666, Mark of the Beast- Background behind the number and Why Culture should have aversion for it

Background behind counting the number of the beast.

We are told in Scripture to count the number of the beast. I believe the command to compute the number was given so that believers might have advance notice as to the beast’s appearing. It is not a bad thing if everyone checks out potential leaders as they appear on the world scene. The advance notice may help keep the wicked one at bay. The Greek word for count (Psephizo) comes from the root word for pebble that would be used in enumeration for computing or counting things. The word was often associated with tickets for admission or for ballots used to cast a vote. The apostle John tells us that the specific name of the Beast adds to the number 666. It is the number of a specific man. John says it is the number of his name (name, Ovomatos, can also mean surname). In the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, letters also corresponded to specific numbers. Some people may remember the Roman Numeral system where letters such as “L” and “X” correlated to values of “50 and “10” respectively. In Hebrew, The name of this type of numerology is Gematria. In Greek, the same numerology is referred to as Isopsephy. Scribes in the time of Ezra (the Soferim) would use these number and letter equivalencies to count up the value of the letters on a copied page of Scripture for authentication. If the value did not sum to a particular number, the page would be considered to have not been copied properly and would promptly be discarded. The name of the beast adds to the number 666. The complete spelling out of this number in Revelation stresses a very literal sense to this prophecy (Hexakosioi=600, Hexakonta=60, Hex =6). The Greek letter abbreviations for these numbers are chi, si, and stigma (see picture above). Chi and stigma are the first and last letters for the Greek Word Christ. Si, the middle Greek letter has the shape of a serpent. Christ-like on the outside and serpent-like on the inside are the befitting symbols for an Anti-Christ.

A word of caution behind forcing a name to fit the 666 number.

While Christians are encouraged to compute the number of the beast, they need to remain objective in their estimation and not force a name to fit the notorious 666. The Apostle John uses Arithmos for the word number; we get the word arithmetic from this word. Arithmetic refers to the most elementary level of mathematics such as adding. I would encourage believers not to make the calculation for determining the beast’s number any more complex than this. If a person is allowed to invent any method for computing the number, then every name can be manipulated to compute 666. The variations and means by which one can come to 666 are limitless. Massage the data long enough and you can get it to confess to anything. Many Preterists like to say Ceasar Nero’s name means 666 but his Name and title have to be misspelled to get it. When you have to force something to fit, your method begins to stretch credulity. Nero may have been a beast, but He clearly never fulfilled what Revelation prophetically outlines. History itself proves this out. Attempting to read between the lines of bar codes may in fact be making something out of nothing. The 666 number is either there or it is not. Don’t make something 666 when it is clearly not there. Some people are determined to find a demon under every rock. Perhaps this is why God said to only let those with understanding compute the number of the beast.

Modern Technology is bringing the world dangerously close to the literal fulfillment of this prophecy.

The Greek word for Mark in Rev 13:16 is Charagma and it means a scratch or etching; a stamp (as a badge of servitude). It comes from the root word Charax- which means to sharpen to a point through scratching. Scripture says that no one may buy or sell unless they receive this mark on their right hand or on their forehead or have the name of the beast or the number of his name. For centuries, many people have tried to make the mark more symbolic rather than literal. Saying the mark on their forehead designates their thoughts and the mark on their hand designates their actions. However, people don’t show their thoughts and actions to make business transactions. The Bible is more literal than that. The technology needed to employ such a tracking system is already here. Modern culture is all too familiar with scanning bar codes for tracking transactions. What was prophesied 1900 years ago now looks plausible to occur in our own day and age. The fact that this mark can be a stamp or etching makes many people think it may be some sort of Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) biometric implant technology. Implanting RFID Chips already has FDA approval in the United States. Veterinary clinics chip animals already. The scripture actually implies the mark would be placed upon (Greek word- Epi) the hand or the forehead; so the mark would be more of some type of engraved superficial tattoo than an actual implant. Scripture clearly prohibits people from putting tattoos or any marks of any kind on them (Lev 19:28) and yet this command is being disregarded by many. Of course, the mark is the number of a specific man (the Anti-Christ) and not one’s personal ID number. Having a credit card or social security number is not the same as taking the mark of the Beast. The existing technology may not refer to the prophesied mark in revelation as of yet. Nevertheless, the technology now makes the literal fulfillment of this prophecy possible.

Desensitizing a Culture to the number 666 prepares the world for unknowingly embracing such a beast.

Aside from the technology itself, our culture is also saturated with logos and emblems littered with the taboo number 666. They are hidden in plain sight in many areas of everyday life. Monster energy drinks have a logo made with the letters six, six, six in Hebrew. The letter M in their logo is made from three Hebrew vav letters. In Gamatria, the letter vav corresponds to the number 6. With a brand motto that says ‘unleash the beast,’ who could think that such letters could mean anything else? Google Chrome, Walt Disney, Vodafone, Adobe Acrobat all contain the symbols 666 in some form or fashion. Islam’s religious symbols are littered with the number 666. Even the universal hand symbol people use to designate something as OK spells out the letters 666. Do not think the list I have presented is all inclusive. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work in the world. Do not think that any of these current labels refer to the prophesied mark of the beast imposed by the False Prophet in Rev 13:16. This has yet to be revealed. However, I do think all these logos set a dangerous precedent in our culture. They are all desensitizing the culture to embracing this number. Scripture says people are blessed when they read and keep the words written in Revelation. I believe one of the blessings behind keeping the words in that book involve bestowing on the culture a healthy phobia for the number 666. Making 666 a taboo number will keep it from being accepted on to the world stage. A society who refuses to accept this number will keep the calamities associated with the mark of the beast from befalling their generation. Once the majority of people lose their fear for this number, the culture remains vulnerable to embracing it.

Keeping the Number 666 taboo keeps the hour of trial at bay.

Why should the number 666 remain taboo for our culture? Our aversion for the number will restrain the lawless one from entering the world scene. God promised his people that because some have kept his command to persevere, He would keep them from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I believe that trial will occur once the Anti-Christ is revealed and compels everyone to take the mark of the beast. After the abomination that causes desolation is erected in God’s temple, the false prophet will cause everyone small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads. Many will wear this mark as an emblem to identify with the beast whose right arm and eye were withered and whose head wound was healed. Many will take the mark simply because they will feel compelled to. No one will be able to buy or sell without having the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Anyone refusing to worship the beast will be killed. If you want buy something to eat and save your own skin, you will be tempted to take the mark. Scripture says those who try to save their own life will lose it. Revelation proclaims that anyone who worships the beast and receives his mark on their right hand or forehead shall drink of the wrath of God full strength. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever. No rest will be given to them day or night. If you take this mark, you will seal your own doom for eternity. Do not let anyone deceive you. For prominent Bible teachers have already begun to teach that people can take the mark and still be saved. God will allow this delusion so that all will be condemned who did not love the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. At that time, people will be given a very difficult choice: (1) Refuse the mark, starve and be killed or (2) take the mark and be tormented in hell fire for all eternity. Everyone’s preference should be to avoid being put in such a difficult set of circumstances. We can avoid such a predicament for our generation if society remains conditioned to refuse such a number. The inevitable will eventually occur, but does it have to befall our generation? Keeping the number 666 taboo may keep the hour of trial at bay.