Number of the beast

For other uses, see Number of the beast (disambiguation).

The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The Number is 666 in modern biblical text, although modern studies have shown that the earliest known version of the Book of Revelation (from the 3rd century) used 616. One 11th century manuscript also shows 665. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians. Some scholars contend that the number is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero.

Bible

666

The Number of the Beast is described in the Book of Revelation 13:18. The original Greek reads:

ωδέ η σοφία εστίν; ο έχων νουν ψηφισάτω τον αριθμόν του θηρίου; αριθμός γαρ ανθρώπου εστί; και ο αριθμός αυτού χξϛ΄.

The King James translates:

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.

In the Greek manuscripts, the Number is rendered in Greek numerical form as χξϛ', or sometimes literally as “six hundred and sixty-six”, “εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ”. [hexakosioi hexékonta hex, lit. six hundred sixty six]

Scholars such as Dr. Ellen Aitken, Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University, have speculated that the reference to this passage was a way of speaking in code about then contemporary figures about whom it would have been politically dangerous to criticize openly.

Many scholars believe that 666 refers to a Roman Emperor such as Nero (whose name, written in Aramaic, was valued at 666, using the Hebrew numerology of gematria, a manner of speaking against the emperor without the Roman authorities knowing).

616

In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation, from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P¹¹⁵, dating to the mid to late third century. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, stigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, stigma). The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen).

Significantly, P¹¹⁵ aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P¹¹⁵ has superior testimony to that of P⁴⁷ which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.

Red arrow points to χιϛ'(616), "number of the beast" in P¹¹⁵ deciphered in May 2005.

Dr. Paul Lewes in his book, A Key to Christian Origins (1932) wrote:

"The figure 616 is given in one of the two best manuscripts, C (Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, Paris), by the Latin version of Tyconius (DCXVI, ed. Souter in the Journal of Theology, SE, April 1913), and by an ancient Armenian version (ed. Conybaere, 1907). Irenaeus knew about it [the 616 reading], but did not adopt it (Haer. v.30,3), Jerome adopted it (De Monogramm., ed. Dom G Morin in the Rev. Benedictine, 1903). It is probably original. The number 666 has been substituted for 616 either by analogy with 888, the [Greek] number of Jesus (Deissmann), or because it is a triangular number, the sum of the first 36 numbers (1+2+3+4+5+6...+36 = 666)".

Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original. Dr. Ellen Aitken said, “Scholars have argued for a long time over this, and it now seems that 616 was the original number of the beast. It's probably about 100 years before any other version."

The early Church father Irenaeus knew several occurrences of the 616-variant but regarded them as a scribal error and affirmed that the number 666 stood "in all the most approved and ancient copies" and is attested by "those men who saw John face to face".

The difference in numbers has also been explained by the fact that the Greek and Latin spellings of Nero’s name transliterate differently into Hebrew (the language used to create the coded numerology). The Greek spelling, “Neron Caesar,” transliterates into Hebrew as “nrwn qsr,” which equates numerically to 666 in Hebrew gematria. By contrast, the Latin title for Nero is spelled simply “Nero Caesar,” which transliterates to “nrw qsr” and has a value of 616.

665

The 11th century minuscule manuscript Codex 2344 identifies the Number of the Beast as 665 (χξε').

Old Testament

The number 666 appears several times in the Old Testament, including in 1 Kings 10:14-22 as the number of talents of gold received by King Solomon in one year. "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold".

According to the Bible, Solomon fell into apostasy and built altars to Chemosh, Moloch, and Ashtoreth, pagan gods to whom human sacrifices were made. (See 1 Kings 11:4-8.)

Interpretations

Name

One interpretation is that 666 encodes the letters of someone’s name or title, identifying the Antichrist.

Nero

Scholars who believe that the Book of Revelation refers to historical people and events argue that the number represents Nero. In Hebrew gematria, every letter has a corresponding number. Summing these numbers gives a numeric value to a word or name. In Hebrew, "Nero Caesar" is spelled “נרון קסר”, pronounced "Neron Qe[i]sar". Adding the corresponding values yields 666, as shown:

Resh	Samekh	Qoph	Nun	vav	Resh	Nun	TOTAL
200	60	100	50	6	200	50	666

Removing the terminal נ (written as ן) makes the name "Nero" rather than "Neron", and makes the numeric value 616, which may explain that variation.

Resh	Samekh	Qoph	vav	Resh	Nun	TOTAL
200	60	100	6	200	50	616

The hypothesis that 666 is a code for a Roman emperor seems to have historical support. The emperors were noted for their oppression of both Jews and Christians. Both communities were known to use numerology, codes and symbols (such as the Ichthys) when living under Roman rule to avoid persecution.

Caligula

David Parker, professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham said that the correct number, 616, refers to the emperor Caligula. Caligula's attempt to erect his statue in the Temple in Jerusalem may have inspired the author of Revelation to speak against the Roman Emperor. In Hebrew, Gaius Caligula Caesar is גסקלגסקסר (gsqlgs qsr). Adding the values yields 616.

Resh	Samekh	Qoph	Samekh	Gimel	Lamed	Qoph	Samekh	Gimel	TOTAL
200	60	100	60	3	30	100	60	3	616

In Greek, "Gaios Kaisar" also yields 616.

Γ	α	ι	ο	σς	Κ	α	ι	σς	α	ρ	TOTAL
3	1	10	70	200	20	1	10	200	1	100	616

Domitian

The German Protestant theologian Ethelbert Stauffer, arguing that gematria had been the most popular form of numerology not only among Jews but also in the Graeco-Roman world (Pergamon, Pompeii), conceived a Greek gematrical procedure to explain the number 666. Judging from the precise information that the Book of Revelation gives about the person behind the number 666, Stauffer concluded that the "beast" can in general only refer to a Roman emperor and argued that this Emperor must be Domitian, because he had reigned during the proposed time of origin of the Apocalypse and supposedly was called "The Beast" as a "secret derisive nickname" by Romans, Greek, Christians and Jews. Stauffer computed the Number of the Beast using the short form of Domitian's five titles and names A KAI ΔOMET ΣEB ΓE, as derived from the abbreviations on coins and inscriptions. Domitian's official title in Latin was Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus. This was rendered as Autokrator Kaisar Dometianos Sebastos Germanikos for his Greek-speaking subjects. And in turn, for their coins, this abbreviated to A.KAI.DOMET.SEB.GE which totals 666 in Greek Gematria.

Α	Κ	Α	Ι	Δ	Ο	M	Ε	Τ	Σ	Ε	Β	Γ	E	TOTAL
1	20	1	10	4	70	40	5	300	200	5	2	3	5	666

Robert Graves suggested that DCLXVI, 666 in Roman numerals, is an abbreviation for the Latin sentence “Domitianus Caesar Legatos Xti Violenter Interfecit”, or “The Emperor Domitian violently killed the envoys of Christ”.

Papacy

Some Protestant Bible commentators have equated the "beast" of Revelation chapter 13 with the Papacy. To this end, the letters of a title of the Pope, accepted as authentic from 8th - 16th century, Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of The Son of God), are summed to total 666 in Roman numerals. The earliest extant record of a Protestant writer on this subject is that of Professor Andreas Helwig in 1612 in his work Antichristus Romanus. The title was contained in the Donation of Constantine a forged document of Emperor Constantine the Great, by which large privileges and rich possessions were conferred on the pope and the Roman Church.

V	I	C	A	R	I	V	S	F	I	L	I	I	D	E	I	TOTAL
5	1	100	0	0	1	5	0	0	1	50	1	1	500	0	1	666

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the "mark of the beast" (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-worship. “Those who reject God’s memorial of creatorship — the Bible Sabbath — choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God’s appointed day of worship, will receive the ‘mark of the beast.’” "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."

Some fundamentalists believe that the mark of the beast refers to the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross.

Martin Luther wrote in a footnote to Rev 13:15-18: "Spirit means / that it is active / and not a dead image / but that it has its rights and offices in its womb. These are six hundred and sixty and six years. So long the earthly papacy remains." During the Reformation, Martin Luther noted that "Benediktos" added up to 666 in Greek gematria, and he thought it might refer to a Pope named Benedict or to Benedictine monks.

Β	ε	ν	ε	δ	ι	κ	τ	ο	σς	TOTAL
2	5	50	5	4	10	20	300	70	200	666

Luther has many comments and theories against the papacy in the footnotes to his translation of the Book of Revelation.

Lateinos, Euanthas, Teitan

• Irenaeus suggested that the number indicates that the beast is the sum of all apostasy committed over the course of six thousand years. Irenaeus suggested that 666 might refer to Lateinos(The ancient Greek word for "Latin man"), Euanthas or Teitan. Irenaeus wrote:

It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas (ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ ) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos(ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. Teitan too, (ΤΕΙΤΑΝ, the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and ι, among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters; and [the word itself] is ancient, and removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshipped in public among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation.Among many persons, too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed "Titan" by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word, too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he vindicates the oppressed. And besides this, it is an ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name "Titan" has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called "Titan."

L	A	T	E	I	N	O	S	TOTAL
30	1	300	5	10	50	70	200	666

T	E	I	T	A	N	TOTAL
300	5	10	300	1	50	666

E	U	A	N	TH	A	S	TOTAL
5	400	1	50	9	1	200	666

Other suggested names

Andrew of Caesarea in his Commentary on Revelation gives seven names: Lampetis (the lustrous one), Teitan, Palaibaskanos (an ancient sorcerer), Benediktos (blue bastard), Kakos Odegos (wicked guide), Alethes Blaberos (really harmful), and Amnos Adikos (unjust lamb) each of which gives a total of 666. Most of these names are repeated by Arethas of Caesarea, who in his Commentary adds Teitan from Irenaeus and O Niketes (the conqueror).

Victorinus of Pettau gives the names Teitan, Antemos (opponent), Diclux (double-dealer) and Genserikos; the last he calls Gothic. As it is plainly Genseric, the Vandal king, who captured Rome in 455 AD., the passage as a whole can not go back to Victorinus, who belonged to the third century. It is not, however surprising that the commentary should be brought up to date, after Genseric became notorious through the sack of Carthage or of Rome. Of the other names in Victorinus only Diclux needs mention. It is said to be the Latin counterpart of Teitan and by reckoning each letter at its value in Roman numerals, the total of 666 is again given.

Venerable Bede gives three names: Teitan, Antemos (opponent), and Arnoyme (I deny).

Beatus, a Spanish monk, gives eight names among which are Damnatus(Damned), Antichristus(Antichrist), and Acxyme(for aichime or achine=666). The numerical interpretation of Antichristus is based on the order of letters in the Latin alphabet, a=1 to x =300, but the accusative must be taken and spelled Antechristum.

Mark of commerce

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

— Rev. 13:16-17 (NIV)

Futurist Christian eschatology typically holds that the Mark of the Beast is one way in which the Antichrist will exercise power over the Earth during the period of Tribulation, because of the prophetic statement in Revelation 13:16-17 that "the Beast" (θηριον) will require all people to receive the mark (χάραγμα "branded mark or character") in their right hands or foreheads in order to buy or sell, making survival for those on the run much more difficult. A possible translation of the meaning of the number 666 may be: the number 666 will be the number that all currency will be based upon. Exact interpretations of this vary widely. For example:

• Some Christians interpret the mark as a requirement for all commerce to mean that the mark might actually be an object with the function of a credit card (eg. RFID).
• Steven D. Miller proposes that the mark of the beast may refer to a social security number or card.
• Terry Watkins supposes the mark to be a microchip and or barcode on the human body.

Some support this barcode theory through reference to the guard bars found in some common barcode systems such as the UPC. The rationale relies on interpreting each of the groups of guard bars as a '6', even though they are not encoded as a '6' using the barcode system.

Other interpretations

• The Roman numeral writing of 666, "DCLXVI" is also composed with the first six Roman numerals, written in descending order (I, V, X, L, C, D).
• In Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), the number 666 may be considered mystical and holy and may represent the physical universe.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Beast for which 666 stands symbolizes many governments, harmonizing with the symbolic depiction of past governments (denoted as "kings") in the Book of Daniel as wild beasts. The Beast is said to have "a human number" in that the governments that the beast symbolizes are all of a human origin, they aren't made up of spirit or demon entities. The number 666 is also believed to be symbolic, standing for imperfection. The number seven is interpreted as being a "perfect" or "complete" number based on the fact that it is used frequently in the Bible to signify completeness, for example Psalm 12:6 and the Genesis creation week. Just as six is one short of seven, imperfection is short of perfection, and hence six is interpreted as symbolizing imperfection. Six is repeated three times for emphasis, producing the number 666. (This is similar to Vines Expository Dictionary under "Sixty, Sixtyfold," which states: "The number is suggestive of the acme of the pride of fallen man, the fullest development of man under direct satanic control, and standing in contrast to 'seven' as the number of completeness and perfection.")
• Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) claimed that he was the Beast prophesised in the Book of Revelation and took the name “Το μεγα θηριον” ("To Mega Therion"), Greek for “The Great Beast”, which adds up to 666 by isopsephy, the Greek form of gematria.
• In the writings of the Bahá'í Faith, `Abdu'l-Bahá states that the numerical value given to the beast referred to the year 666 A.D., when the Umayyad ruler Muawiyah I, who opposed the Imamate, arose.
• A series of coincidences involving former United States President Ronald Wilson Reagan, whose first, last and middle names are six letters apiece. Other coincidences involving Reagan include him living at the former 666 St. Cloud Road in Bel-Air, Los Angeles. (The house number was changed to 668, at the request of Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan's wife.)
• The Gangster Disciples use a variety of symbols and tattoos which are said to have Satanic meaning, e.g. "Devil's pitchforks" (reminiscent of the symbol of King Exu) and other six-stroked figures.
• Preacher José Luis de Jesús Miranda who has claimed to be both Jesus and the Antichrist, has a 666 tattooed on his forearm, and his followers also place 666 tattoos on themselves.

The 6666 martyrs of the Theban Legion

The long-standing tradition of Christian hagiography regarding the Theban Legion - an entire Roman legion whose members had supposedly converted en masse to Christianity and were martyred together, in 286 - gives their number as precisely "six thousand six hundred and sixty-six men", which was not the normal number of soldiers in a Roman Legion. This number is similar to the "Number of the Beast" though with an additional digit, but has a precisely opposite connotation as the number of highly honoured and revered martyrs for the Christian cause.

Culture and psychology

The number 666 retains a peculiar significance in the culture and psychology of Western societies, where some perceive it as “the Devil’s number”, even in contexts usually remote from superstition. The fear of the number 666 is called hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.

The Number of the Beast is also a popular song by heavy metal band Iron Maiden who incorporate superstitious lyrics based on 666 into their song.

Mathematics

• An apocalypse number is defined as any number having exactly 666 digits.
• An apocalyptic number is any number that follows the formula 2ⁿ and contains three sixes consecutively, such as 2¹⁵⁷, which is the first one of this kind.
• Apocalypse primes are given by the formula 10⁶⁶⁵+n for n=123, 1837, 6409, 7329, 8569, 8967, 9663, ... The smallest apocalypse prime containing the digits 666 is 10^(665)+166657 (Rupinski).
• The number 666 is also a triangular number. If all the numbers from 1 to 36 are added together, the sum is 666.

See also

• The Beast (Bible)
• Hebrew Numerology
• Gematria
• 666 (number)
• 616 (number)
• U.S. Highway 666
• Highway 666 (Ontario)
• A666 road
• 666 (disambiguation)
• 13 (number)
• Babylonian mathematics
• Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
• Leviathan number
• Pennsylvania State Route 666

External links

• BBC News - American town changes '666' phone prefix because of satanic connotations