This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
DrWatson · 70-79, M
It is the "number of the beast" in the book of Revelation.
There are various interpretations, of course. One school of thought is that the number simply refers to the Emperor Nero, and that most of the book is basically about Roman persecution of the church, with lots of apocalyptic metaphorical language which gives it a deeper meaning beyond the immediate one. So according to that school of thought, it is a mistake to constantly be on the lookout for "signs of the end times" in a literal sense, such as concluding "wearing Covid masks is the mark of the Beast." The book is not meant to be a "handbook", in this interpretation.
And that is how I look at it, which puts me at odds with lots of evangelical Christians.
There are various interpretations, of course. One school of thought is that the number simply refers to the Emperor Nero, and that most of the book is basically about Roman persecution of the church, with lots of apocalyptic metaphorical language which gives it a deeper meaning beyond the immediate one. So according to that school of thought, it is a mistake to constantly be on the lookout for "signs of the end times" in a literal sense, such as concluding "wearing Covid masks is the mark of the Beast." The book is not meant to be a "handbook", in this interpretation.
And that is how I look at it, which puts me at odds with lots of evangelical Christians.
