The Number 666

(Revelation 13:16-18) . . .And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

The number 666 has been the subject of speculation for centuries, with persons claiming to identify it with “the Antichrist,” “Hitler,” “the International World Conspiracy,” and the number referring to a Barcode, or Microchip inserted into the people’s hand to mark individuals for control and even the “papacy” and various Roman Emperors.

The Purpose of Revelation

To properly understand the beast and its mark it is necessary to understand the purpose for the recording of the book of Revelation in the Bible.

(Revelation 1:1-3) . . .A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent forth his angel and presented [it] in signs through him to his slave John, ² who bore witness to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he saw. ³ Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near.

The purpose is clearly stated. Jehovah God gave this revelation to Jesus Christ to give to his people concerning  what was to happen shortly. As a day to God is a thousand years to man, it is understandable that what appears as a very long time to us is merely a short time to God.

(2 Peter 3:8) . . .However, let this one fact not be escaping YOUR notice, beloved ones, that one day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. . .

Because the revelation was given to show God’s people what was to shortly take place it is doubtful whether anyone else would understand or give credence to the message it contains. However the verse 3 of chapter 1 makes it very plain that it would be an encouragement to God’s servants and points our that it was expected that God’s servants would be able to understand and observe the things written in revelation.

The foundation that is laid in the opening verses of the book of revelation show that at the very least only persons that respected God and trusted in his word would understand the book of Revelation. This shows up the wild interpretations of the many self-styled experts that have attempted to explain the meaning of the wild beast and the meaning of the number of its name 666.

To understand the prophecy the Bible takes it for granted that God’s servants are familiar with the Bible and wholeheartedly accept it as the inspired word of God.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

Revelation chapter 12: 17—12: 1-2) describes a wild beast that arises out of the sea having 7 heads and 10 horns.

(Revelation 12:17) . . .And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus.—(Revelation 13: 1-2) And it stood still upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names. ² Now the wild beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were as those of a bear, and its mouth was as a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave to [the beast] its power and its throne and great authority.

The scriptures clearly identify the dragon as Satan the Devil.

(Revelation 12:3) . . .And another sign was seen in heaven, and, look! a great fiery-colored dragon, with seven heads and ten horns and upon its heads seven diadems. . .

(Revelation 12:9) . . .So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth. . .

The Bible supplies the Meanings

The sea that the wild beast comes out of is further identified in the scriptures as the wicked persons that Satan is misleading who inhabit the entire earth.

(Isaiah 57:20-21) . . .“But the wicked are like the sea that is being tossed, when it is unable to calm down, the waters of which keep tossing up seaweed and mire. ²¹ There is no peace,” my God has said, “for the wicked ones.”

So the inference is that under Satan’s influence, the wild beast that ascends out of the sead is a creation of man. The question is what is the identity of the wild beast?

Wild Beasts and Kingdoms

The Bible clearly shows that worldly kingdoms are always represented by wild beasts.

(Daniel 7:2-3) . . .Daniel was speaking up and saying: “I happened to be beholding in my visions during the night, and, see there! the four winds of the heavens were stirring up the vast sea. ³ And four huge beasts were coming up out of the sea, each one being different from the others. . .

The angel then gives the interpretation.

(Daniel 7:16-17) . . .And he said to me, as he went on to make known to me the very interpretation of the matters, ¹⁷ “‘As for these huge beasts, because they are four, there are four kings that will stand up from the earth.

The angel also identifies the horns as lesser kingdoms

(Daniel 7:24) ²⁴ And as for the ten horns, out of that kingdom there are ten kings that will rise up;. . .

It should also be noted that there is a similarity between the dragon with the 7 heads and 10 horns and the beast of 7 heads and 10 horns. Each of the heads of the dragon and the wild beast have on them diadems. What is a diadem?

The Meaning of the Diadems

When King Saul was killed, a messenger brought the news to David.

(2 Samuel 1:4-5) . . .And David went on to say to him: “How did the matter turn out? Tell me, please.” To this he said: “The people have fled from the battle and also many of the people have fallen so that they died, and even Saul and Jon´a·than his son have died.” ⁵ Then David said to the young man that was telling him: “How do you really know that Saul has died and also Jon´a·than his son. . .

The messenger brought Saul’s diadem  and bracelet to prove that Saul had died to David. As Saul was a king therefore his diadem was a crown, so the diadems on the heads of the dragon and wild beast refer to crowns denoting rulerships.

(2 Samuel 1:10) . . .So I stood over him and definitely put him to death, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. Then I took the diadem that was upon his head and the bracelet that was upon his arm, that I might bring them to my lord here.”

The Similarity of the Dragon and the Wild Beast

As the dragon gave the wild beast its power, throne and authority, there is a relationship between the heads of the dragon and the wild beast.

(Revelation 13: 1-2) And it stood still upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names. ² Now the wild beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were as those of a bear, and its mouth was as a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave to [the beast] its power and its throne and great authority

The Image of the Wild Beast

To gain a deeper understanding of the identity of the seven heads of the wild beast, we need to look at its image. The Bible shows that another wild beast (a two-horned beast) according to the rule established in Daniel, (a dual world power,) sponsors the creation of an image of this wild beast. Revelation chapter 17 gives us a picture of this image. How do we know that it is an image of the original wild beast? Fundamentally because it is identical except for the color This time it is portrayed as a beast with a woman (a prostitute) riding upon it.

(Revelation 13:11-12) ¹¹ And I saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, but it began speaking as a dragon. ¹² And it exercises all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight. And it makes the earth and those who dwell in it worship the first wild beast, whose death-stroke got healed. . .

(Revelation 13:14-15) . . .And it misleads those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs that were granted it to perform in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived. ¹⁵ And there was granted it to give breath to the image of the wild beast, so that the image of the wild beast should both speak and cause to be killed all those who would not in any way worship the image of the wild beast.

(Revelation 13:16-18) . . .And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

(Revelation 17:3) . . .And he carried me away in [the power of the] spirit into a wilderness. And I caught sight of a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored wild beast that was full of blasphemous names and that had seven heads and ten horns. . .

The Explanation

The angel goes on to explain the meaning of the Image of the wild beast and its seven heads and ten horns. For the present we will only look at the meaning of the 7 heads. Remember that this image is a reflection of the original wild beat

(Revelation 17:9-10) . . .“Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. ¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while.

When John wrote the prophecy of Revelation, the existing world power was Rome, so this was the one that was at that time (one is,) What were the previous 5 that had fallen? Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece.

From the above scriptures it becomes apparent that the governments and kingdoms of the world were created by people alienated from God under the influence of the Dragon with its seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads refer to the seven world empires that were contact with God’s people and the remainder of the kingdoms were represented by the ten horns.

Supporting Evidence

Do we have supporting evidence that this is the true understanding? Yes!  Consider this:-

When Jesus was tempted by Satan on the occasion when Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth, what did Satan say to Jesus and what was Jesus’ reaction.

(Luke 4:5-8) . . .So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time; ⁶ and the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and the glory of them, because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I give it. ⁷ You, therefore, if you do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.” ⁸ In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’. . .

Jesus never denied Satan’s claim. Further more he referred to Satan as the ruler of this world.

(John 12:31) . . .Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

(John 14:30) . . .I shall not speak much with YOU anymore, for the ruler of the world is coming. And he has no hold on me,

Another line of evidence supporting our conclusion is what occurred during the reign of the Medo-Persian empire. As recorded in Daniel. An angel was sent to Daniel in answer to his prayer

(Daniel 10:12-14) . . .And he went on to say to me: “Do not be afraid, O Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understanding and humbling yourself before your God your words have been heard, and I myself have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the royal realm of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days, and, look! Mi´cha·el, one of the foremost princes, came to help me; and I, for my part, remained there beside the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ And I have come to cause you to discern what will befall your people in the final part of the days, because it is a vision yet for the days [to come].”

An application of a little common sense helps us to realize that no earthly human prince could holdup an angel of God for 21 days. Obviously the angel had been sent by God to influence that King of Persia, whom the wicked demonic prince (the Fourth head of the symbolic Dragon) controlled. This wicked angel must have been extremely powerful necessitating the intervention of Michael the archangel. The angel was freed and allowed to complete his mission.

To sum-up so far we now understand that the wild beast of Revelation 13 as identified by the Bible itself, refers to the system of human government created by humans under the direction of Satan the Devil. The Beauty of the symbol that God used is the fact that it includes the concept of time as well. It embraces all the empires and government from the time of their formation to our day.

Identfying the Mark and the Number 666.

(Revelation 13:16-18) . . .And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, ¹⁷ and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. ¹⁸ Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

The first thing that we notice is that the wild beast has the power to put all persons under compulsion. It can ban and prevent people from buying or selling depending upon its will. It conscripts its subjects to fight and if necessary die for it in the wars that it participates in,

(Revelation 13:4) . . .And they worshiped the dragon because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshiped the wild beast with the words: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?. . .

Because, as we have seen the wild beast represents all the kingdoms of the world since their inception up to our day, therefore the mark in their heads that its supporter have, is their patriot mental support that they give to these governments. The mark in their right hand shows that they actively support the wild beast by their works in supporting the governmental systems.

The identifying mark that persons have to have showing that they worship and support the wild beast is their mental attitude and works that they do in support of it. Therefore the mark of the wild best is their active participation in politics and their absolute patriotic faith that identifies them as worshippers of the wild beast. This in turn makes them worshippers of the dragon because they are practicing idolatry, putting patriotic allegiance to the wild beast higher than service to God. How about the number? They give to Caesar what belongs to God.

(Rev 13:18)  Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.

The Bible also uses numbers and names in a special way. When God assigns names they usually have significance.

The name Satan means “adversary” or “opposer,” identifying the evil rebellious angel that rebelled against God.

The name Devil means “Slanderer” or “False Accuser”, because this angel slandered God’s name. And so the beasts name is significant because it is a number.

Numbers are also significant.

Three

Three indicates emphasis.

In the following scripture the supreme holiness of Jehovah God is emphasized.

(Isaiah 6:3) . . .And this one called to that one and said: “Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of armies. . .

Jesus further emphasized the importance of Peter continuing the work that Jesus had started by his preaching.

(John 21:15-17) . . .When, now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Feed my lambs.” ¹⁶ Again he said to him, a second time: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Shepherd my little sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you have affection for me?” Peter became grieved that he said to him the third time: “Do you have affection for me?” So he said to him: “Lord, you know all things; you are aware that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him: “Feed my little sheep. . .

Four.

Four is a number sometimes expressing universalness or foursquareness in symmetry and form. It is found three times at Revelation 7:1) . . .After this I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding tight the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow upon the earth or upon the sea or upon any tree.

Here the “four angels” (all those in charge of “the four winds,” ready for complete destruction) stood on earth’s “four corners” (they could let loose the winds obliquely or diagonally, and no quarter of the earth would be spared).

Seven.

Seven is used frequently in the Scriptures to signify completeness from God’s point of view. At times it has reference to bringing a work toward completion. Or it can refer to the complete cycle of things as established or allowed by God. By completing his work toward the earth in six creative days and resting on the seventh day, Jehovah set the pattern for the whole Sabbath arrangement, from the seven-day week to the Jubilee year that followed the seven-times-seven–year cycle.)

Seven appears often in connection with the Levitical rules for offerings

(Leviticus 4:6) and the priest must dip his finger in the blood and spatter some of the blood seven times before Jehovah in front of the curtain of the holy place.

(Leviticus 14:7-8) . . .Then he must spatter it seven times upon the one cleansing himself from the leprosy and he must pronounce him clean, and he must send away the living bird over the open field. ⁸

The “seven heads” of the “wild beast” (Re 13:1) show the limit to which the beast would be allowed to develop to develop by God.

Six.

Just as six falls short of seven, so the greatest works that mankind can accomplish is represented my a mere six when compared with the works of God. This number six represents imperfection. The number of “the wild beast” is 666 and is called “a man’s number,” indicating that it has to do with imperfect, fallen man, and it seems to symbolize the imperfection of that which is represented by “the wild beast.” The number six being emphasized to a third degree (the six appearing in the position of 600, 60 and 6 therefore highlights the imperfection and deficiency of that which the beast represents, or pictures.—

So the number highlights the way God views the extreme imperfection of the human systems of government that imperfect humans have created and look to for salvation.

As I have discussed the image of the wild beast in more detail in the article “Can Revelation Be Understood”, I will not go into more detail with respect to the image of the wild beast, however by examining the teachings of Jesus Christ we can see how this supports the conclusion.

How This Knowledge Affects Us

Instead of giving wholehearted support to the world’s governments Jesus emphasized that we only render relative service.

(Matthew 22:19-22) . . .Show me the head tax coin.” They brought him a de·nar´i·us. ²⁰ And he said to them: “Whose image and inscription is this?” ²¹ They said: “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.” ²² Well, when they heard [that], they marveled, and leaving him they went off.

Notice how Joseph and Mary obeyed the decree of Caesar to be registered indicating their relative obedience.

(Luke 2:1-5) . . .Now in those days a decree went forth from Caesar Au·gus´tus for all the inhabited earth to be registered; ² (this first registration took place when Qui·rin´i·us was governor of Syria;) ³ and all people went traveling to be registered, each one to his own city. ⁴ Of course, Joseph also went up from Gal´i·lee, out of the city of Naz´a·reth, into Ju·de´a, to David’s city, which is called Beth´le·hem, because of his being a member of the house and family of David, ⁵ to get registered with Mary, who had been given him in marriage as promised, at present heavy with child. . .

(Acts 5:27-29) . . .So they brought them and stood them in the San´he·drin hall. And the high priest questioned them ²⁸ and said: “We positively ordered YOU not to keep teaching upon the basis of this name, and yet, look! YOU have filled Jerusalem with YOUR teaching, and YOU are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” ²⁹ In answer Peter and the [other] apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.. . .

Because we understand that Jehovah God is giving Satan a free hand to prove that he can do a better job than  God of ruling the earth, we can discern that the relative rulership of humans by worldly government is being carried out with God’s permission. We can see that God’s people are also not asked to interfere with Satanic rule in any way. God is making sure that Satan has a full opportunity to fulfill his boast.

(Romans 13:1) . . .Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.

(Romans 13:5-7) . . .There is therefore compelling reason for YOU people to be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath but also on account of [YOUR] conscience. ⁶ For that is why YOU are also paying taxes; for they are God’s public servants constantly serving this very purpose. ⁷ Render to all their dues, to him who [calls for] the tax, the tax; to him who [calls for] the tribute, the tribute; to him who [calls for] fear, such fear; to him who [calls for] honor, such honor. . .

Of course this does not mean that Satan will be satisfied with a Christian’s relative subjection. He would like to break up the works of God and that is why Jesus explained that his servants would be hated by the world because true Christians would not give total obedience to the satanic system.

(John 15:17-19) . . .“These things I command YOU, that YOU love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. ¹⁹ If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU.. . .

(John 18:36) . . .Jesus answered: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”

As Christians have a commission from Jesus Christ to witness and make disciples of people of all nations they are absolutely neutral to the world’s ethnic, racial and nationalistic forces.

(Matthew 28:19-20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

As such Christians cannot support the nations in their warfare or take part in supporting Satan’s world in any way except by their relative obedience to these governments. This means that their first allegiance is to God and not Caesar.

(2 Corinthians 10:4-5) . . .For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. ⁵ For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God; and we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ;

(2 Timothy 2:24-25) ²⁴ But a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil, ²⁵ instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. . .

This is how true Christians avoid having the mark of the beast on their foreheads or right hand. However once the time period that God has allowed for Satan to prove his boast has ended there is to be a reckoning. Those that have carried the mark in their foreheads or right hand will suffer the same fate as Satan. Of course God will make allowances for people that never ever had an opportunity to know the truth but not for those that willfully rejected the knowledge regarding these matters. That is why it is important for persons to understand and make their stand for righteousness.

One of the signs denoting that we are living in the last days of Satan’s rule is the preaching of the kingdom that is being accomplished worldwide by Jehovah’s witnesses. You would do well to give them an opportunity to witness to you.

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