In order to derive Vicarius Filii Dei from 666, we must use a method called Gematria. Here is the definition of Gematria:

“Gematria is a numerological system by which Hebrew letters correspond to numbers. This system, developed by practitioners of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), derived from Greek influence and became a tool for interpreting biblical texts.”   My Jewish Learning

An example of modern-day Gematria is seen in the Hebrew word for “life.” Chai in Hebrew Gematria adds up to the number 18. As a result, the number 18 is often viewed as a lucky number in their culture. While this may seem harmless, we must recognize the practice did not originate with God. This practice came from the Pagans!

You must understand that the process of taking words and deriving numerical values, and using those values to form a system of truth is numerology. Numerology is a form of witchcraft.

This might not be on the level of casting spells or worshipping Satan, but it is akin to believing in horoscopes or the “power” of the universe to make things happen. These practices clearly originated from a Pagan worldview, and Christians should steer clear.

While many may argue that this level of occultism is acceptable, we must ask ourselves would God expect us to use Pagan practices to decipher Biblical truth?

Now, someone may say that Roman numerals are letters, so this is not really Gematria. This is a valid point, but we must remember that Gematria takes words or phrases and derives a numerical value. Using Roman numerals as numbers is not the same. For example, each year, the Superbowl is identified with Roman numerals. But those numerals are used for their intended use—which is numerical. 

Vicarius Filii Dei is not a Roman numeral. It’s a title that we have assigned a numerical value in order to derive a system of belief. Whether you are ready to admit it or not, this is Gematria.

...what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2Corinthians 6:14

Proponents of the Vicarius Filii Dei teaching should ask themselves one simple question: Why did God choose Vicarius Filii Dei? There are a myriad of other names that would also point to the Papacy.

For example, the word Catholic in Latin is Catholicus. Using gematria we come up with the following number:

C = 100

A = 0

T = 0

H = 0

O = 0

L = 50

I = 1

C = 100

U = 5

S = 0

The gematrical value of the Catholic Church is 256. Why wouldn’t God use 256 in Revelation 13? It clearly references the Papal system.

Let’s look at another example using the Latin phrase Romanus Pontifex, which, in English means Roman Pontiff.

R = 0

O = 0

M = 1000

A = 0

N = 0

U = 5

S = 0

P = 0

O = 0

N = 0

T = 0

I = 1

F = 0

E = 0

X = 10

Here, the calculation for Roman Pontiff equals 1,016. Doesn’t this represent the name of the Pope more clearly than Vicar of the Son of God?

One last example. Vatican in Latin is Vaticanae. Using gematria we calculate the Papal headquarters in the following manner:

V = 5

A = 0

T = 0

I = 1

C = 100

A = 0

N = 0

A = 0

E = 0

The gematrical value for the Vatican is 106. Now ask yourself this simple question— Why wouldn’t God use a phrase that points to the Papacy without a shadow of a doubt? The word “Catholic” has been used by the Roman church for centuries and continues to be used by them. “Roman Pontiff” clearly points to the system of Popery. Why not refer to this title? Even the word “Vatican” would rightly represent the system that Revelation 13 is pointing to. Any of these names or titles would clearly point to the system that arose from the ashes of the Pagan Roman Empire. Yet, proponents of the Vicarius Filii Dei view believe that God chose a phrase used by a few Popes during the Dark Ages as the way to identify the Papal system? It’s as if God chose the name/title that was the hardest to trace back to the Papal system, and as a result, we are left with hours of research only to find a handful of ancient articles that we consider our smoking gun.

Yes, a few Popes used Vicarius Filii Dei. Now what?

While there should be no debate that the Vicarius Filii Dei title was used by a few Popes in the Dark Ages, our church has become so focused on that proof, that hermeneutics has taken a back seat to this evidence. Instead of Scripturally proving how this title is the intended meaning of Revelation 13:18, our sole strategy consists of opening up a web browser to show an image from the internet. Please don’t misunderstand my words; there IS proof that some medieval Popes used this title, but at the end of the day, all that this proves...is that some Popes used this title.

Let me ask you another question: If you were to walk down the street and ask random people what comes to their minds when they hear the phrase Vicarius Filii Dei, what percentage of people would automatically know you were referring to the Pope? 99% will NOT associate that phrase with the Pope or the Papacy—and this percentage probably includes Catholics.

However, if you ask them what comes to their minds when you say Vatican, Roman Pontiff, or Catholic,  99% of the people will automatically associate these words with the Papal system.

Are we to believe that of all the recognizable titles and common references to the Pope, God chose a title from a dead language, that hasn't been used for centuries, that only a handful of Popes used, that is no longer recognizable by the average person, and that can only be found on a few websites?

Another reason to discard our teaching on Vicarius Filii Dei is that the Pope no longer wears or identifies himself using that title.

This may seem very basic, but at its core, the Vicarius Filii Dei interpretation tells us that the way we determine the name of the Beast is by locating an individual who uses a particular title that adds up to 666.

Well, we clearly know that not every Pope called Himself by this phrase. We also know that Popes today no longer use this title. So how can Vicarius Filii Dei apply to all Popes when most Popes have never used the title? 

It would be akin to saying all women named Susan make bad spouses (sorry if your name is Susan). Well, if a woman named Susan changes her name to Sally, does the bad wife claim still apply?

Do you see the dilemma? Our whole prophetic teaching on Revelation 13:18 is predicated on a title that is no longer a title. 

When I studied Vicarius Filii Dei, I always assumed that this teaching was held exclusively by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Because of my belief in the exclusivity of this teaching, I assumed that this interpretation was formed by the Adventist Church. And because I believed this teaching was formed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I took any suggestions that Vicarius Filii Dei was incorrect as a threat to my faith. This is why some who are reading this article may feel threatened. 

However, once I studied for myself and not through the lens of other popular SDA teachers, I realized that Vicarius Filii Dei did not even originate with the SDA Church.

According to Leroy Froom’s book The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers vol.2 p. 606, the idea of correlating 666 to Vicarius Filii Dei originated in the 17th century by a Protestant Christian author named Andreas Helwig. Andreas noted that this phrase was a title used by the Pope and made the connection to Revelation 13:18.

It appears that some of our Adventist pioneers picked up on this teaching and unofficially adopted it as a common interpretation of 666.

So even though this interpretation is typically heard at our Daniel and Revelation seminars, Vicarius Filii Dei did not originate with the Adventist Church, nor is it an official position of the denomination.

Though many of our core doctrines did not originate with us, the point is that those beliefs were officially adopted as doctrines and teachings of the SDA Church. Vicarius Filii Dei is NOT an official position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It’s a traditional position…which is why I am comfortable informing you that it no longer belongs as part of our teachings.

If you read what the SDA Bible Commentary says regarding Revelation 13:18, you will realize that even though our scholars accepted the Vicarius Filii Dei view, they also understood the possibility that other views could arise that may fit this interpretation better. 

Regarding the Vicarius Filii Dei title, notice what it says:

"This interpretation was based on the identification of the pope as Antichrist, the historic Reformation concept. The principal exponent of this interpretation was Andreas Helwig. Many since his day have adopted this interpretation. Inasmuch as this commentary identifies the beast as the papacy, it also accepts this view as being the best thus far presented, though recognizing that there may be more implied in the cryptogram than this interpretation provides." SDA Bible Commentary Vol 7, p. 823

In my experience, most Adventists are so set on the Vicarius Filii Dei teaching that any other view is almost considered heresy. However, what I've come to realize and I hope they come to realize is that Vicarius Filii Dei was not how the early Adventists interpreted the 666 reference in Revelation 13. 

Here are two quotes as proof:

"They are harlots because of their intercourse with the man of sin. And their number is the number of a man, (the man of sin,) and his number is six hundred three score and six. Those churches collectively or individually have that number...Hence the number of his name, the church represented by him is, 666; and this is the number of every division of that church, and of every member belonging thereto; hence the number is coupled with the mark and the name of the beast, as a matter of equal importance, and as involving the same consequences." James White - The Advent Review, and Sabbath Herald, vol. 4 p. 166 (1853)

"We may trace the lineage of every Protestant church back to the mother of harlots, and we can go no farther. Not only are they daughters by natural descent, but by imitation. And their number is the number of a man, (the man of sin,) and his number is six hundred three score and six. Those churches collectively or individually, have that number." J.N. Loughborough - The Two Horned Beast, p. 47 (1854)

In the two above quotations, you will notice that 666 was originally interpreted as relating to the Protestant churches that were considered a part of the Papacy (the Man of Sin). This reveals to us that early Adventists initially did not use the Vicarius Filii Dei title as they saw the Man as consisting of both Protestantism and Catholicism.

Years later, Stephen Haskell, and Uriah Smith would use their writings to introduce the narrative that 666 was solely the Papacy and that this number referred to his Vicarius Filii Dei title.

When I first started researching the meaning of 666, I discovered that Ellen White never supported the Vicarius Filii Dei interpretation. In the same token, she never dissuaded this view, but most likely, this was due to the fact that she hadn’t received any light on the subject…or did she?

As I read the writings of the the Lord's Messenger, I realized that Ellen White spoke at length on the Papacy and the Mark of the Beast, but at no time did she ever refer to the Pope's Vicarius Filii Dei title. As a matter of fact, she never used Gematria at all. However, the one time she referred to this number she attributed it to something other than the Papacy. Later on you will discover why this is the key to unlocking the meaning of 666.