Music: Ominous Certain numbers have come to carry meaning
beyond mathematics. This practice is commonly referred to as numerology and exists in some
form in almost every culture in human history. Perhaps no number carries more ominous meaning
than 666. But the Mark of the Beast, as it is called in the Book of Revelation,
has many implications beyond its association with evil and the devil.
Even] in the world of mathematics, 666 is quite an interesting number. For starters, it is the
sum of the first 36 natural numbers, meaning the numbers used for counting. Thus 1+2+3 +36 = 666.
It is a triangular number, meaning it can be pictured by a series of dots arranged in the shape
of an equilateral triangle. Because 36 is also triangular, 666 is a double triangular number.
In Roman numerals, 666 is expressed using every symbol with a value
less than 1,000 (DCLXVI). Note that these also come in descending order.
However, the most famous association of 666, at least in the Christian West,
is from a passage in the thirteenth chapter of the final book of the Bible.
This calls for wisdom; let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast,
for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six, Revelation 13:18[na3]
This verse has brought about all manner of speculation,
prophecy, fear, and countless theories as to the apostle John s meaning.
The most common of these uses is the concept of gematria.
Gematria is a Jewish form of numerology in which the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are associated
with a particular numeric value. To understand this theory, you have to understand the context
of John s apocalyptic letter to the members of the early Christian movement[na4][na5].
According to church tradition, John was living in exile on the desolate island of Patmos
toward the end of the first century. From there,
he wrote this letter to encourage and strengthen the churches in
the region of Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey. The most pressing concern these congregations
faced was persecution by Roman officials and even their fellow citizens for their new and
(to them) strange beliefs based on the teachings of Christ. John intended to help them persevere
and not recant their faith in the face of social ostracism, torture, and death.
The entire book is[na6] a mystical vision John experienced while in exile. He is essentially
getting a peek behind the curtain of heaven, an insider s look at unseen spiritual realities.
Chapter 13 of Revelations describes a great beast worshiped by men and
wreaking havoc on God s people[na7]. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.
It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.
It seems that in verse 18, John wants to identify the beast with a name
without naming it outright[na9]. 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.
By using gematria, interpreters have noted that 666 has a value that corresponds
to the Hebrew spelling of none other than Rome s most hated emperor - Nero Caesar[na10].
Nero is infamous for his horrific persecution of many people,
not the least of which were Christians.
According to the Annals of Tacitus, Nero, seeking to deflect blame for the great fire of Rome,
blamed the followers of this small religious sect. Their punishment was death by any number
of horrific means, including being dressed up in animal skins and fed to ravenous dogs,
being crucified, and being set on fire to serve as human torches at night.
Considering Nero was the man who had Peter and Paul killed,
it makes sense that John would want to avoid arousing the suspicion of Roman officials.
The wisdom and insight it would take to decipher such a code is
familiarity with Hebrew tradition and language. This is something many early
Christians would have, but Romans would not. 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.
This is a copyrighted image - but we can use the information
Because of the apocalyptic and symbolic nature of the Book of Revelation,
there has been a great deal of speculation as to its meaning over the centuries.
Many Christians interpret Revelation to be prophetic, detailing future events
concerning the end of the world. Therefore, the number 666 has come
to be associated with a future figure known as the Antichrist.
This beastly figure sets himself up as an alternative to the rightful rule of Christ on
earth. He represents all that is evil and opposes God s will for humanity.
The connection of this mark with the number 666 occurs in the verses just before 13:18.
It causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on
the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark,
that is the name of the beast or the number of its name, Revelation 13:16-17.
This is a new world order in which only those marked by the beast can participate in society.
In the eyes of many, John is warning of a future global organization whose head is the Antichrist.
As the power of this rule grows, Christians will be increasingly ostracized, persecuted,
and suffer greatly because they will refuse to bow to any authority other than Jesus Christ.
Over the centuries, there have been numerous
theories presented as to the identity of the Antichrist.
Nero, obviously, along with other Roman emperors were prime suspects.
The pope has been a popular choice over the years, especially during the Protestant Reformation.
In more recent times, various leaders of the Soviet Union and just about every U.S.
president have been guilty of exhibiting some of the behavior of the Antichrist.
Yet not every association of 666 is negative[na12].
For example, 666 is associated with good luck in Chinese culture
and is often posted visibly in shop windows.
How strange would we find it, here in the West, to walk by a shop with 666 in the window?
Perhaps we would immediately identify it as a store dealing in the occult.
However, in Chinese, the pronunciation of the number 6 is very similar to the
symbol for the word smooth . Thus, 666 means everything goes smoothly .
Similarly, 666 is regarded positively in numerology[na13].
It is an angel number, a repetitive sequence of numbers seeking to convey
a divine message to the one viewing the numbers.
These angel numbers come to those who are observant of their surroundings. If a sequence
appears several times, it is understood to be communicating a supernatural message.
If you see the number 666 occurring, you should recognize it as a reminder, as it may indicate
that you have become distracted and require refocusing on your goals and spirituality.
For many people, 666 is more than the sum of its parts.
Whether referring to a historical person or a future world figure, it serves as a reminder.
For many Christians, it is a reminder that this world is hostile to God and his people. Therefore,
they are to remain vigilant and faithful no matter the persecution that comes their way.
For others, it is a hopeful reminder that the divine supports you and reminds you
that your life will go well. How you interpret the number
666 depends significantly on the spiritual tradition you follow.
How does seeing the number 666 make you feel? Let us know in the comments below. If you
enjoyed this video, please like it and consider subscribing to our channel. Thanks for watching.
[na1]Music becoming more ominous [na2]Music becomes quieter
Numbers on the screen explaining this segment [na3]Text on the screen - pause narration
so audience can read the text [na4]Can we show the hebrew alphabet
[na5]Ancient music [na6]Show book of revelations opening
and zoom in to show images [na7]Pause
[na8]Silence while this comes on screen with ominious music
[na9]Pause. [na10]Can we show how the
name nero corresponds with 666 [na11]pause
[na12]Happy chinese music? [na13]Inspiring music?