666 Decoded

[Achilles6129]

"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." Rev. 13:16-18

There has been much debate about the meaning of the number 666 throughout the centuries, and it has gotten to the point where it is obvious that there is no general consensus as to what it means. The problem with the vast majority of opinions on 666 are that they go outside of the Bible to attempt to ascertain the meaning. In fact, there should be no reason to go outside of the Bible unless the Bible itself indicates that the information is outside of it, and in this case, it does not. Therefore, we should have all of the information at our fingertips within the Bible to understand the number 666 and its meaning. As shown by the above verse, the number 666 is tied into the mark of the beast, so the mark of the beast will also be analyzed in order to provide clues that may assist us.

Notice that the number 666 is not only the number of the beast, it is the number of a man. This is an extremely important clue, and is very often overlooked by Biblical "scholars". This means that not only the beast, but EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING EVER BORN has 666 as his/her number (obviously, if they obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, 666 ceases to be their number). Therefore, the number 666 must have something in common with every single person ever born.

Since 666 is tied in with the mark of the beast, a brief look at the Greek words describing the mark will be of interest to us. No one can BUY or SELL without the mark. Buy, #59, agorazo, to go to market, i.e. to purchase; spec. to redeem:- buy, redeem. Agorazo, from #58, agora, the town-square (as a place of public resort); by impl. a market or thoroughfare. Sell, #4453, poleo, to barter (as a pedlar), i.e. to sell. It should be obvious that literal buying and selling is what's being talked about, and since this is the case, then the mark of the beast must be LITERAL. Those who claim that the mark of the beast is figurative have never been able to explain why you cannot LITERALLY buy/sell without it, nor how you can CAUSE somebody to receive something that is figurative. In fact, claiming that the mark of the beast is figurative might be what the false prophet says to modern christianity to get them to take the literal mark.

But a closer inspection of the word mark is in order. Mark, #5480, charagma, a scratch or etching, i.e. stamp (as a badge of servitude), or sculptured figure (statue) :- graven, mark. Vine's on Charagma: "...denotes a stamp, impress,..." It is worth noting that the word #5480, charagma, is used only one other time outside of Revelation, and it is used right here by Paul:


"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." Ac. 17:29

Charagma, the same word used for mark in Revelation, is used (as graven) in this sentence by Paul to describe something man-made. This goes to show that the mark of the beast is indeed literal, even though not being able to buy/sell (and being CAUSED to take it) without it already showed that.

But there is something far more important in Revelation 13:16-18 that has been overlooked by modern christianity, and it has to do with the Greek words for "Six hundred threescore and six." Unbeknownst to modern christianity, the Greek words behind 666 themselves contain a major clue as to the meaning of the number itself. The Greek words behind 666 are as follows: Strong's #5516, chi xi stigma, the 22d, 14th and an obsol. letter (4742 as a cross) of the Greek alphabet (intermediate between the 5th and 6th), used as numbers; denoting respectively 600, 60 and 6; 666 as a numeral:- six hundred threescore and six.The reason for this importance may not be immediately obvious, but is revealed if the words are studied a little more closely. John uses the 22d, 14th, and an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet (between 5th-6th) to denote 666. The letters are chi (22d), xi (14th), and stigma (not sigma, 5th-6th, obsolete letter). The clue lies with the last letter John uses, stigma. Stigma, in fact, is a Greek word (and also an English word), and has a very interesting meaning: Stigma, #4742, from a prim. stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), i.e. (fig.) scar of service:- mark. Vine's on Stigma: "...denotes a tattooed mark or a mark burnt in, a brand (akin to stizo, to prick)..." If we look up stigma in a Random House dictionary, we come across something very interesting indeed: "6. Archaic. a mark made by a branding iron on the skin of a criminal or slave [1580-90; <L<Gk stigma tattoo mark..."

We can see, then, that the number 666 itself has some very important information for us which has been overlooked by virtually everyone. The fact that the Greek obsolete letter "Stigma" is used, and the fact that stigma is also a word meaning to mark for ownership, scar of service, tattooed mark, etc., cannot be ignored. This information makes it entirely possible that the mark of the beast is some type of tattoo on the hand (invisible ink?) or forehead that assists with buying/selling, almost like a bar code, to be used, among other things, for identification purposes. The individual's "bar code" could have all of their information on it, and perhaps even enable them to make debit/credit purchases. If you look at your driver's license, you should have a bar code on it. I do not know what that bar code contains, but I have had it scanned before when at the college bookstore and I am guessing that it contains some type of identification. I will deal with a few more questions about Rev. 13:16-18, and then move on to examine other aspects of the mark of the beast.

Question: Why can the mark be received in the right hand OR the forehead?
Answer: To convenience amputees. In war (and there are major wars fought in Revelation) people lose limbs all the time. It is not uncommon to find war veterans without their right arms. In this case, the mark would have to be put on the forehead of the individual.

Question: Why does taking the mark of the beast damn you forever (Rev. 14:9-11)? Why does God care so much?
Answer: It's because the mark of the beast is all about money (you are unable to buy/sell without it). To take the mark of the beast means to serve money above God forever, and, remember, you cannot serve God and mammon:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Mt. 6:24

Vine's on Mammon: "...a common Aramaic word for riches,..." To take the mark of the beast represents a total rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a serving money first, for all time. That is why it is treated with such seriousness by God, and that is why you cannot be saved if you take the mark of the beast - NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS. It is one or the other, Christ or the beast, God or money, period. You cannot have it both ways. To take the mark of the beast is to serve money above God. To not take the mark of the beast is to reject money (you will not be able to buy or sell) but to serve God. It is one or the other.

 

[Achilles6129]

666 and symbolism:

Although the word stigma is hidden inside of 666, the number also has a symbolic meaning which cannot be ignored. The fact that 6 falls one short of God's number 7, and the fact that there are three sixes to offset God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, is more than just coincidence. God's number is seven:

"And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold..." Gen. 4:15

Obviously, this means that God takes vengeance on whoever slays Cain.
Jesus Christ's number is seven:

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." Rev. 5:6

The Holy Spirit's number is seven:

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD (1) shall rest upon him, and the spirit of wisdom (2) and understanding (3), the spirit of counsel (4) and might (5), the spirit of knowledge (6) and of the fear of the LORD (7);" Isa. 11:1-2

"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him." Jn. 1:32

We can see, then, that 666 offsets God's number 7, Christ's number 7, and the Holy Spirit's number 7. Since the number 7 represents God (and therefore, perfection), and the number 6 comes one short of 7, we can see that the number 6 represents attempting to reach perfection but being unable. As has been shown, the number 666 also represents control (by the Greek word stigma). Therefore, 666 represents an attempt to reach perfection through control. The beast will try to perfect society by FORCING everyone to receive the mark, in order to live in a more "peaceful/secure" society. Remember the words of Paul (describing the last days):

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." 1 Th. 5:3

The mark of the beast (666) is about control. It is so the beast can know where everyone is, what they're buying, what time they're buying it at, etc. If the beast could know where everyone's buying things and at what time, then obviously this would be quite a crime-fighting advantage, as the beast would have a record of every single person alive - where they've been, what time they were there, etc. If such transactions were monitored, this would make it virtually impossible for any terrorist activity to take place, because as soon as someone buys weapons/equipment of any sort, the beast would know who and where. Anyone who refuses to take this security measure (the mark) will be deemed a "terrorist" and killed. It is mankind's attempt to achieve perfection through control.

Question: How could society allow this to happen? Why would people ever support killing someone if they refuse such a security measure?

Answer: The state of affairs in Revelation. Remember the wars in Revelation, and remember that war/death put people in very strange states of mind. People will do almost anything in order to make themselves safe and secure. They will give up their rights, freedoms, anything, in order to live. If allowing the beast to know where they are and what they're buying/selling is the price of security, people will allow it and support it. The drastic events in Revelation will put society into such an aggravated mindset that they will support everything the beast does, even the killing of those who refuse the mark.

Question: Why then is 666 not only the number of the beast, but also the number of a man?
Answer: Because natural man also attempts to achieve perfection through control. It is a part of his very nature itself, and it is the reason why the human race has a long and storied history of slavery. In one way or the other, all natural men attempt to control/manipulate others to get what they want - therefore, the number 666 is not only the number of the beast, but the number of a man. Of course, natural man does not realize he attempts to control/manipulate others, but from God's point of view this is what he does. Here's an example of what I'm talking about:

"And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness." Lu. 11:39

Ravening, #724, harpage, pillage :- extortion, ravening, spoiling. Random House pillage: "1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder 2. to take as booty 3. to rob with open violence..." What Christ is talking about here is not some personal vendetta against the Pharisees, but the nature of man's heart. In other words, by nature man goes around attempting to control/manipulate others, i.e. "pillage" them of things (love, attention, affection, etc.). Here's another example:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Mt. 7:15

Ravening, #727, harpax, rapacious. Once again, Christ is talking about the nature of man's heart. Man's heart, by nature, is rapacious, i.e., given to plundering, attempting to take things by force. Every single person ever born is born with this "ravening" heart. Since we know that the number 666 represents, in part, an attempt to control others, and since by man's nature he does just that, we can see why the number 666 is the number of a man.

666 and deception:

It should be obvious that deception surrounds the mark of the beast. That is the only explanation for why you could have a book published worldwide telling you not to take it, and yet billions apparently end up taking it. Not only that, but the book is specific as to where the mark is placed, and yet people still take it. The reason for this is deception regarding 666/the mark of the beast, and the culprit behind this deception is one individual - the false prophet:

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,..." Rev. 19:20

Deceived, #4105, planao, to (cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue). The false prophet, then, is responsible for ensuring that the human race is deceived into taking the mark. I believe that the false prophet will be deceiving much of modern christianity into taking the mark as well. There are, in my view, several ways which the false prophet could accomplish this:

1. Claim that the mark is not literal, but figurative
2. Claim that the mark happened a long time ago, and has already been fulfilled
3. Claim that modern christianity has not been raptured yet, and so therefore this could not be the real mark of the beast
4. Spiritualize everything away

It would help if the false prophet were a big-time leader within modern christianity (which may not necessarily be true, but is plausible). Nevertheless, every modern christian should be extremely careful with regards to the mark of the beast, because we are warned that the false prophet deceives people into taking it. Anything that fits the Biblical requirements of the mark must be rejected. Also, the mark of the beast will probably appear to be something innocent, and perhaps not a big deal at all. It may very well be that this is something covert, and not overt, and that could explain why the world falls for it. In other words, the mark of the beast does not appear to be the mark of the beast (unless you are watching, that is).

Summary:

We have counted the number of the beast, 666, and found hidden within it the Greek obsolete letter stigma. It has been shown that the Greek word stigma bears a striking connection with the mark of the beast, and that the Greek word stigma and its associated definition indicate that the mark of the beast is some sort of tattoo. All of the data in the Scriptures indicates that the number 666 has do with control and attempting to achieve perfection. Money is a part of this as well, since one cannot buy nor sell without the mark, and one cannot serve God and money. The reason for the three sixes is to offset God's number 7, Christ's number 7, and the Holy Spirit's number 7. Only God can achieve perfection.

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129:
The problem with the vast majority of opinions on 666 are that they go outside of the Bible to attempt to ascertain the meaning. In fact, there should be no reason to go outside of the Bible unless the Bible itself indicates that the information is outside of it, and in this case, it does not.

Just as we need to go outside of the Bible to ascertain the meaning of the original Greek word "choinix" (Revelation 6:6), so we need to go outside of the Bible to ascertain the meaning of "the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2). For in both cases, John the apostle didn't explain them because he knew that the people he was writing to in the first century already knew full well what he was referring to. In the case of "the number of his name", John was referring to the ancient practice of gematria, by which any name could be converted into a number. The way this was done was by assigning numerical values to the letters of any alphabet, as follows: the first nine letters in the alphabet were one through nine, the next nine letters were 10 through 90 (counting by tens), and the rest of the letters were 100, 200, 300, etc., to the end of the alphabet. So the gematrial numerical values of the letters in the English alphabet would be as follows:

A=1
B=2
C=3
D=4
E=5
F=6
G=7
H=8
I=9
J=10
K=20
L=30
M=40
N=50
O=60
P=70
Q=80
R=90
S=100
T=200
U=300
V=400
W=500
X=600
Y=700
Z=800

The way that the number of a name is "counted" (Revelation 13:18), that is, added up, is simply by adding up the numerical values of all of the letters in that name. So, for example, the number of the name "John Mark Smith" is 636, because:

J=10
O=60
H=8
N=50

M=40
A=1
R=90
K=20

S=100
M=40
I=9
T=200
H=8

Total = 636

The number of the name of the human who will be the beast will add up to 666 (Revelation 13:17-18). An example of a name that adds up to 666 would be "Nabil Abdullah Falakal al-Hakim".

 

[NJBeliever]

Just as we need to go outside of the Bible to ascertain the meaning of the original Greek word "choinix" (Revelation 6:6), so we need to go outside of the Bible to ascertain the meaning of "the number of his name" (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2). For in both cases, John the apostle didn't explain them because he knew that the people he was writing to in the first century already knew full well what he was referring to. In the case of "the number of his name", John was referring to the ancient practice of gematria, by which any name could be converted into a number. The way this was done was by assigning numerical values to the letters of any alphabet, as follows: the first nine letters in the alphabet were one through nine, the next nine letters were 10 through 90 (counting by tens), and the rest of the letters were 100, 200, 300, etc., to the end of the alphabet. So the gematrial numerical values of the letters in the English alphabet would be as follows:

A=1
B=2
C=3
D=4
E=5
F=6
G=7
H=8
I=9
J=10
K=20
L=30
M=40
N=50
O=60
P=70
Q=80
R=90
S=100
T=200
U=300
V=400
W=500
X=600
Y=700
Z=800

The way that the number of a name is "counted" (Revelation 13:18), that is, added up, is simply by adding up the numerical values of all of the letters in that name. So, for example, the number of the name "John Mark Smith" is 636, because:

J=10
O=60
H=8
N=50

M=40
A=1
R=90
K=20

S=100
M=40
I=9
T=200
H=8

Total = 636

The number of the name of the human who will be the beast will add up to 666 (Revelation 13:17-18). An example of a name that adds up to 666 would be "Nabil Abdullah Falakal al-Hakim".

This is probably the best explanation I've seen to this question.

 

[zeke37]

lol


those are funny



why not look for the references in the BIBLE for 666, and see what ya come up with


try Solomon's Gold, The Fiery furnace, and the 6th seal/trump/vial,

any one else got any more 666 references in the Bible, 'cause that is where we will find the answer...not this gibberish math.

 

[childofmercy]

lol


those are funny



why not look for the references in the BIBLE for 666, and see what ya come up with


try Solomon's Gold, The Fiery furnace, and the 6th seal/trump/vial,

any one else got any more 666 references in the Bible, 'cause that is where we will find the answer...not this gibberish math.

I absolutely stand in agreement with this soul. The mark is who he stands for and who he serves with his hand. The anti-christ comes at the 6 seal, 6 trump, 6 vial.

Revelation 16:13

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

These are the three offices of Satan, just as Christ has offices of apostle, disciple, etc.

notice: beast
notice: it falls in the sixth seal, 6 trump, and on the 6th seal

Revelation 16:15

Behold, I come as a theif. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

your garments are your works .. be careful who you follow and support
beware those .. the anti-christ comes first and we are still here .. other than those that followed the wrong christ .. Jesus comes at the 7 seal, 7 trump 7 vial .. who will you follow .. or will you 'fly away' with the first arrival .. many will be decieved (Matt (Matt 24:11) .. he comes in prosperisly and peacefully (Daniel) .. doing great wonders and works .. Jesus Himself even tells us He doesn't come until AFTER the tribulation (Matt 24:29 KJV) .. if He were to come and take away His sheep and then return to do biz that would be three comings .. the parable of the ten virgins bears this out .. only half had their oil .. which is the annointing .. which is Cristo ... Christ! .. this why in Ezekiel 13:20 KJV God says woe to those who teach His children to fly to save their lives ..

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear .. be blessed

 

[interpreter]

Hitler's Third Reich (or Third Reign of Rome) is the third six of the 666 trilogy (with the Rome of John's day being the original head # 6, WW I's Second Reich being the second six, and the Third Reich being the third six). The mark of the beast was the swastika.

 

[Achilles6129]

But there is something far more important in Revelation 13:16-18 that has been overlooked by modern christianity, and it has to do with the Greek words for "Six hundred threescore and six." Unbeknownst to modern christianity, the Greek words behind 666 themselves contain a major clue as to the meaning of the number itself. The Greek words behind 666 are as follows: Strong's #5516, chi xi stigma, the 22d, 14th and an obsol. letter (4742 as a cross) of the Greek alphabet (intermediate between the 5th and 6th), used as numbers; denoting respectively 600, 60 and 6; 666 as a numeral:- six hundred threescore and six.The reason for this importance may not be immediately obvious, but is revealed if the words are studied a little more closely. John uses the 22d, 14th, and an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet (between 5th-6th) to denote 666. The letters are chi (22d), xi (14th), and stigma (not sigma, 5th-6th, obsolete letter). The clue lies with the last letter John uses, stigma. Stigma, in fact, is a Greek word (and also an English word), and has a very interesting meaning: Stigma, #4742, from a prim. stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), i.e. (fig.) scar of service:- mark. Vine's on Stigma: "...denotes a tattooed mark or a mark burnt in, a brand (akin to stizo, to prick)..." If we look up stigma in a Random House dictionary, we come across something very interesting indeed: "6. Archaic. a mark made by a branding iron on the skin of a criminal or slave [1580-90; <L<Gk stigma tattoo mark..."

So no one else finds this to be incredibly interesting? The fact that the very letters used for 666 themselves mean a tattooed mark? There is no way that this is mere coincidence.

 

[Achilles6129]

The number of the name of the human who will be the beast will add up to 666 (Revelation 13:17-18). An example of a name that adds up to 666 would be "Nabil Abdullah Falakal al-Hakim".

You are ignoring the fact that the number of the beast is also the number of a man. In other words, the beast's number is the entire human race's number. I offered an explanation in my post for why this was the case. Secondly, you cannot prove that by "count" the number of the beast (psephizo), John was referring to your practice of gemetria. That is merely an opinion, not a fact. John might very well be referring to the fact that the Greek letter "stigma" is used in 666, and the Greek word stigma means, upon close examination, a scar of service, tattoo mark, etc. This may be John's meaning when he says "let him who has understanding count the number of the beast..."

 

[Zadok7000]

lol


those are funny



why not look for the references in the BIBLE for 666, and see what ya come up with


try Solomon's Gold, The Fiery furnace, and the 6th seal/trump/vial,

any one else got any more 666 references in the Bible, 'cause that is where we will find the answer...not this gibberish math.

"a man" who happened to be "marked"....hmmmmm...counted over time as stones...

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129:
Stigma, #4742, from a prim. stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), i.e. (fig.) scar of service

"A mark incised", a "scar", would apply to the mark being applied via ritual scarification. Indeed, the original Greek word translated as the "mark" (Revelation 13:17) can mean a scratch or etching, and scarification is the scratching or etching of the skin just deep enough to leave a permanent mark. But it should be noted that the mark of the beast and the number of his name (666) are still two different things, in that when the mark is instituted people will be given the choice of receiving either a mark of his name (Revelation 14:11) or a mark of the number of his name (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2).

... the beast's number is the entire human race's number.

Revelation 13:17-18 doesn't say or mean that the number of the name of the beast is the entire human race's number. Instead, Revelation 13:17-18 refers to 666 as being only the number of the name of "a man", a singular "anthropos", which simply means an individual human being. This is none other than the individual human being, that man of sin, who will sit in a rebuilt Jewish temple and proclaim himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 11:36).

... you cannot prove that by "count" the number of the beast (psephizo), John was referring to your practice of gemetria.

In Revelation 13:18, "count" the number of the beast means to add up the number of his name (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2). The way to do this is to add up the gematrial numerical values of the letters of his name. It is an understanding of the ancient system of gematria which believers today need if they are ever to be able to "count" the number of the name of the beast (Revelation 13:17-18).

 

[Achilles6129]

[QUOTEBut it should be noted that the mark of the beast and the number of his name (666) are still two different things, in that when the mark is instituted people will be given the choice of receiving either a mark of his name (Revelation 14:11) or a mark of the number of his name (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2).][/QUOTE]

The mark of the beast and the number of his name (666) are the exact same thing.

"17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:17

The mark = the name of the beast = the number of his name (which is 666). In fact, the verse you quoted, Rev. 14:11, proves this:

"11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:11

The "mark of his name" is the same thing as the mark of the beast. We know that the "number of the beast's name" is 666, therefore the mark of the beast is also 666. People are not given two different choices. There is only one choice, but the "mark of the beast" is also the "mark of his name" (which is 666).

Revelation 13:17-18 doesn't say or mean that the number of the name of the beast is the entire human race's number. Instead, Revelation 13:17-18 refers to 666 as being only the number of the name of "a man", a singular "anthropos", which simply means an individual human being. This is none other than the individual human being, that man of sin, who will sit in a rebuilt Jewish temple and proclaim himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 11:36).

The number of the beast is the "number of a man." Obviously, it is referring to a single anthropos, just like in many other cases in the Bible Christ refers to a single anthropos when in fact referring to all men. The following examples come to mind:

"24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mt. 16:24

"25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." Jn. 2:25

The number of the beast (666) is indeed the number of every single human being ever born, unless they obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. Which also explains why the human race worships the beast, and ends up taking the mark of the beast. It has to do with control.

In Revelation 13:18, "count" the number of the beast means to add up the number of his name (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2). The way to do this is to add up the gematrial numerical values of the letters of his name. It is an understanding of the ancient system of gematria which believers today need if they are ever to be able to "count" the number of the name of the beast (Revelation 13:17-18).

As I have already stated, this is an opinion, not a fact. How do you know that by "count the number of the beast" John is not referring to counting the Greek letters used for 666, in the which case one would arrive at the Greek word Stigma? Which, of course, means a tattoo mark?

The fact that John uses the Greek letter Stigma, which is a Greek word meaning a tattoo mark, is, in my opinion, a major clue as to what the mark of the beast actually is.

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129:
The mark of the beast and the number of his name (666) are the exact same thing.

The mark of the beast and the number of his name are not the exact same thing, in that people will be given the choice of receiving either a mark of his name (Revelation 14:11) "or" a mark of the number of his name (Revelation 13:17), just as people will be given the choice of receiving the mark either on their right hand "or" on their forehead (Revelation 13:16). In Revelation 13:17, the original Greek word translated as "or" three times can mean "either", so that the second "or" in Revelation 13:17 can mean "either". Revelation 13:17 can be read as "the mark: either the name of the beast or the number of his name".

... the name of the beast = the number of his name

The name of the beast isn't the same as the number of his name, for in Revelation 13:17, the original Greek word translated as "or" three times is used to distinguish between two different things (as in "either"/"or"), so the third "or" in Revelation 13:17 is specifically indicating that the name of the beast and the number of his name are not the same thing. This is also just common sense, for names and numbers are different things.

The number of the beast is the "number of a man." Obviously, it is referring to a single anthropos, just like in many other cases in the Bible Christ refers to a single anthropos when in fact referring to all men. The following examples come to mind:

"24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mt. 16:24

"25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." Jn. 2:25

Revelation 13:18 doesn't refer to "any man", or to "all men", but only to an individual man, a singular "anthropos" who is the beast: that man of sin who will sit in a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 11:36), and who will then be worshipped by the whole unelect world along with Lucifer (Satan, the dragon) (Revelation 13:4-8).

Regarding Matthew 16:24, the original Greek word translated there as "any man" is not "anthropos", but "tis", which means "any". And regarding John 2:25, in the original Greek, while "anthropos" is used twice, it is preceded both times by the Greek definite article, which is definite because it is referring back to the "all" (in the sense of all men) at the end of the preceding verse (John 2:24). But in Revelation 13:18 there is no definite article preceding "anthropos", because there had been no prior reference to the beast being "all" men. Instead, Revelation 13:18 is referring only to an individual man who is the beast: that's why Revelation 13:18 is translated as saying that the number of the beast is the number of "a" man.

The number of the beast (666) is indeed the number of every single human being ever born, unless they obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The number of the beast is not the number of all unsaved human beings, but the number of the name of an individual human being who is the beast (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2)

Which also explains why the human race worships the beast, and ends up taking the mark of the beast. It has to do with control.

The entire unelect world will worship the individual human being who is the beast (Revelation 13:8) because God himself will send a strong delusion upon them so that they will believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11) that the individual human being who is the beast is actually the real God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 11:36). This lie will appear to the unelect world to be proven true when they see the amazing miracles performed by the false prophet of the beast (Revelation 13:12-18, Revelation 19:20).

How do you know that by "count the number of the beast" John is not referring to counting the Greek letters used for 666

In Revelation 13:17-18, counting (or adding up) the number of the name of the individual man who is the beast must be done in the same way that the gematrial numerical values of the three Greek letters (Chi, Xi, Stigma) at the end of Revelation 13:18 must be added up to arrive at the number 666. The gematrial numerical values of the letters of the ancient Greek alphabet (including the three obsolete letters of Stigma, Qoppa, and Sampi) were as follows:

Alpha = 1
Beta = 2
Gamma = 3
Delta = 4
Epsilon = 5
(Stigma = 6)
Zeta = 7
Eta = 8
Theta = 9
Iota = 10
Kappa = 20
Lambda = 30
Mu = 40
Nu = 50
Xi = 60
Omikron = 70
Pi = 80
(Qoppa = 90)
Rho = 100
Sigma = 200
Tau = 300
Upsilon = 400
Phi = 500
Chi = 600
Psi = 700
Omega = 800
(Sampi = 900)

Just as the gematrial numerical values of the letters Chi, Xi, and Stigma add up to 666, so the gematrial numerical values of the letters of the name of the individual man who is the beast will add up to 666 (Revelation 13:17-18).

But there is no reason to think that the gematrial numerical values of the letters of the name of the individual man who is the beast will add up to 666 only if they are first transliterated into the letters of the ancient Greek alphabet. For the gematrial principle (assigning numerical values to letters in an alphabet based on their position within that alphabet) applies to any alphabet. John only used the ancient Greek alphabet because that was the most common alphabet used by believers at the time the book of Revelation was written. Today, the most common alphabet used by believers is the English alphabet, so that the gematrial numerical values of the letters of the name of the individual man who is the beast will most likely add up to 666 in the English alphabet.

The whole purpose of Revelation 13:17-18 is to help believers to beware of a certain man as possibly being the beast, if the gematrial numerical values of the letters of that man's name add up to 666. If the letters of his name had to be transliterated into the ancient Greek alphabet, this would vitiate this purpose, for almost all believers would not know how to properly perform the transliteration (as God himself would perform it), and different believers would no doubt come up with variant, competing transliterations, and therefore would arrive at variant, competing numbers for the name of the certain man in question.

If the native language of the certain man in question is not English, there could appear in the media variant English transliterations of his name. But because almost all believers would not know which of the variant English transliterations to use in order to perform the calculation of Revelation 13:17-18, believers should probably go with the English transliteration which appears most commonly in the news media. For this would be in line with the whole purpose of Revelation 13:17-18, which is to facilitate for believers, not to make difficult for them, the identification of a certain man as possibly being the man who is the beast.

Once it has been determined that the number of a certain man's name is 666, while this will mean that he could be the man who is the beast, it will not mean that he is definitely the man who is the beast. For 666 is the number of the names of many different people. The man who is the beast also has to come from a country the territory of which used to be part of one of the four Diadochian kingdoms which succeeded the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:8-9,21-25). These four kingdoms stretched from Greece over to Iran, and down into Egypt. So the man who is the beast will probably come from the Middle East. He could be an Arab, from Lebanon, from the modern city of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2, cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4). But even if it is determined that a man from the Middle East has a name the number of which is 666, even this will not assure that he is the man who is the beast. For he will also have to sit in a third Jewish temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Daniel 11:36). Once he does that, there will no longer be any room for doubt over whether or not he is the man who is the beast.

John uses the Greek letter Stigma, which is a Greek word meaning a tattoo mark

At the end of Revelation 13:18, the apostle John used the individual-letter Stigma to represent the number 6 because that was its gematrial numerical value. John did not use the Greek word "stigma". Nonetheless, the definition of the Greek word "stigma" does include the meanings of a mark incised, a scar, which happens to be in line with the meanings of the different Greek word "charagma" which John did use to refer to the "mark" of the beast (Revelation 13:17), for charagma can mean a scratch or etching. The mark of the beast could be applied via ritual scarification: purposely scratching or etching the skin just deep enough to leave a permanent mark.

 

[zeke37]

God's mark is described the same way, between the eyes/forhead/mind...and on your right hand...

that is not coincidence....and the mark given certainly was not a physical tattoo or etching into the skin...it was much deeper than that.

Ex13, Deut6 and 11

there is no coincidence...we are to learn from these scriptures

 

[Achilles6129]

First off, a correction. I was rushed for time and posted Mt. 16:24-25 hastily, and afterwards realized that the word for man was "tis" and not "anthropos" as I originally thought. Good catch.

The mark of the beast and the number of his name are not the exact same thing, in that people will be given the choice of receiving either a mark of his name (Revelation 14:11) "or" a mark of the number of his name (Revelation 13:17), just as people will be given the choice of receiving the mark either on their right hand "or" on their forehead (Revelation 13:16). In Revelation 13:17, the original Greek word translated as "or" three times can mean "either", so that the second "or" in Revelation 13:17 can mean "either". Revelation 13:17 can be read as "the mark: either the name of the beast or the number of his name".

By playing Greek word games with the Scriptures you can make them out to mean almost anything. You are missing the meaning of the passage by playing word games with the word "or". The point of the passage is that the mark of the beast is equated to the name and the number of his name (which is 666). Revelation 14:11 PROVES this, and I will quote it again so we can examine it:

"11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:11

This passage proves that the mark of the beast is equated with the "mark of his name." Since we know that the mark of the beast = the mark of his name, we can take another look at the original passage:

"17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:17

The mark of the beast = the mark of his name. Rev. 14:11 shows that this passage is equating, and since it is equating the mark = the name of the beast = the number of his name = 666. Therefore, the mark of the beast = 666. While "or" can mean "either" it can also be an equating term, and mean "even".

The name of the beast isn't the same as the number of his name, for in Revelation 13:17, the original Greek word translated as "or" three times is used to distinguish between two different things (as in "either"/"or"), so the third "or" in Revelation 13:17 is specifically indicating that the name of the beast and the number of his name are not the same thing. This is also just common sense, for names and numbers are different things.

It is most certainly not common sense, in fact it is the exact opposite. The number of his name = the name of the beast. You yourself attempt to prove this by gemetria, so you are in fact contradicting yourself when you claim that "they are not the same thing."

But in Revelation 13:18 there is no definite article preceding "anthropos", because there had been no prior reference to the beast being "all" men. Instead, Revelation 13:18 is referring only to an individual man who is the beast: that's why Revelation 13:18 is translated as saying that the number of the beast is the number of "a" man.

Good grief. Are you done playing Greek word games yet? The reason there is a definite article in Jn. 2:24-25, as you stated, is that it is referring back to a reference in the previous verse. My fault for using a bad example. Here's a better one:

"4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Mt. 4:4

There is no definite article preceding "man", nor is it necessary to have a definite article preceding "man" for the reference to be about all men. Therefore, in Rev. 13:16-17, you equate the beast with "man", yet you do not equate the mark of the beast with his name with his number. Make sense? Not to me.

The number of the beast is not the number of all unsaved human beings, but the number of the name of an individual human being who is the beast (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2)

We're just going to have to disagree. Word games don't change the meaning of the passages.

In Revelation 13:17-18, counting (or adding up) the number of the name of the individual man who is the beast must be done in the same way that the gematrial numerical values of the three Greek letters (Chi, Xi, Stigma) at the end of Revelation 13:18 must be added up to arrive at the number 666.

Again, where is your proof for this? Why does the practice have to be gemetria? The number 666 is clearly a mystical number. By "counting" the number of the beast, chi xi stigma, we arrive at the Greek letter stigma, also a Greek word. Also, each number in 666 falls one short of the number 7. John could be referring to either of these things when talking about "counting" the number of the beast. Bottom line: You have not presented a shred of evidence to support your opinion that the number of the beast must be counted by gemetria.

By the way, even if the number is to be counted by gemetria, totally disagree with your idea that it can be counted in English and not in Greek.

The man who is the beast also has to come from a country the territory of which used to be part of one of the four Diadochian kingdoms which succeeded the Greek Empire of Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:8-9,21-25). These four kingdoms stretched from Greece over to Iran, and down into Egypt. So the man who is the beast will probably come from the Middle East

You are incorrect. The individual referred to in Dan. 8 is not the antichrist, but is Antiochus IV. Antiochus IV came from Alexander's kingdom and is figuratively described as a "little horn", because he is a symbol for the antichrist (he later morphs into him in Dan. 11). Therefore, your assertion that the antichrist must come from one of those countries is incorrect, because the chapter is not referring to the antichrist anyway.

At the end of Revelation 13:18, the apostle John used the individual-letter Stigma to represent the number 6 because that was its gematrial numerical value. John did not use the Greek word "stigma". Nonetheless, the definition of the Greek word "stigma" does include the meanings of a mark incised, a scar, which happens to be in line with the meanings of the different Greek word "charagma" which John did use to refer to the "mark" of the beast (Revelation 13:17), for charagma can mean a scratch or etching. The mark of the beast could be applied via ritual scarification: purposely scratching or etching the skin just deep enough to leave a permanent mark.

So it doesn't strike you as sort of odd that the Greek word Stigma also means a tattoo mark? That the number 666 has within it, a word which means a scar of service, tattoo mark? And, perhaps, this was what John was referring to when he talked about counting the number of the beast? Have you ever thought that maybe this isn't a coincidence?

 

[visionary]

17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:17

The mark is not 666
the beast is not nor is the beast's name 666
only the number of his name...666

the mark of his name can be something other than 666

For example, my initials can be the mark of my name.... but it is not the gematrial numerical value of my name.

 

[vinsight4u]

/

 

[Bible2]

Achilles6129:
You are missing the meaning of the passage by playing word games with the word "or".

No games have been played. It has simply been pointed out that the third "or" in Revelation 13:17 is specifically indicating that the name of the beast is something different than the number of his name. And this is also just common sense, for names and numbers are different things.

This passage proves that the mark of the beast is equated with the "mark of his name."

Revelation 14:11 doesn't prove that the mark of the beast will be only the mark of his name, for elsewhere we are shown that people will be given the option of receiving either a mark of his name "or" a mark of the number of his name (Revelation 13:17), just as people will be given the option of receiving the mark either on their right hand "or" on their forehead (Revelation 13:16). So Revelation 14:11's reference to only the mark of his name is simply a synedochic reference to the mark of the beast, just as Revelation 15:2's reference to only the mark of the number of his name is simply a synedochic reference to the mark of the beast.

While "or" can mean "either" it can also be an equating term, and mean "even".

In Revelation 13:17, the original Greek word translated as "or" (G2228) is not an equating term, but a distinguishing term (as in "either"/"or"). That's why it is never translated as "even".

It is most certainly not common sense, in fact it is the exact opposite.

What is the opposite of common sense is to say that names and numbers are the same thing.

The number of his name = the name of the beast. You yourself attempt to prove this by gemetria, so you are in fact contradicting yourself when you claim that "they are not the same thing."

There has been no contradiction, for gematria is simply the means by which names are converted into numbers. Names and numbers are not the same thing.

"4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Mt. 4:4

There is no definite article preceding "man", nor is it necessary to have a definite article preceding "man" for the reference to be about all men. Therefore, in Rev. 13:16-17, you equate the beast with "man", yet you do not equate the mark of the beast with his name with his number. Make sense? Not to me.

Because there is no definite article preceding "man" in Matthew 4:4, it can be translated as "a man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God", just as because there is no definite article preceding "man" in Revelation 13:18, it can be translated as "it is the number of a man". But while the principle of Matthew 4:4 can be applied to every individual man, the number of the beast in Revelation 13:18 is not the number of every individual man, but the number of the name of the individual man who is the beast (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2). Every individual man is not the beast, nor does every individual man have the same name as the individual man who is the beast. Also, these facts do not contradict the fact that names are not the same as numbers, that the name of the individual man who is the beast is not the same as the number of his name.

Why does the practice have to be gemetria?

Gematria is how names are converted into numbers, just as it is by gematria that the three letters at the end of Revelation 13:18 (in the Greek) are converted into the three numbers 600, 60, and 6.

The number 666 is clearly a mystical number.

No true, mystical meaning of the number 666 will contradict the revelation that the number 666 is also the number of the name of the individual man who is the beast (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2).

By "counting" the number of the beast, chi xi stigma, we arrive at the Greek letter stigma, also a Greek word.

Just as it is by counting, or adding up, the gematrial numerical values of each the three letters Chi (600), Xi (60), and Stigma (6) that we arrive at the number 666 (Revelation 13:18), so it will be by counting, or adding up, the gematrial numerical values of each of the letters in the name of the individual man who is the beast that we will arrive at the number 666 (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2).

Regarding the Greek letter Stigma, it is not the same as the Greek word "stigma", just as, for example, the English letter "B" is not the same as the English word "be", and the English letter "Y" is not the same as the English word "Why".

The individual referred to in Dan. 8 is not the antichrist

The little horn in Daniel 8 is the individual man who is the beast (commonly called the Antichrist), who will stand up against the Prince of princes (Daniel 8:25, Revelation 19:19).

So it doesn't strike you as sort of odd that the Greek word Stigma also means a tattoo mark?

The Greek word "stigma" can mean other than a tattoo; it can also mean a mark incised, a scar, as in a scar purposely placed on people through scarification. John the apostle doesn't use the Greek word "stigma" anywhere in Revelation to refer to the "mark", but always uses the Greek word "charagma" to refer to the "mark". The Greek word "charagma" can mean a scratch or etching, and so can refer to scarification, in which scars are purposely placed on people through the scratching or etching of their skin just deep enough to leave a permanent mark.

Have you ever thought that maybe this isn't a coincidence?

It could be more than a coincidence that the name of the Greek letter Stigma (which letter is employed by John the apostle to point to the number 6 at the end of Revelation 13:18) is spelled the same as the Greek word "stigma", and it could be more than a coincidence that the Greek word "stigma" has a meaning similar to the Greek word "charagma" (which word is employed by John the apostle to refer to the "mark" of the beast). But nothing requires that in order to arrive at a correct understanding of what the mark of the beast is we must read into the Greek letter Stigma the meaning of the Greek word "stigma", for the Greek word "charagma" already tells us what the mark of the beast is. So it is superfluous to get hung up on the meaning of the Greek word "stigma", and it is downright dangerous to get hung up on it to the point where we reject the whole reason that we are given the number of the name of the individual man who is the beast, which reason is so that we can identify the individual man who is the beast early on in his world career by simply counting, or adding up, the gematrial numerical values of the letters in his name, and seeing that they add up to 666 (Revelation 13:17-18, Revelation 15:2).

 

[zeke37]

God's mark is described the same way, between the eyes/forhead/mind...and on your right hand...

that is not coincidence....and the mark given certainly was not a physical tattoo or etching into the skin...it was much deeper than that.

Ex13, Deut6 and 11

there is no coincidence...we are to learn from these scriptures

what he said, lol