Why 666 is the number of the beast
The number of the beast, 666, is a topic that has intrigued people for centuries, both within and outside Christian circles. Revelation 13:18 states, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
The number 666 is directly associated with the first beast of Revelation and is described as “the number of a man.” It must be noted that the Mark of the Beast can either be name of the beast or the number of His name (666) (Revelation 13:17).
To understand why 666 is the number of the beast we need to understand its symbolic significance, historical interpretations, and its implications within the context of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.
Revelation 13:15-17 provides further insight into what the mark of the beast entails. It says,
Symbolism of the Number 666
To grasp the full meaning of 666, we must first explore its symbolic roots in the Bible, particularly in the book of Genesis. The significance of the number six emerges from the creation narrative:
1. Six points to the Life of Man and Beast
In Genesis 1:24-31, identifies the sixth day as marking the commencement of the existence of both man and beast within God’s creation.
2. Six falls short of God’s Completed Work
Genesis 2:1-3 highlights the seventh day, when God rested, signifying the completion and perfection of His creation. Thus, by inference the sixth day signifies the incomplete work of God.
3. Six is associated with law
Genesis 2: 16-17 points to the institution of law. In this particular instance it was God who gave the first law.
The number six symbolizes human effort and labor that falls short of God’s divine perfection and opposes God’s law. As opposed to six, seven represents reliance on and resting in the life of God, God’s completed work (on the Sabbath), and the fulfilment of the whole law of God.
It is the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment that fulfills the remainder of the Ten Commandments to love God supreme and love your neighbour as yourself. It also acknowledges God as our creator, and God’s ability to complete His work of sanctification in us (see Exodus 20:8-11 and 31:13).
The threefold repetition of the number six (666) serves as a potent symbol of humanity’s inclination towards self-reliance and intellectual pride. It highlights the contrast between human efforts and faith in God’s work.
The beast that introduced the message of 666:
In Genesis 3:1-5, Satan, in the form of a beast (a serpent), introduces a threefold message that challenges the divine lessons associated with the sixth and seventh days of creation. Satan’s message can be summarized as follows:
- Rely on man or beast to give life: Satan implies that God, eventhough our Creator, cannot be trusted to give us the full experience of life.
- We do not need God to complete the work: Satan insinuates that true completeness requires human action (eating the forbidden fruit), implying that God’s work is insufficient to perfect humans and that humans must take matters into their own hands.
- Rejection of God’s Law: Satan argues that disobeying God’s law will lead to eternal life and god-likeness, promoting self-determinism rather than obedience to God.
This message of self-sufficiency and disobedience has been adopted by many individuals and earthly powers from the time of Adam and Eve onwards. However, it is at the very end of time, that this message will be enforced upon all humanity by a religiopolitical power. Any who refuse to accept it will be unable to buy or sell and will have a death decree passed against them.
The Roman Catholic Church and the Mark of the Beast
The number 666 is linked to the Roman Catholic Church. It is the Roman Catholic church that most clearly fulfills all the particulars of the last kingdom of Daniel 2, the last beast power of Daniel 7, the little horn of Daniel 8, and the first beast of Revelation 13 and the woman of Revelation 17.
Daniel 7:25 prophesies about the final power that would “change times and laws.” One of the most notable actions attributed to the Roman Catholic Church is the alteration of the Sabbath observance from Saturday (the seventh day) to Sunday (the first day). This shift was claimed by the Catholic church as evidence of the Church’s authority over the law of God.
The Bible indicates that as the last power seeks to subvert the authority of God, it embodies the full spirit of the antichrist, which means to replace Christ. The Roman Catholic church teaches that the Pope is the Vicar of Christ. Vicar is short for vicarious. This is essentially saying that the Pope acts as Christ on this earth; not in the way that we should all emulate Christ, but rather as Christ’s replacement.
Moreover, when we look at the role of the Catholic priest in the church, they claim to forgive sins and provide absolution from our sins. In the book of Mark, there is a story of a paralytic being let down through the roof of a house Jesus is preaching in. Once Jesus sees the lengths to which the paralytic’s friends have gone He says,
“Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mark 2:5-11)
The scribes knew that it was a claim to be God to say that you could forgive sins. Jesus, who preferred the title ‘Son of Man’, was God and therefore He said He did have the power to forgive sins. However, He never once indicated we have that same power.
To assume the role of Christ in the forgiveness of sins is to take on the mediatorial role that is Christ’s alone. It says in 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”.
Just like the prophecies of Daniel 7 and 8 and Revelation 13 and 17 indicate, the Roman Catholic church would be a blasphemous one. It would specifically magnify itself to and stand up against the Prince of Princes (Jesus Christ) (Daniel 8:11, 25). The Roman Catholic church does indeed open “his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13: 6).
Beyond the religious errors of the Roman Catholic church, for it to fulfil the prophecies it must also be a significant worldwide political power and religious power for all the world to marvel and follow it (Revelation 13:3).
If you look at the reach of the Roman Catholic church in the political realms of today’s society it is quite alarming. The majority of the world’s governments were represented at the inauguration of Pope Francis. Furthermore, world leaders such as the presidents of Russia and the Ukraine, and Israel’s leaders look to the Pope to help bring about peace. The Pope has presented at U.S. Congress, the UN summit, the EU parliament, and, more recently, at the G6. No other religious or political figure has this amount of pull across the governments of the world.
This reach extends to private enterprises. CEOs and other leaders of big business, from Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates to the head of Pfizer and the World Bank all have personal meetings with the pope.
Then we turn to the religious sphere. One recent commentator said that Pope Francis is the bridge between all religions. Over the last few decades, the Roman Catholic church has achieved unity with protestant Christianity, the Orthodox religions, Islam, and eastern religions. All the major religious figureheads of the world look to the Pope as the ultimate spiritual leader of the world.
Why 666 is the number of the beast – the Title of the Pope
Throughout history many have wondered why 666 is the number of the beast. It specifically says in Revelation 13: 17 it is the number of the name of the first beast. The title of the Pope is “Vicarius Filii Dei” (Vicar of the Son of God). The numerical values assigned to the letters in this title total 666, as seen below:
V = 5
I = 1
C = 100
A = 0
R = 0
I = 1
U/V = 5
S = 0
F = 0
I = 1
L = 50
I = 1
I = 1
D = 500
E = 0
I = 1
Total = 666
Although there are many names that could potentially add up, in a similar manner, to 666. The fact that the Roman Catholic church fulfills the descriptions of prophecy in its actions, and in the name of the person who is the head of the church all point to who the first beast of Revelation 13 is.
Conclusion
The number 666 is not the only mark of the beast. One mark of the beast is the actual name of the beast and the other is the number of his name (666). Why is 666 the number of the beast? It is because the ethos of the power symbolised by the beast of Revelation 13, the Roman Catholic church, embraces the threefold teaching of Satan, the serpent and the dragon like no other power on earth. It seeks to replace God, and in particular Christ. In doing this, it places human effort, and man-made laws as the means through which we will secure our future happiness and life.
