“This calls for wisdom”, the number of the beast

“This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666” (Revelation 13: 18 NIV).

The number of the beast, popularly known as 666, has had many conundrums in Bible studies. First is the problem of the gematria (alphanumeric code). We’re often tempted to ask, “What is the number of the beast?” The number of the beast is not a mystery since the text identifies it as 666. What some consider concealed is who or what lies behind the personification. I’ll consider 666 as an “obvious mystery”. The one spoken of by the author is advertently encrypted in the number. This is no mystery at all as it calls for wisdom and understanding. The number is the key to identifying the personage personified here.

Second is the problem of methodology. The “who” is unknown unless the enciphered 666 is deciphered. The Book of Revelation says, “calculate the number of the beast”. The calculation is not done with its name or title. Such is incongruent with the entire passage as the person spoken of is not mentioned. The power is only known by deciphering the number 666. We may get it on the set go that 666 is not just a number but a gematria, an identifying mark of the beast (Rev. 13: 17). It contains its mark or name¹.

The third problem we encounter is the numerology. How do we read the number? Should it be read as six, six, six, or six hundred and sixty-six? This is how some English translations of the Bible reads:New International Version: “666”, Berean Bible study: “Six hundred sixty-six”, King James Version: “Six hundred threescore and six”, and the New American Standard Bible: “Six hundred and sixty-six”. In some versions of the Greek Bible, six hundred sixty six is represented by the letters “χξς” Chi=600, Xi=60, S=6. Others write the figures in full as in “ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ”, i.e. 600, 60, 6 or six hundred [and] sixty-six or 666². Reading it merely as six, six, six, may lead to inaccurate conclusion.

In conclusion, this number is linked up only to this Satanic agency in the book of Revelation. It is not the numerical 666 that is problematic, rather, the number of the beast which is 666. Many things may coincidentally bear the number 666. Again, 666 is not the only characteristic of the beast. There are others. The beast in Revelation chapter 13 is a pagan beast. It has no alliance with Christ. We may call it an AntiChrist power. It is a persecuting beast. It persecutes the movement of Christ or Christians (Rev. 13: 7). It makes itself god to be worshiped (Rev. 13: 4, 12). It has an image that people worship (Rev. 13: ). It has a more powerful allied (Rev. 13: 11-17). The recipients of the Book of Revelation in the latter part of the first century are called to decipher the number. All these factors play a role in identifying the beast!

The “mark” equals the name or number of the beast. They’re one and the same thing. ▲
When written as 666, it should be pronounced as six hundred and sixty-six, and not merely six, six, six. ▲