Is the Perpetuation of the Myth of the Antichrist’s Number Being 666 a Conspiracy?

[Bennettresearch]

Is the Perpetuation of the Myth of the Antichrist’s Number Being 666 a Conspiracy, or Just a Myopic Misunderstanding of Chapter 13 of Revelation? You hear it everywhere, the Antichrist’s number is 666. Like any other myth, the continual repetition makes it into a known fact by the populace. This is understandable since no one in the first and second centuries could imagine that this prophecy could be written about Christians. Thus, Revelation was interpreted as being about someone else. There are four beasts in chapter 13 and one of them is Jesus. No one would deny that the Lamb, Rev 13:8, is Jesus. What happens next is that major transitions are totally missed and later references to Jesus are misinterpreted as being about the Antichrist. These transitions are clearly demonstrated and are not something that is open to debate as a perception of the reader. The first transition is about the First Beast, Rev 13:12, who was earlier introduced as one of the Heads of the beast, Rev 13:3. It is clear that opening beast is Rome, and the First Beast is one of the Heads of Rome. This transition is clearly made by using the term “whose fatal wound was healed” to identify him. So the Head is later referred to as the First Beast. The word beast of course is a substitute for a populace or an individual. Total denial causes people to overlook the second transition. The Lamb, Jesus, is later referred to as a beast. Why would anyone not identify this beast as Jesus? The beast, who follows the First Beast, is compelling the populace to make an image of Jesus, Rev 13:14, “telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.” Identifying this as Nero coming back to life is shear fantasy. But that is the popular interpretation based on some numerological manipulation with a big dose of denial. Jesus was pierced with a sword and of course was resurrected. Putting aside any debate as to whether this was physical or spiritual, the author is clearly referring to Jesus. And so, as chapter 13 continues, the beast who follows the First Beast makes an image of Jesus and causes the populace to wear the mark, Rev 13:16, or later, “either the name of the beast or the number of his name”, Rev 13:17. So there are three options as to what this beast will cause the populace to wear. All of these options are about Jesus. Finally the author ends with this number of the beast, 666. The Antichrist is going to cause the populace to wear a mark of Jesus whose number is 666. (This number most likely is using the symbolism of the number 6 as that of Mankind. Saying that Jesus was a man.)So tell me, is the misinterpretation of Revelation Chapter 13 a conspiracy, or myopia? There have been people who have made the connection of this prophecy to the influence of Rome on the Christian Church forming in the first century. They are summarily dismissed as crackpots while everyone is looking for the beast 666 to come and deceive them while taking over the world. The myth has superceded the prophecy.Special Note: The Revelation to John was written in Majuscule. This means that there is no capitalization, chapter, or verse in the original text. At least as original as we now have it. This is a modern construct based on the idiosyncratic interpretation of transcribers.

[BruceDLimber]

There's no conspiracy because it's stated in the Bible, in Revelation.

But IOV there's been a lot of nonsense promulgated about it, such as claims it referred to Nero or various other figures!

We see 666 as referring to the year 661 CE, 666 years after Christ's birth.

In that year the Umayyad Dynasty corrupted Islam and drove it grossly off the rails and directly away from godliness and God's true teachings, thus fulfilling the prophecies about the first beast.

So for us, at least, none of this is mysterious or the least bit confusing.

Best regards, :-)

Bruce

[BruceDLimber]

Originally Posted by J.M.Smith

I thought 666 was the title of Anti-Christ, not a date.

As I said, we see it as a date: 666 years after the birth of Christ.

The anti-Christ is only mentioned in four places in the Bible, all in the epistles of John. And if you read these passages, it becomes clear both that:

• the anti-Christ was alive at the time of John, and
• the anti-Christ was a former Christian (which eliminates a lot of individuals people like to claim are he).

What would happen if I tattoo it to my forehead, would I then be damned to hell? Prabobly yes...

I doubt it, though you'd probably gain a quick reputation as a fool!

Peace,

Bruce

[logician]

There was no Christ, and certainly nobody knows the date of a nonexistence man's birth which was obviously a made up story that could not possible have had any witnesses.

Try something else.

[dogsgod]

My son has a birthmark in the shape of a 999 on his head. Does that mean anything?

[meogi]

I've read before that 666 comes from the numerology of Nero Caesar's name in Hebrew; that John was trying to warn his fellow Christians about Nero's persecution. Is there any validity to these claims?

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by meogi

I've read before that 666 comes from the numerology of Nero Caesar's name in Hebrew; that John was trying to warn his fellow Christians about Nero's persecution. Is there any validity to these claims?

Hi,Forget about Nero. It is this kind of mythology that I am debunking. What I am pointing out is that there is a deep denial that John would be writing about the people and events surrounding the formation of the Christian Church of his time. This prophecy is objecting to the transformation of the doctrine of the new religion to suit the citizens of the Roman Empire. I can go as deep into this as you may want to but my main point is that the number 666 has been misinterpreted and it is the number that John gives to Jesus, saying he was a man. It is not Nero, as there is no historical data to support Nero having any relevance in Revelation.Craig

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by dogsgod

My son has a birthmark in the shape of a 999 on his head. Does that mean anything?

Hi,I think it would be superstitious to put any meaning into it. It is not God putting numerical significance to our lives, it is only mankind's superstition.Craig

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by logician

There was no Christ, and certainly nobody knows the date of a nonexistence man's birth which was obviously a made up story that could not possible have had any witnesses.

Try something else.

Hi,It is not relevant to challenge the existence of Jesus in this matter. The subject is what the author of Revelation is truly saying in this prophecy.There is no evidence that the historical narrative in the OT is true, but the prophets wrote about them anyway. To understand what they are saying is to take into account what the issues are. And so, Revelation is addressing the issues of Christianity in the first century. It is based upon what the followers believed and how much of that was influenced by their pagan background.Craig

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by BruceDLimber

There's no conspiracy because it's stated in the Bible, in Revelation.

But IOV there's been a lot of nonsense promulgated about it, such as claims it referred to Nero or various other figures!

We see 666 as referring to the year 661 CE, 666 years after Christ's birth.

In that year the Umayyad Dynasty corrupted Islam and drove it grossly off the rails and directly away from godliness and God's true teachings, thus fulfilling the prophecies about the first beast.

So for us, at least, none of this is mysterious or the least bit confusing.

Best regards, :-)

Bruce

Hi,You have fallen into the trap of exploring the numerology and ignoring the message. This is what the OT prophets did to keep their messages hiden from the view of the uninitiated. The number 666 being the date of the rise of Islam is totally unsupportable. The number 666 is a red herring as the prophets ascribed no relevance to numerology. The message is in the metaphor.I find it interesting how another religion would try and co-opt Jesus to support their own religious claims. This prophecy is about and only is relevant to Christians.