of  the  notorious  apocalyptic number and its prophetic corollaries ever  produced. As such, de Kocks magnum opus is destined to become the  unparalleled standard on this subject. 

Jerry A. Stevens, English major and two masters degrees in education  Author, Vicarius Filii Dei 

Former editor, ADVENTISTS AFFIRM

In its capacity as a state, the Roman Catholic church-state of the Middle  Ages will have needed a constitution. If it ever had one, it  was  the  Donation of Constantine, where we first find the papal title Vicarius Filii  Dei (Vicar of the Son of God). If this is not an official title of the papacy,  no such title exists. De Kock has explored the history of Vicarius Filii Dei  in perhaps more detail than anyone ever will, but if the day comes when someone extends his researches further, I predict they will only find more  evidence for his positions.  

Frank W. Hardy, Ph.D. 

Doctorate in Linguistics and graduate degree in Old Testament studies Former editor of Historicism  

The Truth About 666 and the Story of the Great Apostasy  is largely  based on colossal amounts of recently discovered information. Much of it  is history. A significant part of it is religious history. The reader will find that sure evidence points to the correct understanding of the Sea Beast in Revelation 13, its name and number. De Kocks presentation is a thorough,  frank, factual, eye-opener history of one  of  Christendoms  greatest apostates, its character and career.  

 Harold Erickson, Ed.D. 

Taught Church  History and  Daniel and Revelation classes at Spicer  Memorial College for eighteen years; now conducts prophetic seminars   (since 1987) 

Like  everything  else  in the book, your documentation and historical approach are impeccable. 

Douglas E. LaPrade, Ph.D. 

 Author in English and Spanish. Two Fulbright scholarships   Tenured English professor, University of TexasPan American Additional Books on Prophecy and Other Matters  Seven Heads and Ten Horns in Daniel and the Revelation, data CD (2011).   The Use and Abuse of Prophecy (2007). 

Christ and Antichrist in Prophecy and History (2001).* 

*Out of print. An updated 2007 revision, together with 13 other pieces, is  available on a data CD. 

Further details appear at the end of the book.  The Truth About 666  and the Story of the Great Apostasy

by 

Edwin de Kock 

12916 Los Terrazos Boulevard  Edinburg, TX 78541 

U.S.A.

The Truth About 666   and the Story of the Great Apostasy

Three volumes in one  by Edwin de Kock 

12916 Los Terrazos Blvd., Edinburg, TX 78541, U.S.A.

Unless indicated otherwise, all Bible quotations are from the Authorized   Version (also known as the King James Bible), first published in 1611.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version (marked NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All   rights reserved. 

Quotations from an Ecumenical Edition of the Common Bible: Revised   Standard Version [RSV] of the Bible, copyright 1973 by the Division of   Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the   United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Other credits appear in the Acknowledgements and within the text.

Copyright © 2011 Edwin de Kock 

All rights and all subsidiary rights reserved by the author 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, including Internet,   e-book, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission in writing of the copyright owner, except for fair use by reviewers  or in scholarly works.

All the aforementioned rights and restrictions also apply to translations   into other languages.

ISBN: 978-0-692-01542-1 

Dedicated to the Memory of 

Andreas Helwig

(c.15721643) 

who first discovered  the truth about 666 

as well as the many writers 

of different creeds and denominations  who subsequently have held high the torch 

that he lit   Table of Contents 

Dedication 3

Acknowledgements 7

From the Author to the Reader 10

Abbreviations 11

Preface by William H. Shea 12

INTRODUCTION 

Enter the Beast   15

Volume I

The Story of the Great Apostasy 

PART 1: The Basics

1. An Early Expectation of the End   21    

2. Biblical Parallels for 666   23    

3. Magic Squares and the Sun God   25    

4. Letters of the Alphabet as Numbers   36    

5. Helwigs Great Discovery 51    

6. The Helwig Gap and Later Protestantism 67  

7. Too Many Names and Other Confusions   79    

8. Clarifying the Criteria   92   

PART 2: The Ascent to Papal Power 

9. The Mystery of Lawlessness   111   

10. The Primacy of Peter? 135 

11. Germanic Interlude   155 

12. Clovis Converted   174 

13. Justinian and the Reconquest 194 

14. Visigothic Compromise   214 

15. Celtic Christianity Liquidated   220 

PART 3: The Pope Becomes a King 

16. Prelude to the Donation   249  

17. The Donation of Constantine   254  

18. Forgery Upon Forgery 263  

19. The Anatomy of Forgery and Fraud   268  

20. Published Again and Again   275 

Volume II

PART 4: The Further Witness of History

21. The Donation Casts a Long Medieval Shadow   283  

22.22. The Donation and a Papacy in Decline   301  

23. The Donation Contradicted and Debunked   315   

24. In Catholic Countries, the Donation and Its Title Endure   336  

25. The Counter-Reformation, a Reactionary and Bloody Response    341  

26. The Donation and the Voyages of Discovery 348  

27. Vicegerent of the Son of God   360  

28. Papal Onslaught and Fiasco in Africa and the Far East 366  

29. France and Gallicanism 387  

30. From the Grand Monarch to the Little Corporaland Beyond    409  

31. Many, Mostly Catholic Voices Just Before and in the Nineteenth Century  425 

Volume III

PART 5: The Seventh-day Adventist Connection 

32. Uriah Smiths Unique Contribution   453  

33. Indignant Catholics Respond   468  

34. Seventh-day Adventists Doubt and Adapt 494  

35. Catholic Use of Vicarius Filii Dei in the Twentieth Century   526

36. Majoring in Minors   537  

37. Three Are Said to Have Seen It 539  

38. Tiaras Galore, but Nary a One with Vicarius Filii Dei   565  

39. Numerology and Catch-All Idealism 576  

40. More Non-Historicist Writers and Influences   589  

41. Early Idealist Intrusions and Rebuttals 610  

42. A Few Later Historicists Who Got It Wrong   623  

43. Idealism More Boldly Invades the Seventh-day Adventist Church   632  

44. The Bastion Restored   658  

45. A Resurgent Papacy 663 

CONCLUSION 

Exit the Beast   675 

Notes   684  

Appendix I: About This Book 776  

Appendix II: Catholic Documents   791  

Appendix III: Mostly Protestant, Non-Seventh-Day Adventist Publications   794 

Appendix IV: Ingredients, Scope, and Structure of The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White   840 

Appendix V: Dissenters of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries Opposing  the Historicist Equation Vicarius Filii   Dei = 666   852 

Appendix VI: Philosophy as Theology   856 

Appendix VII: Translating the Word 866

Prophetic and Other Publications  871

The Author   874 (anthros )

In lieu of a General Index, please use the data CD at the back.  

This works in one of two ways. Either use the ordinary search function of the computer or the open index displayed  at the side. In the latter case, special markingseither little  triangles on a Mac or plus and minus signs on a PCenable  the opening up and closure of chapter headings and even the  notes for each. Just click on those markings and see them appear or disappear.  "

That is fine Ed but I have learned a long time ago not to be led of any church structure of men or any man's commentaries or theology.  The Bible is the one and only sure and safe guide.  He also of it has given His promise to guide us into all truth and show us things to come and so I would say that is where to go.

I have always appreciated your view of things and consider what you write as these and others thoughts stir up new investigations that have helped me and others to grow.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

It is because of the way they read and take this verse to mean Christ built His Church on Peter,

Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

But He is telling Peter he is a stone, an Apostle and upon this Rock, Himself I will build my Church.

part - 2 of post 

"The Little Horn of Dan. 8 is different from the  one in Dan. 7 in being more  comprehensive. It provides a larger context, representing Rome as  a  whole  in its relation to the Holy Land, its people, and Christ himself. For Jesus sitting on  the  Mount of  Olives,  as for the later Hobbes and Ellen G. White, there was no  essential  differencealthough, when necessary, the Lord prophetically does  distinguish between these aspects. Rome as an agent of the  Evil One  put the  Redeemer to death and  then  in  A.D. 70 went on to destroy Jerusalem together  with its magnificent temple.  

However  we  may interpret the role of the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus  time,  it was the Romans who actually crucified him and afterward destroyed  both the Jews as a nation state and their  ancient sanctuary. The symbolism of  Dan. 8 can therefore  not be limited to the papacy, yet in some sense this must  also be included; otherwise the juxtaposition of the Little Horn in Dan. 7 with the one in Dan. 8 would be more than awkward.  

In  Gods  eyes,  Rome is Rome from beginning to end. The Papal States  became a rump of it, the Holy Roman Empire  sought to revive it, the Vatican  today  perpetuates  it.  Ultimately,  it aims at reestablishing its domination on a  planetary scale.  

Dan. 9 recounts how the angel Gabriel returned  to continue  Heavens  explanation  of  Dan. 8. He related it to the seventy prophetic weeks or 490  literal  years, which form part of the  2300 year-days. Verses 26 and 17, with  which the chapter ends, predict:  

And after the sixty-two weeks  

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself. 

And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.  The end of it shall be with a flood,  And till the end of the war desolations are  determined.

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many

for one week; 

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.  And on the wing of abominations shall be 

one who makes desolate. 

Even until the consummation, which is   determined, Is poured out on the desolate. (Dan. 9:26-27, RKJV)

This prophecy, uttered centuries  earlier, foretold that Rome at a specific  time would murder the Messiah  and  then  destroy Jerusalem together with the  sanctuary in it. In the passage cited, the  words  abominations  and  desolations occur explicitly. 

Dan. 11 likewise depicts the animosity of this entity against Gods  holy  covenant as well as an armed assault  on the sanctuary of strength, which  will  be polluted. Moreover, Rome was destined to take away the daily  sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Dan.  11:30-31) In both these Scriptures, sacrifice is a supplied word which is absent from the original. The daily was the $*/( (tamid), as the Hebrew original  puts it, encompassing a good deal more.  

For Israelites and Jews, it was really the entire sanctuary service. For some Christians, it therefore refers to the risen Lords intercessory work on our behalf in heaven. Others, however, interpret it as paganism. This issue is discussed in a  further chapter. 

The abomination that makes desolate is mentioned yet again in Daniels  final verses, where it is linked with three related time prophecies, 1260, 1290,  the 1335 year-days. About the second last of these, we read: From the time  that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (Dan.  12:11). We particularly note that the words set up, like place in Dan. 11:31,  refers not to the mere existence of the abomination that makes desolatefor it  is an ancient thingbut a specific further development, to be dealt with later in its proper place.   

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus looked back to Daniels predictions. He also  looked forward: And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until  the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21: 24). These words are closely  mirrored in the Apocalypse: And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar,  and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave  out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall  they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two  witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore  days, clothed in sackcloth. (Rev. 11:13, emphasis added.)   

When Christians interpret these prophecies, they often omit the Jews, as  though God were no longer interested in his ancient people. Such a position  cannot, however, be sustained from his Holy Word. In the terrible time of papal oppression, not only his true Christian followers were persecuted,  often  slaughtered, for their faith. Horrible treatment was also meted out to the Jews,  of whom many were precious in his sight. Most significantly, these remained a  perpetual witness to the true Sabbath, for which we honor them. We are not Dispensationalists. Nevertheless, we believe that according to Rev. 11:1-3 there  would no longer be a heavenly prohibition against the existence state for the  Jews. At any time after 1798, they could return.  

But, it may be objected, with the crucifixion the services of the earthly  temple lost their significance. The sacrifices, the priests with their intercession for sinners, and the great national festivals had been symbols, foreshadowing  the coming of the Messiah, who came to redeem the world. And yet the temple  built in Solomons day and rebuilt when the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity, as well as its predecessor, the tabernacle created when Moses still led the chosen people, had for a millennium and a half been the object of Gods  supreme regard. All this was remembered by Jesus, the incarnated Second  Person of the holy Trinity and a Jew. In that vast expanse of time, it had been  holy as nothing else on earth, and desecrating anything connected with it was  punishable by death.  

Even priests could and did die when they committed a sanctuary sin. Such were Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, the high priest. They put strange fire  on their censers and then dared to appear before God. And there went out fire  from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then  Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the  LORD  spake,  saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be  glorified (Lev. 10:14). In Samuels time, the Most High even rejected the  entire line of Eli the high priest, because his sons Hophni and Phinehaswho  were also sons of Belialabused the sacrificial meat. They also fornicated  with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the  congregation. (1 Sam. 2:1217, 22, 2736) Their sentence was both to die in  one day (vs. 34). Surely these were object lessons and warnings for all ages to come concerning those who serve at his altar! 

When he executed these judgments, the sleepless guardian of his people,  the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people (Dan. 12:1),  who has always loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (Heb. 1:9, RSV),  did not let highpriestly succession stand in his way. 

Not even the supreme pontiff Aaron or the great Moses  himself  was  exempt. They died without realizing their dream, which they had cherished for  so long, of entering Canaan with their people, whom theyguided  by the  Lordhad freed from Egyptian bondage and led through the wilderness  for  forty wearisome years. But God insisted that they pay with their lives for  committing a  single, high-profile sin as described in Num. 20 and also referred to in several other passages.  

At Meribah, the Israelites had bellyached, as so often before, because in that  arid place they found nothing to  drink.  The Lords response was to tell Moses  and Aaron just to speak to a rock to satisfy their need. Accompanied by a very  large crowd, the two men went to it. There an exasperated Moses exclaimed:  Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses  lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came  out abundantly, and  the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the  Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,  therefore  ye shall  not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (Num. 20:1012) 

The  Most High had intended this experience to have a great symbolic meaning. The rock pointed forward to the Redeemer, as Paul the great Apostle  explained. The ancient Israelites, he wrote, did all drink the same spiritual  drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ (1 Cor. 10:4). Our Lord would be strucksacrificedonly once  and for all, after which the believer only had to ask to be forgiven. Those great leaders had spoiled an important symbol. By striking the rock again, they were  typologically suggesting that the Saviour had to be sacrificed over and over  again, as is now done in the mass. And this the Lord would not tolerate. For just marring a symbolanother sanctuary sinboth Moses and Aaron had to die. 

Modern disobedient ministers, priests, and popes would do well to think on  such things, rather than talk nonsense about the irrelevance of their personal characters to the sacredness of their office. Nothing could be further from what  the Bible teaches. 

Jesus, who was and remains a Jew, remembered. He could not lightly regard  the desecration of the temple. Before his incarnation, he had graced it with his  presence for so many centuries. Its precincts, toothe very approach to it were also holy. It was intolerable to think that Gentile Roman soldiers would boldly thrust their way into and destroy that building, especially since their  people  would  one  day also deny the Saviours  intercession as the only mediator between God and humankind (1 Tim. 2:5) in a heavenly sanctuary. Rome was one day going to set up on earth a gigantic rival system of its own. It would be centered in the so-called sacrifice of the mass, with sinful mortal  priests presuming to act as other Christs.  

III

A Catholic error which Hobbes pointed out in several places is to teach  that the present church now militant on earth is the kingdom of God (that is,  the kingdom of glory or the land of promise; not the kingdom of grace, which is  but a promise of the land). To this are annexed both ecclesiastical rights and  worldly benefits for the clergy, as Gods public ministers.  Further,  if the  church now on earth is the kingdom of Christ, it is also  reasonable  to suppose  that the Lord hath some lieutenant amongst us, by whom we  are  to be  told what are  his commandmentsthe pope! He would, in both religious and  secular matters, be a universal monarch.12 Such and more are the instructive and  thought-provoking ideas of Thomas Hobbes. 

To  this,  we  add  that traditional Catholic eschatology is based on a  misinterpretation of prophecy, beginning with King Nebuchadnezzars  dream,  as recorded in Dan. 2. He  saw  a  great  statue with a head of gold, a chest and  arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of  iron  and  clay. These materials symbolize the Babylonians, the Persians, the  Greeks,  the  Romans, and the kings of Europe. Also in that dream,  a  stone  cut out without hands came hurtling onto the feet of the image, pulverizing it. Then it grew and  grew until it filled the world. This, as the  Bible  explains and many Protestants  have maintained, represents a future kingdom still to be  set up  by God,  which  shall never be destroyed . . . it shall stand for ever (Dan. 2:44).  

But according to expositors like Augustine of Hippo, the imperial Catholic  Church is the stone shattering all earthly kingdoms, until it fills the entire  earth. Other prophecies have also been fitted into this scheme. The millennium supposedly began  when  Christ was  born, and the New Jerusalem is the eternal city of Rome 13  

part - 3

"IV

Catholicism in theory places its own traditions  on the same level as, but in  practice elevates them above, the Word of God. It even claims to have written it  and that the pope has a monopoly for interpreting it. Let us take up these points  in reverse order, as we find them in  Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her  Own Words (2002) by Rod Bennett, a recent convert to and apologist for the  Roman Church. 

He said the pontiff was neither  impeccable (incapable of sin) nor the  originator of Biblical teaching.  All the pope is held  to be is an infallible  interpreter of that original revelation, someone who, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, will never say that something is part of the original revelation if it was  not, or subtract something from that original revelation that truly belongs  there.14 How convenient! This preempts all theological debate and stops it in its tracks if it dares to go beyond what the Vatican teaches. 

Bennett then stated that the papacy (in the persons of Peter, Linus, Cletus  [Anacletus], and Clement, at least) actually predates much of the Bible, and certainly predates the final canon of the Bible.15 Apart from the unwarranted  inclusion of the apostles name, we can agree with thisthough Linus and  Anacletus are not known to have strayed beyond the pages of the Word. About Clement, too, there is also not much to say beyond his presumptuous claims to episcopal power, which we have already looked at. But we continue with Bennett: I also learned that the Christian Church had never been based on the  Bible in the first place, but that the Bible had been based on the Churchin the  sense that it was bishops of the Catholic Church who preserved it, who  compiled it, who passed it down through the ages, and who vouched for it to the world.16  

Whoa! This blends together and therefore  confuses two very different things: the individual books  that  constitute the New Testament and its canon.  Neither Linus, nor Anacletus, nor Clement, nor any other  Catholic bishop  ever  wrote an  inspired  part of it. As for canonicity, we basically agree with other  Protestants about the following four  criteria:

 1.  Apostolic Originattributed to and based on the preaching/ teaching of  the first-generation apostles (or their close companions). 

 2.  Universal Acceptanceacknowledged  by all major Christian  communities in the ancient world (by the end of the fourth century). 

 3.  Liturgical Useread publicly when early  Christian communities  gathered for the Lords Supper (their weekly worship services). 

 4.  Consistent Messagecontaining a theological outlook similar  or  complementary to other accepted Christian writings.17 (Emphases added) 

The papacy has effectively elevated its traditions above the Bible, despite its  lip service to the Scriptures. In  this, it also commits the academic sin of  preferring secondary to primary sources. About this, let us explain by referring  to How to Study History (1967) by Norman F. Cantor and Richard I. Schneider.  

To help their students, these professors  made  the  following  elementary distinction, with italics which were all their own. A primary source is a work  that was written at a time that is contemporary or nearly contemporary with the  period or subject being studied.18 The books that make up the New Testament are primary sources. On the other hand, a secondary work for a subject is one  that discusses the subject but is written after the time contemporary with it.19  Cantor and Schneider went on to explain that the difference was to be partly  found in the role of inferences. These are conclusions and judgments about the  primary sources. They also dealt with the phenomenon of  a  writer  who  distorted the significance or meaning of the facts and how this could happen,  when he or she has been opinionated; opinions are personal and individual conclusions, identical in kind to inferences but without any  support or  grounding in fact.20  

All canon assemblers, whether Catholic or not, have only a secondary status. The same is true of the so-called Church Fathers, who were often biased  and opinionated men. Of paramount importance are the individual Scriptures. 

part - 5

" V

Peter, moreover, was not the first person, the first human being, or even  the first of the Twelve to confess the Lord Jesus as both the Messiah and the  Son of God.  

This privilege  belonged  to the  angel Gabriel, who in heaven stands by the throne of the Most High. Sent by the Almighty himself, he announced to the virgin Mary that she  was to become the mother of  Jesus.  He  would  be  called the Son of God and one day sit on Davids throne. And he  shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be  no  end. (Luke 1:31-35). These words echo the explanation of  Nebuchadnezzars dream by the prophet Daniel about the rock that would  eventually replace all merely human governments: And in the days of these kings,  shall the  God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be  destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these  kingdoms,  and it shall stand for ever. (Dan.  2:44).  

The mighty Gabriel had been used by the Lord to communicate with Daniel (Dan. 8:16, 17; 9:21, 22; 10:10-14). Six centuries later, he  spoke  to Mary, the mother of the Messiah, the Son of God. He was also no  doubt the  bright and  shining angel of the Lord who appeared to the frightened  shepherds  at Jesus  birth  and  said to them: Fear not: for, behold, I bring  you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For  unto  you  is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which  is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:9-11, emphasis added) 

Thirty years afterward, the divine kinship of the Messiah, the Incarnate One, was again proclaimed at his baptism, this time by the Father himself.  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened,  and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice  from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased  (Mark 1:10, 11).  

His testimony was immediately taken up  by John  the  Baptist, the  Redeemers forerunner, the greatest prophet who ever lived (Luke 7:2428).  He not only announced that Jesus was the Messiah, the Lamb of God but said: And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God (John 1:34). 

From the outset, the fallen, evil angels likewise knew all too well exactly  who he was, although in the wilderness of temptation Satan tried to make  him doubt himself and sin with the taunting words: If thou be the son of  God . . . (Matt. 4: 3, 6, emphasis added). To embarrass him, demons early sought to reveal his double identity as Messiah and the Holy One in public.  For instance, they did so one Sabbath in the synagogue at Capernaum and,  that evening, outside Peters house, while he was healing a large number of  people. Of the latter occasion we read: And devils also came out of many,  crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking  them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. (Luke  4:34-35, 41) 

Of the apostles, it was Nathanael, not Peter, who when Jesus called him first exclaimed: Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel  (John 1:49). In fact, all of the Twelve (even Judas Iscariot) knew he was the  Christthe  Messiahand  acknowledged his divinity before Peters  confession. This happened on a storm-tossed boat that was  about to sink,  before the Lord came walking toward them on the lake of Galilee and saved  them. After he had quietened the wind, they  that were in the ship came and  worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God (Matt. 14:33). 

That all these  men acknowledged not only his divinity but also his  messianic mission was brought out clearly just a day later.  Many of  the  fickle multitudeoffended by his teachinghad turned against  him, whereupon Jesus asked the Twelve: Will ye also go away? Then Simon  Peter answered him, Lord to whom shall  we go? thou hast the words of  eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art Christ, the Son of the  living God. (John 6:66-69, emphasis added) Though  Peter  on  this occasion, too, was the spokesman, it was a communal declaration of faith.  And it was uttered before his personal confession recorded in Matt. 16:1519, which the champions of Petrine Primacy are so fond of quoting. 

This is clear  from the context of the two utterances. The group  confession by the Twelve is recorded in Chapter 6 of the Gospel according  to John and was made about twenty-four hours after the Lord had multiplied  the five loaves and two fishes (vv. 9-13). Peters individual confession  followed the second multiplication, of seven loaves. Jesus, had warned the  apostles against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, by which he  meant their doctrine. At first, they were too literal-minded and did not grasp his meaning, so he asked them: Do ye not yet understand,  neither  remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four  thousand,  and  how  many baskets ye took up? (Matt. 16:9-10) It was  after  this that the  great confession was personalized and Peter reiterated it.

As for the keys of the kingdom, the Saviour clarified that these were not the preserve of a single human being. Shortly after speaking about them to Peter, he showed that the idea of authority applied to the entire church at  every, even the most local level: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be  bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as  touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father  which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18:18-20). The unspoken  proviso was, of course, that such believers had to act within and  not contrary to the will of God. For Protestants, this means that none of their  decisions in church matters should conflict with what the Bible teaches. 

Jesus also specially called the Twelve to him to warn them against trying to dominate one another: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it  over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be  so among you; but whoever would be great among  you  must be  your  servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave. (Matt. 20:2527, RSV). 

Legitimately there could be no lording of one apostle over the other or one bishop over another. And this passage about earthly rulers also brings to mind the need for defining exactly what Jesus meant when he  spoke  of  the  kingdom.  He was not referring to, nor should  he  be construed to have  meant, dominion in a secular sense on this planet. As he was soon to say to Pilate, the Roman governor who tried and finally condemned him: My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36).   

From its context in the Gospel narrative, we observe that the apostolic  confession, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16),  was also expressed a short time later and in almost exactly those words by a  very different person: Caiaphas, the high priest, at Jesus  trial by the  Sanhedrin. That odious Jewish pontiff said unto him, I adjure thee by the  living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.  When  the  Saviour  complied and answered: Thou has said, it clinched  their case against him. Thereupon the leaders of his people condemned him to death for blasphemy. (Matt. 26:63-66)  

Immediately after Peter in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi had uttered the  famous formula  to which papalists appeal so persistently, the Lord commanded  his  disciples  to tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ  (Matt. 16:20); but so far as the Saviours earthly fate was concerned it was  too late. The Scribes and the Pharisees already knew who he was. For three  and a half years, they had progressively rejected the mounting evidence  provided by his works as well as his words; and now, in the stubborn pride  of opinion and self-deceit, they voted to kill their Messiah, the Creator Godthough this did not automatically make the entire Jewish nation  culpable.