The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IV. Helwig Finds 666 in Vicarius Filii Dei

It is always well to note the pioneer expositor on any given point. It is desirable to observe his qualifications, the soundness or weakness of his positions, and the setting and contributing factors leading to that initial conclusion. We now come to apparently the first attempt to compute the numerical values of the component Latin letters from the title Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of the Son of God), which yield the number 666, and which came increasingly to be cited, with similar 666—yielding titles, around the time of the French Revolution. PFF2 605.1

That Master Helwig, writing under the pseudonym of “Irenechoreaus,” ²⁴ was seemingly the first to compute from this particular name, is attested not only by our own researches but by the testimony of E. B. Elliott, who doubtless made the most exhaustive investigation from the sources of any of the writers on the Apocalypse of which we have knowledge. On this point he is of particular interest to us, although part of his writings are spotted with strange and peculiar notions, which led him to rather farfetched conclusions. ²⁵ PFF2 605.2

To Elliott may be added the similar witness of Züllig in 1840, ²⁶ and it will be desirable to find in what setting this attempt occurs, and on what basis the number is computed. Note first the one who introduces this calculation. PFF2 605.3

MASTER ANDREAS HELWIG, or Helwich (c. 1572-1643), of Friedland, was a teacher of the classics for twenty-seven years, and author of an Etymological Greek Dictionary and a volume on Greek Vowels and Synonymns (1602). He was rector in Berlin (1611-1614) when he wrote on the Antichrist, and was professor of poetry at the University of Rostock (1614-1616). ²⁷ He was invited to teach in the gymnasium ²⁸ of the Grey Convent in Berlin, but declined, accepting a call instead to the Gymnasium at Stralsund, where he continued as teacher for several years. His specialty in language and his conspicuous ability in Greek and Latin won him the standing of royal crown poet. ²⁹ In 1612, at the close of his rectorship in Berlin, he wrote his Antichristus Romanus (Roman Antichrist). PFF2 605.4

1. COMPUTES FIFTEEN TITLES IN THREE LANGUAGES

Helwig’s Antichristus Romanus, with the opening heading “demonstration of the name of Antichrist, to which indeed that mystical number in Apocalypse 13, last verse, answers,” cites certain Hebrew names, such as Romith, which yield 666, applied by writers to the pope. He also cites five Greek names, some reaching back to the third century, such as Lateinos, each similarly yielding 666. He then cites certain Latin names, used by, or applied by others to, the pope. These are (a) Vicarius Filii Dei, (b) Ordinarius Ovilis Christi Pastor, (c) Dux Cleri, and (d) Die Luxeach likewise yielding 666. PFF2 606.1

2. COMPUTES NAME FROM EXPANDED EQUIVALENT

A difficult problem of the church, Helwig says, concerns Antichrist. “Has he come or not? And if he has already come, what is his true and genuine name, prefigured by Saint John in the Apocalypse, in which is mentioned that number of triple six each, 666?” ³⁰ Contending that Antichrist has come, and is found in the Papacy, of which the pope is head, Helwig declares: PFF2 606.2

“Consequently, when we shall have brought forth the name of this Antichrist by prescribed laws, everyone will at once know that as the name of Antichrist has not been thus far disregarded, so the number in reference to it has been too little taken note of. Without doubt, by God’s help, I will show that this is Vicarius Filii Dei.” ³¹ PFF2 606.3

Helwig shows that the mystic name (1) must yield the required number; (2) must agree with the papal order; (3) must not be a vile name applied by enemies, but acceptable to Antichrist himself; and (4) must be one of which he can boast. Hel wig takes Vicarius Filii Dei as an expansion or equivalent of the officially used shorter papal title Vicarius Christi, and shows that it conforms to these four requirements, citing Sleidanus in his Commentariis Suis Historicis, lib. 2, for the decretal of Aeneas Sylvias, which employs the title Vicarius Christi only. PFF2 607.1

3. EXPLAINS CHOICE OF VICARIUS FILII DEI

Explaining his emphasis of Vicarius Filii Dei, Helwig checks it by his four rules: ³² PFF2 607.2

“But behold this present [name] (Vicarius Filii Dei) in every way is such as is required. For first, it is a Latin name, and most exactly renders with significant letters that Apocalyptic number; then it harmonizes wholly and always with the papal order in itself (even though by hypothesis [exhypothesi], as no pontiff denies; then it is not offensive or vile as imposed upon him by adversaries, but is especially honorable to this very one, venerable, and formidable to others: which all the pontiffs have now already ascribed to themselves for more than 600 years (as is apparent), and do ascribe today, and wish to be ascribed: on which account they vehemently glory and boast with an execrable voice that they hold, shared as it were with the omnipotent God, the rule throughout the earth in human affairs. This [is] what, among other things (for who may investigate all the swelling words of papal bulls?), that decretal of Pope Aeneas Sylvius (who wished later to be called Pius) makes clearly evident-[that decretal] published in the year 1459 at Mantua which John Sleidan notes in his historical commentaries, vol. 2—in which he [the pope] took care that nobody should appeal from the pope to a Council because he said that, in the nature of things, nothing greater could be found above the Vicar of Christ.” PFF2 607.3

4. SELECTED DESPITE BELLARMINE’S OMISSION

Helwig tells why he computes the number from Vicarius Filii Dei, when it is a lengthened equivalent of his official title Vicarius Christi. PFF2 607.4

Wherefore, since that extended name [productum-lengthened, drawn out], Vicarius Filii Dei, is best adapted to the Roman Antichrist, in which truly are all the conditions [met] which Bellarmine has thus far demanded for the name of his pope. Hence that this is the true and peculiar name of the very Antichrist, as clearly is it evident from those things which we have brought out into the open, so must it surely be established.” ³³ PFF2 607.5

5. ASSERTS PONTIFF Is PROPHESIED ANTICHRIST

“If Antichrist is not the very Pontiff of Rome, it follows among other things that the citation of the blessed Paul, 1 Timothy 4:3, must not be taken of Antichrist, although almost all the fathers and theologians so accept it.” ³⁴ PFF2 608.1

Helwig says that the pope makes himself vicar of the Lord Jesus, though Christ does not need any vicar; desires to be called father of the whole church, though no one is to be called father; is called highest priest and pontiff of Christians, though One is our high priest; assumes himself to be head of the church, though only Christ is head, and foundation of the church, though Christ is the only Foundation. ³⁵ PFF2 608.2

In summary, there are four points to be remembered concerning Helwig: (1) As to his competency in this ancient language research problem, he was a professional teacher of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew for twenty-seven years, and had already written two or three well-known works on classical philology when he made his calculation of the 666. (2) He listed and computed many different names in three different languages, all yielding 666, but preferred Vicarius Filii Dei of the Latin. (3) Helwig’s computation, based on Vicarius Filii Dei, was expressly stated to be an expansion of the actual historical title of the Pope, Vicarius Christi—and therefore upon an equivalent, and not the actual title. (4) This computation lay largely dormant until the time of the French Revolution, when computations based upon this and other titles of the pope became increasingly common. PFF2 608.3