Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

possible; and in this form alone must the name of the power be found whose number is 666.

Before we proceed to examine whether any power contains this number, it is essentially necessary to determine what kind of a power it is which is represented by the Apocalyptic Beast. This has been in a great measure proved before, when speaking of the meaning of the prophetic symbol Beast, which was there demonstrated to represent a kingdom, In this place it is necessary to observe that the Hebrew word n, used by Daniel, and translated kingdom, is synonymous with the Greek word Barnsía, both being derived from a similar origin, viz. 2, a kingdom, from 54, a king; and Barthela, a kingdom, from Baoikeus, a king, And in the Septuagint the Hebrew word is constantly translated Baría, which is no inconsiderable evidence, and may be esteemed a demonstration, that the number of the Beast must be contained in the name of some kingdom expressed by the Greek word Βασιλεία. Α second circumstance in favour of the word Baσisía is the high sense in which this word is used by all Greek writers, the greatest monarchies of the earth being pointed out by this word. The mighty empires of the Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, and Romans, were called Barela, literally kingdoms, and the monarchs of these powers were named Basis, kings. * In the ninth and tenth

* All this is exactly true of the monarchs of the Babylonian,

centuries of the Christian era, et seq. the Greek emperors had such a veneration for the appellation

Persian, and Grecian empires; but the first Roman emperors were not denominated Barsis by contemporary historians, but Autonpáropes, as is evident from Josephus, who speaks of Kaiσαρ, δεύτερος — Ῥωμαίων αὐτοκράτωρ, Casar, the second em peror of the Romans; Τιβέριος Νάσων

τρίτος

[ocr errors]

αὐτοκράτωρ, Tiberius Naso, third emperor ; Γαμος Καΐσαρ, αὐτοκράτωρ, δικτά TWP TÒ TÉTAFTOY, &c. Caius Cæsar, emperor, dictator the fourth time, &c. Ἐπὶ Κλαυδία Καΐσαρος αὐτοκρατορίας, Under the em pire of Claudius Cæsar. Plutarch styles Galba and Otho autoparopes. See his Lives, Vol. V. Edit. Lond. 1729. The title of imperator, or aurexparwp, which is now of such high import was, in the time of the twelve Cæsars, considered inferior to that of rex, or Basileus; and Selden informs us that "it was long before any of the emperors used the title of king (although the emperor Aurelian wore a diadem and other ensigns that were proper to the name of king) but in their letters, commissions, and embassages, they styled themselves always emperors. Which (he adds) is expressly delivered by Synesius that lived under Arcadius, about CCCC years of Christ, shewing also, that it was then usual in the writings and speeches directed to them, to have styled them kings, especially by the Grecians. Huais pav (saith he to the emperor) ὑμᾶς ἀξιοῦμεν καὶ καλοῦμεν Βασιλέας, καὶ γράφομεν οὕτως. Ὑμεῖς δὲ εἶπε εἰδότες, εἴτε μη, συνηθείᾳ δὲ συγχωροῦντες τὸν ὄγκον τῆς προσηγορίας ἀναδυομένοις ἐοίκατε. i. e. We think you worthy of the name, and so call you kings, and write you so. But you, whether you know so much or not, yet agreeing to custom, have seemed to dislike so swelling a title.-At length the name of emperor and king grew to be as one, although the Romans so much (for the remembrance of their liberty) at first distinguished them." See his Titles of Honour, Part 1. chap. 2, § 3. This last clause is confirmed by Zonaras in his Annals, Lib. xv. c. 13, where, translating the Latin word Imperator by the Greek word Βασιλεύς he says, Ὁ δὲ τῶν Φράγδων ̓Αρχηγός

[ocr errors]

Baous, that they thought it a degradation to the term to apply it to the emperors of the west which succeeded Lotharius I. Gibbon speaks upon this point in the following words: During the short union of virtue and power, they (the Greeks) respectfully saluted the august Charlemagne with the acclamations of Basileus, and emperor of the Romans. As soon as these qualities were separated in the person of his pious son, the Byzantine letters were inscribed, To the king, or, as he styles himself, the emperor of the Franks and Lombards.* When both power and virtue were extinct, they despoiled Lewis the second of his hereditary title; and, with the barbarous appellation of rex or rega, (gnya,) degraded him among the crowd of Latin princes. His reply is expressive of his weakness: he proves, with some learning, that, both in sacred and profane history, the name of king is synonymous with the Greek word basileus: if, at Constantinople it were assumed in a more exclusive and imperial sense, he claims from his ancestors, and from the pope, a just participation of the honours of the Roman purple. The same controversy was revived in the reign of the Othos; and their ambassador describes, in lively colours, the: insolence of the Byzantine court. The Greeks affected to despise the poverty and ignorance of the

απαγο

Καροῦλος Βασιλεὺς Ῥωμαίων παρὰ τοῦ Πάπα Λέοντος paudels. But Charles, the ruler of the Franks, was denominated

Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo.

Franks and Saxons; and, in their last declinë, rëfused to prostitute to the kings of Germany the ti tle of Roman emperors. Thus it is evident that in the middle centuries the word Bariasus was

* As Selden's account of the appellation p differs considerably from that of Gibbon, it will be proper to insert it here, that the reader may be put in possession of both sides of the question. "It hath been observed (says Selden) that the eastern emperors did in contempt style the western reges only; allowing their basileus to hone but themselves and the king of Bul gary, who had also his crown of gold, his tiar of silk, and red shoes, for his royal, being also imperial, habiliments. And so Georgius Logotheta always names the king of Bulgary Bariλes τῶν Βελγάρων; but the king of Hungary and Sicily Ούγδρίας and Zinellas Pr, or rex Siciliæ; and the prince of Achaia only Axaias Пplysey, or Achaia princeps. But I think it proceeded not so much from contempt, as use, bred amongst them, to call foreign dignities by the names of that prince's country to which they were applied as appears in Sultan, Ameras, Amermumnes, and Chagan (the same with Chan) and the like, copiously mentioned by Simocatta, Anna Comnena, Codin, Achmet, Cantacuzen, and the more obvious oriental authors. And they never agreeing willingly to that translation of the empire, but supposing themselves as emperors of new Rome, (for so Constantinople was called,) and to be the legitimate successors of that majestic title To Kogue Kupios, or Lord of the World, (wherewith Antoninus long before blazoned himself to Eudæmon,) could hardly but endeavour such distinction of names, that so they might have one peculiar to their own greatness. Which, how could they better do, than by keeping their own to themselves, (that is, Busi leus,) and giving other princes every one the language of every one's own territory? and the princes of Sicily in the time of Constantine the Great (saith Nicephoras Gregoras) were called Piyes or reges only." See his Titles of Honour, Part 1: chap. 2, § 4.

used in as high a sense by the Greeks as the word imperator among the western nations. In the New Testament the word Bacía very frequently occurs; and is commonly applied to the most extensive dominations. We there find the following expressions: Η βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν, The kingdom of heaven ; Τὸ ἐφαγ[έλιον τῆς βασιλείας, The Gospel of the kingdom; H Barthela tou cou, The kingdom of God; Τὴν βασιλείαν αυτοῦ τὴν ἐπεράνιον, His heavenly kingdom; Ty aivio Barinelay, The everlasting kingdom; Τη βασιλείᾳ — Ἰησοῦ Χρισού, The kingdom of Jesus Christ, &c. &c. This common use of the word Bariasia in the Scriptures is no mean argument that the power of the Beast is also to be numbered as a kingdom; especially as this power is represented as one of the most extensive that ever appeared in the world. But the greatest evidence in favour of the word Baos

eía, which can possibly be produced, and which, of itself, would be sufficient if no other could be adyanced, is its direct application to the Beast in the 10th verse of the 16th chapter of the Revelation. The words are as follow : Καὶ ὁ πέμπτος ἄγγελος ἐξα έχεε τὴν φιάλην αυτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν θρόνον τοῦ θηρίε· καὶ ἐγέ νετο ἡ βασιλεία αυτοῦ ἐσκοτωμένη. "And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the Beast; and his kingdom was darkened."

Having demonstrated that the name of some kingdom or empire must contain the number 666, the number of the various kingdoms or empires that have appeared in the world must be computed

« AnteriorContinuar »