“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the
number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is
666.”
~ Revelation 13:18
This is one of the most debated verses in the entire Book of
Revelation because of widespread disagreement over the identification
and meaning of the number 666. The most common line of interpretation is
that of gematria: in the ancient world, letters of the
alphabet were often substituted for numerals (our numerical system derives
from the later Arabic mathematicians). Hence, each letter stood for a
number.
The prophecy of Daniel 11:30-39
already warned that apostates from the covenant community would be
allies of the ungodly state and infiltrate the believing community. If
John’s readers and believers today have spiritual perception, then they
will remain faithful and “come off victorious from the beast and from
his image and from the number of his name” (15:2). Revelation 13:18
is a warning against the activity of the satanic enemy in every
generation, not just his activity in the time immediately preceding
Christ’s return.
The Number is That of a Man; and His Number is
666
Concerning the term "antichrist", it has been used for many centuries. It's only Biblical use is in the first two epistles of John. In 1 John 2:18, the writer says: ..."as you have heard that Antichrist (the was added) is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."
Where did anybody ever hear anything about any antichrist? Jesus never used the term. Neither did Paul, not even once. John also wrote the Book of Revelation, but we look in vain for the term in that Book. It is not there.
The concept seems to have originated in Zoroastrianism, the religion of Persia about the 6 century B.C. It is well known that the Roman Church applied their terminology to deep-rooted or long standing pagan beliefs.
The Catholic Church acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah, but can only be accessed through "Mary, the Mother of God." So, let's paraphrase what John meant: You have heard about this antichrist business, but let me tell you something. They denied that Jesus is the Christ so that makes them "antichrists." ~ John 2:22
John was trying to dispel a popular myth by using "antichrists" to identify the numerous opposers to the true Gospel. The term is used again in 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 17, and nowhere else in the entire Bible!
The application of the term "the Antichrist" to Daniel's "Little Horn", Paul's "Man of Sin", or the 2nd beast of Revelation 13 is nothing more than conjecture or inference in the mind of the casual reader. However, the damage has been done, and the term has been used in all the centuries of Christian history with scarcely a challenge.
By the time of the reformation, 1400 years had passed since the end of the age of the Apostles. Wycliff, Luther, Knox and other reformers accused the Papacy of all the wrongs and excesses of the Man of Sin in 2 Thessalonians. John Foxe, who wrote the Book of Martyrs, applied the prophecy of the second beast of Revelation 13 to the Bishop of Rome.
The number 666 applies to the false prophet, "a man - the Papacy": "He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast (the one world government), that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship (serve) the image of the beast to be killed, and causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
With the word "or" it seems one does not necessarily need all three to be identified as a "complier." The tattoo or microchip theory is too obvious and easily resisted. The word "cause" can be translated, agree
together. People will not be forced,
but will voluntarily comply like they did during the
COVID mask mandate.
Cash
will be outlawed. A new world currency will be created and strictly
controlled by the One World Bank. In order to buy and sell with their Debit Card, people must
agree to the "terms of service" which
states all religions are equal, Christianity is just one among many.
Digital Currency is now a reality.
Like China, American President Joe Biden authorized a “Digital Dollar” turning your money into ‘spyware’ that can search your bank accounts,
dictate what you purchase, and delete
everything with the click of a button.
Most people will simply check "agree" to the terms of service "that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name, or the number. To include all three requirements, the "mark" could be a debit card, with your name and account number, that you hold in your right hand and use the PIN that you have memorized in your forehead.
Individuals, Churches, and Businesses that read the fine print and decline the "mark" will be
locked out of their account. Anyone caught helping "non-compliers" will be severely punished.
Six Signs the World is Ending
The Good News is: Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
~ Revelation 11:15
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
