The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

II. Fragmentary Glimpses Reveal Positions on Prophecies

Savonarola’s views on prophecy were set forth in his sermons, and in his Compendium Revelationum ³¹ (Manual of Revelations), in 1495, and Dialog delta verita profetica (Dialogue Concerning Prophetic Truth), in 1497, ³² the latter, together with fifteen of his sermons, being placed on the Index. ³³ It is to be remembered that Savonarola’s burden was not primarily doctrinal reform. These were still the hazy hours of dawn, before the full noontide implications were yet clearly perceived. Nevertheless, it was Savonarola’s interpretation of the Apocalypse that started him on the road to incurring the displeasure of Rome. PFF2 150.2

1. FOUR HORSEMEN - FROM APOSTOLIC TO CONTEMPORARY TIME

Savonarola’s sermon on The Renewal of the Church, given in the Cathedral of Florence, January 13, 1495, declared that this renewal must come soon, when God would punish humanity for the iniquities of the age. In support of this, he cites Joachim of Floris, a fact which is both interesting and significant. Savonarola then turns to different symbolical pictures and shows their spiritual meaning. It is only a glimpse, but it shows his general concept. PFF2 150.3

“The third symbolic picture of which I spoke is that of Revelation 6:2. There the four horsemen are spoken of, the white, the red, the black and the pale. The white horse symbolized the time of the apostles; the red one the time of the martyrs, the second period of the church; the black horse the period of the heretics; the pale horse is the time of the lukewarmness, which is now. Therefore I told you that the renewal of the Church has to take place very soon, or God will surrender his vineyard, that is Rome and the Church, to others to cultivate it, because not a spark of love is left in Rome, but only the devil. So much about symbols.” ³⁴ PFF2 151.1

2. TIMES OF VISITATION MADE KNOWN TO PROPHETS

Savonarola’s acquaintance with certain of the prophetic time periods such as Daniel’s seventy weeks, is intimated. PFF2 151.2

“T[empter]—But did not our Lord say: ‘It is not for you to know the times and the moments’? PFF2 151.3

“S[avonarola]—If you will look more closely at the text you will see that this is not said of all ‘times and moments,’ but of those times and moments ‘which the Father has kept within His own power’; as, for instance, the day of Judgment. But as for other times and moments, that of the deluge was made known to Noe, to Jeremiah the seventy years of captivity, to Daniel the seventy weeks, etc.” ³⁵ PFF2 151.4

3. DANIEL PREDICTS PERSECUTION; MATTHEW WORLD-WIDEPREACHING

One of Savonarola’s widely circulated sermons recognizes Antichrist to be portrayed in the book of Daniel. And the fulfillment of the great commission is checkmated by apostasy in the clergy. Thus: PFF2 151.5

“Daniel the Prophet hath said that Antichrist shall come to persecute the Christians; ... Therefore it is necessary to convert the Turks. And how shall they be converted unless the Church be renewed? St. Matthew hath told us that the Gospel shall be preached throughout the world; but who now is fitted to preach it? Where are good pastors arid preachers to be found?” ³⁶ PFF2 151.6

4. DEGENERATE ROMAN CHURCH DENOMINATED BABYLON

To Savonarola, Babylon and Rome were synonymous terms. Here is an example: PFF2 152.1

“The Roman church is full of simony and vileness.... I visualized a black cross over Babylon-Rome with the inscription: Wrath of the Lord. And it rained upon her swords and knives, lances and weapons of all kinds, as well as hailstones and brimstones in a terrible thunderstorm in deepest gloom. And I saw another cross of gold which reached from the sky over Jerusalem to the earth with the inscription: Mercy of God. And here was full sunshine. And on the strength of vision I declare again, that the Church must reform herself, and that very soon because God is angry.” ³⁷ PFF2 152.2

This, of course, stirred the papal wrath. Relationship to Rome is indicated in a Lenten sermon, preached in the midst of his conflict with the pope. PFF2 152.3

‘Fly from Rome, for Babylon signifies confusion, and Rome hath confused all the Scriptures, confused all vices together, confused everything. Fly, then, from Rome, and come to repentance.’” ³⁸ PFF2 152.4

Then, after asserting reformation of the church must come, he cries: PFF2 152.5

“Be of good cheer, ye righteous. Prepare your hearts for the visitation by reading, meditation and prayer, and you will be saved from the second death. And you godless servants continue to wallow in the mire! Your body may be filled with intoxicating liquor.” ³⁹ PFF2 152.6

Probably the most fearful denunciation recorded was likewise made at the Lenten season, in 1497: PFF2 152.7

“‘Come here thou ribald Church. The Lord saith: I gave thee beautiful vestments, but thou hast made idols of them. Thou hast dedicated the sacred vessels to vainglory, the sacraments to simony; thou hast become a shameless harlot in thy lusts; thou art lower than a beast, thou art a monster of abomination.... And what doeth the harlot? She sitteth on the throne of Solomon, and soliciteth all the world: he that hath gold is made welcome and may do as he will.... O prostitute Church, ... thou hast multiplied thy fornications in Italy, in France, in Spain, and all other parts. Behold, I will put forth My hand, saith the Lord. I will smite thee, thou infamous wretch.’ ⁴⁰ PFF2 152.8

5. VICEGERENT OF DARKNESS IN THE TEMPLE

The coldness and desolation of the church and the intrusion of the vicegerent of darkness are vividly portrayed. Rapp gives a vivid picture of Savonarola’s time thus: PFF2 153.1

“In the pompous house of night they murmured their prayers and rattled their sermons, but the stream of life did not gush forth. It had turned to ice in this frosty atmosphere. And out of this cloud of incense stepped one and declared: I am the vicar of God on earth. And the nations worshipped him; he could not err, even if he did not speak the truth. He alone could save souls, even if he brought misery. But the people who dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death should see the great light again, the light which brightens the day. And the faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion proclaimed: ‘The night is far spent and the day is approaching. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. ’ PFF2 153.2

“Truth stands firm and like the earth turns around the sun, so men turn toward truth. Jesus has given to truth a brightness like the brightness of the morning. He roused new life in the hearts of men. And never will He cease again. He shines like the noonday-sun and like the midsummer-sun in the far north in the hours of the deepest night. PFF2 153.3

“But the warm glow of heavenly love grew dim; by the coldness of the hearts, an icy winter settled down and night was all around. The walls of the city of God, of the Church of Jesus, loomed high in the utter darkness. They lighted the somber halls with many candles to forget the night. They raised clouds of incense and inhaled its fragrance in order not to be reminded of their withered hearts. Yet the vicar of darkness, who called himself the vicar of Christ, had these watchmen arrested. They had proclaimed what he disliked, and the glare of the stakes which took their lives shone forth against the coming dawn. The time was fulfilled, and these flames kindled a fire from the throne of justice, which men will never quench. Self-centered human power destroys, but the divine power of love can only create.” ⁴¹ PFF2 153.4