666: The Number of the Beast

 

How does the number 666 identify the beast of Revelation? What is the biblical understanding of 666, the number of the beast? What does it mean for us today?

In Revelation 13, the apostle John recorded a vision he had been given of two beasts that would arise during the end times before Christ’s return. The first beast represents a powerful civil leader who will have authority “over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (verse 7).

In this vision, John foresaw a dragon, Satan, giving the beast this position of authority (verse 2) and all the world following this leader and his practice of worshipping the dragon (verses 3-4). All those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will worship this human leader (verses 4, 8).

In this same vision, John saw a second beast arise from the earth and support the first beast. This second beast will be a religious leader who will use miraculous powers to deceive mankind (verses 13-14) and will “cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (verse 15).

In other passages of the Bible, the individual representing this second beast is called “the man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), “the Antichrist” (1 John 2:18) and “the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20). For a more complete explanation of this religious leader’s names and role, see our article “Antichrist.”

Worshipping the image of the beast

Causing people to “worship the image of the beast” (Revelation 13:15) is a strange-sounding phrase in our modern world. What it means is to authenticate another power by causing people to respect it.

Bible commentaries, including Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible and Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, proposed an explanation nearly two centuries ago, citing the fulfillment of this act in the way the head of the Catholic Church, the pope, forced people to accept the restoration of the Roman Empire under Charlemagne.

In the future, this religious leader that John saw in vision will likewise force people upon threat of death to respect the civil government that will rule the world. One way this religious leader will enforce compliance is to control the world’s economy.

As John noted in his vision, this future religious leader “causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (verses 16-17).

The “mark or name of the beast” will identify these individuals as ones who support this satanic power. To understand what the mark of the beast is, be sure to read the article “Mark of the Beast.”

What does the Bible say about 666?

Now that we’ve reviewed the context of Revelation 13, we can turn our attention to verse 18, which says, “Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”

Putting verses 17 and 18 together, we see that the number 666 identifies the beast, that it is a man’s name who is also called the beast and that it will authorize people to make economic transactions.As we previously noted, people will be required to have “the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” in order to buy or sell (verse 17).

Putting verses 17 and 18 together, we see that the number 666 identifies the beast, that it is a man’s name who is also called the beast and that it will authorize people to make economic transactions.

666 meaning

So what does the number 666 mean? How does one “calculate” this number?

Albert Barnes in his notes on Revelation 13:18, explains that Greek letters had numerical values. Several names, including “Lateinos, the Latin,” “Neron Caesar,” “Diocles Augustus (Dioclesian),” “C.F. Julianus Caesar Atheus (the Apostate),” “Luther,” “Romanus” and “Roman,” add up to 666.

Although there are other possibilities, Barnes went on to state, “It is remarkable how many of the most obvious solutions refer to Rome and the papacy.”

It is also interesting to note that Irenaeus, an early church writer of the second century, suggested that the number was a reference to the Latin [i.e. Roman] Empire (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, Revelation 13:18).

Given these explanations, let’s see if the Bible gives any indications that this will be a revival of the Roman Empire.

The beast and the Roman Empire

Through a dream given to King Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed that there would be four great world-ruling empires from that time (Daniel 2:31-43). History has shown these to be the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires.

Later, Daniel was shown a vision of four beasts, which also represented these four empires. As for the fourth beast, “it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:7). “The horn is a symbol of power, and is frequently so used as an emblem or symbol in Daniel” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, Daniel 7:7-8).

Daniel then wrote: “I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words” (verse 8).

The horns represented kingdoms that through history would be part of the Roman Empire and the little horn represented a religious power.

In vision, Daniel saw this religious leader “making war against the saints, and prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom” (verses 21-22).

Revival of the Roman Empire in end-time prophecy

What we learn from the preceding verses is that this fourth beast, which history has shown to be the Roman Empire, will have multiple revivals and that a final appearance of this empire and its religious leader will be in existence at Christ’s return.

The final form of this empire will be comprised of “ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast … and will give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13).

The beast and those who support him—those who accept the mark of the beast or the name of the beast or the number of the beast—will then fight against Christ when He returns to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth (verse 14).

Beyond 666: What you really need to know

When the beast power arises at the end of this age, the most important thing you can do is remain close to God. In order to be saved, you will need a “love of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) and faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

Just being able to properly calculate the number of the beast and therefore understand the meaning of 666 will not save you.

To assist you in developing your relationship with God, be sure to study what the Bible says God wants each of us to do, summarized in our free booklet Change Your Life!

Who Is the Beast?

 

The book of Revelation has many references to “the beast.” What or who is the beast? What does it do? What does God tell us to do about the beast?

For nearly 2,000 years men and women have studied and speculated about the identity of “the beast” of Revelation. Who or what is the beast? Is it symbolic or real?

Can we identify this beast as a contemporary of John, the writer of the book of Revelation? Or is the beast an end-time personality or entity?

Is it important for us to know the beast’s identity? What does the Bible reveal about the beast of Revelation?

Let’s begin by looking at what Jesus Christ, the Revelator (Revelation 1:1), showed John and what John wrote about the beast in the last book of the Bible. While the word beast is found 37 times in the book of Revelation (in the New King James Version), some of these refer to another beast.

Revelation 13 explained

The passage in Revelation 13:1-8 is one of the most descriptive about the one called the beast. Let’s look at this passage and then its explanation.

“Then I [John] stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

“Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

“And I saw one of the heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.

“So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’

“And he [the beast] was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:1-8).

Understanding the symbolism of the beast

To understand this passage of Scripture, we need to understand the symbolism. A fundamental principle of Bible study is to let the Bible interpret itself (2 Peter 1:20-21). In other words, look to other sections of Scripture or to the context itself in order to understand the meaning.

The symbol of beasts representing civil governments is also found in the book of Daniel. The prophet Daniel received a vision from God of four great beasts: the first like a lion with eagle’s wings, the second like a bear, the third like a leopard, and the fourth—different and more terrible than the others—with 10 horns (Daniel 7:1-7).

Daniel was told that these great beasts were symbolic of “four kings” [kingdoms] (verse 17). History reveals that the beasts of Daniel were four great empires: the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greco-Macedonian and Roman Empires.

The nature of the beast

One of the characteristics of the beast in the book of Revelation is its hostility against God and the people of God. In Revelation 11:7 John was told that “when they [the two witnesses representing God] finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overpower them, and kill them.”

In Revelation 13:7 we read that this beast will “make war with the saints” and “overcome them.”

This beast will have the power to kill those who do not do its bidding (verse 15) and will blaspheme God (verse 6).

First-century perceptions of the beast

Daniel first started writing during the time of the Babylonian Empire, and God revealed to him that the “Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28) would next come to power. After this empire would be “the kingdom of Greece” (Daniel 8:21).

But what empire would be represented by the fourth beast that Daniel saw in vision—the beast that was “dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong” (Daniel 7:7), that was “different from all other kingdoms” and that would “devour the whole earth” (verse 23)?

To students of history and citizens of the first century, the answer was obvious. The Roman Empire was the fourth beast spoken of by Daniel. By the first century, the Roman Empire had crushed all other political powers.

The book of Revelation, written near the end of the first century, documents some of the persecution the empire directed against God’s people (Revelation 2:10, 13). In reading the book of Revelation, these early believers could have concluded that the beast John wrote about was the Roman Empire, which dominated the world at that time.

During the time of the New Testament several Roman emperors displayed the characteristics described in John’s account (Revelation 13:1-7): powerful, with great authority and military strength, an instrument of Satan (“the dragon”), speaking blasphemy, claiming to be a god through emperor worship, persecuting the true Church and killing Christians.

The elements were all there! These early Christians faced difficult issues, and the words of the prophecy were meant to encourage them to not be deceived by the beast or pressured to turn away from God into idolatry.

But is there more to this prophecy? Was it also intended for those of us who live in the last days?

The dragon and the future beast

In the book of Revelation we find that the beast’s agenda corresponds to that of the dragon. The dragon is Satan the devil, the deceiver of “the whole world” (Revelation 12:9), and the beast in Revelation 13:1-7 carries out this deception.

John implies that the healing of the beast’s mortal wound is itself a deception, producing amazement by the whole world (verse 3) and leading people on earth to worship both the dragon and the beast (verse 4).

The future beast’s authority prevails on earth for 42 months, and by the end of that time all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it (verses 5 and 8; compare with Revelation 11:2).

It is clear that the prophecies regarding the beast also apply to a future personality who will have great civil, financial and religious power at the time of the end.

The dragon’s goal of persecuting Christians (Revelation 12:17) is also evident. The beast opens his mouth in “blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:5-6).

The actual persecution of Christians is mentioned explicitly in verse 7, but persecution is also clearly implied by the prophetic appeal to John’s readers in verse 10, which speaks of saints being led “into captivity” and being “killed with the sword.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of Christians.

The book of Revelation is most emphatically not a call to arms, but a call for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

The beast and false prophet and religious deception

Christ warned His disciples in the Olivet Prophecy, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

So, it is very important to heed the warning of Christ and be aware of the coming beast and false prophet of Revelation!

One of the strongest warnings in the Bible is given to people who worship this future beast. This warning includes the threat of receiving God’s wrath.

“If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Revelation 14:9-10).

There will be but two choices for Christians in the future, just as there were for the early Christians John wrote to. When the future beast power’s persecution of the saints begins in earnest, Christians will either follow God or follow the beast.If we worship the beast and receive his mark, we will receive the wrath of God. So it is very important to understand the warnings about the beast so that when he appears, we can avoid being deceived into worshipping him.

To learn more about the beast’s image, read “What Is the ‘Image of the Beast’?”

The beast’s blasphemy and arrogance

Revelation 13:5 notes that the beast will be given a mouth “speaking great things and blasphemies” for 42 months. In Scripture the mouth is the symbol for the thoughts that are revealed in speech (Matthew 12:34). The mouth of the beast utters evil—blasphemy—but most will not recognize it for what it is.

The beast will claim divine power he does not have. He will seek to put himself in the place of God—the ultimate blasphemy.

This beast was given authority over “every tribe, tongue, and nation” (Revelation 13:7). Clearly, the evil dragon is the source of the beast’s power and authority (verse 2).

“Who is like the beast?”

The revived Roman Empire will seem to be an unbeatable monster, with its worldwide political, military and economic power. “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” people will say (verse 4). But the inhabitants of the world won’t just fear the empire; they will also love and worship it.

In the book of Revelation, the world is shown to willingly accept the beast’s authority, and to give no regard to God. “All who dwell on the earth will worship him” (verse 8). The beast captures the hearts and souls of men and women everywhere, but it must not capture the hearts of Christians!

Revelation 13 shows this beast to be the earthly enemy of the true Church. We are told that the beast was given power to “make war with the saints and to overcome them” (verse 7). Satan uses the political power of the beast as his agent in an attempt to stamp out and destroy God’s people.

The beast and lessons for us

There will be but two choices for Christians in the future, just as there were for the early Christians John wrote to. When the future beast power’s persecution of the saints begins in earnest, Christians will either follow God or follow the beast. Jesus’ warning to His disciples will come to pass: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations” (Matthew 24:9).

This beast will be allowed to exercise its end-time power over the world and the Church for only a very short time of 42 months or 3½ years. God will then step in to stop the ruthless madness, which will take over the earth and threaten to annihilate the true Church of Jesus Christ along with all of mankind (Matthew 24:22).

Spiritual Babylon and the two beasts of Revelation 13

An end-time alliance between a religious power called “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5) and this civil power identified as “the beast” (Revelation 13:1-10) will control the world’s economy.

The religious power, a great false church pictured as a second beast in Revelation 13:11-15, “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship [submit to] the first beast” (verse 12). This second beast is also referred to as the “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20).

The first beast of Revelation 13—the civil authority influencing all humanity at the end of this age—will be a final revival of the Roman Empire spoken of in Daniel 7:20, 24 and Revelation 17:10-14.

Mark of the beast and the number of the beast (666)

This end-time empire will require people “to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads” in order to “buy or sell” (Revelation 13:16-17). This mark of the beast and the “number of the beast” (verse 18) are explained in our articles “Mark of the Beast” and “666: The Number of the Beast.”

To find out who is the beast of Revelation 17, see our article “Revelation 17.” See also our articles “Daniel 7” and “Antichrist” for more about the end-time civil authority and the false religious leader who will work together to govern and deceive mankind.

The fall of Babylon the Great and the beast

Although the beast’s economic system will bring prosperity to the merchants of the earth, it is going to be destroyed (Revelation 18:3, 15, 19). The people of God will be pleased to see the fall of Babylon the Great and the beast. “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” (verse 20).

This civil power called the beast and this false religious power have worked together to persecute God’s people throughout the ages, but they will both come to an end (Revelation 19:20).

For additional study, see the articles in the section on “Revelation.”

Place of Safety

 

Does the Bible speak of a special “place of safety” for Christians during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? If so, where is it?

In what is called the Olivet Prophecy, Jesus said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved [meaning, alive]; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22).

What will happen to Christians during the Great Tribulation? The popular teaching today is that they will be raptured to heaven before the Great Tribulation begins and return with Christ at His second coming to end the Great Tribulation and to put Satan away. (To learn what God’s Word says about this important subject, see our article on the rapture.)

What is the correct biblical teaching on what will happen to Christians during the Great Tribulation?

In Jesus’ prophecy to the seven churches, which was given to John for him to write in the book of Revelation, Jesus said, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). The hour of trial that will come on the whole world is the Great Tribulation.

These Christians will be protected from the Great Tribulation because they kept Christ’s “command to persevere” and they also kept the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12). But how and where will they be kept from that “hour of trial”?

A woman flies into the wilderness

In chapter 12 of the book of Revelation John writes of a war in heaven between Satan and the archangel Michael. But Satan will lose and be cast back down to the earth. Satan will then have great wrath because he knows he has but a short time left. He will bring about great tribulation (war) and persecute the woman, which at the end of the chapter is symbolic of Christ’s Church (verses 12-13).

Verse 14 says, “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent [Satan].”

Notice that the woman, here meaning the Church, will “fly into the wilderness to her place.” The word “place” is singular. This verse also says the Church is nourished for 3½ years (time = 1 year, times = 2 years, half a time = half a year) in the wilderness (see also Revelation 13:5).

Does the Bible indicate any possible location for this wilderness or “place of safety”?

Some have speculated about where a place of safety would be, such as Petra in Jordan, but the Bible does not clearly indicate a specific location. We do know that part of the Church will be taken into a “wilderness to her place” (Revelation 12:14) where it will be “nourished”—protected and cared for. The wording implies there is one location that will be prepared at which the Church will be protected, but Scripture does not clearly identify that place.

Are all protected in a place of safety?

But will all Christians be included? Although some Christians will be nourished and protected, it seems others will suffer persecution and martyrdom during the time of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6:9-11; Revelation 12:17).

Speaking of the time of His second coming, Jesus said, “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven [atmosphere] to the other” (Matthew 24:31). When Christ returns, He will resurrect faithful saints from their graves and the saints who are alive will be changed into spirit. The saints who are alive will have lived through the Great Tribulation. Will they have been protected in a particular location or “place of safety”?

Revelation 7 describes a group of people numbering 144,000 (verses 3-4) and also “a great multitude which no one could number” (verse 9) that is said to have “come out of the great tribulation” (verse 14). The Bible does not say whether these people will be in a wilderness location during the last part of the Great Tribulation or whether they will be taken to such a location after they are “sealed” for protection. Exactly how and where they are protected is not revealed.

God protects His people

The book of Psalms contains numerous scriptures that speak of God protecting His faithful people. In these passages, the focus is on trusting God, as opposed to being in a specific location in order to be protected.

• Psalm 18:2: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
• Psalm 27:5: “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”
• Psalm 31:20: “You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion [“shelter,” Revised Standard Version] from the strife of tongues.”
• Psalm 32:7: “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble.”
• Psalm 91:7, 9-10: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. … Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.”
• Psalm 121:7: “The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.”

These promises of protection will be fulfilled for the woman who flies into the wilderness, for those who come out of the Great Tribulation, and for those gathered alive at Christ’s return from “the four winds” of the earth. The one common thread in all of these scriptural examples is that God will protect those who faithfully seek to serve, obey and trust in Him.

Place of safety summary

What can we conclude from these scriptures in reference to a “place of safety”?

• The Bible says some Christians will go into the wilderness to be protected from Satan and his wrath (Revelation 12:14).
• The Bible also says some Christians will not go into this wilderness “place of safety” and Satan will go to make war with them (Revelation 12:17).
• The Bible also shows that many other servants of God will be “sealed” for protection (Revelation 7:3-8).
• Several Psalms speak of the Lord’s protection of His faithful saints.

Jesus’ instructions to Christians today

The place of safety may be an intriguing subject to study, but it is not what Jesus wanted Christians to be constantly dwelling on. It is true He instructed us to “watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). But worrying about one’s personal safety to the exclusion of other important spiritual responsibilities is not what Christ had in mind.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus instructed us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). If Christians are seeking first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, then they will be watching and praying and Jesus will be with them always, “even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

To learn more about the Kingdom of God and how to seek it, see the section “The Kingdom of God” on this website.