The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

III. Frederick’s Battle With Pope Regarding Antichrist

Frederick II, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, having become an orphan early in life, was brought up under the special care of Pope Innocent III. He received the imperial crown in 1215. Proclaiming a universal peace in Germany, he took a vow to go on a crusade. However, he found many reasons to delay his departure. Finally Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241), in the first days of his pontificate, demanded that Frederick depart for Palestine. For failing to go forward the emperor was placed under the papal ban. However, in 1228 he started on the crusade, and gained possession of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth by diplomacy, and crowned himself king of Jerusalem. PFF1 793.2

Picture 1: EMPEROR AND POPE WHO EXCHANGED PROPHETIC EPITHETS
Fredrick II (left), German emperor and outstanding figure of thireenth century, engaged in mortal contest for supremacy with Pope Gregory IX (right), each hurling the epithet of antiChrist at the other.
Page 794

But Frederick faced trouble at home. Upon his return he was again excommunicated for disobedience to the pope. In 1231 he established a real kingship in Sicily. And with Ger many and Sicily in his hands, he gained control of the cities of Lombardy, including Milan, in 1237. In 1238 he laid claim to Sardinia, His ideal was to establish imperial might again, according to the pattern of ancient Rome. ¹² Gregory, on the other hand, was just as determined to have all power centralized in the Papacy, and he therefore sought to turn the German people and princes against the astute and learned Frederick, freeing them from their oath of allegiance in 1239. ¹³ PFF1 794.1

1. EMPEROR MAINTAINS POPE Is ANTICHRIST

Frederick was charged by the pope with ingratitude and heresy, copies of the charge being sent to all the leading personalities of Europe. But the emperor defended himself with vigor. In a circular letter he had recourse to the Apocalypse, maintaining that the pope was Antichrist. It was a terrific struggle. The emperor expostulated over the “wickedness of Babylon,” while the pope in turn called Frederick the “beast from the sea” (Revelation 13:3), with the name of blasphemy on his forehead—the very forerunner of Antichrist. ¹⁴ PFF1 795.1

2. FREDERICK BEMOANS WICKEDNESS OF BABYLON

In a letter to Richard of Cornwall, Frederick II calls upon man kind to witness the “wickedness of Babylon,” proceeding from the “elders of the people.” PFF1 795.2

“Cast your eyes around you: attend, ye sons of men, and grieve over the scandal of the world, the quarrels of nations, and the universal banishment of justice; since the wickedness of Babylon comes forth from the elders of the people, who appeared to be its rulers, in that they turn judgment into bitterness, and the fruits of justice into wormwood.” ¹⁵ PFF1 795.3

3. GREGORY DENOMINATES FREDERICK BEAST FROM SEA

Gregory, in a long, “invective letter” to the archbishop of Canterbury, then castigates Frederick as the “beast” from the sea, of Revelation 13. PFF1 795.4

“There has risen from the sea a beast, full of words of blasphemy, which, formed with the feet of a bear, the mouth of a raging lion, and, as it were, a panther in its other limbs, opens its mouth in blasphemies against God’s name, and continually attacks with similar weapons his tabernacle, and the saints who dwell in heaven. This beast, endeavouring to grind everything to pieces with its claws and teeth of iron, and to trample with its feet on the universal world, formerly prepared secret battering—engines against the faith; and now it openly sets in array the engines of the Ismaelites, turning souls from the right path, and rises against Christ, the Redeemer of the world (the records of whose Testament, as report declares, he endeavours to destroy by the pen of heretical wickedness). Cease, therefore, to wonder, all of you, to whose ears the slanders of blasphemy against us which have emanated from this beast have reached because he now aims at blotting out the name of the Lord from the earth; but, that you may be the better able to oppose his lies by open truth, and to confute his deceits by the arguments of purity, carefully examine the head, the middle, and the lower parts of this beast Frederick, the so-called emperor.” ¹⁶ PFF1 795.5

4. FREDERICK RETORTS POPE Is ANTICHRIST

In Frederick’s circular—letter reply he succinctly states in the introduction that Gregory himself is in verity the Antichrist who misquotes prophecy. Here is his remarkable statement: PFF1 796.1

“Even as there exist two lights on the heavens, the greater light and the lesser light, so Providence has placed two ruling powers upon this earth, the Priesthood and the Emperorship, the former to warn and guide humanity, the latter for protection, but both to serve the cause of peace in the world. ‘But,’ continues the Emperor, ‘that one who sits on the priestly chair, and who is anointed with the oil of flattery above his fellows, that great Pharisee, the present pope seeks to annul all that originated under the leadership of heaven. He seeks to eclipse our majesty by trying to accuse us of leaving our faith. He, who carries but the name of a pope has ventured to compare us with that beast which rose up out of the sea, which had upon its heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13.) (I reply) And there went out another horse that was red and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. For, ever since the time of the exaltation of this present pope he has not at all proved to be a father of mercy and compassion, but a destroyer and an offender to all the world. He is that great dragon, who deceives the whole world, the Antichrist of which he has dared to call us the fore-runner, that second Balaam who is ready to betray and to curse for money. He is the prince of darkness who misquotes prophecy, who misstates the Word of God.” ¹⁷ PFF1 796.2