“...for it is a number that stands for a certain man. The man's number is six hundred sixty-six.” --Revelations 13:18. How did the Bible come up with a number to represent the name of The Beast? In the same chapter the Apostle John tells us that anyone with a little intelligence can figure it out. Yet in our time the number remains a mystery. People who claim they know who the Beast is are going about their conclusions the wrong way. For example, when Ronald Reagan was elected President, some people put six and six together, as it were. “Ronald—six letters. Wilson—six letters. Reagan—six letters! It's 666—Reagan is the Antichrist!” That's not how it's done. In ancient Rome certain letters had a certain numerical value. Orthodox Jews should be familiar with this technique, because it is the same with the Hebrew aleph-bet. Different letters have different numerical values, so that a series of letters, such as a person's name, can have a total numerical value by adding up the value of each letter. The Romans knew this technique too. For instance, Emperor Nero's name had a certain numerical value. And it was a well-known fact, even at the time, that Nero had his own mother assassinated. The citizens of Rome, who did not like Nero very much, took great delight in calculating the numerical value of Nero's name, which by either coincidence or design had the same value as the sentence “He murdered his mother.” Saint John was familiar with this technique as well, because he said that anyone could figure out the name of the Beast as his name had the same numerical value as the total sum of six hundred and sixty-six. So as it was with Hebrew, it was the same in the Greek alphabet, which John used in writing Revelations, or the Roman block-letter alphabet. Because modern Westerners don't really know how this little “game” was played by the ancients (The Hebrew value was not the same as the Roman value) we can only speculate. And as in the case of the three names of Ronald Wilson Reagan, some people get the technique all wrong anyway. But for those who are curious, the name of the Beast was Nero Caesar. If the name were written in the Hebrew alphabet, the numerical values of each letter do indeed add up to 666. And there is little argument that Nero was, let us say, not the best friend Christianity ever had.
GJOF13--In reading and interpreting Revelations, remember that it was written in Apocalyptic style--full of hidden meanings, symbolisms and fantasy comparisons--all of which John used for keeping the Roman cops off his tail. Nostradamus wrote in the same style for much the same reason. So John's veiled revelation of who the Beast is was shrouded in a popular game so he would not come right out and say it.
Yes I think much of it was meant to remain mysterious. Have you seen the explanation of the number of the beast being VICARIUS FILII DEI ? There seem to be endless possibilities I guess, at least for me it is a good brain exercise . :-)
JGOF13--I have seen the suggestion that Vicarius Filii Dei is God's other son (which is what the Latin means), but I don't find any credibility to it. I also heard that Barabbas was God's other son, because the name in Hebrew means "Son of the Father." We could go on and on with new legends and interpretations, including that Mary Magdalene was Mrs. Jesus.
I think that most overlook the obvious, the mark of the beast is obviously referring to rome, and the fact that you had to have the approval of rome to conduct business in the roman empire. But I have not figured out why people forget to look at the roman treasury. The DCLXVI that was clearyly marked on the façade, and was synonymous with roman money
Curmudgeon--I missed that one! God point. Of course I have also heard that the modern bar code is "The Beast" because we need it to buy and sell. But I think that's stretching it.
GJOF13--It depends on whose observation you believe. Some say the first was Nero, the second Hitler, and a third is waiting in the wings. Others count Nero as first, Napoleon Bonaparte as the second, and Hitler as the third. Throughout history, and even including modern times, we have enough candidates to fulfill the Three Beasts several times over!
Very interesting. I enjoy reading and discussing Revelations, but I make no claim to understand it. It is difficult to determine where the figurative and literal divide.
Un4given--the list of people is endless--Hitler, Stalin, Nero, Mao Tze-Tung, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Un, Genghis Khan, Napoleon. Then there are the concepts--Communism, Anarchism, The Nazis--we could spend a day just listing them. But I'm staying aware that there is always another butt hole who wants to take over the world.
Un4given--There are legends coming out the wazoo about angels, demons, and Satan himself. I really can't say. The story of the fall of Lucifer is told in the Talmud, not the Bible. But that does not make the story less valid, especially when it was backed up by Jesus, who mentioned the fall of Satan in the Gospels.
Quizling--I didn't hear about that. But as I said, the name of Nero, written in Hebrew, fits 666 perfectly. The best I can do is look up the verse in the Latin Vulgate and see how it was translated there.
