What do the numbers 666 mean?

Question

What do they have to do with the devil? Why 666 and not numbers like 999 or 444? What is the history behind it?

Answer 1

The meaning of 666 - the number often referred to as the Mark of the Beast - is a highly contested concept. The number 666 is found in Revelation 13:16-18: "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666."

John MacArthur explains the meaning of 666 this way: "The number represents the essential number of a man. The number 6 falls one short of God's perfect number, 7, and thus points to human imperfection. Antichrist, the most powerful human the world will ever know, will still be a man - a 6. The ultimate in human and demonic power is a 6, not perfect, as God is."1

MacArthur goes on to explain that the three digits emphasizes man's identity. When Antichrist is revealed, he will be identified with this number. The Bible is not clear what the mark will be: an implant, a microchip, a tattoo. It is wise not to speculate since the Bible does not give detailed information regarding this mark.

Answer 2

It (666) is the number of the beast power described in the biblical book of Revelation (Revelation 13:16-18). To determine who the beast power will be you need to follow the clues in the book of Revelation. If you want the answer you will be able to understand the clues. They are really pretty clear and when you connect all the clues the answer is pretty obvious. The mark of the beast power is also described there and you can find what it is if you study the book. The mark is a belief system that when it is more fully understood will become the mark.

The devil is represented in Revelation as a dragon. The beast power with the number (666) worships and is controlled by the dragon.

The number 6 may have been chosen to represent mankind. Three sixes may be used for emphasis. The belief system that when adopted becomes the mark is of mankind not of the creator God. It is an interesting connection to me that mankind in Genesis was created on the 6th day of creation week.

Answer 3

Numbers play an important role in the way the world is set up. The numbers 666 is really not that hard to understand. Look at it this way. How many sides is there on a coffin? 6 How many people carry a coffin to the grave? 6 And how many feet is a grave when one is about to be bury? 6 So there you go it is not hard to figure this out. This series of numbers has nothing to do with any devil. In turn it deals with ones preparation for the journey he takes after releasing his soul to a higher conciousness.

Answer 4

666 is the number of the devil because the number six means bad and the other numbers refer to the being and destination of the devil. Thus, 666 means bad.

Answer 5

Many of the numbers in the Bible have deeper significance:

1 – Represents absolute singleness and unity (Ephesians 4:4–6; John 17:21, 22.)

2 – Represents the truth of God’s Word, for example, the law and prophets (John 1:45), two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1), and a sword with two edges (Hebrews 4:12). See Mark 6:7 and Revelation 11:3. It is also used 21 times in the books of Daniel and Revelation.

3 – Represents the Godhead / Trinity. The angels cry “Holy” three times to the triune God (Isaiah 6:3). See also Matthew 28:19 and 1 John 5:7, 8.

4 – Represents universal truth, as in the four directions (north, south, east, west) and the four winds (Matthew 24:31; Revelation 7:1; Revelation 20:8). In acts 10:11, a sheet with four corners symbolizes the gospel going to all the gentiles.

5 – Represents teaching. First, there are the five books of Moses. Second, Jesus taught about the five wise virgins and used five barley loaves used to feed the 5,000.

6 – Represents the worship of man, and is the number of man, signifying his rebellion, imperfection, works, and disobedience. It is used 273 times in the Bible, including its derivatives (e.g., sixth) and another 91 times as “threescore” or “60.” Man was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26, 31). See also Exodus 31:15 and Daniel 3:1.

The number is especially significant in the book Revelation, as “666” identifies the beast. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:18).

7 – Represents perfection, and is the sign of God, divine worship, completions, obedience, and rest. The “prince” of Bible numbers, it is used 562 times, including its derivatives (e.g., seventh, sevens). (See Genesis 2:1–4, Psalm 119:164, and Exodus 20:8–11 for just a few of the examples.)

The number seven is also the most common in biblical prophecy, occurring 42 times in Daniel and Revelation alone. In Revelation there are seven churches, seven spirits, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven thousand slain in a great earthquake, seven heads, seven crowns, seven last plagues, seven golden vials, seven mountains, and seven kings.

10 – represents law and restoration. Of course, this includes the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. See also Matthew 25:1 (ten virgins); Luke 17:17 (ten lepers); Luke 15:8 (healing, ten silver coins).

12 – Represents the church and God’s authority. Jesus had 12 disciples, and there were 12 tribes of Israel. In Revelation 12:1, the 24 elders and 144,000 are multiples of 12. The New Jerusalem city has12 foundations, 12 gates 12 thousand furlongs, a tree with 12 kinds of fruit 12 times a year eaten by 12 times 12,000 or the 144,000. (See Revelation 21.)

40 – Represents a generation and times of testing. It rained for 40 days during the flood. Moses spent 40 years in the desert, as did the children of Israel. Jesus fasted for 40 days.

50 – represents power and celebration. The Jubilee came after the 49th year (Leviticus 25:10), and Pentecost occurred 50 days after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2).

70 – Represents human leadership and judgment. Moses appointed 70 elders (Exodus 24:1); The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 men. Jesus chose 70 disciples (Luke 10:1). Jesus told Peter to forgive 70 times 7.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

Ah, the number of the beast. The number of letters in the name Ronald Wilson Reagan. It could also be the prefix for a cell phone, the house between 664 and 668. Could be 333 doubled or 1332 halved.

Answer 7

666 means the devil but 666 is not the true mark of the beast.

Answer 8

666 original meaning is the roman emperor nero ceasar. now 666 is associated with the devil. the beast n the devil r not the same

Answer 9

John the Divine in Revelations tells us it is the mark of the beast. The beast is Satan, and in the last days anyone without this mark cannot buy anything, live anywhere and be a total washout with the times then, but we Christians won't be here then. We will have been raptured out with the Church.

Answer 10

666 is the devils number theirs a myth that says if you come across a person that has everthing in 6's , it is said to be a demon!