The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

ecorded this special rejoicing. One writer has said of this when referring to the Papal
proclamation of triumph made by the orator of the
occasion of the last Lateran Council, May 5, 1514:
"This was the hour when Papal Rome seemed to triumph, and when the silence of death
and the grave appeared to oppress all opposing voices. And the merrymaking, the giving
of gifts, the joyous festivities, with which the announcement was celebrated, as described
by contemporary writers, eclipsed in splendor any that had been witnessed in the sevenhilled
city since the days of her ancient greatness."
Some interpretations not corroborated by history
Some Adventists, also others more recently, who quote from Smith's Thoughts on Daniel
and the Revelation, have applied the three and one half days (years) as beginning in 1793
and ending three and one half years after. The quotation from this work on prophecy is as
follows:
"In 1793, a decree passed the French Assembly suppressing the Bible. Just three years after,
a resolution was introduced into the Assembly superseding the decree, and giving
toleration to the Scriptures. That resolution lay on the table six months, when it was taken
up, and passed without a dissenting vote. Thus, in just three years and a half, the
witnesses 'stood upon their feet.'"--Uriah Smith.
Our firm conviction is that the symbols themselves, as well as the undisputed facts of
history, will not admit of this application of the vision. We quote the historian's record of
the transaction cited by Mr. Smith as occurring November, 1793:
"With these reforms [?] effected, the revolutionists next proceeded to the more difficult
task of subverting the ancient institutions of religion. Some of the chiefs of the Commune
of Paris declared that the Revolution should not rest until it had 'dethroned the King of
heaven as well as the king of earth.'
"An attempt was made by the extremists to have Christianity [?] abolished by a decree of
the National Convention; but that body fearing such an act might alienate many who were
still attached to the church [?] resolved that all matters of creed should be left to the
decision of the people themselves.
"The Atheistic chiefs of the Commune of the capital now determined to effect their
purpose through the church itself. They persuaded the (Roman Catholic) Bishop of Paris to
abdicate his office; and his example was followed by many of the clergy throughout the
country. The churches of Paris and of other cities were now closed and the treasures of
their altars and shrines confiscated to the state. Even the bells were melted down into
cannon. The images of the Virgin and of the Christ were torn down, and the busts of Marat
and other patriots set up in their stead. And as the emancipation of the world was now to