What is the meaning of 666?

What is the meaning of 666? At the close of Revelation 13, which discusses the beast, the Antichrist, and his false prophet, we read,. This calls for wisdom. Let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

The Number 666 in Revelation 13

Somehow, the number 666 is a clue to the identity of the beast. Revelation 13 also mentions the mark of the beast, verses 16 and 17, and popular thought often links 666 with the mark. However, the mark of the beast and 666 appear to be two different things.

The mark of the beast is something people must receive in order to buy and sell. The number 666 is somehow associated with the beast or Antichrist and his number. The meaning of 666 is a mystery, and it appears that the Apostle John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, intended it to be that way.

Why 666 Is Not a Simple Code for Identifying the Antichrist

Calculating it, John says, requires wisdom. Some, using gematria, have identified the Antichrist as various people in world history. Some of the popular targets have been Caesar Nero, Ronald Wilson Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, and various popes in Roman Catholic history.

The lengths some will go to in order to get a person's name to add up to 666 are amazing. Virtually any name can add up to 666, if enough mathematical gymnastics are employed. 666 will somehow identify the beast, but precisely how 666 is connected to the beast is not the main point of Revelation 13.

The Symbolism of Six, Seven, and the Beast's Imitation of God

The Bible often uses the number 7 to refer to God and His perfection. Traditionally, 6 is thought to be the number of man, created on the 6th day and always falling short of God. The beast or Antichrist will strive to be like God.

He will likely even claim to be God. But, just as the number 6 falls short of the number 7, so will the beast or Antichrist, with his trinity of sixes, ultimately fail in his effort to defeat God. Interestingly, in some ancient Greek manuscripts of the book of Revelation, the number is given as 616 instead of 666.

Manuscript Evidence for 666 and the Caution Against Speculation

The manuscript evidence is strongly in favor of 666, but the alternate reading of 616 should give us pause before we start pounding away on the calculators. Got questions? The Bible has answers, and we'll help you find them.