It is written:
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. (Revelation 13:18)
We come now to investigate the number of the beast: 666 (or more literally, six hundred and sixty and six).
In Judaism, numbers had a very powerful symbolic element.
There was even an entire science devoted to the mystical study of numbers!
“There are several explanations of what 666 means. But I believe the best one is the use of a process called “gematria,” which refers to the numerical indication of names. In gematria, a numerical value is attributed to each of the letters of the alphabet. If you want to find the numerical total of a word or name, you add together the numerical value of each of its letters. Clearly, in Revelation 13 some kind of numerical value for the Beast’s name is intended since the one with wisdom is to “calculate” or “count” the number. 270 To count the number of a name means simply to add up the numbers attached to all the letters in the name. 271 Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and English all have numerical values for each letter in the alphabet. For the Hebrew language, each of the twenty-two letters is assigned a numerical value as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, and 400….Many have grossly misapplied gematria to the names of modern leaders to see if they could be the Antichrist. It has been applied to Henry Kissinger and Lyndon Johnson. It has also been applied to JFK, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ronald Reagan. I once received a call from a man who told me emphatically that Philip Borbon Carlos, son of Juan Carlos of Spain, is the Antichrist because each of his three names contains six letters, and he is a prominent European leader. The day after Barack Obama was elected president, the Pick 3 number in the Illinois lottery was 666, leading some to irresponsibly view this as a harbinger that he’s the Antichrist. Phone books are full of names that might add up to 666 if converted to their numerical value. All such foolish speculation should be avoided.” (Mark Hitchcock, The End: A Complete Overview Of Bible Prophecy And The End Of Days, 337-338 (Kindle Edition); Carol Stream, Illinois; Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.).
The number six had a powerful connotation to the average Jewish person.
Milligan documents:
“This is precisely the lesson borne by the number 666. The number six itself awakened a feeling of dread in the breast of the Jew who felt the significance of numbers. It fell below the sacred number seven just as much as eight went beyond it….By a similar process the number six was held to signify inability to reach the sacred point and hopeless falling short of it. To the Jew there was thus a doom upon the number six even when it stood alone. Triple it; let there be a multiple of it by ten and then a second time by ten until you obtain three mysterious sixes following one another, 666; and we have represented a potency of evil than which there can be none greater, a direfulness of fate than which there can be none worse.” (Robert Milligan, The Expositor’s Bible: The Book Of Revelation, 3096-3108 (Kindle Edition); New York; HODDER & STOUGHTON-GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY)
Who is this individual?
Could this somehow be connected to the coronavirus vaccine?
Since we have noticed the many symbols used in Revelation, and have seen their origin springing primarily from the Old Testament Scriptures, could it be that the identity and meaning of the mark of the beast is found in the Old Testament?
Indeed, that is the case.
Throughout the Old Testament, the number 666 is used and applied on only one occasion, to one person. Two references to the same individual are listed. Please carefully consider:
1 Kings 10:14-The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
Again:
2 Chronicles 9:13-The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold,
Now, these passages are talking about king Solomon, who was well known to the readers of the Book of Revelation.
Solomon was a powerful example of someone who rejected God for the things of the world. 1 Kings 10:14 marks the chapter in king Solomon’s story where he begins turning against God. Before that he had primarily been faithful to God. But after that, he rebels against Him!
And what is the symbol of his rebellion against God?
The number 666.
To the Jewish Christian who read the Book of Revelation, it would have quickly been evident that the number 666 was used in the Old Testament as an indicator of someone choosing to rebel against God for the pleasures and treasures of this world (just as Solomon himself had done).
Is it any wonder that the Spirit inspired John to use this number-666-as an indicator of the wickedness of those who “take the mark” in Revelation 13?
Indeed, it all makes perfect sense and teaches us some very powerful lessons.
“Finally, the number of the Beast. It is said to be the number of man, a human number. As always, “man” means “Jew.” It is a Jewish number. It comes from 1 Kings 10: 14, which begins the section of Kings dealing with the fall of Solomon into sin. The law of Deuteronomy 17 forbad the king to multiply gold, women, and horses, but here we see Solomon do all three. In Revelation, the religious rulers of the “land” are called kings, the “kings of the land.” The apostasy of the High Priest, and of the religious leaders of Israel, is thus linked to Solomon’s sin.” (James B. Jordan, The Vindication Of Jesus Christ: A Brief Reader’s Guide To Revelation, 423-428 (Kindle Edition); Monroe, Louisiana; Athanasius Press)
Contextually, the link between Solomon and the number 666 makes perfect sense.
First, those who take the mark of the beast are those who worship the beast.
Second, those who take the mark of the beast are those who turn against God.
Third, those who take the mark of the beast are those who enjoy physical comfort and blessing.
Fourth, those who take the mark of the beast choose false religion and worship of false gods over the true God and the religion which He has revealed in His Word.
These are all perfectly exemplified by Solomon, the man whose number was 666.
Now, all of these facts (individually and collectively) demonstrate that the mark of the beast has nothing to do with the coronavirus vaccine.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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