THE MARK OF THE BEAST
- The name of the beast and
- The number of its name
Many Christians believe that the name of the beast and the number of its name which was later given as 666 in Revelation 13:18 are speaking of the same thing. However, a review of the scriptures indicates that they are not pointing to the same thing. The name is that of the beast while the number is that of a man. In other words, the name of the beast pertains to the beast while the number 666 (or 616 in other Bible texts) pertains to a man. Revelation 13:18 clearly stated that the number is that of a man:
(Revelation 13:18 KJV) 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.
From the description given in Revelation 13:2, the 2 beasts are not a man. Rather, the beasts represent beastly power of kingdoms or governments, countries or religious leaders or ruling authority. Compare these beasts with the 4 beasts of Daniel chapter 7 which were interpreted in verse 17 as kingdoms:
(Dan 7:17 NIV) These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
Beasts have existed since the beginning of time. The beasts were certainly harrassing the saints in the days of John, the writer of the book of Revelation and will continue until the end of time, escalating in their significance and in their worldwide reach.
'A man' referred to in Revelation 13:18 could be any man, a religious leader, a ruler or president who is an Antichrist.
(1 John 2:18 KJV) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Having understood what the beasts are, the next question becomes what is the name of these beasts in the book of Revelation. The name of the beasts is not given anywhere in the bible. Any attempt to provide a name will be mere speculation. However, we have to be watchful not to receive this mark of the name of the beast in order not to attract the wrath of God as described in Rev 14: 9-10.
What about the number of 'a man', which is 666? Can we identify the man using the number 666?
Well, before we answer, it is worthy of note that in most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the man is 666, six hundred and sixty-six (in Greek numerals) while in Papyrus 115 (which is one of the oldest preserved manuscript of the Revelation), as well as other ancient sources the number of the man is 616 (in Arabic numerals).
Now, if the number 666 is transliterated from Greek into Hebrew it produces the name Neron Kesar, the Hebrew spelling of Nero Caesar. The Latin spelling of "Nero Caesar" transliterated into Hebrew produces the number 616. In other words, even if you take the alternative spelling of the "number of a man", which has been found in several early bible texts as being written 616, you can translate that out as being Nero Cesar.
So, Nero Ceesar is 'a man' referred to in Revelation 13:18 and he was the Antichrist in John's days. He partially fulfilled the prophecy in the book of Revelation. However, 1 John 2:18 tells us that he is not the only Antichrist. In future and in our present times, there will be ruler(s), religious leader and persons whose name(s) may still fit the "number of a man". Let us therefore continue to adhere to the directive, 'Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast.'
Meanwhile, the mark of the beast does not seem to be a literal, physical mark on the bodies of the saints. For instance, the following verses state another type of mark/ seal received by the saints on their forehead:
(Revelation 7:3 KJV) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(Revelation 9:4 KJV) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
(Revelation 14:1 KJV) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
(Revelation 22:4 KJV) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
It is most unlikely that all saints will literally and physically have the names of Jesus and the Father tattooed/marked or implanted on their foreheads based on the verses above. The seal and the names on the saints stated in those verses actually means God’s ownership and spiritual protection of them. So does the mark of the beast which signifies those that belong to the beast.
(Revelation 13:18 KJV) 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.
From the description given in Revelation 13:2, the 2 beasts are not a man. Rather, the beasts represent beastly power of kingdoms or governments, countries or religious leaders or ruling authority. Compare these beasts with the 4 beasts of Daniel chapter 7 which were interpreted in verse 17 as kingdoms:
(Dan 7:17 NIV) These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.
Beasts have existed since the beginning of time. The beasts were certainly harrassing the saints in the days of John, the writer of the book of Revelation and will continue until the end of time, escalating in their significance and in their worldwide reach.
'A man' referred to in Revelation 13:18 could be any man, a religious leader, a ruler or president who is an Antichrist.
(1 John 2:18 KJV) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Having understood what the beasts are, the next question becomes what is the name of these beasts in the book of Revelation. The name of the beasts is not given anywhere in the bible. Any attempt to provide a name will be mere speculation. However, we have to be watchful not to receive this mark of the name of the beast in order not to attract the wrath of God as described in Rev 14: 9-10.
What about the number of 'a man', which is 666? Can we identify the man using the number 666?
Well, before we answer, it is worthy of note that in most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the man is 666, six hundred and sixty-six (in Greek numerals) while in Papyrus 115 (which is one of the oldest preserved manuscript of the Revelation), as well as other ancient sources the number of the man is 616 (in Arabic numerals).
Now, if the number 666 is transliterated from Greek into Hebrew it produces the name Neron Kesar, the Hebrew spelling of Nero Caesar. The Latin spelling of "Nero Caesar" transliterated into Hebrew produces the number 616. In other words, even if you take the alternative spelling of the "number of a man", which has been found in several early bible texts as being written 616, you can translate that out as being Nero Cesar.
So, Nero Ceesar is 'a man' referred to in Revelation 13:18 and he was the Antichrist in John's days. He partially fulfilled the prophecy in the book of Revelation. However, 1 John 2:18 tells us that he is not the only Antichrist. In future and in our present times, there will be ruler(s), religious leader and persons whose name(s) may still fit the "number of a man". Let us therefore continue to adhere to the directive, 'Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast.'
Meanwhile, the mark of the beast does not seem to be a literal, physical mark on the bodies of the saints. For instance, the following verses state another type of mark/ seal received by the saints on their forehead:
(Revelation 7:3 KJV) Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(Revelation 9:4 KJV) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
(Revelation 14:1 KJV) And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
(Revelation 22:4 KJV) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
It is most unlikely that all saints will literally and physically have the names of Jesus and the Father tattooed/marked or implanted on their foreheads based on the verses above. The seal and the names on the saints stated in those verses actually means God’s ownership and spiritual protection of them. So does the mark of the beast which signifies those that belong to the beast.
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Truth be told, am lost, Sir.
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