The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

IX. Layman Holyoke-Prophecies Concerning the Papacy

Laymen as well as ministers delved into prophecy and made substantial contribution. EDWARD HOLYOKK (d. 1660), Congregationalist layman of Lynn, Massachusetts, and great-grandfather of Edward Holyoke, president of I larvard, was from Tarn-worth, Warwickshire. Early in life his mind was directed to sacred things, and in 1612, just before his marriage, he wrote a remarkable letter to his fiancee, declaring he was resolved to “follow the Eternal,” and to “cleave unto Him” all his days. Listing many particulars, and pledging his love and life, he stressed in it all preparation for eternal union “with Christ Jesus in the last day.” ⁶⁵ Coming to America, he settled in Lynn, where he became a farmer and landowner of 500 acres, a man of note in the colony and honored in its councils. He was a member of the Essex court, and represented Lynn in the Massachusetts Legislature for many years, between 1639 and 1618. ⁶⁶ PFF3 94.2

Holyoke wrote a unique book on prophecy titled The Doctrine of Life, or of Mans Redemption (1658), in question-and-answer form. He held to a calling of the Jews, but not to restoration to their former land, declaring that idea to be fraught with absurdities. But the day of the Lord’s coming was the insistent note of his book and his life. In his will Holyoke bequeathed to each of his sons-in-law - of course with other things- - a copy of his book. PFF3 95.1

“(Being instructed chiefly by an understanding of the Scriptures) I doubt not my booke will give him A hart of all sound doctrine.” ⁶⁷ PFF3 95.2

1. THRONE OF PROPHESIED BEAST IN ROME

The heading of chapter 15, in his Doctrine of Life (1658), is devoted to “proving that Rome in Gods just judgment, is the place that he hath given unto the power of Satan for the setting up the mystery of iniquity.” ⁶⁸ Answering the specific question as to “what place,” Holyoke says succinctly, “Rome in Italy,” and adds: PFF3 95.3

“Satan used all signes, and lying wonders to advance there the Throne of the Beast, the man of sin, or the Pontificalitie: And when the Pontificalitie was set up by the decree of God, then nations from East to West; obeyed and Worship the Pope, and the image of the Imperial State as of old time they did the profane Emperours.” ⁶⁹ PFF3 95.4

The Beast’s imperial state was thus re-erected in the pontificality. ⁷⁰ PFF3 95.5

2. BEAST OF Daniel 7 AND OF Revelation 13 IDENTICAL

Discussing the prophetic symbols of the Roman Empire, Holyoke says, under Question 6: PFF3 95.6

“The Empire is described by one Beast coming out of the Sea, who hath seven heads and ten horns: yea also in this Beast is comprized the Pontificality, being the Reviver of the wounded Head. This beast hath his arms, from the four Beasts in Daniel chap. 7. For Rome having subdued all those Countries that those Beasts ruled, and being like them for idolatry and cruelty in afflicting the holy city descending from heaven, is a monster compounded of all four: Being a Beaste of seven heads and ten horns, mouthed like a Lion, footed like a Bear, and spotted like a Leopard.” ⁷¹ PFF3 95.7

It is also the embodiment of the power prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2, ⁷² and is likewise the two-horned Beast. ⁷³ PFF3 96.1

3. SIXTH HEAD, CAESARS; SEVENTH, POPES

Interpreting the seven heads, Holyoke says that these are first the seven hills on which Rome was built, and secondly seven kinds of government-“1 Kings 2. Consulls, 3. Decemviri, 4. Dictators,5. Triumviri, 6. Caesars, 7. Pope.” ⁷⁴ PFF3 96.2

4. TEN HORNS ARE ROME’S DIVISIONS

The ten horns are the kingdom-divisions of Rome that gave power to the Beast. ⁷⁵ PFF3 96.3

“The four Beasts are termed four Kings, that is four Kingdomes, Daniel 7. So the ten horns of the Roman Beast are ten Kings that is Kingdomes that gave their power to the Beast.” ⁷⁶ PFF3 96.4

5. HISTORICAL GROWTH OF MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

CHAPTER 15 contends that the Mystery of Iniquity began the struggle for supremacy from Constantine’s time: PFF3 96.5

“From Constantines time, Ecclesiastical! Teachers were never quiet, but still aspired after Supremacy, and drew Princes to their factions till 600 years after Christ, then about that time, Boniface the third Pope of Rome, obtained by the help of the murderer Phocas, to be called universal! Bishop. And this universall Supremacy did so increase until! the tenth Century.” ⁷⁷ PFF3 96.6

It reached its height, Holyoke asserted, in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. ⁷⁸ PFF3 96.7

6. MARK OF THE BEAST Is YIELDING TO POPE’S LAW

Declaring the mark of the Beast to be the mark of his “Politic,” hesays: PFF3 96.8

“The Popes Canon-Law telleth that none may live under the Empire, but by yielding to the Popes Lawes, in his subscribing to his Imperial and Ecclesiasticall Supremacy, and oath of fidelity as a mark on the hand, and some open token of communion with him, and profession of his decrees as a mark in the forehead.” ⁷⁹ PFF3 96.9

Holyoke held that the papal power began decreasing from Protestant Reformation times onward, ⁸⁰ then stressed the call to come out of Mystical Babylon, for her everlasting destruction was near at hand. ⁸¹ PFF3 97.1

7. TURKS ARE THE SIXTH TRUMPET

Declaring that the Turks were raised up to be a scourge to the “Apostasie of the Greek Churches,” ⁸² Holyoke thought the locusts of the fifth trumpet to be the papal clergy and the monks. ⁸³ And some in the Old World had thought the same. PFF3 97.2