Table Of ContentLuis De Alcazar S.J.
PRETERISM
Another counter-interpretation to the
Historicism held by Protestantism was
proposed by the Spanish Jesuit Luis
De Alcazar (1554-1613), who also
wrote a commentary called
Investigation of the Hidden Sense of
the Apocalypse, which ran to some
900 pages. In it he proposed that it all
of Revelation applied to the era of
pagan Rome and the first six centuries
of Christianity. According to Alcazar
(or Alcasar):
• Revelation chapters 1-11
describes the rejection of the
Jews and the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans.
• Revelation chapters 12 - 19
were the overthrow of Roman
paganism (the great harlot) and
the conversion of the empire to
the church.
• Revelation 20 describe the
final persecutions by
Antichrist, who is identified as
Cæsar Nero (54-68 A.D.), and
judgment.
• Revelation 21 -22 describe the
triumph of the New Jerusalem,
the Roman Catholic Church.
Again, Alcazar found no application of prophecy to the middle ages or to the papacy.
That his interpretation differed so greatly from that put forth by Francisco Ribera or
Cardinal Bellarmine, mattered little. Catholicism, the supposedly divine and infallible
interpreter of scripture, was presenting two vastly different and quite incompatible
interpretations of prophecy in a desperate effort to counter the claims of the reformers.
THE GREAT CATHOLIC DIVERSION REVEALED
The intent of both Futurism and Preterism was to be diversionary, to counter or offset the
Protestant Historical interpretation, and present alternatives, no matter how implausible
they might be. The result is evident from the following chart, which illustrates the three
schools of interpretation regarding antichrist:
THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST
ANTICHRIST IS MOVED EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD IN TIME
Ribera's Futurism Puts the Antichrist Into A Future Three and One-half Literal Years.
Alcazar's Preterism Identifies the Antichrist as Nero.
Both of Them Put Antichrist Outside the Middle Ages and the Reformation Period,
Identified by Protestant Historicists as Antichrist's Reign of 1260 Prophetic Years.
Now the truly amazing part of all this is that the Futurist theory dominates Protestant
teaching today. About all you hear or read about today is the yet-to-appear antichrist, who
will be unveiled in the last 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, when he declares himself to
be God in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. That scenario, as you can now see, is directly
traceable back to the pen of the Jesuit Francisco Ribera. Note what one Protestant writer
had to Next we come to consider the time of the rise of the Futurist system as we now
have it, and the occasion which led to it.
So great a hold did the conviction that the Papacy was the Antichrist gain upon the
minds of men, that Rome at last saw she must bestir herself, and try, by putting forth
other systems of interpretation, to counteract the identification of the Papacy with the
Antichrist.
Accordingly, towards the close of the century of the Reformation, two of her most
learned doctors set themselves to the task, each endeavouring by different means to
accomplish the same end, namely, that of diverting men's minds from perceiving the
fulfilment of the prophecies of the Antichrist in the Papal system. The Jesuit Alcasar
devoted himself to bring into prominence the Preterist method of interpretation, which
we have already briefly noticed, and thus endeavoured to show that the prophecies of
Antichrist were fulfilled before the Popes ever ruled in Rome, and therefore could not
apply to the Papacy. On the other hand the Jesuit Ribera tried to set aside the application
of these prophecies to the Papal Power by bringing out the Futurist system, which asserts
that these prophecies refer properly not to the career of the Papacy, but to that of some
future supernatural individual, who is yet to appear, and to continue in power for three
and a half years. Thus, as Alford says, the Jesuit Ribera, about A.D. 1580, may be
regarded as the Founder of the Futurist system in modern times. say over one hundred
years ago:
It is a matter for deep regret that those who hold and advocate the Futurist system at the
present day, Protestants as they are for the most part, are thus really playing into the
hands of Rome, and helping to screen the Papacy from detection as the Antichrist. It has
been well said that "Futurism tends to obliterate the brand put by the Holy Spirit upon
Popery." More especially is this to be deplored at a time when the Papal Antichrist seems
to be making an expiring effort to regain his former hold on men's minds. Now once
again, as at the Reformation, it is especially necessary that his true character should be
recognized, by all who would be faithful to "the testimony of Jesus."
From Daniel and the Revelation: The Chart of Prophecy and Our Place In It, A Study of
the Historical and Futurist Interpretation, by Joseph Tanner, published in London by
Hodder and Stoughton, 1898, pages 16,17.
In what could only be described as a stunning reversal, Protestants have over time
actually become the papacy's greatest ally by spreading its Jesuit spawned propaganda.
What irony that Protestants, who originally broke away from what they clearly
recognized to be the harlot antichrist led church of prophecy, now champion the Futurist
interpretation from high profile global ministries. Futurism has without doubt, been
successful beyond the wildest dreams of its Jesuit authors. The same can be said for the
Preterist interpretation of Luis De Alcazar, although to a lesser degree.
What Does the Word Vatican Mean?
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia online:
"The territory on the right bank of the Tiber between Monte Mario and Gianicolo
(Janiculum) was known to antiquity as the Ager Vaticanus, and, owing to its marshy
character, the low-lying portion of this district enjoyed an ill repute. The origin of the
name Vaticanus is uncertain; some claim that the name comes from a vanished Etruscan
town called Vaticum." [Ager in Latin means land]
However, according to a Vatican curator:
"The Vatican Hill takes it name from the Latin word Vaticanus, a vaticiniis ferendis, in
allusion to the oracles, or Vaticinia, which were anciently delivered here."
Sources: Compendious Description of the Museums of Ancient Sculpture, Greek and
Roman, in the Vatican Palace, by Cav. H. J. Massi, First Curator of the Vatican
Museums and Galleries, Paleographer and Professor of the Italian and French Languages,
Rome, Third Edition, 1889, Title page, page 7.
Compendious Description of the Museums of Ancient Sculpture, Greek and Roman, in the
Vatican Palace, by Cav. H. J. Massi, First Curator of the Vatican Museums and Galleries,
Paleographer and Professor of Languages, Rome, Sixth Edition, 1901, Title page, page
5.
Aulus Gellius, writing in the 2nd century, also said the word Vatican was derived from
the word vaticinia, or prophecies, in his Attic Nights, book 16, chapter 17.
Source: The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius, translated into English by the Rev. William
Beloe, Volume III, London, 1795, Title page, page 247, page 248.
Research the word Vatican in many Latin - English / English - Latin dictionaries, or
encyclopedias, and you will likely find that Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica of the
Roman Catholic Church were built upon what was called in Latin vaticanus mons or
vaticanus collis. The words mons and collis mean hill or mountain. You will also find in
the dictionaries that the words vatic / vates / vatis all relate to prophecy as shown here:
Source: The New College Latin and English Dictionary, revised and enlarged, by John C.
Traupman, Ph.D., published and copyrighted by Bantam Books, 1995, ISBN 0-553-
57301-2, page 437.
Note that there are five words listed above containing vatic, and all relate to prophecy.
The word vatic and its association to prophecy can even be found in a standard English
dictionary:
Source: Webster's II New Riverside Dictionary, Home and Office Edition, published in
1995 by Longmeadow Press, Copyright 1988 by Houghton Mifflin Company, ISBN 0-
681-20227-0, page 458.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online
And here is what you would find in a Latin - English dictionary for the suffix -anus:
Source: The New College Latin and English Dictionary, revised and enlarged, by John C.
Traupman, Ph.D., published and copyrighted by Bantam Books, 1995, ISBN 0-553-
57301-2, page 60.
Vaticanus then is a combination of Vatic + anus, just as Romanus is a combination of
Rome + anus. Therefore, vaticanus collis or vaticanus mons mean "the prophetic hill or
mountain", which can be rephrased as the hill or mountain of prophecy. The word
Vatican is just a shortened form of the word Vaticanus, just like Claudian is a shortened
form of Claudianus, as shown above. This association of the Vatican with prophecy is
even confirmed by this recent Catholic book:
Where does the word "Vatican" come from and what does it mean?
The word derives from the Latin vates, which means "tellers of the future." This name
was the name given to a hillside on the west bank of the Tiber River in Rome because
daily lineups of fortunetellers used to hawk their "wares" there to passersby on the street.
In the fourteenth century, when the papacy was returned to Rome from Avignon
(France), the present-day Vatican became the residence of the popes, and the word came
to refer to the enclave in the middle of Rome that had become the seat of the Roman
Catholic Church.
Source: Incredible Book of Vatican Facts and Papal Curiosities, by Nino Lo Bello,
Liguori Publications, Copyright 1998, ISBN 0-7648-0171-6, page 135.
Here is a verse from the Latin Vulgate Bible and King James as an example of the use of
vatic (emphasis is mine):
12 et intellexi quod Deus non misisset eum sed quasi vaticinans locutus esset ad me et
Tobia et Sanaballat conduxissent eum
Neh 6:12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this
prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
Now, note the following coins minted in Vatican City from 1955 to 1965 under three
Popes. The inscription on the reverse side of the coin reads in Italian "CITTÁ DEL
VATICANO", which as we can now see, means City of Prophecy.
CITTÁ DEL VATICANO - CITY OF PROPHECY
Pope Pius the 12th - 1958
Pope John the 23rd - 1959
Pope Paul the 6th - 1963
To get a closer look at a coin, click on it.
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over
the kings of the earth.
There is also a woman on the reverse side, and at her feet is her title, FIDES, which
means faith. This woman is symbolic of the Roman Catholic faith, or Roman Catholic
Church.
Here is a statue of
a woman
portraying the
same symbolism of
the Catholic
Church or Catholic
faith that decorates
the monument to
Pope Clement IX
(1667-69), which
was placed to the
right side of the
nave entrance of
the basilica Santa
Maria Maggiore in
Rome in 1671.
Interestingly, the
word anus in Latin
also means "old
woman", so
Vaticanus is a
combination two
From a photo by
Gabinetto Fotographico Nazionale words that also
result in The Old
Woman of
Prophecy, this
woman being
symbolic of the
Catholic Church.
It is important to note that in the symbolic woman's hand, is
a cup, as illustrated above on the coins, and just barely
visible with the statue above and at right. The depiction of
the Catholic faith (FIDES) as a woman holding a cup
appears to be quite common, and yet is apparently unique
to the Catholic Church.
There is a remarkable and direct correlation to these
depictions of the Catholic faith as a woman, and the woman
described in Revelation 17, as will be demonstrated.
Fides in stucco,
Santa Maria Vallicella, Rome.
A Woman In Prophecy Symbolizes A Church
In scripture a woman is used symbolically to depict the church, and the faithful church of
saints is described as the bride of Christ:
2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and
white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And a godly woman's appearance is clearly described in scripture:
1 Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1 Tim 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1 Pet 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even
the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
1 Pet 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves,
Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Rev 12:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
The symbol of the sun:
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness [Christ] arise with
healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are
righteousness.
The symbol of the moon:
Psa 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness
[testimony] in heaven.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me.
The symbol of the stars:
Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the
seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels [messengers] of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
So the woman of Revelation 12, the true church, is clothed with the righteousness of
Christ, keeping the commandments of God, standing as a faithful witness upon the word
of God, the scriptures, crowned with the gospel message of the 12 apostles, the new
covenant representation of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ.
The Apostate Church
However, the woman described in Revelation 17 represents an apostate church, the direct
opposite of the true and faithful church represented by the woman described in
Revelation 12. While the Roman Catholic Church readily and willingly identifies itself as
the woman of Revelation 12, the bride of Christ, it is precisely and graphically described
in Revelation 17, as we shall see.
Rev 17:1 ... Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that
sitteth upon many waters:
Rev 17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Church and State
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit
into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit
upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names
of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns.
The woman of Revelation 17 rides a symbolic beast. A beast in scripture is symbolic of
an empire or state. Examples of this are explained in Daniel 7, where a lion represented
Babylon, a bear represented Medo-Persia, and a leopard represented Greece. Therefore,
the woman of Revelation 17 riding a beast is symbolic of the combining of the
ecclesiastical power of church (the woman) and political power of the state (the beast),
i.e., a church in control of state power.
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the
kings of the earth.
The Vatican City is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, and since the Lateran
Concordat of 1929 it is also an independent country, the epitome of Church and State
combined. The full formal diplomatic title in Italian is STATO DELLA CITTÁ DEL
VATICANO, as shown on the coin below from the pontificate of Pope Pius the 12th,
which means:
The City-State of Prophecy
Description:schools of interpretation regarding antichrist: THE REIGN OF Preterist interpretation of Luis De Alcazar, although to a lesser degree. What Does the
