The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3
IV. Toovey-Ten-horned Beast, Papacy; Two-horned, France
Biographical data is lacking on PIIIIO BRITANNICUS (Samuel Toovey), 47 but his illustrated Essay on the Prophecies of Daniel and, the Revelation (1813), was dedicated to the clergy of the Church of England, the Church of Rome, and every other denomination in England. It bears two texts on the title page, “God’s Proclamation to Nations” (Jeremiah 18:7, 8), and “God’s Commission to Ministers” (Ezekiel 3:17-22). Toovey later wrote A Consideration of the Second Woe Trumpet about to End and the Third Woe that Will Follow Quickly (1832). PFF3 356.2
1. LITTLE HORN HAS TRIPLE CROWN
Graphic pictures tell the story. In the first drawing, effectively illustrating the Essay on the Prophecies, the ten-horned beast of Daniel is in an impressive pose. The three horns-the kingdom of Lombardy, the Exarchate of Ravenna, and the Principality of Rome -have already been uprooted, and the new horn of ecclesiastical Rome, surmounted by a triple crown, has appeared among the seven that remain. These are plainly named as Spain, France, Hungary, Portugal, Burgundy, Bohemia, and Naples-Rome continuing in papal form. PFF3 356.3
Picture 1: GRAPHIC PORTRAYALS IN PICTURES POPULARIZE PROPHECIES
The samuel toovey treatise in 1813 depicts the papal little horn uprooting the three (Upper); pictures the papal church seated on the supporting nations of Europe; and conceives the horned Beast to be France in 1798; Toovey wrote Under the pen Name Philo Britannicus (Right)
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2. TIARA-CROWNED WOMAN SURMOUNTS EUROPE
The second concerns the seven-headed beast of Revelation 17, on which sits (he woman with the same triple crown on her head and with the golden cup in her hand. Six heads are labeled kings, consuls, decemvirs, tribunes, dictators, emperors. But the woman surmounts seven progressive, or overlapping, mountains-much like a stack of pancakes, thin on the edges and thick in the middle. These hills or mountains are France, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Sardinia, Bohemia, and Naples. The caption states that the eighth head is the pope, “prefiguring a second Stage of the Papal Power.” PFF3 358.1
3. FRANCE DEPICTED AS TWO-HORNED BEAST
The third drawing shows the prancing beasts of Revelation 13 blended with the papal figure of Revelation 17 with her golden cup and triple crown. The heads of the beast, or “Papal Roman Empire,” are labeled France, Hungary, Denmark, Spain, England, Scotland, Germany. The two-horned beast crawling up out of the earth has just tossed off “Papal Dominion” and “France” by its two horns, while the beast itself is labeled, “France, 1798.” This is perhaps the first application of this symbol to France. PFF3 358.2
4. LITTLE HORN WITHIN EMPIRE CONFINES
Toovey’s exposition is clear. The four mighty empires of prophecy, according to the agreement of both Protestant and papal commentators, are Assyria, Persia, Grecia, and Rome. 48 He then notes the inconsistency that “will not admit of the natural conclusions resulting from their own premises.” He shows how Greece was conquered by Rome, Rome was at length divided into the lesser kingdoms by A.D. 476, and the papal Little Hornarose among them and after them, 49 and within the territory-bound by the confines of the old Roman Empire of the West 50 “The presumptuous claims, the persecution of the saints, and the attempt to change God’s times and laws through their traditions, creeds, and ceremonies for the allotted time period are mentioned. All this, he thought, would end in 1849. 51 PFF3 358.3
5. EVERLASTING KINGDOM CANNOT BE PAPACY
Toovey dwells on the grandeur of the imminent judgment scene, and the approaching kingdom of God soon to be established. Reverting to Daniel 2, lie points to the four metallic parts of the great image as representing the same lour world powers, and comes to the kingdom that shall never be destroyed 52 He states this everlasting kingdom cannot pertain to the Church of Rome, “for its authority has been destroyed by France.” PFF3 359.1
6. FRANCE TO Hi’TEcr PAPAL RESTORATION
Turning tothe two beasts of Revelation 13, Toovey declares the two-horned second beast “is now personated by France.” 53 Then he tries to find the 666 in Bonaparte’s name. As the “first beast has been realized in the nature and events of the papal power,” so France will “reinstate” the Papacy in all its former dominion and authority, and in the “accomplishment of the papal restoration by France,” the prediction concerning the wounded head will be fulfilled. 54 PFF3 359.2
7. DEADLY WOUND GIVEN BY FRANCE
Toovey held that “the revolution of France would suspend the power of the first papal beast (Revelation 13), and by the deadly blow it would give to its supremacy would give free access to the light and truth of the scriptures, which could have no admission while the papal dominion existed.” 55 PFF3 359.3
8. ESTABLISHMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM ABOUT 1849
After recapitulating the fulfillment of Daniel 7, the four empire-beast sand the ten horn-kingdoms and the papal Little Horn and the ultimate establishment of the kingdom of God about 1849, 56 clares: PFF3 359.4
“We have seen, in our own experience, the fall of the first papal beast in St. John’s vision, (chap. 13) his head wounded, and the beast become a wonder in his humiliation; and we have seen his power exercised by France, (presumptively the second beast in that vision,) who has realized most strikingly, the description of that hieroglyphic; and from the admitted and undoubted signification of the first beast, we have to apprehend that the second is as certainly personified in France, who now exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and that he will reinstate the papal dominion.” 57 PFF3 359.5
9. POLITICAL QUAKE IN FRANCE (TENTH OF CITY)
The great “political earthquake” of Revelation 11 is that which “convulsed Europe, and which threw down, in the monarchy of France, the tenth part of the papal city.” 58 PFF3 360.1
10. RK-ESTABLISHMENT OF PAPAL POWER IN Revelation 17
In Revelation 17, Toovey applies the symbol to “the papal power re-established in its last stages of dominion,” 59 Which event will solve the mysterious paradox of that beast. PFF3 360.2
11. ETERNAL ESTABLISHMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM
The final event will be the receiving of His kingdom by the Son of man, when all other thrones will be cast down. Then will “the sacred volume of God’s providence and salvation be open to the understanding of the whole earth.” 60 PFF3 360.3