IMPORTANT: In Biblical prophesy, a beast symbolises a kingdom, government or form of administration.
Ancient languages, including Hebrew and Greek, use standard letters from their alphabet as numerical signs. (A beta can represent the number two) A series of letters could form a word and indicate a number at the same time. From the time that John penned the book of Revelation (probably around A.D 95) men have been trying to figure out the meaning of the beast and his number - Six hundred sixty and six. The list of conjectures concerning the meaning of the number is almost as long as the list of commentators on Revelation and no one has yet come up with an interpratation that stands head and shoulders above the rest with the appearance of being the 'right' one. Perhaps there is no right interpretation; maybe they are all simply echoes or allegories of what Revelation 13: 18 states it is - the number of man.
It would disappoint readers greatly if we ended this study by drawing that simple yet accurate conclusion and leaving it at that, so we will now look at some of the more credible and logical interpretation of what 666 means.
Whose Number Is It?Before answering that question, let us first take a look at the verse in Revelation (13: 18) that poses the riddle: "Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six."
John declares that He who has wisdom and understanding should "count" or "calculate" the number of the beast. What John really is telling us in the first few words of the verse is that it is wisdom and understanding, rather than mathematical skills, that are required to "count" the number and thereby discover what the number of the beast signifies. That makes sense because it is not a mathematical equation, but one number made up of three other numbers. And when we do that, we see that the answer to this mystery is hidden in plain sight. God tells us 'exactly' what the number is and what it represents. He states very succinctly, "... it is the Number of MAN!" Throughout the Bible, particularly in prophesy, the number six is used to represent or signify man, and has been man's number since man became the result of God's creativity on the sixth day of creation.
NOTE: Your translations may read, "the number of 'A' Man" but the 'a' is not (never was, never will be) in the original manuscripts or copies of the original. There are no indefinite articles in the Greek, as there are in English. The word is anarthrous or [anth'-ro-pos], and is a Genitive Case, which specifically defines. In the Greek, it is the exact same declaration as found in Romans 2:9: "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of Man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart Of Man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1st Corinthians 2:9
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son Of Man ..." Revelation 1:13
There is no article 'a' in any of these examples with the same Greek aplication, and there shouldn't be. The 'a' was put there by translators (presumably) to try and make it better understood in English. But in reality it has had the opposite effect.
The Book of Revelation was written in Greek. In the original Greek, the word used in this verse for count means "reckon" or "calculate"; the word number in Greek is Arithmos, from which our work arithmatic is derived. Its literal translation is "numeric value". Thus, what we are asked to do is calculate the numeric value of 666. The oldest text we have of Revelation 13:17,18 is in the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri P47 dated the 3rd Century CE where, the number 666 is written as three Greek letters Chi, Xi, Sigma with a line written across the top of these three letters. The line across the top of these three letters means that these three letters stand for a: (1) word (2) name (3) number. This confirms what the Book of Revelation says about this number, and that is, that it is a word that represents both a name and a number.
In most all bibles the original way of writing 666 as three Greek letters (xi) (stigma) with a line over top, disappears completely and is replaced with the number "666" written out in full as three full words as "six hundred, sixty and six".
There is no 666 without the 3 Greek letter chi-xi-sigma/stigma with a line above. The 666 comes from adding up numerical equivalents of these 3 Greek letters chi = 600+ xi = 60+ sigma/stigma = 6. Adding up these 3 values = 666. CHI + XI + SIGMA = 666.
CHI: numeric value = 600. It is a noun and the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet.The 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, in early forms of Greek writing and in the Middle Ages, the "lunate sigma" that looks like the letter C was often used. It can still sometimes be seen in inscriptions in Greek Orthodox churches where, for example, the whole of God's creation may be denoted by the word cosmos, which is represented by the symbol of the word Sigma. When a word ended with a final sigma, in most cases it was called stigma and had a numerical value of 6 but was pronounced the same as sigma.
As with Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, Greek, the language in which this text was originally written, also gives a numeric value to the letters in its alphabet, and it is the numeric value of words chi-xi-sigma that we have just examined. But just as these letters have a numeric value, they also have a word value. That is, each number is also a word. Those words are:
CHI: not bonded to; without ties; unmarriedThus, the words chi-xi-sigma when calculated or counted together as words means "a person who is not bonded and without ties, who performs good works but carries a mark of allegiance to a higher power". If we place a spiritual interpretation on this word calculation, which is appropriate as the Book of Revelation is about spiritual matters, the interpretation of this kingdom, government or political power's characteristics (number) by this method is "an organisation that is not bonded to God, yet perfoms good Christian deeds, and requires absolute allegiance to its authority".
Taking their cue from "let him count (calculate) the number of the beast" many interpreters play the ancient Hebrew game of Gematria. Although many conservative theologians have seen the number 666 from Revelation 13 as symbolic of all that is evil and a blasphemous, this is to make a fundemental error as the Old Testament scriptures in fact attribute things evil and blasphenous to the number 7. Six is clearly the number of man, not evil or blasphemy. Others attempt to use the number 666 to identify an individual. One of the most popular interpretations is a Hebrew rendition of "Neron Caesar", which equals 666, thus linking this beast with the Nero legend. (His return from the abyss with hordes of demons was an omen of the last days)
The advent of the computer has caused some to see that invention as the Beast. One writer noted that if the letter "A"=6 and "B"=12 and "C"=18, and so on, the word computer adds up to 666. The same writer also observed that the words "New York" added up to 666. Some pointed to John Kennedy because he had received 666 votes for the vice-presidency in 1956. Others pointed to Henry Kissinger because his name in Hebrew added up to 111 or 666 divided by 6. Even Ronald Reagan was considered because his first, middle, and last names all had six letters. Other results have been a curious mixture of entertaining, flamboyant, intriguing, and many have become very popular but how Biblical are they? The striking number of attempts to identify the Beast and the significance of the number 666 should at least give us a sense of caution before adding another name to the list.
As all numbers in the Book of Revelation have a symbolic significance ... the seven churches, trumpets, bowls, seals; the 24 elders; the 144,000 sealed, etc. ... it is logical to assume that by applying the same symbolism to the number 666 (and this, after all, is what the Book of Revelation urges us to do), we can interpret its meaning. In Rev 15:2 the victors have triumphed over three enemies: the beast, his image and the number of his name, which suggests a symbolic significance connected with idolatry and blasphemy rather than someone's name. A similar use of the words "wisdom" occurs in 17:9 where John calls attention to the identity of the beast ridden by the harlot. What he seems to be asking for in both cases is divine discernment, not mathematical ingenuity.
Let us then count (calculate, reckon) the number using the same symbolic formula as other numbers in the Book of Revelation, by substituting each of the three numbers (600, 60 and 6) with the words that each number signifies in Herbrew texts like The Old Testament.
Six hundred = Spiritual warfareThus, when calculated, as the Book of Revelation says we must do to determine its meaning) the number means "spiritual warfare by human government directed by the carnal nature of man". The interpretation of this kingdom, government or political power's characteristics (number) by this method is "God's church involved in warfare being run by man". Have a look at the revious section of this study on 666 in Greek and you'll see it has almost the same meaning! No wonder the likes of John Wesley and Martin Luther believed that 666 represents the Roman Catholic Church.
John, who wrote the Book of Revelation was Jewish, so it is relevant that we look at the Jewish view of what this nuumber represents. The number 666 is considered by Jews to be a mystical and holy number. 6 represents the six directions (up, down, north, south, east, west). Six is considered God's number (see Names of God in Judaism) since it is the numeric value of Vav. It also refers to creation, since the world was created in 6 days. In other words, Jews see the number 666 as the number of mankind, which is exactly what the Book of Revelation says it is.
'Counting' The NumberThe Book of Revelation exhorts us to 'count' or 'calculate' the number but gives no other number to count it with. Let us then count it as itself; and what is 666 as a number? It is a fraction of 1,000 that calculates to 2/3. In Bible numerics, 1,000 symbolises the Divine Completeness for man, which is represented of the Glory of God that brings a multitude of Blessings.
The division of 1/3 (which is the numeric value of the word 'remnant') in bible numerics symbolises those who are refined of God (the few who find the narrow gate that leads to life), and the remaining 2/3 (the majority who walk down a path to destruction) as those who are separated from God. An illustration of this division can be seen in the third part of the shekel that was to be used for the work of the Sanctuary (Neh 10; 32), which illustrates the works of those who are obedient to God. In prophesies about the coming of the Messiah, 1/3 are said to be those who go through the fire to be refined as silver (salvation), and the 2/3 are those who will be cut off and die.
Zechariah 13:9 says, "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." This is echoed in Num 19:12 which portrays the third day as the day of redemption: "He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean." Hosea 6:2: "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." Ex. 19:11: "And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai."
Using this formula, the number of 'man' referred to in Revelation, being two-thirds, therefore calculates as the 'ungodly man' as opposed to the godly man (one-third). In prophesy, man is numbered as 1/3 going through the fire to be refined as silver (Salvation), and 2/3 being cut off and die. The 666 is a reference to the latter.
"Awake, O Sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, Two Parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is My people: and they shall say, the Lord is My God." Zechariah 13:7-9
There have been many great teachers, preachers and theologians throughout the last millenium who believed that the first beast of Revelation 13 was a direct reference to the Holy Roman Empire.. If that is
the case, then it is plausable that the number of the beast may
somehow represent Papal Rome. To this end, many have attempted to
link the number 666 to the Roman Catholic Church or the Pope. One
such link is the Latin title which the Pope applies to himself, and
allows others to apply to him. That title is this: Vicarius Filii
Dei, " Viceregent of the Son of God."
Taking the letters out of this
title which the Latins used as numerals, and giving them their
numerical value, we have V, 5; I, 1 C, 100 (a and r not used as
numerals); I, 1 ; U, (formerly the same as V), 5 (s and f not used as
numerals) ; I, 1; L, 50; I, 1; I, 1; D, 500; (e not used as a
numeral); I, 1. Adding these numbers together, and they add up to
666. This title has been placed upon the Pope's crown.
While the
Vatican authorities have of late years shown a disposition not to
make this title conspicuous, having been made aware of its connection
to the number 666, there is good evidence that it was formerly so
used, and that at least one of the papal crowns bears this
inscription. Eyewitness testimony claims that Pope Gregory XVI
(1831-1846) wore the inscribed tiara during the Easter Mass of 1845,
and that the word Vicarius was on the top crown, Filii on the middle,
and Dei on the lower crown, the words spelled out with
jewels.
By counting the number Greek, this kingdom or governing power's characteristics (number) are that of an organisation "not bonded to God, yet perfoms good Christian deeds, and requires absolute allegiance to the authory of their church".
By counting the number Hebrew, this kingdom or governing power's (number) are that of "God's church involved in warfare being run by man".
The two interpretations above are remarkably similar, perhaps because God wanted us to reach the same conclusion, irrespective of what method we used to interpret the riddle. Of the two interpretations, I would favour the second or Hebrew interpretation as being the most accurate, simply because the text declares the number of the Beast as being the number of man, which in Hebrew is the number six.
Whatever we deem to be the
interpretation of the kingdom, government, power or authority that is characterised by the number 666, we know that it represents man - and we know that because the Book of Revelation says so, and to say otherwise is to contradict the Book of Revelation. 666 is not the number of Antichrist; it's not the number of the Pope or the Roman Catholic Church; it's not the number of Hitler or Mussolini or Napoleon Bonaparte or Henry Kissinger or Saddam Hussein or any one else whose name in Bible numerics adds up to 666 (all those people's names do!).
They and others may well be representations or personifications of it, but 666 is not their number, it is the number of carnal (ungodly) mankind, doing things in his own strength for his own gratification, running things his way and to man-made rules rather than following those laid down by God in scripture. That, according to Revelation 13, is the characteristic of the authoritive power called The Beast that has God's elect in its control. I'll leave the reader to work out for themselves who or what that power might be.
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