What did John have in mind with six-six-six?

Question

Although Hollywood would have us believe that the 'number of the beast' in the New Testament book of Revelation is written '666', this is clearly nonsense since Arabic Numerals had not been invented at the time Revelation was written. I've seen in one place that it might simply be a reference to Rome: Romulus originally being referred to as Lateinos which in Greek numbering adds us up to 666. This seems a bit too analytical to me - the guy credited with the visions was supposed to be in some kind ecstatic trance, and in that state the mind works more by association than by computation.

So when John says that people were marked with the number of the Beast what did mark or symbol did he visualise? My guess would be something from Greek or Roman numbering but I wonder if anyone knows anything definite about this. Is there any critical scholarship on the subject?

Answer 1

I watched a documentary on 'The curse of the Omen' (The Film) and can't remember exactly but someone elses memory might be jogged by this but the origins where actually letters not numbers and the letters in question where actually WWW - Now how freaky is that?

Answer 2

The number 6 in The Bible is symbolic of man and six hundred threescore and six is an obviously extremely heightened or deliberately exaggerated symbolism. It's a bit like us when we say we have been waiting, "ages," which literally could not be possible.

That it represents Nero as has been pointed out is a very good suggestion in that Nero and his character and ways foreshadow the ways of the beast. These ways we see increasing today.

Notice it is the beast that is identified rather than a man. A beast that rises up out of the earth. It controls the people, deceives them and forces obedience - who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? v4 of Revelation 13.

Don't we also see something of that today? Especially with our, "political correctness," and reducing personal freedoms - all for a good reason, of course? Who can beat the system, we say. Do we not all fear to step out of line or say what we really think lest we offend the beast of government. Maybe we will be sent on a 'diversity training' course or some other brain washing measure. You are not allowed to think for yourself.

It even causes those that will not worship the image of the beast to be killed, a bit like the Muslims of today. They are very touchy if we do not accord them the respect they think they deserve - they threaten and issue 'fatwahs' and overspill into violence and killing.

The beast, properly translated, is, wild beast, which suggests savagery, lack of control, indiscriminate and not particularly intelligent. Again, very contemporary.


That it can be represented as 666, as a kind of ungodly trinity, and as man denying God and being god himself are good suggestions which I am sure are intended by the symbolism.

The mark in the right hand or in the forehead suggests all we do and all we think. Whether we earn our living from using the mind or from more manual labour.Government today is certainly manipulating and influencing us in those ways already.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical thing.

As verse 9 says, If any man have an ear, let him hear. There is our answer, it is God who we must hear and it is He who will explain all.

Answer 3

To understand the answer - you have to know Roman history - The Roman Emperor's demanded that the people of Rome worship them - in doing so the Government would give you a paper that had the mark (or stamp) of your worship to the emperor - with this stamp - you could buy and sell in the market place - if you did not have the mark and were caught buying and selling - you were put to death. Hence came - the mark of the Beast. The Beast is the Roman Empire - which fell greatly in its last days - all was lost, blood stained the streets - hence Armageddon - another belief that people today think is still to come - well ask the Romans - whey were just about wiped out.

Gary Young covers this on my web site.

Answer 4

Keep in mind that John was seeing the future and describing things in a symbolic way. Despite the movie "The Omen", it's doubtful such a mark would be a literal mark on someone's head or hand.

Numbers in the Bible carried a special significance. The number 12 for instance (12 tribes, 12 judges) represents justice. The number 7 represents perfection. The number 6? Well, according to Hebrew tradition, represents IMperfection, and three sixes in a row? That's something hideously twisted. In fact, scholars seem to think the number is actually "696", which in Hebrew thinking is even MORE unnatural.

What does this mean? John envisioned a future in which everyone who wasn't walking a Godly path was subscribed to the path of the Beast, who put his mark on all of his followers; a very unnatural symbol that represented his power.

What does this mean? It means when our national government decides that all of its citizens need a computer chip embedded in their skin to identify them, as a Christian, you should refuse such a marking. (My take on "the mark of the Beast").

Answer 5

The actual Greek word translates OF MAN. Like relating to
the physical world.
The most logical thing I've heard is that it is the computer code
found on the back of most things we by at the store. There
are differnet codes in use. But one has three sets of 2 thin
lines. In the middle and on each end, and the 2 thin lines is a
6 in that particular code.
Computers work on a system of 6s. The electricity flows
through circuits marked 000001 for an A. 000010 for a B. Something to that effect.
This code on a chip could be used to track billions of human beings.

Answer 6

One possible explanation...

6 is The number of man (6th Day)

666 is supposed to be the number of a man, some believe to be a reference to the Head of Rome (Now called POPE)

The MArk of the Beast (The Roman Cross - XP)

The Un-Holy Trinity...

The Devil, Antichrist & False Prophet = THE ROMAN HOLY FATHER???

Or it might be something compleatly different...

Answer 7

The number seven is symbolizes God. It represents perfection. 6 represents man and falling short of perfection because it is before 7. Romans3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" The three 6's represent the preverted trintiy. Satan always tries to rip off God.

If you look at the scriptures again, the people will recieve the mark IN the right hand or IN the forehead. That is why some people beleive it will be something like the Verichip that is being used right now for medical purposes, only it would be used for selling and buying. It sounds plausible to me, but that might not be it in the end.

Answer 8

There's only one sure thing we know about "666" in the Book of Revelation.

The Beast and the False Prophet rise to power at the advent of the 6th seal, and the 6th vial, and the 6th trump ... "666".

Everything else is subject to speculation.

Answer 9

"6 This number at times 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 units,tens,and hundreds) therefore highlights the imperfection and deficiency of that which the beast represents, or pictures. Revelation 13:18"

Answer 10

from what I understand this was a combination of numbers which was based on the Jewish tradition of giving every letter a numeric equivalent. the number 666 refers to Nero the Cesar of Rome at the time when Christians were persecuted.