The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

IV. Philipot France to Contribute to Papal Ruin

JACQUES PHILIPOT’S Edaircissements sur I’Apocalypse de S. Jean (Elucidations on the Apocalypse of St. John) devoted a number of pages to the part he felt France would play in the coming overthrow: PFF2 726.5

“As the king of France did his utmost to enhance the glory of Popery, it will be the king of France who shall mostly con tribute to her ruin.” ¹⁴ PFF2 726.6

This was written, be it remembered, a full century before the French Revolution. Philipot finished his manuscript in August, 1685, just two days before the arrival of the dragoons, who destroyed his home, and only the manuscript was saved from the wreckage. Having reached a port of safety, he compared it with the writings of the distinguished Jurieu, and was delighted to find virtual agreement. PFF2 726.7

1. 1260 YEARS DATED FROM A.D. 445 TO 1705

Like Mede, he commences the seven trumpets under the seventh seal, and the seven vials under the seventh trumpet, when will come the deliverance of the church. ¹⁵ Discussing Revelation 17, he holds that the seven kinds of rulers were kings, consuls, decemvirs, military tribunes, dictators, emperors, and popes; the ten horns were kingdoms and sovereignties—this being deduced ‘from the two horns of the Persian king of Daniel 8.” ¹⁶ He identifies the pope as the seventh head of the beast with the ten horns, and as the two-horned beast. He is the eighth king and therefore the false prophet and consequently the Antichrist,” ¹⁷ the same as Paul’s son of perdition, of 2 Thessalonians 2, with his fantastic claims of power and honor. ¹⁸ The 150 years of the fifth trumpet are applied to the Jesuits from 1540 to 1690. The 1260 years are begun with Leo I in 445, which would lead to 1705 as possibly the terminal year of “the reign of the beast.” ¹⁹ PFF2 727.1

2. SURPRISING CHANGE TO COME IN FRANCE

Stating that the “earthquake” was symbolic, not literal, he says, “It is a sure thing that earthquakes in the Scriptures mean great changes occuring in the nations,” and adds, “There will be a surprising change in France”—a change of which “the whole world will be glad, except the clergy, the monks and the Jesuits.” ²⁰ Then Philipot gives his reasons succinctly why he believes France is the “tenth part of the city.” PFF2 727.2

“It may be asked what reasons I have in believing that it is France, rather than any other kingdom, which is referred to by this tenth part of the city, which is to fall by the earthquake. My reasons are these. I take it for granted, first, that the city here mentioned is Babylon, that is the Papal empire, the church of Rome, the empire of Antichrist. This has been proved. I take it for granted, secondly, that France is one of the ten horns of the Beast, one of the ten kingdoms which should be formed, according to Daniel, out of the debris of the Roman empire, and that, ac cording to St. John, she should rise at the same time with the Beast, that is, with the Papal empire. This is evident from history. The French monarchy, like all the neighboring states, was established upon the ruins of the Roman empire, and grew at the same time as the bishop of Rome. I take it for granted, thirdly, that France is a place and a part of the city, that is of the Papal Empire.” ²¹ PFF2 727.3

3. DEATH OF Two WITNESSES IN FRANCE

The fourth point pertains to the beauty and power of France, with her king as the “most Christian King,” and “Eldest Son of the Church.” This leads Philipot to conclude that the expression refers “to France rather than any other kingdom, or fief of the Papal empire”; thus he concludes: PFF2 728.1

“Since the death of the Two Witnesses takes place in France, and in such a surprising manner, why should there be any hesitation in concluding that this tenth part of the city which shall fall is France?” ²² PFF2 728.2