“Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three score and six” (Revelation 13:18).
This article was suggested to the writer when he read of a question being asked, what is the meaning of 666? and the answer given after a time of reflection, was, No. 1.
A great many people without understanding have made many foolish guesses as to the meaning of the mystic number, 666. Each Roman, Greek or Hebrew letter carried with it a corresponding value expressed by a number, and many people exercised their ingenuity, after the pattern of a jigsaw puzzle, to piece together some name on those lines and arrive at the number, 666. In this way Napoleon, Mahomet, General Boulanger, Adolf Hitler and many others, have been triumphantly pointed to as “the Beast” of Revelation 13. Evidently, in the short list we have given, all but one are demonstrated to be false and ununderstanding guesses for they have died without fulfilling what was expected of them. The one exception is Hitler. He is alive as we write, but we are assured he answers no more to 666 than the others, who have died.
It is clear that “the Beast” of Revelation 13 in the last days, as seen in its final ruler will be the Head of the revived Roman Empire. He will therefore be an Italian and not a German.
It is instructive to note that there are two different words used in the Greek for the word, beast, as employed in Revelation. In Revelation 4 we read of four beasts. There the Greek word is zoon, which stands for a domesticated animal such as an ass or an ox, common animals known for their docility and usefulness to man. But the Greek word for “the Beast” of Revelation 13:1 and 11, is therion, which designates a wild savage beast.
Surely the forerunners in character of such are seen in these upstart totalitarian dictators, such as Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin, ruthless men, who set at defiance every law of God, men who have no regard for their plighted word, who glory that brute force shall crush down everything that opposes their cruel and insatiable ambition, which threatens to engulf civilisation itself.
But now to our point. What is the meaning of 666? We are definitely told in Revelation 13:18, “It is the number of a man.”
Six is the highest number below seven, and seven in the symbolism of Scripture stands for spiritual perfection, for complete fullness, which can only be true of what is Divine, or the product of the working of divine power or grace. So we get in Revelation 4:5, “Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” It is not that there are seven Spirits of God, there is but One, but seven sets forth the fullness and perfection of His operations.
This is happily and aptly illustrated by the golden candlestick or lampstand in the Tabernacle. It was one candlestick or lampstand with a central stem and six branches with seven lamps. We read, “It shall be one beaten work of pure gold. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof” (Ex. 25:36-37).
Six then is the highest number short of seven, six sets forth that which is nearest to seven, perfection. 666 is the strongest emphasis of this. We have 600+60+6=666. Does it not signify that “the Beast,” arising out of the sea (the Mediterranean), seen in its final Head, will present to the world the Superman so largely talked about, the finest specimen of fallen human nature, but without one feature that is of God? Doubtless such a person will be a most perfect specimen physically, of brilliant intellect, powerful of will, unsurpassed in highest statesmanship allied to the highest order of military effectiveness. When all this is seen in a man, who has no regard for God and His word, these very superb qualities, which under the control of God would be magnificent, turn out to be frightful and terrible instruments for the enslavement and misery of mankind. What under the hand of God would be a wonderful instrument for blessing to the world, under the domination of Satan will be found to be the greatest instrument of rebellion against God, and therefore of destruction of men and civilization.
In short “the Beast” in the last days will be the world’s great Superman, the gigantic colossal Egotist, the world’s supreme Number 1, the biggest curse the world has ever seen.
Closely allied to the Beast will be the Antichrist—“the Beast,” the one, through whom Satan will find expression as “the Prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), in the Antichrist, the one through whom Satan will find expression as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), the one political and military, the other religious and anti-Christian.
It is very illuminating to see that what we find of evil working in the political world finds its strong counterpart in the religious world. The flesh is the same wherever we find it. So we read, “little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18).
There is no doubt both the Beast and the Antichrist will work hand-in-glove, and each will arrogate to himself divine honours. We read of the Antichrist, “and he had power to give life to the image of the Beast, that the image of the Beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the Beast should be killed” (Rev. 13:15). It is interesting that the last of the Roman Emperors called for divine homage to be paid to them. Shortly after the Roman Empire was smashed up by the Huns and the Goths swarming into Italy, capturing Rome, and ending the power of that debauched and enfeebled empire. As it was then, so it will be in the last days. When the revived Roman Empire gets to the stage of its last and final head claiming divine honours and to be worshipped as God, the end will come with speedy vengeance from insulted Deity.
It seems that the answer to what is the meaning of 666, is very illuminating and worth pondering over. 666 stands for the No. 1, the super Egotist, the man who cannot be happy save at the very top, who cannot endure to have his will challenged even by God Himself.
It reminds us of the ancient story of King Canute, who sat by the seaside, and gave orders to the tide to stay its course, and not encroach on the beach where he was sitting. But King Canute had to move to save himself from a watery grave. And the two Beasts will find in a moment their power will be crushed and disappear for ever and they will find their place eternally in the Lake of Fire, along with Satan, the great triumvirate of evil, who troubled the world in such frightful fashion, doomed to their fate.
It will be helpful if we seek to get present and personal benefit from what we have been considering. If 666 sets forth the No. 1 in the world’s history, one wonders how far No. 1 bulks with ourselves. 666 is very bad, but what of 66 and 6? There are degrees in this matter. But wherever No. 1 bulks in any measure it is the result of the flesh working, and the flesh is always anti-Christian. No. 1 is the troubler in the world, and he is always a troubler. One of the most scathing things that has ever been said of Satan is that he would rather be first in Hell, than second in Heaven.
We have seen things like this in our time, where a Christian man would rather be head of a tiny fragment than second in something larger. Such console themselves with the reflection that the divine path is narrow, and even if only two or three are found faithful, they claim to be among the number, and plume themselves that they are superior to everything around them in the way of Christian profession, and would be defiled by touching anything outside their tiny fragment.
Was not Diotrophes a case in point? We are told that he loved to have the pre-eminence in the church. He was in his own little way 666. He sought to disparage even the Apostle John, prating against him with malicious words. He refused to receive any of the brethren who might perchance rival him. He forbad those who would welcome such. He was ruthless, even casting out of the Church any that disputed his word or position.
Alas! Diotrophes did not die a bachelor. His progeny are to be found in all circles. Wherever they are found they are troublers. By their very nature they are such.
May we be warned as we consider such. May we seek to drop No. 1, and be characterised by the spirit of Him who was meek and lowly of heart.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). “Thy gentleness has made me great” (Ps. 18:35). “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29).
How diametrically opposed this is to the spirit at work today, soaking the very earth with blood and tears. When the Prince of peace comes,
“He shall come down like showers
Upon the new-mown grass,
And joy and hope, like flowers,
Spring up where He doth pass;
Before Him on the mountains,
Shall Peace! the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.”
Lord, hasten that day.