Although there are numerous prophecies in the Gospels and the Epistles, Revelation is the only New Testament book that focuses primarily on prophetic events. The apostle John was exiled to the desolate island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea (probably for his effective testimony for Christ) and there received a series of startling visions. Because of it’s complex imagery and symbolism, Revelation is a difficult book to interpret but we have to remember that God did not inspire these chapters of scripture simply because He wanted to confound us, or because He had nothing better to do. They were inspired and written for our learning and our understanding. Ancient languages, including Hebrew and Greek, use standard letters from their alphabet as numerical signs. (A beta can represent the number two) A series of letters could form a word and indicate a number at the same time. From the time that John penned the book of Revelation (probably around A.D 95) men have been trying to figure out the meaning of the beast and his number.. Six hundred sixty and six. The list of conjectures concerning the meaning of the number is almost as long as the list of commentators on Revelation. Taking their cue from “let him count (calculate) the number of the beast” many interpreters have tried to play the ancient Hebrew game of Gematria. One form of Gematria was trying to guess a word from a number. Although many conservative theologians have seen the number 666 from Revelation 13 as symbolic of all that is evil and a blasphemous, a parody of the perfection that the Bible attributes to the number 7, others attempt to use the number to identify an individual.This is exactly what many have done with the ‘666’ of Revelation 13. One of the most popular interpretations is a Hebrew rendition of “Neron Caesar”, which equals 666, thus linking this beast with the Nero legend. (His return from the abyss with hordes of demons was an omen of the last days) The advent of the computer has caused some to see it as the Beast. One writer noted that if the letter "A"=6 and "B"=12 and "C"=18, and so on, the word computer adds up to 666. The same writer also observed that the words "New York" added up to 666. Some pointed to John Kennedy because he had received 666 votes for the vice-presidency in 1956.(14) Others pointed to Henry Kissinger because his name in Hebrew added up to 111 or 666 divided by 6. Even Ronald Reagan was considered because his first, middle, and last names all had six letters. Other results have been a curious mixture of entertaining, flamboyant, intriguing, and many have become very popular but how Biblical are they? The striking number of attempts to identify the Antichrist and the significance of the number 666 should at least give us a sense of caution before adding another name to the list. Perhaps we should follow the example of Irenaus in the second century. Seeing the many efforts to identify the Antichrist in his day, he cautioned against the practice and believed that the name was deliberately concealed until it would be obvious in the day of the Antichrist's arrival. 
Nowhere does John use Gematria as a method. However He does give symbolic significance to numbers... The seven churches, trumpets, bowls, seals; The 24 elders; 144,000 sealed, etc. Also in Rev 15:2 the victors have triumphed over three enemies: the beast, his image and the number of his name, which suggests a symbolic significance connected with idolatry and blasphemy rather than someone’s name. A similar use of the words “wisdom” occurs in 17:9 where John calls attention to the identity of the beast ridden by the harlot. What he seems to be asking for in both cases is divine discernment, not mathematical ingenuity. * Here is wisdom. Let 'him that hath understanding' count the number of the beast: for it is the number of man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six.
The Imagery of the Beast The 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation concerns the earthly instruments of the assault on God’s people. There are no fewer than a dozen references to the beast(s) in Revelation, which leads to several questions.. The identification of the beast, the time of its rule, etc. It is highly unlikely that real monsters are going to rise out of the sea. There is no question that when God uses symbolism in scripture, He also gives us enough information there to Biblically identify what that imagery means. Therefore we have to turn to the Bible and compare scripture with scripture. The imagery of the beast is used in several places in Scripture and is often used to illustrate a devouring presence or rule (kingdom), which comes against the children of God who are the prey of these spiritual carnivores, the natural enemy of the saints. Take, for example, the imagery in Daniel's vision of the four beasts. God declared that the image was of four kingdoms, pictured as a Lion, a Bear, a Leopard. The fourth beast, which was different from all the others, was exceedingly dreadful and had teeth of iron and claws of bronze. These are all symbolic images or word pictures of carnivorous beasts, which devour their prey. Daniel was made to 'know the interpretation and God makes it very clear that the prey are 'His people.' * "I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever". Daniel 7:16-18 * "Thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth Kingdom upon the earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces". Daniel 7:23
More of the imagery is found in Ezekiel. * "As I live saith the Lord God, surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became meat to every Beast of the field, because there was no Shepherd, neither did My Shepherds search for My flock, but the Shepherds fed themselves not My flock". Ezekiel 34:8 * "And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture are men, and I Am your God, saith the Lord God". Ezekiel 34:31 * "And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the Beast of the land devour them, but they shall dwell Safely, and none shall make them afraid". Ezekiel 34:28
These are obviously neither literal sheep nor literal beasts. The Lord’s people.. Israel are portrayed as sheep and the pagan unsaved nations as the beasts. This symbolism is carried over into the New Testament where Satan himself is portrayed as a lion. *"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary The Devil as a Roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour". 1st Peter 5:8
Jesus also illustrated this in the book of Matthew. *"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16
Characteristics of The First Beast Rises from the sea Resembles the dragon Has composite animal features Is empowered by the dragon (Satan) Has one head wounded to death and then healed Blasphemes God Wars against the saints and kills them Gives his ‘mark’ to those who follow him The description of this beast is very similar to the one of the dragon in 12:3 and has already been described in 11:7 as rising from the Abyss. Therefore the ‘sea’ may symbolize the Abyss, the source of demonic power opposed to God, which agrees with OT images of the sea as the origin of satanic sea monsters. (See Psalm 74:13-14; 87:4; 89:10; Isaiah 27:1; 51:9; Ezekiel 32:2). Pharaoh of Egypt has been compared to the ‘monster in the seas’ in Ezekiel 32 showing that the nations that threatened Israel were inseparably identified with satanic, idolatrous systems. The beast can manifest itself as a political economic, religious power or a heresy. (But one cannot exclude the possibility that it can take the form of a single person in a final climactic appearance.) * And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast. Rev 13: 3.
The word “wound “ in Revelation 13:14 probably means a ‘divinely inflicted judgment’ as it was inflicted on the beast by the “Sword”, which refers to the divine judgment of the Messiah. (1:16, 2:12, 16, 19:15, 21) Therefore we are probably closer to the truth to take the wound of the beast as a blow to the authority of the beast by the only one capable of doing so.. The Lamb. The crippling blow to the beast is probably best seen as Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. However the beast is still capable of waging war and is in collusion with the earth (second) beast to deceive and destruct. The Second Beast Going back to the vision of the second beast coming up out of the earth and having two horns like a lamb, but speaking as a dragon. He did great wonders, and deceived those who dwelled upon the earth by means of these lying miracles. This beast is spoken of as having "horns like a Lamb, and yet speaking like a Dragon." The symbolism or image of the dragon signifies Satan (Rev 12:9, 20:2), therefore this kingdom (Beast) speaks like the spirit of Satan, yet has horns just like a Lamb. Since one of the primary characteristics of the second beast is his deceptiveness, his appearance as a lamb would add to the confusion over his true identity. Jesus gave such a description of false prophets in the Sermon on the Mount. *“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”. Matthew 7:15.
Ezekiel tells us more about roaring lions…. * "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring Lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls, they have taken the treasure and precious things, they have made her many widows in the midst thereof". Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned My holy things.... Ezekiel 22:25, 26a. * And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. Ezekiel 22: 28
“Seeing false visions and divining lies” is very typical of how false prophets work. This second beast is symbolic of Satan's kingdom as it manifests itself in false prophets. They appear to be of the lamb, but speak like the dragon. False prophets in the Churches who replace the laws of God with their own visions and precepts. And as a roaring lions they ravish the prey as if they were sheep, take the precious things of the Church, and treat them as prey. The ability of Satan inspired prophets to perform deceiving miracles is attested to both in Revelation and in other parts of the Bible. Christ’s true servants must not be deceived by even spectacular miracles, which, in themselves, are no evidence of the Holy Spirit. * "But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves." Jude 1:10
They speak evil of what is righteous, because they have the spirit of Antichrist and it is not their appearance, but their words that give the false prophets away. However the final test of true Godliness is a person’s fruit (deeds) as * “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him...” Titus 1:16.
Though they appear as the power of the Kingdom of Christ, their words of lawlessness or their deeds reveal that they are of the dragon, not the Lamb. Indeed, this is how true Christians recognize false Christs'. Not by their apparent power as Church (horns of a Lamb), but by the witness of their word, by their fruits. Their words bear witnesses against them, because it is not the Word of God. Whatsoever spirit rules them, is whose words they will come with. If of Satan, they speak as a dragon and come as false prophets, distorting the Word of God. If of God, they are spokesmen (Prophets or Messengers) of God and bear faithful witness to His Word. These false prophets cause people to be deceived and fall away becoming slaves of Satan. They go forth sowing tares among the wheat, destroying the field. The book of Timothy makes it very clear as to what will happen. * "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" 1st Timothy 4:1
‘In the latter times’ some of the Church begin departing from the truth because of the spirit of antichrist. Here Paul is not talking about non-believers who are already fallen and have never professed Christ. This falling away refers to those who are of the Church, who claim to believe (Luke 8:13) in God, but who in time of trial depart from the faith. They have left their first love, and receive the character and spirit (name) of their ruler, the destroyer. And they destroy the Church of God in that spirit of disobedience and lawlessness The Word and Power go hand in hand. It is indeed the spirit of God's mouth, which is called, 'The word and breath of His lips' (Isaiah 11:4). The spirit of disobedience to the Word (Ephesians 2:2) from the mouth of the beast who speaks as a dragon, and the spirit of truth from the mouth of those who come with God's Word. God's Word is the spirit of His mouth (2nd Thessalonians 2:8, Revelation 2:16) or 'the sword of the Spirit' (Ephesians 6:17). * "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world". 1st John 4:1
Without testing the spirits by God's Word, we will be snared by those deceivers who come with horns as a Lamb. They make private interpretations, saying, 'thus saith the Lord,' when the Lord has not said. They do not speak the witness of the Word, but the witness of men, in the spirit of disobedience. The Mark of The Beast "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 forehead: 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 man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six." Rev 13:16-18. From this verse we see that there are three characteristics that the beast causes people to receive. And all three are illustrative of their being brought into league or association with him. The Mark The Name The Number
We are told that there are none who could buy and sell except those who had the mark, the name, or the number of the beast. By comparing other passages where the beast, image, mark and name of the beast are mentioned it seems clear that the mark is an equivalent expression to ‘The name of the beast’. The Greek word ‘mark’ usually refers to a work of art such as a carved image, a written inscription, an impress ‘seal’ of the emperor, or a brand on animals indicating ownership. It is also important to discern that this is not a literal mark. If it is not a literal beast with seven literal horns, nor a literal beast with horns like a lamb that speaks like a dragon (how does a dragon speak anyway?), it would logically, rationally, and biblically follow that this is not a literal mark that this non-literal beast would make. In the Old Testament God spoke of total allegiance to Him and His law as a putting of the law on the forehead and on the hands: “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes” (Dt. 6:8). In Revelation, those who are faithful to Christ, “the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4), are said to have “His [the Lamb’s] Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1). John also refers to it as a seal: “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads” (Rev. 7:3). The Lord tells the church at Sardis: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem...” (Rev. 3:12). Even after the second coming John says, “His name shall be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:4). In the old covenant “Aaron bore on his forehead the name of the Lord inscribed on the crown on the front of the priestly mitre.”
It is obvious that having the name of Christ (or God the Father, Rev. 14:1) on the forehead is not meant to be taken literally but is representative of allegiance to God, ownership by God, and even the presence of God the Holy Spirit.Therefore, the mark of the beast should be viewed as “the Satanic parody of the ‘seal of God’ on the foreheads and hands of the righteous.... Therefore the ‘mark’ is not a literal impress but John’s way of symbolically describing ownership and loyalty. The Name of the Beast In the ancient world, a person’s name had a deep significance that has been lost in our day. A person’s name was meant to embody everything a person was about. A name expressed a person’s essential character and tapped into the very core of their identity. "The name of the beast" does not refer to any particular literal common name but rather it signifies the association of these who receive it to the beast. Just as I have the name of my father, and it associates me with him. So those receiving the name of the beast are associated with this spirit of antichrist. His name signifies the spiritual character of the beast, which these people who are deceived by his minions are now a part of. In Revelation Chapter 14 those who are the servants of God, have His name written in their foreheads. Again it doesn't mean God's name is literally bored into, or burned into someone's flesh. It signifies that they belong to God and that they take on certain aspects of the character of God, or that they are in servitude to Him (1st Cor. 7:22-23). Christians being bought with a price are 'servants' or bondservants of God. That symbolism of the name of God in their foreheads signifies including the name Christ-ian. It is a picture that our minds are in Christ. Either we have the Spirit of God, or the spirit of anti-Christ. * "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:16
This does not mean that God has literally carved in his thigh the wording ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’, rather, it is imagery to signify 'this' is what the Lord is. He is Faithful, He is true, He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Likewise, the same Greek word translated name [onoma] that appears here, is also used in Revelation 13:17-18. It is obvious that the name applies a characteristic to what the beast is. What does the word 'mark' signify Continuing in Revelation 13:16 we see that this beast causes all to receive the mark. However, verse 17 alerts us that this 'all' is qualified. It's not everyone in the world, but all that can buy and sell. In other words, only the buyers and sellers will receive this mark. Verse 15 tells us that there were some who would not worship the 'image' of the beast, and therefore they would be slain. These are those who will not receive the mark of Satan's name. So it's important that we understand that the symbolism here is that no one can buy and sell except those who receive the mark of the beast. … The Heart and Mind.. * "This is the Covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will write My law into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them". Hebrews 10:16
It would be difficult to believe that God has literally written scripture on someone's heart, or that He has literally carved laws on our foreheads or in our minds. We readily understand it's imagery or spiritual significance. In the same cryptic fashion, Revelation 17:5 talks about the Harlot with a name written on her forehead saying "Mystery Babylon, the Great, the Mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth." Is this a literal woman with literal writing in her forehead? Not at all! It is symbolic language. To look for a literal woman with a name literally marked in her forehead would be foolishness. In their Hand and Forehead Note that the mark is in their right hand, and in their foreheads. The overwhelming majority of people are right handed, meaning, the right hand is the prominent hand. i.e., it's the stronger hand, or the hand of power. In the Old Testament, when a father would bless his son, he would signify this by laying his 'right' hand upon him. Or When Jesus ascended to the throne; He was seated at the right hand of God. Even today, if you were to say of a friend, 'He is my right hand man,' immediately all would understand what you meant. It's an illustration of being able to depend upon him. i.e., he works like my own right hand. Again, if we were to say, "He had his hand in it also," that would indicate to all that his WILL was to go along with it, or that he was a willing participant in it also. When Pilate wanted to release Jesus and the people wanted him killed. He took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it". By this washing of his hands, Pilate was 'attempting' to declare that he was clean of this sin, or not responsible. He was indicating that it was not his 'WILL' that this would happen. In washing his hands of it, he felt himself to be washed free of the guilt of it. Matthew 27:24 The Number of the Beast God tells us that it is wisdom and understanding, rather than mathematical skills, which are required to discover what the number of the beast signifies.. God declares that He who hath wisdom and understanding should "Count" the number of the beast. But it's not a mathematical equation, for He gives us but one number. But the answer to this mystery is hidden in plain sight. God tells us 'exactly' what the number is. He states very succinctly, "..it is the Number of MAN!" NOTE: Your translations may read, "the number of 'A' Man" but the a is not really (never was, never will be) in the manuscripts. It is not in any of the manuscripts or copies of the original. There are no indefinite articles in the Greek, as there are in English. The word is anarthrous or [anth'-ro-pos], and is a Genitive Case, which specifically defines. In the Greek, it is the exact same declaration as found in… * "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of Man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;" Romans 2:9. * "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart Of Man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1st Corinthians 2:9 * "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son Of Man ..." Revelation 1:13
There is no article 'a' in any of these examples with the same Greek aplication, and there shouldn't be. The 'a' was put there by translators (presumably) to try and make it better understood. But in reality it has had the opposite effect. 'Count' The Number God tells us to ‘count’ the number but gives no other number to count with. He didn't say add it to another number, He didn't say assign letters for numbers, He didn't say calculate it with Hebrew numerology, and He didn't say it's three sizes (it's 600, +60 +6), How then is it possible to count six hundred sixty and six alone? So we count this number the only way it can be counted, which is to count it as itself. Since it is the number of man, but not of all men, we count it as a number of man, which is part of the whole i.e., a fraction. So we have two fractions, or two parts. Six hundred, sixty, and six seen as a fraction is 2/3. In Scripture God uses the division of 1/3 to symbolize the Saved who are refined of God, and 2/3 as those who are deceived by Satan and cut off from God. Illustration of this division can be seen in the third part of the shekel that was to be used for the work of the Sanctuary, which illustrates the work of the believer justified in the work of Christ. Or when we read of the Prophesy of the coming of Messiah, and man is numbered, only 1/3 go through the fire to be refined as silver (Salvation), and 2/3 were to be cut off and die. * "Awake, O Sword, against My Shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: Smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, Two Parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is My people: and they shall say, the Lord is My God." Zechariah 13:7-9
But what about counted spiritually? Six hundred, threescore and six [chi xi stigma], were letters of the Greek alphabet, representing numbers respectively 600, 60 and 6. In other words, six hundred and sixty and six as a numeral. This number (600 +60 +6), has the number 6 predominant, which signifies 'work,' and multiplied by 10 and 100, which signifies fullness. It very well may illustrate the number of man whose work in salvation is after his own spirit, rather than the work of Christ. The Buyers and The Sellers It is interesting to note that Christ threw "the Buyers and Sellers" out of the Holy Temple of God, which pointed to the fulfillment of the Old Testament scripture prophesying of false Prophets coming into the Lord's house. * "And Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out all them that Sold and Bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that SOLD DOVES, And said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." Matthew 21:12-13
These buyers and sellers in the Temple fulfilled the prophesy of Jeremiah that false prophets would come and teach in the House of God, making it an abomination. * "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations? is THIS HOUSE, which is called by My name, become a Den of Robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 7:8-11
They had made the Lords House a house of lies and false gods. Apostasy had occurred and God equates these buyers and sellers in His house to thieves and robbers. And when Jesus throws them out, it is clearly pointing us to the scripture where it's prophesied of sinners, false prophets and those who worship Baal and walk after other gods being cast away. This is the passage that the Lord Jesus illustrated was fulfilled when He threw the buyers and sellers out of the Lord's house. To be 'thrown out' of The Temple is signification of this cutting off of Israel because these buyers and sellers illustrated that they were the false prophets, which Jeremiah spoke of. Could it be that this has nothing to do with economics? That those who are deceived by false prophets to serve other gods, in the House of the Lord, make the Lord's house a den of thieves. That 'they' could be those who buy and sell as thieves and robbers, while the faithful in the House of God cannot? Look again at what symbolism Jesus uses to illustrate this. * "All that ever came before Me were thieves and Robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." John 10:8
Jesus was not talking about literal thieves and robbers, but about false teachers who came to deceive the people into following them. Jesus equates those false teachers to being thieves and robbers whom the true congregation would not listen to….false teachers, prophets and leaders. The true believers will not hear these thieves (buyers and sellers) that come into the Lord's house by the windows, nor will they be marked of them to worship Satan's kingdom as those to be cut off. Because they are the Lord's sheep and hear only the Good Shepherd. They keep God's Word and aren't deceived of Satan that they receive his name to buy and sell. They know false teachings when they hear them because they are His Sheep who hear Him, and will not hear the thieves and robbers who come privately interpreting the Word. The righteous keep the Word of God, not the word of men, while the lawless man (man of lawlessness) seats himself to rule in the Holy Temple. By contrast, the righteous will flee from it, for they are sealed of God with the Holy Spirit and will not buy and sell the gospel truth. There will come a time near the end of the world when Satan will be loosed of God, man will rule in the Holy Temple making his own laws and exalting himself to the stars in disobedience to God. The Lord's Temple is again made as a den of thieves and robbers by buyers and sellers. Apostasy rules the day, just as it did in the first advent of Christ. The love of God will grow cold, iniquity abounds, and there will be a great falling away from God (2nd Thess 2). The abomination will stand in the Holy place. True witness of the Word will be silenced in the congregations, testimony killed and the Church is as a dead Church. In other words, because there is no Word there, there is no Life there. Knowing these things, we can better understand why only those who received the mark would worship the beast and buy and sell. Because they are the ones deceived to be cut off. And Revelation 13 says that those who would not receive the mark, those truly serving God, would be killed by this beast. See Revelation 11:7 also, of the beast bound in the bottomless pit killing the two Witnesses. The Witnesses represent the truthful witness of the Church. NOTE: Rev.11 says it won't take place until "after" their testimony is finished. After the Church has completed it's task of witnessing or testimony, THEN Satan will marshal the nations as a devouring beast or kingdom, against the camp of the Saints as He is loosed from the bottomless pit. | 
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