Digging For Truth

GC Appendix - Chapter 15

                    T H E    G R E A T    C O N T R O V E R S Y                    
                                                        -  A P P E N D I X  -                                 

        

                          Appendix  Notes  in  Chapter 15

                      The Bible and the French Revolution                                      

           Appendix Notes for Chapter 15:   Click for page 266.3 - - page 267.2 - -  page 276.4   - -  page 279.4 - - page 283.2 - - page 284.

The periods here mentioned --"forty and two months," and "a thousand two hundred and threescore days"-- are the same, alike representing the time in which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome. The 1260 years of papal supremacy began in A.D. 538, and would therefore terminate in 1798. (see Appendix note for page 54).  At that time a French army entered Rome and made the pope a prisoner, and he died in exile. Though a new pope was soon afterward elected, the papal hierarchy has never since been able to wield the power which it before possessed.  {GC 266.3}

 

                                                                              Appendix Note for page 54:

                  PROPHETIC  DATES

AN  IMPORTANT  PRINCIPLE  IN  PROPHETIC  INTERPRETATION  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  TIME  PROPHECIES  IS  THE YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE,  UNDER  WHICH  A  DAY  OF  PROPHETIC  TIME  IS  COUNTED  AS  A  CALENDAR  YEAR  OF HISTORIC  TIME.  BEFORE  THE  ISRAELITES  ENTERED  THE  LAND  OF  CANAAN  THEY  SENT  TWELVE  SPIES  AHEAD  TO INVESTIGATE.  THE  SPIES  WERE  GONE  FORTY  DAYS,  AND  UPON  THEIR  RETURN  THE  HEBREWS,  FRIGHTENED  AT THEIR  REPORT,  REFUSED  TO  GO  UP  AND  OCCUPY  THE  PROMISED  LAND.   THE  RESULT  WAS  A  SENTENCE  THE LORD  PASSED  UPON  THEM: 

     "AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS IN WHICH YE SEARCHED THE LAND, EVEN FORTY DAYS, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, SHALL YE BEAR YOUR INIQUITIES, EVEN FORTY YEARS." NUMBERS 14:34.

A  SIMILAR  METHOD  OF  COMPUTING  FUTURE  TIME  IS  INDICATED  THROUGH  THE  PROPHET  EZEKIEL.  FORTY  YEARS OF  PUNISHMENT  FOR  INIQUITIES  AWAITED  THE  KINGDOM  OF  JUDAH.  THE  LORD  SAID  THROUGH  THE  PROPHET:

    "LIE AGAIN ON THY RIGHT SIDE, AND THOU SHALT BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH FORTY DAYS: I HAVE APPOINTED THEE EACH DAY FOR A YEAR."  EZEKIEL 4:6. 

THIS  YEAR - DAY  PRINCIPLE  HAS  AN  IMPORTANT  APPLICATION  IN  INTERPRETING  THE  TIME  OF  THE  PROPHECY  OF THE  "TWO THOUSAND AND THREE HUNDRED EVENINGS AND MORNINGS"(DANIEL 8:14, R.V.)  AND THE 1260-DAY PERIOD,  VARIOUSLY  INDICATED  AS  "A TIME AND TIMES AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME" (DANIEL 7:25),  THE "FORTY AND TWO MONTHS" (REVELATION 11:2; 13:5),  AND  THE  "THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND THREESCORE DAYS" (REVELATION 11:3; 12:6).   {Great Controversy, page 681.1}

                                                                   Appendix Note for page 267

"They shall prophecy a thousand two hundred and three-score days, clothed in sackcloth." During the greater part of this period, God's witnesses remained in a state of obscurity. The papal power sought to hide from the people the word of truth, and set before them false witnesses to contradict its testimony. (See Appendix.) When the Bible was proscribed by religious and secular authority; when its testimony was perverted, and every effort made that men and demons could invent to turn the minds of the people from it; when those who dared proclaim its sacred truths were hunted, betrayed, tortured, buried in dungeon cells, martyred for their faith, or compelled to flee to mountain fastnesses, and to dens and caves of the earth -- then the faithful witnesses prophesied in sackcloth. Yet they continued their testimony throughout the entire period of 1260 years. In the darkest times there were faithful men who loved God's word and were jealous for His honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during the whole of this time.  Great Controversy, page 267.2

             

                                                     EFFORTS  TO  SUPPRESS  AND  DESTROY  THE  BIBLE

  THE COUNCIL OF TOULOUSE, WHICH MET ABOUT THE TIME OF THE CRUSADE AGAINST THE ALBIGENSES, RULED: "WE PROHIBIT LAYMEN POSSESSING COPIES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT. . . . WE FORBID THEM MOST SEVERELY TO HAVE THE ABOVE BOOKS IN THE POPULAR VERNACULAR." "THE LORDS OF THE DISTRICTS SHALL CAREFULLY SEEK OUT THE HERETICS IN DWELLINGS, HOVELS, AND FORESTS, AND EVEN THEIR UNDERGROUND RETREATS SHALL BE ENTIRELY WIPED OUT."-- COUNCIL. TOLOSANUM, POPE GREGORY IX, ANNO. CHR. 1229. CANONS 14 AND 2. THIS COUNCIL SAT AT THE TIME OF THE CRUSADE AGAINST THE ALBIGENSES.  {GC 687.6}

  "THIS PEST [THE BIBLE] HAD TAKEN SUCH AN EXTENSION THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD APPOINTED PRIESTS OF THEIR OWN, AND EVEN SOME EVANGELISTS WHO DISTORTED AND DESTROYED THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND MADE NEW GOSPELS FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSE . . . (THEY KNOW THAT) THE PREACHING AND EXPLANATION OF THE BIBLE IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN TO THE LAY MEMBERS."--ACTS OF INQUISITION, PHILIP VAN LIMBORCH, HISTORY OF THE INQUISITION, CHAPTER 8.  {GC 687.7}


  THE COUNCIL OF TARRAGONA, 1234, RULED THAT: "NO ONE MAY POSSESS THE BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS IN THE ROMANCE LANGUAGE, AND IF ANYONE POSSESSES THEM HE MUST TURN THEM OVER TO THE LOCAL BISHOP WITHIN EIGHT DAYS AFTER PROMULGATION OF THIS DECREE, SO THAT THEY MAY BE BURNED LEST, BE HE A CLERIC OR A LAYMAN, HE BE SUSPECTED UNTIL HE IS CLEARED OF ALL SUSPICION."--D. LORTSCH, HISTOIRE DE LA BIBLE EN FRANCE, 1910, P. 14.  {GC 688.1}

  AT THE COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE, IN 1415, WYCLIFFE WAS POSTHUMOUSLY CONDEMNED BY ARUNDEL, THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, AS "THAT PESTILENT WRETCH OF DAMNABLE HERESY WHO INVENTED A NEW TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES IN HIS MOTHER TONGUE."  {GC 688.2}

 THE OPPOSITION TO THE BIBLE BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE CENTURIES AND WAS INCREASED PARTICULARLY AT THE TIME OF THE FOUNDING OF BIBLE SOCIETIES. ON DECEMBER 8, 1866, POPE PIUS IX, IN HIS ENCYCLICAL QUANTA CURA, ISSUED A SYLLABUS OF EIGHTY ERRORS UNDER TEN DIFFERENT HEADINGS. UNDER HEADING IV WE FIND LISTED: "SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM, CLANDESTINE SOCIETIES, BIBLE SOCIETIES. . . .PESTS OF THIS SORT MUST BE DESTROYED BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS."  {GC 688.3}

 

It was popery that had begun the work which atheism was completing. The policy of Rome had wrought out those conditions, social, political, and religious, that were hurrying France on to ruin. Writers, in referring to the horrors of the Revolution, say that these excesses are to be charged upon the throne and the church. ( See Appendix.)  In strict justice they are to be charged upon the church. Popery had poisoned the minds of kings against the Reformation, as an enemy to the crown, an element of discord that would be fatal to the peace and harmony of the nation. It was the genius of Rome that by this means inspired the direst cruelty and the most galling oppression which proceeded from the throne.  Great Controversy, page 276.4

                                           Appendix Note for page 276

                                                         THE REIGN OF TERROR

FOR A RELIABLE, BRIEF INTRODUCTION INTO THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION SEE L. GERSHOY, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (1932); G. LEFEBVRE, THE COMING OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (PRINCETON, 1947); AND H. VON SYBEL, HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (1869), 4 VOLS.  {GC 688.4}

 THE MONITEUR OFFICIEL WAS THE GOVERNMENT PAPER AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLUTION AND IS A PRIMARY SOURCE, CONTAINING A FACTUAL ACCOUNT OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE ASSEMBLIES, FULL TEXTS OF THE DOCUMENTS, ETC. IT HAS BEEN REPRINTED. SEE ALSO A. AULARD, CHRISTIANITY AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION (LONDON, 1927), IN WHICH THE ACCOUNT IS CARRIED THROUGH 1802--AN EXCELLENT STUDY; W. H. JERVIS, THE GALLICAN CHURCH AND THE REVOLUTION (LONDON, 1882), A CAREFUL WORK BY AN ANGLICAN, BUT SHOWS PREFERENCE FOR CATHOLICISM.  {GC 688.5}

  ON THE RELATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN FRANCE DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION SEE HENRY H. WALSH, THE CONCORDATE OF 1801: A STUDY OF NATIONALISM IN RELATION TO CHURCH AND STATE (NEW YORK, 1933); CHARLES LEDRE, L'EGLISE DE FRANCE SOUS LA REVOLUTION (PARIS, 1949).  {GC 688.6}

SOME CONTEMPORARY STUDIES ON THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REVOLUTION ARE G. CHAIS DE SOURCESOL, LE LIVRE DES MANIFESTES (AVIGNON, 1800), IN WHICH THE AUTHOR ENDEAVORED TO ASCERTAIN THE CAUSES OF THE UPHEAVAL, AND ITS RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE, ETC.; JAMES BICHENO, THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES (LONDON, 1794); JAMES WINTHROP, A SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF SEVERAL SCRIPTURE PROPHECIES RELATING TO ANTICHRIST; WITH THEIR APPLICATION TO THE COURSE OF HISTORY (BOSTON, 1795); AND LATHROP, THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL RELATING TO THE TIME OF THE END (SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 1811).  {GC 688.7}

  FOR THE CHURCH DURING THE REVOLUTION SEE W. M. SLOAN, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND RELIGIOUS REFORM (1901); P. F. LA GORCE, HISTOIRE RELIGIEUSE DE LA REVOLUTION (PARIS, 1909).  {GC 689.1}

 ON RELATIONS WITH THE PAPACY SEE G. BOURGIN, LA FRANCE ET ROME DE 1788-1797 (PARIS, 1808), BASED ON SECRET FILES IN THE VATICAN; A. LATREILLE, L' EGLISE CATHOLIQUE ET LA REVOLUTION (PARIS, 1950), ESPECIALLY INTERESTING ON PIUS VI AND THE RELIGIOUS CRISIS, 1775-1799.  {GC 689.2}

 FOR PROTESTANTS DURING THE REVOLUTION, SEE PRESSENSE (ED.), THE REIGN OF TERROR (CINCINNATI, 1869).  {GC 689.3}

 

In many provinces the estates were held by the nobles, and the laboring classes were only tenants; they were at the mercy of their landlords and were forced to submit to their exorbitant demands. The burden of supporting both the church and the state fell upon the middle and lower classes, who were heavily taxed by the civil authorities and by the clergy. "The pleasure of the nobles was considered the supreme law; the farmers and the peasants might starve, for aught their oppressors cared. . . . The people were compelled at every turn to consult the exclusive interest of the landlord. The lives of the agricultural laborers were lives of incessant work and unrelieved misery; their complaints, if they ever dared to complain, were treated with insolent contempt. The courts of justice would always listen to a noble as against a peasant; bribes were notoriously accepted by the judges; and the merest caprice of the aristocracy had the force of law, by virtue of this system of universal corruption. Of the taxes wrung from the commonalty, by the secular magnates on the one hand, and the clergy on the other, not half ever found its way into the royal or episcopal treasury; the rest was squandered in profligate self-indulgence. And the men who thus impoverished their fellow subjects were themselves exempt from taxation, and entitled by law or custom to all the appointments of the state. The privileged classes numbered a hundred and fifty thousand, and for their gratification millions were condemned to hopeless and degrading lives." ( See Appendix )  {GC 279.4}

 

                                                              Appendix Note for page 280  

                                             THE MASSES AND THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES.

   ON SOCIAL CONDITIONS PREVAILING IN FRANCE PRIOR TO THE PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION, SEE H. VON HOLST, LOWELL LECTURES ON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, LECTURE 1; ALSO TAINE, ANCIEN REGIME, AND A. YOUNG, TRAVELS IN FRANCE.  {GC 689.4}

All too well the people had learned the lessons of cruelty and torture which Rome had so diligently taught. A day of retribution at last had come. It was not now the disciples of Jesus that were thrust into dungeons and dragged to the stake. Long ago these had perished or been driven into exile. Unsparing Rome now felt the deadly power of those whom she had trained to delight in deeds of blood. "The example of persecution which the clergy of France had exhibited for so many ages, was now retorted upon them with signal vigor. The scaffolds ran red with the blood of the priests. The galleys and the prisons, once crowded with Huguenots, were now filled with their persecutors. Chained to the bench and toiling at the oar, the Roman Catholic clergy experienced all those woes which their church had so freely inflicted on the gentle heretics."  ( See Appendix )   Great Controversy, page 283.2

 

                                                  Appendix Note for page 283.

                                                         RETRIBUTION

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THE RETRIBUTIVE CHARACTER OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION SEE THOS. H. GILL, THE PAPAL DRAMA, B. 10; EDMOND DE PRESSENSE, THE CHURCH AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, B. 3, CH. 1.  {GC 689.5}

 

"Then came those days when the most barbarous of all codes was administered by the most barbarous of all tribunals; when no man could greet his neighbors or say his prayers . . . without danger of committing a capital crime; when spies lurked in every corner; when the guillotine was long and hard at work every morning; when the jails were filled as close as the holds of a slave ship; when the gutters ran foaming with blood into the Seine. . . . While the daily wagonloads of victims were carried to their doom through the streets of Paris, the proconsuls, whom the sovereign committee had sent forth to the departments, reveled in an extravagance of cruelty unknown even in the capital. The knife of the deadly machine rose and fell too slow for their work of slaughter. Long rows of captives were mowed down with grapeshot. Holes were made in the bottom of crowded barges. Lyons was turned into a desert. At Arras even the cruel mercy of a speedy death was denied to the prisoners. All down the Loire, from Saumur to the sea, great flocks of crows and kites feasted on naked corpses, twined together in hideous embraces. No mercy was shown to sex or age. The number of young lads and of girls of seventeen who were murdered by that execrable government, is to be reckoned by hundreds. Babies torn from the breast were tossed from pike to pike along the Jacobin ranks." ( See Appendix ) In the short space of ten years, multitudes of human beings perished.  Great Controversy, page 284.1

 

                                           Appendix Notes for page 284

                                    THE ATROCITIES OF THE REIGN OF TERROR

SEE M. A. THIERS, HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, VOL. 3, PP. 42-44, 62-74, 106 (NEW YORK, 1890, TRANSLATED BY F. SHOBERL); F. A. MIGNET, HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, CH. 9, PAR. 1 (BOHN, 1894); A. ALISON, HISTORY OF EUROPE, 1789-1815, VOL. 1, CH. 14 (NEW YORK, 1872, VOL. 1, PP. 293-312).  {GC 689.6}

 

                                       Return to Chapter 15  of The Great Controversy

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Chapter 15 - French Revolution