Talk:Number of the Beast/Archive 1

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Some people belive that the number of the beast refers to callum mccarthy born of english heritage and in 1990 as the anti-christ Under 'speculation and trivia', the writer mentions "In ancient Dacia, 666 was the number of those who returned to the right faith." What does he mean by 'right faith'? Christianity or the Dacians' native paganism? There is no mention of Christianity in the article. --PotatoSamurai 01:33:29, 2005-08-02 (UTC)

I am removing this sentence, as it is unclear and apparently biased. If anyone knows what it means, please rephrase it -- as of now, the sentence does more harm there than good. --PotatoSamurai 04:15:01, 2005-08-03 (UTC)

"666 also has certain properties of a mathematical nature"

Was this meant to be a joke? 666 is a number: noting that it has "has certain properties of a mathematical nature" is like noting that a cat has certain properties of a biological nature. Jacquerie27 14:16 Apr 28, 2003 (UTC)

It is not a joke. The only reason for all the obsessision about 666 in a mathethical context is the fact that it occurs in the Book of Revelations, and that people have this thing about connecting all sorts of magic properties to it. That sort to play with number is fun for some, perhaps dead serious for some, but in an encyclopedic context that sort of activity can only be characterized as numerology. If there is a need for an article on the pure mathemathical issues of 666, which I really doubt there is, then it should most certainly not be called "Number of the Beast"-anything. Really - that would be infantile - at best. -- Egil 14:59 Apr 28, 2003 (UTC)

I'm not sure whether English is your mother tongue. Is it? My point was that you were stating the obvious: by definition, all numbers have mathematical properties. 666 is FAMOUS because it appears in Revelation, but that does not mean all facts about 666 are numerological. Here is a mathematical property of 666: it is a triangular number, like 36. That is not numerology, it is mathematics. 666 is a repdigit, so it would have attracted some attention from mathematicians anyway. Jacquerie27 17:11 Apr 28, 2003 (UTC)

I absolutely love the current version of the phrase, I must say: "Like all numbers, 666 has many mathematical properties, some more interesting than others." True :-D --IByte 20:39, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

---

I think this should be moved. It's not really about the mathematics of the number, by and large. How about:

• Number of the Beast (theology)
• Number of the Beast (Biblical)
• Number of the Beast (Bible)
• Number of the Beast (eschatology)

Tuf-Kat

One article should be enough, but the "(mathematics)" is really not appropriate. I think Number of the Beast (numerology) would be much more appropriate. Other interpretations should be put in the Number of the Beast disambiguation page. -- Egil 09:39 Apr 24, 2003 (UTC)

I agree -- I should have thought more carefully about it. Number of the Beast (numerology) looks best. Jacquerie27

I partly agree. Without any feelings mathematics also deals with such numbers as 666, 333, 999, 42, π, etc. no matter what other pseudo-sciences may find in these numbers. Why (let us say pure) number 666 should be treated specially within something called numerology. Mathematicians generally do not support numerology although they "secretly" deal with it. How about a pure name six hundred sixty six as numbers 0, 1, 2... are already treated? We should also remember about what Godfrey Harold Hardy think about the role of one mathematician. We could perhaps transfer his opinions to the world of numerology as well. Best regards. --XJamRastafire 12:34 Apr 24, 2003 (UTC)

If the number 666 is interesting enough from a mathemathical point of view, I see no trouble with a maths page. But numerology does not belong in a "(mathematics)" article. Also note that the articles one, two etc. contains all aspects of those numbers, not only mathematical. So one alternative might be to have a generic page for the number 666. Whatever, really, but please do not use the term "Number of the Beast" in a mathematical context. -- Egil 13:41 Apr 24, 2003 (UTC)

PS: There seems to be so much interest in this number that I think there is a market for a calculator that displays "Number of the Beast" whenever the result is 666. Anyone interested in licensing this idea may do so for $1, the same licensing fee that applied to the Arthur head screwdriver. -- Egil

Contents 1 Problem with Microchip Implants 2 attributes of the mark 3 Thinks he's such a big shot 4 Nice reversion 5 Solana 6 Solana vandal 7 WAAAAY off! 8 Base twelve nonsense 9 Number of the beast , Greek Numbering System 10 616 11 More 616 12 Not 616 13 Satanist 666 = sex? 14 Interesting Anecdote 15 Hebrew spelling of Neron Caesar 16 The external links section is very messy. 17 666 and RFID? 18 Bible 19 Why not "Number of the Beast (disambiguation)" for the disambig links? 20 This might be elementary. 21 June 6, 2006 22 Other 23 some of this looks dumb 24 Numerology 25 The show The Boondocks pointed out that... 26 Swathes of deletions 27 Edited Comment 28 REVISIONS URGENTLY NEEDED 29 Date 30 Proofread... 31 Church of Ouzo 32 Question 33 Reagan (again) 34 Movie theatrical counts 35 Cruft 36 Mentions outside the book of Revelation. 37 Quotations 38 777 39 Pet Peeves About People 40 The Internet 41 Explanation of my edit 42 OLDEST Source says 616 43 Use of Hebrew instead of Greek for coded Nero 44 "Mark" of the Beast is MONEY i.e., MONEY of the Beast 45 External Links 46 English Translation 47 Bible Version 48 Atom theory 49 Ellen Gould White=666 50 The Number and Mark

[edit] Problem with Microchip Implants

The fourth problem is that, if the mark could be considered a microchip implant, then it no longer functions as a "mark" since it is invisible. The Greek word charagma (mark) denotes a stamp or an impression upon the skin - ie something that is visible to the naked eye and whose function depends upon this visibility.

Actually, on some websites that promote literal and conspiratorial views for Revelation do manage to use the word charmaga to support their claim that the mark is microchip implant. They say that charmaga has its word origins in the Greek word charax, which in turn can either be said to mean “stick into,” or, “sharpen to a point” or palisade (fence); they could also say that charasso on which charax is derived also means “sharpen to a point.” The significance of all of this is that conspiracy theorist or literalists can point to either charax or charasso as say that their meanings implicate a hypodermic needle from which a microchip implant can be embedded under the skin. I’m not sure how valid their claims and reasoning are, but this could affect the integrity of the above portion of this article.--YanA 22:03, 9 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Reply Thanks for your comment on this issue. I'll just quote from Ulrich Witkins from the Theological Dictonary of the Net Testament, vol. 9, pg 416:

(it) is an engraved, etched, branded or inscribed "mark" or "sign". Closest to (its) original sense.. is the earliest example in Soph. Phil., 267, where (it) denotes the bite of a snake. Elsewhere the term means "inscription"... or anything written..., and especially the impressed or branded "stamp" eg a brand to mark camels.

There is more but I don't know how to write Greek letters here in Wikipedia. Basically it asserts that Charagma is a visible mark. As for the integrity of Witkins and the TDNT, as far as I understand, it is the premier reference book on Biblical Greek words. One Salient Oversight 08:29, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Response

While I don't mean to question your knowledge on this issue (judging from the page on Wikipedia, it would seem that you are extremely knowledgable on the subject of religion) and nor do I support such beliefs I feel it is necessary to say that another point of contention that can be argued about the mark not being a microchip implant is the relationship between the number 6 and the Greek word stigma. In Greek when the numeral 6 is written it is typically written using a “stigma,” as in the King James Version of the Bible 666 is rendered as chi-xi-stigma in Greek. Literalists and conspiracy theorists can then say that “stigma” means “a mark” from the root word “prick”. Couple this with the number 666 and that Revelation (13:16-18) in the King James Version says the mark is "in" the forehead or right hand, then it becomes a short jump to thinking that the mark of the Beast is an implant embedded into a person through a hypodermic needle. Furthermore, because the Greek 6 is written with a character that looks kind of like an “S,” they can further connect the number six (using the idea that the letter s is used as a hissing sound) to a serpent and hence the Devil. An excerpt from a site (there are others) that makes such a claim follows to give you a better idea of the reasoning behind it [1].

The Greeks and Romans stood the "S" erectly, as we see it now. This erect serpent (standing next to a tree a la Gen. 3) pervaded the art of this period. Even the technical term in phonics for the 'hissing sound' is sybilation, coming from the occult Sybils who spoke then as New Age channelers do today. In the Greek alphabet, the second letter for the lower-case s, sigma, is used only as the terminal letter of a word. This peculiar form of 'S', identical to a serpent pictogram, is used for the Greek number 6. It is called stigma, and means 'a mark' from the root 'to prick'. (Does this not point to Rev. 13 and 14 and its mark of 666.) Stigma (prick) and charagma (sharpen to a point), both translated 'mark' in the KJV, point to the new hypodermically inserted identification microchip, inserted "in" the hand or forehead (not "on" as new versions say!). Incidentally, Xi, which represents 60, is identified as "the symbol of the serpent" in Greek, by one of this century's greatest scholars, E.W. Bullinger. His classic book Number in Scripture shares my "Watch out" view of the "S". [see pp. 49, 150, 156, 282, 283, et al.]

"But 666 was the secret symbol of the ancient pagan mysteries connected with the worship of the Devil...The great secret symbol consisted of three letters SSS, because the letter S in the Greek alphabet was the symbol for the figure 6."

Is there anything to your knowledge that either refutes or confirms this? Does it have an significance? Again, if this turns out to be true, the it compromises the article to some degree as well as necessitate some changes. By the way, how many volumes does the TDNT consist of?--YanA 17:13, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802823246/202-0923091-7822219 The TDNT has ten volumes of around 900 pages each. It was written between 1930 and 1976 and has 145 contibutors. It examines each Greek word used in the New Testament in its wider context - including within the non-Christian Greek world at the time. The authors were almost exclusively German who came from a variety of theological backgrounds (including Evangelical, Liberal and Neo-Orthodox).

I think what charagma actually means is that it is a visible mark on the skin that is caused by a brand or a tattoo needle. In other words, for the mark to permanently exist, the flesh or skin had to be penetrated in some way. In that sense, the idea of charagma is both a visible mark and a penetration of the skin in order to cause that mark. It's a focus upon how the visible mark was made. If this were true then the idea that it could refer to a microchip implant is still highly illogical. First of all, it is the visible mark that is being referred to in Revelation 13, not the process that created the mark. Secondly, Revelation 13 does not even hint at anything else being placed into or under the skin. If it were, then the author of Revelation would have made it explicit - a bead placed under the skin or some such phrase. As it stands, there is no logical reason that I can find that would suggest that the mark is anything but visible.
One Salient Oversight 03:09, 11 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Let me get this straight, the stuff about stick into or sharpen to a point with regard to the definition and word origin of charagma refers to how the stamp or inscription is made and since charagma is used in Rev. 13 (instead of words that would implicate subdermal devices) which means stamps and inscriptions which are usually visible then is stands to reason that the mark itself is visible. Moreover, the stuff about the relation between 6 and stigma is not logical (May I also ask why is it illogical? I'm thinking that it may to to much of a stretch to link the number 666 with how the mark is made, but since I'm not a particularily religiou person, I have know idea of knowing if I'm right). Furthermore, you believe this stuff about the mark being subdermal is complete bunk because the author would have somehow explicitily said something to indicate a subdermal mark. Is this a correct assessment of your reasoning for why it's visible? --YanA 05:07, 11 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I actually didn't address the whole 6/stigma question and the truth is I didn't really do any research into that area. There might be a link between the phrase "Six hundred and sixty-six" (which is what the Greek says, not "six-six-six") and the word for Stigma but the relationship may only be as similar as say, phone and bone in English. I could be wrong there though. I am, however, convinced that the other points of my argument are correct, namely that charagma is a visible mark on the skin caused by cutting/burning associated with branding or tattooing, and not with anything that goes under the skin. Actually, as I write this, I have thought it may be that the whole branding/tattooing business is reminiscent of permanently marking slaves. By the way, are you asking all this because you are having a discussion with someone who believes in the more conspiratorial interpretations of Revelation? If so then I would be happy to help. I am a (relatively) conservative Christian and know a bit about all the different arguments. One Salient Oversight 00:36, 12 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Thank you for your offer of assistance but I'm not having a discussion with someone with conspiratoral views. I'm only asking because I've run across numerous Christian end time websites and wanted see if their arguments about the mark had any for lack of better word, validity. If they did have any good valid arguments then we might need include their views because of Wikipedia's Neutral Point of View policy (you stated their opposing views quite well on the article). But should I ever need your help in the future with an argument about conspiratorial views about Revelation, I'll be sure to contact you on your talk page if that's okay with you.--YanA 04:16, 12 Aug 2004 (UTC)

• I think John just didn't know how to comprehend a computer let alone a "subdermal microchip" so the vision he was given, well he wrote it down as best he could.

[edit] attributes of the mark

Hi, i'm Mark. I will soon see all of you claivoyantly at once. This is simply a safety measure against phychic attack, ethereal disruption, emotional disruption, etc, and for the benefit of my works with alchemy. Earth is my jurasdiction because I have taken it as such. Thank you very much for listening.

In concert with the entry on the problems of literal interpretation, I agree that a more accurate understanding of the issue is metephorical. In the same way that we say, "what's on your mind" we don't expect the reponse, "bone, skin and hair", instead it means "what are you thinking about." The mark on the forehead,the mark of the beast, is the doctrine of Philipians which is works of the law. Buying and Selling is work. The doctrine of christ is grace so it stands to reason that the doctrine of the antichrist would be work. What people think directly influences their actions so avoiding the obvious mistakes of literalism marks on head and hand are beliefs and actions of those who knowinly or unknowingly have accepted the doctrine of the beast.

charagma {khar'-ag-mah} or charax {khar'-ax} define: Charagma: a palisade or rampart

Define palisade: a fence of pales or stakes set firmly in the ground, as for enclosure

define rampart:Fortification. a. a broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet. b. such an elevation together with the parapet

define parapet: A low protective wall or railing along the edge of a raised structure such as a roof or balcony

Rev 13:17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the "mark",

or the name of the beast,

"the name"--, greek for,onoma {on'-om-ah}to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of a) to understand b) to know ...or to receive profit or advantage, be helped [or have joy]

or the number of his name,

"the number"---,greek,airo {ah'-ee-ro}to bear away what has been raised, carry off a) to move from its place b) to take off or away what is attached to anything c) to remove d) to carry off, carry away with one e) to appropriate what is taken f) to take away from another what is his or what is committed to him, to take by force g) to take and apply to any use h) to take from among the living, either by a natural death, or by violence i) cause to cease

[edit] Thinks he's such a big shot

Javier Solana, I knew the Antichrist. I rented the Antichrist a room in college. I borrowed money from the Antichrist and never paid it back. Javier Solana, you sir are no Antichrist.

[edit] Nice reversion

Good job, there, MarkSweep. Isn't it pretty much the same as vandalism, to edit out something that belongs in the article, and replace it with some personal political attack?

Cbdorsett 14:07, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Solana

I believe this site has had problems from someone convinced Javier solana is the beast. I have put a little NPOV bit about him thought to be so as people do believe it, but I am not endorsing this idea, and indeed am very supportive of trying to keep such obsessive speculation from dominating the Javier Solana page.

[edit] Solana vandal

I believe the person who vandalised this site on Feb 9th, User:68.159.142.187 is User:Cumbey, using one of her many probable sockpuppets. For more info see Talk:Javier Solana/Solana vandalism and POV. --SqueakBox 16:11, Mar 5, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] WAAAAY off!

You are all way off. As I learned it, from Prof. Friedman at UC San Diego (look him up, he's got some SERIOUS biblical scholar credentials!) 5 = man. 7 = perfect #. Evil, or the devil, standing between man & perfection (read: serpent in the 'garden of eden') would therefore be read as between 5 and 7... 6!

Three of any number (read: the 'holy trinity') does not ascribe the characteristics of the trinity, save one: divinity. So three sixes, being the numbers symbolizing divinity and evil, or the devil... gives you divine evil.

Nice try tho PS I stink like cheese and i want to marry my mother

[edit] Base twelve nonsense

Whoever is posting all of this stuff about dozenal, please cut it out. The number is most plainly not in gross and dozen. [2] [3]

P.S. What is the Antichrist watch link doing there? I see no references to it in the page, so I removed it. « alerante ✆ ✉ » 12:03, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Number of the beast , Greek Numbering System

First all. John's Apocalypse is written in Greek. So the number system to follow should be greek not ASCII no Latain only Greek. The Greek numerical system is

Α,α=1 Β,β=2 Γ,γ=3 Δ,δ=4 Ε,ε=5 ΣΤ,στ=6 Ζ,ζ=7 Η,η=8 Θ,θ=9 Ι,ι=10 Κ,κ=20 Λ,λ=30 Μ,μ=40 Ν,ν=50 Ξ,ξ=60 Ο,ο=70 Π,π=80 (symbol copa )= 90 Ρ,ρ=100 Σ,σ=200 Τ,τ=300 Υ,υ=400 Φ,φ=500 Χ,χ=600 Ψ,ψ=700 Ω,ω=800 (symbol sanpi)=900

Now it's very simple to calculate some Names AFTER we translate them to greek

The Name JESUS as an example is written in greek ΙΗΣΟΥΣ if we add the letters we come up with Ι+Η+Σ+Ο+Υ+Σ = 10+8+200+70+400+200 = 888

Another example christians (catholics, ortodox etc.) believe in a "trinity god" , father son and holly ghost the greek word for trinity god is ΤΡΙΑΔΙΚΟΣ ΘΕΟΣ Τ+Ρ+Ι+Α+Δ+Ι+Κ+Ο+Σ+Θ+Ε+Ο+Σ = 300+100+10+1+4+20+200+9+5+70+200 = 999

So who ever this individual is if we translate the name in greek and then make the addition the result will be 666.

Example: The Name BENEDICT in greek it is ΒΕΝΕΔΙΚΤΟΣ

        if we make the calculation we come up with 
        Β+Ε+Ν+Ε+Δ+Ι+Κ+Τ+Ο+Σ = 2+5+50+5+4+10+20+300+70+200 = 666 

Is that the name of our new Pope ?

I do not thing that the new Pope is the Antichrist ( he could not be because it's to old) bud I thing that he might play he's role in the specific direction.

[edit] 616

This BBC page says the humber of the beast is 616 instead of 666 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4523637.stm

[edit] More 616

I read in the 1963 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica that the number was really 616 so that is nothing new.

[edit] Not 616

The evidence for the originality of 616 is very weak (news reports are not always reliable). The critical apparatus of The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition, ISBN 3-438-05113-3 (UBS⁴) strongly supports the traditional reading, "666". (UBS⁴ is one of the two surrent standard critical editions of the Greek New Testament. Both read the same, but differ in punctuation and notes.) The reading "666" (ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ) is attested by the overwhelming majority of witnesses, including several ancient witnesses. Among the actual copies of Revelation that read "666" are the late third century papyrus manuscript P⁴⁷ and the important, usually very reliable uncial, Codex Alexandrinus (abbreviated as א) from the fourth century. This reading is also attested by many early versions (translations) and church fathers. The editors of UBS⁴ rate their certainty of particular readings on a four-point scale, with A meaning "very certain" to D meaning "doubtful." They assign the traditional reading an A rating.

About the reading 616, here's what A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament (ISBN 3-438-06010-8), which is the companion to UBS³, says about this variant on pages 751-752:

Instead of ἑξήκοντα, which is strongly supported by P⁴⁷ א A P 046 051 all extant minuscules it^gig vg syr^{ph, h} cop^{sa, bo} arm al, δέκα [making the reading "616"] is read by C [and] some manuscripts known to Irenaeus [early second century] (who, however, says that 666 is found "in all good and ancient copies," and is "attested by those who had themselves seen John face to face"). . . . According to Tischendorf's 8th ed., the numeral 616 was also read by two minuscule manuscripts which unfortunately are no longer extant. . . . When Greek letters are used as numerals the difference between 666 and 616 is merely a change from ξ to ι (666=χξς and 616=χις). Perhaps this change was intentional, seeing that the Greek form Neron Caesar written in Hebrew characters (נרון קסר) is equivalent to 666, whereas the Latin form Nero Caesar (נרו קסר) is equivalent to 616. [Some people thought that 666 referred to Nero.]

Because of this strong evidence, one additional early papyrus manuscript is not nearly enough to tip the scales in favor of "616." By the principles of textual criticism, "666" should be regarded as original.

Because of this, I'm removing the discussion of 616 from the introduction to this article. I'm leaving the rest in tact for now, although when I have time I'll probably add something to the article that's along the lines of this post (but a little more neutral in POV).--mssever (Blog) 06:08, Jun 25, 2005 (UTC)

• 616 could also be a deception on behalf of the devil to lure us into not fearing the real 666, but that's just speculation

[edit] Satanist 666 = sex?

I removed the following (refering to 666 in Greek numerals: χξς):

It has been noted (on stanist websites) that this looks suspiciously like the word SEX (in English!) written upside down.

I believe that it's irrelevant. When Revelation was originally written, Greek was written entirely in capital letters. Therefore, the numeral for 666 would have been more like ΧΞC. Greek capital sigma (Σ) used to look like Latin capital C. Furthermore, the English language didn't exist during the first century. This means that any similarity to the word sex is coincidental.--mssever (Talk | Blog) June 29, 2005 05:59 (UTC)

Sex is a perfectly natural working of the multidimensional body there is no corruption of sex that is not a social disorder. So therefore sex is not the problem but peoples phycological, emotional, habitual, social, and physical diseases (which are curable on a mass level long as the other bodies of interaction are considered) tend get in the way and people without knowing it will interact with their own phycological superimpreshions on the surounding world. This stops one from seeing another even though the sensations that agnowledge others (both animate and inanimate) persist they will be misconstrude by the disordered mind. Which is in proper working order in its given form, I.e. broken televisions work exactly as they work even if they dont do what they would do if their where in a diffrent order more suitable for lets say... turning on and conveing a singnal through a laser. Thank you very much.

[edit] Interesting Anecdote

This doesn't really belong in the main article, so I'll chuck it on the Talk page - I knew a guy name Damien for a while. He was 18 when I knew him (6+6+6). We went into a petrol station garage and he bought a bunch of snacks and drinks, and they came to £6.66. Now ain't that some freaky deaky shit!! I know it sounds like an urban legend or something, but this genuinely happened. I don't think he had it in him to be the Antichrist mind, he was a pretty nice guy.

[edit] Hebrew spelling of Neron Caesar

When Greek words are transliterated into Hebrew, the Kappa generally becomes a Qof, e.g. Kategor and Apikoros. (I have no idea how to get Hebrew and Greek fonts onto my computer, if enayone can help me with that, I would greatly appreciate it. It would allow me to translate many article into Yiddish. Email me woth advice atheistrabbi@hotmail.com, but I digress...) The Q/K issue only becomes an issue when attempting to transliterate Hebrew letters into the Latin alphabet.

On the basis of those facts, I am removing the note. However, since this is semi-original research by me, if anyone feels that the note should not have been removed, feel free to put it back and leave a comment on my talk page. Atheistrabbi 9 July 2005 04:29 (UTC)

[edit] The external links section is very messy.

You're not supposed to rewrite an essay next to an external link. Therefore, I've changed the external links section so that it only links to the essays themselves and has a short phrase about the point of view for which the essays argue. --Idont Havaname 18:01, 17 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] 666 and RFID?

Someone added a link to RFID in the See also section. I added a link to a Google search that finds stories linking the two, but someone should probably create a story for the Speculation and trivia section out of it and move the link there. --IByte 20:31, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Bible

I removed this line.

"The Arabic form of the Beast has KFR on its forehead. [4] "

The context of the quote was "References from the Bible". As far as I know, the Arabic form of the Beast is extrabiblical and should be in another sections. Further it has no reference to the number.

[edit] Why not "Number of the Beast (disambiguation)" for the disambig links?

Considering that the vast majority of people who search for or link to Number of the Beast will be looking for the discussion of the actual number and its Biblical and other significance, probably a thousand times more often than anyone searching for "the number of the beast" will be looking for the album, the book, or the Digimon episode, why not move Number of the Beast (numerology) to Number of the Beast and move the current disambiguation page at Number of the Beast to Number of the Beast (disambiguation), with the disambiguation link at the top of Number of the Beast? The disambiguation page should only be the main page in cases where there's no way of picking a "main" article that is the most likely search target. In cases, like this, where not only is one possibility much more likely to be the intended target, but also where the most likely candidate is the direct inspiration for the names of the other possible targets, the article should be at Number of the Beast; (numerology) is only necessary when the article's name has more (or equally) famous significance, as in 23 (numerology). -Silence 22:44, 30 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] This might be elementary.

I was watching Jack Van Impe ministries and he calculated the number useing our alphabet A-Z numbering them with the multiplies of 6. a=6 b=12 and so on. This is weird but he spelled out COMPUTER and the number total 666. Then he spelled out MARK OF THE BEAST and it also came out to 666 [Note: This is wrong, it actually totals 864]. To me this seems plausable due to the massive growth of computers and technology. Everybody seems to have a different interpretation on this number so could this theory be ruled out?

[edit] June 6, 2006

This number has scared me many times when I was going through a nervous breakdown. Another thing to note is that next year on June 6, 2006, it will be 6/6/06. I feared this date when I was in the midst of my bipolar mania. Let's hope nothing happens, or that Tom Cruise's baby will not be born on this date (a possible candidate for L. Ron Hubbard's antichristlike second coming).

[edit] Other

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The number 666 has nothing to do with the devil/satan or hitler or anyone else that was mentioned. The number 666 has a true meaning much less dramatic. 666 was the number of christian(probally spelled wrong) people a roman emperor had slaughtered.

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This page was severely vandalised on January 15, when the number 666 was changed to 616 throughout. The alternative reading 616 has long been known, but is not generally regarded as the original reading. Some patent nonsenses have resulted: virtually all post-Biblical references are to 666, not 616, and should be stated as such, whatever your views on the original Biblical number. In one place where this editor has changed the number, the result is a statement that 616 is an alternative reading to 616.

I have reverted the page to the version immediately before this change. I apologize to any legitimate editors whose subsequent contributions have been lost. Some of these will need to be re-entered. However, I suggest that whoever recently added an edit along the lines of, "or a person (or being, or whatever) led by the antichrist." not reinsert it in the introductory paragraph the article, but put in a fuller exposition further down.

I have also inserted a clean-up call at the top of the page. This is one of a number of religious topics which is the subject of controversy and any number of pet theories, many the product of non-mainstream groups or individuals. These have a place in the article, as reflecting later Christian thought, but should not be represented as the one true position, even though proponents of these views consider them as such.

—Neil Copeland, January 18

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Anyone care to explain to me why the external links to the images of "Sword figure" and "Image of the Beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live" point to the obscure website of marine subcontracter ARCHIRODON GROUP NV (i.e. http://212.122.250.98/h/beast.htm on http://212.122.250.98) ?

What's that directory doing there? Talk about a conspiracy theory! ;-) --VanPeel 04:06, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

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This so-called first interpretation needs to be shifted, and probably removed, perhaps with a redirect to the user's webpage. Is it the view of a group or an individual? It seems anti-Muslim in tone, though the editor appears to have some sort of connection with Islam. I am considering removing it from the main page to the talk page. It's not without interest, but I doubt that it represents any historically significant strand of interpretation of the passage.

—Neil Copeland (January 18 2006)

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Good Idea Since the mark and the number are same thing

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You have GOT to be kidding me...

" For example, scholars who believe the Book of Revelation refers to real people and events argue that the number represents the value of Nero or Neron Caesar (נרון קסר, Nrwn Qsr*) in Hebrew letters, which also have numerical values (note that Hebrew is written from right to left):

               r    S    q     n   w    r    n 
       666 = 200 + 60 + 100 + 50 + 6 + 200 + 50

"

Okay, so the process is:
1) take a name
2) misspell/use "alternate" spelling of that name
3) write that name in a language the Book of Revelations was NOT written, for instance Hebrew
4) (optional, seen on other web pages) translate that gibberish into another language that the Book of Revelations was NOT written in, for instance Aramaic
5) take that gibberish and use YET ANOTHER language's (greek in this case) rules of numerology.

Is there any name on Earth, or even any word, that following that process could NOT be turned into any number you want, be it 666, 616, 665, 1234, 3.14, etc.?

I just turned my name into 616 with little effort using that process, I must be satan.

The mere fact that you dispute the findings of our learned Wiki-theologians, proves beyond any doubt that you ARE the Antichrist, doesn't it? Religious fools are so well-schooled in dealing with nonsensical dogma that go against observations and common sense that you blasphemous heretic haven't got a chance! You clearly will burn in all eternity...
KristianMikk 15:51, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

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NO KIDDING! "No one buys or sells without the MONEY of the Beast!"

New Testament ‘scholars’ erroneously translate the Greek word charagma as ‘mark” rather than money. (Look the word up in the unabridged Greek lexicon by H.B. Liddell and see the correct, in context translation is money.

Since Hebrew and Greek letters have numerical equivalents (i.e., A=1, 6=2, J=10), the number of the beast (666) is the sum of the separate letters of his name. Of countless explanations, the most probable is Neron Caesar (in Hebrew Letters), which, if spelled without the final n, also accounts for a variant reading, 616.

Nero was the Roman Emperor from 54-68 AD. The book of “Revelations,” originally a Hebrew/Jewish book written about 66 AD, was plagiarized by Christians, who added stuff about Jesus at the beginning and end.

In 66 AD, the Jews revolted against the Romans and coined their own money. Therefore, the “Revelation” is: “Nero the Beast’s money is evil and our Jewish money is good.”

“Mammon” is an Aramaic word for money (Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics [1951], sv, “Mammon.”). The word philarguron, mistranslated as “covetousness” in some New Testament bibles, at Luke 16:14 and as “money” In 1 Timothy 6:10, means fond of silver. Silver was the money of Christ’s day hence, Luke 16, in context reads, “You cannot serve God and money (mammon): you’ll either love the one and hate the other ... the Pharisees (Jews) who loved money (philarguron), heard all this and scoffed.”

More info at: http://www.666isMONEY.com

[edit] some of this looks dumb

...Since "beasts" such as oxen, horses and donkeys were used as machines in ancient times, one can infer “beast” in modern times meaning "machine" or "computer". Since computers were developed by English speaking people it is plausible that the numerical decoding should be via English, such that one interprets “leading the development” as “riding the head of the beast”.

this just looks stupid, and so do a lot of the other stuff on the page. yeah, just wanted to point that out.

You're not a bible scholar, and will never be one. Don't make judements about what you have know idea about. 68.3.18.67 23:42, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

This is the exact same paragraph I came in here to complain about. Priester 03:56, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Numerology

I looked up 666 and 616 in Crowley's 777. Yeah, the way it works in Hebrew Gematria is to take the letters and add up their numerical values to get a sum and depending on the spelling of the word, you get a specific number value. According to Crowley's 777, the Hebrew word Neshishimiron (I might be misspelling that) adds up to 666 and 616, depending on how you spell it (in Hebrew). Crowley says it's the name of a Qlippoth.

[edit] The show The Boondocks pointed out that...

The name Ronald Wilson Reagan has six letters per name i.e. 666.

Eh. Could be. I still say fudge it to make it Bush. United States is 66 but we need another. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 12.47.15.38 (talk • contribs) .

‘George’ and ‘Walker’ have six letters each and ‘Bush’ has four, plus the two spaces. Thus, Bush is the Beast. (The words even start with the same letter!) —xyzzy_n 17:20, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Swathes of deletions

One interpretation makes 666 equal the summation of the Greek Numbering of the Arabic pronounced word of "ELLAH", which means "GOD" in the English language, where Ε=ε=5 , L=λ=30 , Α=α=1 , Η=χ=600.

Thus the total of the word = 5 + 1=6   = ϛ  
                                   +                            
                             30+30=60  = ξ
                                   +
                                   600 = χ = χξϛ = (600)(60)(6)=666.    

For Muslims although the name of "God" is considered to be "Allah" but it is pronounced as of "Ellah" specially within some sentences as in "Besm Ellah" which means "in the name of GOD", also when it is used within composite names as in "Abd Ellah". So in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it is common for individuals to use the pronounced name of "Ellah" (as in "Seif Ellah" which means in English "Sword of the God"); taken in context, this could mean that the prophecied Beast could be an Arabic Moslem; his mark in such case could be the pronounced name of "Ellah" written in Arabic letters "اللة" and shaped within :

                             Sword figure. 

Such interpretation gives one understanding of the Beast's potential name, its number, and its mark; in addition, it reads well into the next chapter of the Book of Revelation: 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:10, KJV)

This interpretation also translates well with the Islamic belief in the appearance of Mahdi, the one prophecied who will join all Moslems under his leadership to conquer and defeat all non-Moslem people and countries in order to establish Islam as the global religion.

   Image of the Beast which had the wound by a sword, and did live.    

The link shows Imaginary portrait of Husayn ibn Ali the grandson of prophet Muhammed whereas the expected Mahdi is one of his descendents according to Islamic Shia faith. The Destiny of Jews and Christians during Beast time To be reviewed and compared with Revelation book chapter 13:6 till its end.

Needs proper citations, not some random website. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Please? Just reverting won't help anyone. Let's discuss this. --Mgreenbe 13:19, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

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One interpretation is that 666 represents humankind in general because of the special significance that the number has in the Bible. Six is known as an "imperfect number" because it is one short of seven, the "perfect number" (seven days in the week, seven tongues of flame, seven spiritual gifts...). So three (the number of the Trinity) sixes is seen as extremely imperfect. Therefore, 666 represents imperfect man, while 777 represents God.

Cite, please. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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I've left the Orthodox church entry in, as an impartial gesture. It seems more backed up by fact. Citations are still requested. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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This sparks great public interest since it seems to provide some way to identify the Antichrist. Numerologists like to devise clever ways of assigning numbers to letters so that the letters of a name will add up to this symbolic number. Probably the best-known scheme has A=100, B=101, and so on. With this code, the name "HITLER" adds up to 666. Another commonly cited example is President Ronald Wilson Reagan, where counting the letters of his first, middle, and last name lead to 666. While these ideas are intriguing, they usually require many specific preconditions, like having to start with 100, numbering the surname only, etc. (even though in the former case, you can also number a=1, b=2, and so on and decode his initials 'A' and 'H' as 18, which of course equals 6+6+6.)

Who cares? Linear diophantine equations are easy to solve. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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Others say that DCLXVI represents trade, a metaphor of the whore in Revelation, that sits on many waters and deceives the whole world (with dreams of wordly things). Supporters of this idea claim that the meaning was not so cryptic and it would have been easily understood in roman times, since the roman numerals were the primary trading symbols.

Cite? --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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Versions of Christian eschatology see the Book of Revelations as prophecy; it is typically thought that the Mark of the Beast is one way in which the antichrist will exercise power over the earth, during the period known as the Tribulation in the book of Revelation. Opinions as to what form it will take are varied. The literal interpretation is that it will be the number 666 imprinted on the skin, but conspiracy theorists imagine all sorts of devious possibilities tied in with recent technological developments. The notion that the mark is required for all commerce implies that the mark might actually be a special credit card or that we might have to have our fingerprints scanned into a worldwide database in order to be recognized in business. Or the mark might be some kind of smart chip implanted into the body, such as the Verichip, manufactured by the company Digital Angel (AMEX:DOC). One common theory is that people will be tatooed with a Universal Product Code barcode, which already has 3 sets of "guard bars" which appear to be in the pattern of a 6, meaning that every current UPC barcode contains the number 666. Thomas Heeter, for instance, holds US Patent #5878155 for invisibly tatooing a UPC barcode on human beings for e-commerce purposes.

In the verse that immediately follows, 14:1, there is a description of the 144,000 who had the name of Jesus and the name of the Father written on their foreheads. Most mainstream Christian interpreters see the 144,000 as a non-literal number of people who represent all of God's people - the church. Yet to many interpreters it seems strange to view the mark of the beast as a literal mark, since it logically means that the 144,000 in 14:1 would have a literal mark of Jesus and the Father upon their foreheads also. Many interpreters view both marks as being symbolic of a person's commitment to either God or the Devil.

"Mark of the Beast" is mark in a person's righthand or forehead. The reader must decide to read a section in a literal sense. If the "beasts" are symbols of what was or what is to come, then it is also logical that the mark of the beast is literal mark in a person's righthand or forehead.

The third problem is that, if the verse is to be understood in a literalistic sense, then the mark can only be effectual if it is placed upon the right hand or the forehead. If the mark is placed, for example, upon the left hand or the shoulder, then it is no longer considered the mark of the beast.

The fourth problem is that, if the mark could be considered a microchip implant, then it no longer functions as a "mark" since it is invisible. The Greek word charagma (mark) denotes a stamp or an impression upon the skin - ie something that is visible to the naked eye and whose function depends upon this visibility. Within the Christian community there are many who argue that the word charagma is based on the word charax, which is said to mean stick into, or, sharpen to a point or palisade (fence); they could also say that charasso on which charax is derived also means sharpen to a point. This would support their notion that a microchip is "stuck into" a person's skin. Such an argument, however, does not appear to be backed up by New Testament scholars. Ulrich Witkins, a contributor to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (vol 9, page 416), writes the following about charagma:

(it) is an engraved, etched, branded or inscribed "mark" or "sign". Closest to (its) original sense.. is the earliest example in Soph. Phil., 267, where (it) denotes the bite of a snake. Elsewhere the term means "inscription"... or anything written..., and especially the impressed or branded "stamp" eg a brand to mark camels. However, the unabridged Greek-English Lexicon by Liddel & Scott also defines Charagma as MONEY.

All of this is ranty. If something specific wants to be said, reputable sources should be cited. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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In base 10, 666 is 333 times 2. It is also 111 times 6. If you divide 666 by 9 you get 74. There are 665 integers between 0 and 666. 666 divided by 4 is 166.5. It would probably take a while to count up to 666 if you started at 0 and counted every integer. 666 times 2 is 1332. 666 times 3 is 1998. 666 squared is 443,556. 666 is a triangular number.

You don't say! --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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All of the pop culture references have been snipped and put in /Pop culture. They will be sorted later; the value they add to the page is dubious at best. All of the speculation and trivia section has been split to /Trivia. Wikipedia WP:ISNOT a collection of trivia. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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On 06/06/06 (June 6, 2006) the sun will be between the horns of Zodiac sign Taurus.

Good to know. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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The octal number 666 is used in setting up authorizations in the Unix Operating System. It offers read and write access to all users, and is only limited by the permissions of directories above or different permission schemes, e.g. ACLs. This matches the Revelation ('13:17 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. ') in that this could be a way to allow or disallow people to buy anything (the Mark of the Beast as a personal body mark easily readable by automated cashiers in a cashless society).

This also leads to speculations that software manufacturer Microsoft, and its founder, Bill Gates, are evil [5], as Bill Gates, evaluated in ASCII, sums up to 663, which, when added with 3 (his complete name is William Henry Gates III,) becomes 666. Counting the space as one, Windows 95 also sums to 666.

The sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is "waw" (or "vav"). This is the closest approximation of the English letter "w". Also in the Hollerith Card (sometimes called an IBM Punch-Card) a zero zone punch and a six numeric punch in a column signified the letter W. Thus the ubiquitous acronym "www" could be the Number of the Beast. Also, the number 6 in Roman numerals is represented as VI. 666 = VIVIVI, and it has been suggested that visions from the past mistook WWW for it (In the time revelations was written, U, represented as V, had the sounds U and W, which lends this support).

A known one-liner refers to the editor vi: VIVIVI, the Editor of the Beast.

The internet access provider firm Demon Internet http://www.demon.net/ has many telephone numbers (voice, and computer dialup) that contain 666, and sometimes sequences of three copies of other digits.

Another speculation is that computer=666. If we encode the English alphabet where every letter is a multiple of 6: a=6, b=12, c=18, ..., z=156 then we have "computer" = 666 = (3*6)+(15*6)+(13*6)+(16*6)+(21*6)+(20*6)+(5*6)+(18*6). Since "beasts" such as oxen, horses and donkeys were used as machines in ancient times, one can infer “beast” in modern times meaning "machine" or "computer". Since computers were developed by English speaking people it is plausible that the numerical decoding should be via English, such that one interprets “leading the development” as “riding the head of the beast”.

TCP/IP port 666 is officially registered to ID Software, the publishers of the Doom series of games, for multiplayer game communication across a network; this is obviously a gimmick. Port 616 is officially registered to SCO System Administration Server, much to the amusement of SCO's critics.

Some of this belongs on the page. I think it's better to move stuff on selectively than to slowly move things out. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

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Okay. So what I've done is a very, very major edit. And it was all deletion. And I'm sorry if you felt that your additions to the page are being disrespected: I mean no disrespect. What I do mean, however, is to cleanup the page. And we can add back notable, interesting facts; nothing is really lost. I feel that discussion will be smoother if we discuss what is interesting about a fact, than if we discuss what is not. Please address general responses below this comment; for specific comments, please address it to the appropriate section. --Mgreenbe 00:38, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

I see that someone reverted my deletions. Care to comment? --Mgreenbe 20:07, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

If you just revert and don't leave comments, what are we supposed to think about what you're doing? Asking us to contact you by e-mail is unreasonable. Please respond here. --Mgreenbe 13:19, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

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"7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left." (Ge 13:7) Thanks all for your support,The new location for 666 Theological Interpretation

[edit] Edited Comment

Original Text (found at end of 666 as the Mark of Commerce):

EDIT: In the Revelations 13:16 of the KJV Bible, the direct quote is as such: "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:" Although this doesn't argue the third aforementioned problem, the fourth problem is debunked. The KJV of the Bible has been studied to be the most word-for-word accurate.

Notes: The KJV is not the most accurate translation, whether talking word for word or not, because that is a matter of opinion. Your statement is at best a opinionated statement with some factual backing (but still an opinion none the less).

A true word-for-word translation simply means no words were not translated into an equivalent in English, but the question of the meaning behind every word still remains. The meaning can be taken literately or based on meaning (which can invlove intrepritation), with plently of grey area between the two. But, by saying word-for-word, I'm assuming you essentially meant a literal translation, because that would make more sense. The KJV is one of the best literal translations of the Bible IMO, if referring to the revised KJV (the original KJV of old was full of translation errors, but has since been cleaned up I believe, unless people still insist on printing the original with many errors).

I'm not trying to discredit the KJV, I am just questioning mentioning that it is the most word-for-word accurate. It provided no value to the article to do so, especially when it is at best a opinionated statement with some factual backing (but still an opinion none the less).

The KJV is not the most accurate. It's not even close. In fact it was translated and then rewritten to be more poetic. See: KJV#Critism

[edit] REVISIONS URGENTLY NEEDED

This article is very poorly written. Pieces of it have hope but it doesn't look like anyone has taken very good care of it's growth and development. As a result, solidly founded and long-held beliefs are intermingled and given equal weight with the most obscure speculative fantasy. And some stuff just doesn't belong. (E.g. Can someone please explain to me what a Jewish non-"number of the beast" interpretation of the number 666 as used in the Old Testament has to do with the "number of the beast" in the New Testament book of Revelation?) It's really just dreadful. I'd suggest a new section for "Novel Crackpot Theories" that we could just dump all the junk into. As it stands, it looks like something that belongs in the uncylcopedia. --Economy1 17:37, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Date

Shouldn't the article contain something on the approaching date - 6/6/06 (6th June, 2006). Just a thought. User:SMI

It does now, even though it shouldn't. Nobody would ever abbreviate a date using only the last digit of the year (ever seen July 4, 1776 written as 7/4/6?) ... unless they had a horror film or metal album to promote. User: PWBooker

[edit] Proofread...

I took the liberty of proofreading the article, and rewording some parts. I left the spellings with extra u's alone(i.e. Neighbour). I hope the alterations meet with approval.--Vercalos 09:18, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

The meaning of the the number 666 in the book of Revelation can now be revealed. It is a reference to the United Nations Resolution 666. This concerned the first Iraq war. It places restrictions on the goods that can be traded with Iraq. This is exactly what the prophecy is about. "Nothing can be bought or sold without the mark of the beast". The book of Revelation is a curious account of the beginning and end of Christianity.The language is extreme but the meaning is all too clear.It has later been confirmed by the prophets Nostradamus and Malachi. We can only hope that Armageddon is still some distance in the future. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.254.173.35 (talk • contribs) .

Actually, that was back in 1998, but that’s no reason not to have fun.

• The United Nations emblem clearly displays two horns (Rev. 13:11).
• It’s huge, thus it speaks like a dragon (ibid.).
• It does great wonders and nearly made fire come down from heaven (Rev. 13:13) once.
• The entire UN is actually just one person who wears different masks and costumes every now and then. Really.

However, the Beast is really the island of Vaygach!

(Just kidding.) —xyzzy_n 14:34, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

There are any number of "beasts" in the book of Revelation. At least four beasts are on the side of the angels. Although the book does mention Satan and the Devil, there is no direct link to any of the beasts. This was the invention of the highly successful film, "The Omen". The "666 beast" is unique in that it states that it is the (code) name of a man. Who can this man possibly be.

You should have found the answer by now. It is a burning issue.

[edit] Church of Ouzo

The true meaning of 666 can be found in "The Ouzo Prophecy"

Robert Merlin Evenson/Church of Ouzo

bobevenson@yahoo.com

[edit] Question

Do people really, honestly believe any of this nonsense about a number? It's just a number. Really. I mean, come on, have 6 letters in each of my names (first, middle, last); does that make me satan or the antichrist? This article is amusing, however a lot of it is clearly fantasy, especially those comments about computers and such. Computers are not evil, though they can be used in evil ways by evil people. This whole article is rife with bias and PoV, IMHO.

1. You don't sign your comments, do you? 2. It's about religion, something which you came here already with a bias AGAINST, so don't don't make any crap about "Ohh, it's got too much PoV.. oh what a bunch of ****tards...." 68.3.18.67 23:46, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reagan (again)

Under "avoiding" the number, do we want to mention Nancy changing her street address to from 666 St. Cloud Road to 668? Rklawton 06:03, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Also some people at the time thought Ronald Wilson Reagan's name of all being six letters as "666", believing him to be the Anti-christ. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 208.31.45.49 (talk • contribs) .

The Reagans are already mentioned in Number of the Beast (occurrence), which looks like the right place. —xyzzy_n 22:11, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Movie theatrical counts

According to Box Office Mojo TC page, there were movies, like A Chorus Line, Failure to Launch, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, either receiving, losing, or holding exactly 666 theaters in a week, more or less.

Examples: [6], [7], [8], [9], [10]

There's more in Yahoo, Google, and other search engines.

Can this subject be in "Speculation and Trivia" section or any other? Why or why not? —69.227.165.221 07:38, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cruft

There are so many claims in this article that need verification outside wikipedia, I can't begin to start. Dominick ^(TALK) 14:25, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

It doesn't help much but the article does have the {{not verified}} tag. Monkeyman^(talk) 00:49, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

True. I was looking for more about this 216 claim, but all I found was a dead Independent link. And the real link is only for paid subscribers now. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.219.14.56 (talk • contribs).

The article states under Jewish view: "Six is considered God's number (see Names of God in Judaism) since it is the numeric value of Waw (letter)." As a Jewish person I am completely appaled that such a thing would be written. What is written is completely factless and garbage. By saying this apparantely Jews worship the devil which is untrue, of course. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.161.214.164 (talk • contribs).

Who keeps re-adding the crap about 06/06/06 being the day that the Antichrist will be born?

Man's Number The number 666 is said in Revelations to be "man's number" and indeed it is. We are 'carbon-based life forms' as a Trekkie might say. Carbon12, more precisely. Carbon 12 has 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons. The Jewish star attributed to either David or Solomon is six sided and looks very much like a stick drawing of a carbon atom. This implies people of old either knew more science than they are usually given credit for, or God himself showed David and Solomon things they would not have had any other way of knowing. 209.214.19.230 00:13, 31 May 2006 (UTC)David Nix

[edit] Mentions outside the book of Revelation.

I deleted a few lines about a reference in Ian Brown (ex-Stone Roses) lyrics. I believe that section of the topic refers only to mentions within the bible, and besides, it was poorly written. Katr67 01:04, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Quotations

Here are two quotations which I removed:

Eddington connects the dimensionless physical constants with the number n of the dimensions of his E-spaces, and his theory leads to the function f(n) [equal to] n²(n²+1)/2 which, for consecutive even numbers n [equal to] 2,4,6,… assumes the values 10, 136, 666, …
Apocalyptic numbers indeed. It has been proposed that certain well-known lines of St John’s Revelation ought to be written in this way: “And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea having f(2) horns … and his number is f(6) … "

—Max Born, Experiment and Theory in Physics

The French alphabet, written out with the same numerical values as the Hebrew, in which the first nine letters denote units and the others tens, will have the following significance:

a b c d e f g h i k

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

l m n o p q r s

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

t u v w x y

100 110 120 130 140 150

z

160

Writing the words L'Empereur Napoleon in numbers, it appears that the sum of them is 666, and that Napoleon therefore the beast foretold in the Apocalypse. Moreover, by applying the same system to the words quarante-deux,[42] which was the term allowed to the beast that "spoke great things and blasphemies," the same number 666 was obtained; from which it followed that the limit fixed for Napoleon's power had come in the year 1812 when the French emperor was forty-two. This prophecy pleased Pierre very much and he often asked himself what would put an end to the power of the beast, that is, of Napoleon, and tried by the same system of using letters as numbers and adding them up, to find an answer to the question that engrossed him. He wrote the words L'Empereur Alexandre, La nation russe and added up their numbers, but the sums were either more or less than 666. Once when making such calculations he wrote down his own name in French, Comte Pierre Besouhoff, but the sum of the numbers did not come right. Then he changed the spelling, substituting a z for the s and adding de and the article le, still without obtaining the desired result. Then it occurred to him: if the answer to the question were contained in his name, his nationality would also be given in the answer. So he wrote Le russe Besuhof and adding up the numbers got 671. This was only five too much, and five was represented by e, the very letter elided from the article le before the word Empereur. By omitting the e, though incorrectly, Pierre got the answer he sought. L'russe Besuhof made 666. This discovery excited him. How, or by what means, he was connected with the great event foretold in the Apocalypse he did not know, but he did not doubt that connection for a moment. His love for Natasha, Antichrist, Napoleon, the invasion, the comet, 666, L'Empereur Napoleon, and L'russe Besuhof - all this had to mature and culminate, to lift him out of that spellbound, petty sphere of Moscow habits in which he felt himself held captive and lead him to a great achievement and great happiness.

—Leo Tolstoy , War and Peace

I think they are better suited for a page on Wikiquote. —xyzzy_n 01:23, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Some more notes (all imho):

• On Hillers: We mention his name and unambiguously cite one of his papers. His title and affiliation aren’t really relevant to 666.
• On RFID: The connection to 666 is sufficiently discussed in RFID.
• On things people are going to do on June 6, 2006: a complete list of every single non-notable ‘event’ is not really necessary. The existing examples illustrate the point sufficiently.

This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System. —xyzzy_n 09:04, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

• On Hillers: The reason why I included a longer reference to Hillers' credits was because someone removed "Dr." from Hillers' title. I asked about this and the reference to a Ph.D rather than a Prof. is more important and correct. Anyway I see someone has also included that Hillers is a "Dr."(Simonapro 10:06, 5 June 2006 (UTC))

I removed the ‘Dr.’, because I didn’t see why it (or any other title) was important there and WP:1SP recommends not to use titles. Hillers is not the subject of the article and the credibility of his paper is better assessed by the quality of the journal in which it was published than by the author’s title. It’s not something about which I feel strongly in any way, though. —xyzzy_n 10:16, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

I replaced it to quell a one sided discussion on #wikipedia. I have no vested interest. —WAvegetarian•(talk) 10:19, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 777

I’d like to see citations for the significance of 6 and 7 as the numbers of humans and gods respectively as well as for the conclusions currently drawn in the article. None of the Bible verses seem to say anything explicit enough. Basically, the entire hypothesis looks like original research or folklore. —xyzzy_n 18:47, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The article states that people believe this, not that the Bible says it. What the Bible says is only tangentially relevant, in that these people's beliefs are based in part on what they've read there; that doesn't mean we're only allowed to discuss those parts of their beliefs that can easily be supported with Biblical quotations!

Also, what do you mean by "the conclusions currently drawn in the article"? The article doesn't draw any conclusions at all, and nor is it supposed to; it merely describes the conclusions that various people have drawn. — Haeleth Talk 11:55, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

The conclusions are that people believe the various alleged things. I described them as drawn because the section is written in an assertive and sequential style. I’d quite like to see those beliefs referenced to a reasonable work of theology or some other relevant ‘science’, or at least some moderately reputable newspaper articles. (Unfortunately, Engels seems to have had nothing to say on this subject.) Regarding the Bible verses, I addressed them because the editor who contributed the section seems to treat them as citations. I agree that they, or at least the ones given in the article, are mostly irrelevant. —xyzzy_n 14:53, 7 June 2006 (UTC)

I fail to see how citing bible verses that talk about this subject when talking about biblical issues is irrelevent —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.3.18.67 (talk • contribs) .

The verses are irrelevant because they do nothing to substantiate or otherwise affect what the section says. —xyzzy_n 11:31, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Pet Peeves About People

Don't talk about something IN WHICH YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE! (yes, I am shouting). If you haven't studied this issue, stay away from making judgements about it, I beg of you! First of all, people who come to criticize it because "It's a load of crap", don't. If you don't like it, stay away from it. Two, if you must criticize it, at least stop criticizing the part about the names and all (Nero -> 666) because virtually nobody in the modern church believes that that is what it meant. All this about the barcode stuff is baloney, of course, as well as SSNs and the rest. Without getting in to too much detail, I'll say that most bible-believeing people don't think that the "mark of the beast" has been invented yet

I am considering adding a section that talks about how anything regarding the mark of the beast is generally considered wild speculation in the christian community. Anybody with crack pot ideas like "Oh, the antichrist will be born on 06/06/06!" are met with snickers and a few raised eyebrows.

Many educated people, included Christians of all denominations, believe the number of the beast, whether 616 or 666, is a code for someone, often Nero.

[edit] The Internet

I once read that there is some belief that the internet itself is the "mark of the beast" because '666' (somehow) translates to 'www' (ie. the acronym for world wide web), supported by the idea that no one will be able to buy sell, etc without the mark of the beast. As I cannot remember where on earth I read this I didn't want to add anything to the main article. Instead I thought I'd suggest it here to see if anyone recalls hearing of anything like this or knows of any sources. ~

Obviously can't be, since the internet way predates www. And why would "w" be 6? Still, it's as likely as the rest of this nonsense. Dicklyon 23:10, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Explanation of my edit

Since I’ve removed a lot of stuff, I’d like to give some reasons:

• All the modern-day examples of 666 should be in the main article, Number of the Beast (occurrence).
• The list of Rev. 13:18 quotes was unnecessary. Those are available elsewhere.
• The Jewish section was just another intrpretation, therefore tightened and moved.
• Several things have been unsourced for a long time. Removed per WP:V. Tag about lack of sources removed from the top.

This is not meant as a statement of personal opinion on any of the material. I do feel strongly about not having modern-day occurrences of the number in this article (because they are almost certainly redundant with respect to the other article); as for the unsourced things, adding them back with proper references might be a good idea. —xyzzy_n 16:52, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] OLDEST Source says 616

Whether it is right or wrong can be decided by the reader, but we should at least include that the oldest written version of Revelations says 616 "xiς"

It was included, but the age of that version wasn’t mentioned; thanks for pointing out that it was missing. I have, however, moved the discussion of that issue a bit further down, to the other versioning talk. —xyzzy_n 20:57, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Use of Hebrew instead of Greek for coded Nero

I remember learning in (Catholic) Theology class that John encoded Nero's name using Hebrew numberology to further hide the meaning. Could someone explain why Nero would be encoded using Hebrew letters not Greek, and provide a source... besides of course my theology notes. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.184.151.157 (talk • contribs) .

Frankly, it wouldn’t matter how it’s encoded. I’m pretty sure that, after enough manipulation, you could even encode ‘Nero’ to ‘γραμμωτός κώδικας’ (Greek for ‘barcode’, according to Babelfish). Anyway, the explanation by Engels (see the notes section for a link), as I understand it, is that John was not Greek, but a Jew who lived in a Greek community (cf. Book of Revelation and John of Patmos for more on this, and other theories); although he knew enough of the language to write the book, he used the numerology with which he was familiar, instead of the one used in Greece. —xyzzy_n 21:17, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Mark" of the Beast is MONEY i.e., MONEY of the Beast

Someone named --xyzzyn has been censoring my theory about 666isMONEY from the article Number of the Beast at Wickipedia. I'm not sure what his agenda is but I'll bet he is a fundamentalist Christian bigot, who has his own theory published in the article. Here's the truth about the "mark" of the beast:

"No one buys or sells (BUYS OR SELLS) without the MONEY of the beast on/in mind or hand." Nero was the emperor at the time the book was written 70AD (see, Parables of the War at: www.book-of-revelation.com/abstract/marshal.html); the Jews revolted against Rome and coined their own money. Liddell & Scott, the editors of the Unabridged Greek-English Lexicon are wrong in assuming it is a "Mark" (not a tattoo = stigmata in Greek).

Jesus-Christ (if he existed) said, "You can't serve God & MONEY [mammon is an Aramaic word for money] ... but the Pharisees, who loved money (philarguron) heard all this and scoffed." Like you're scoffing too. (See Luke 16.)Jesus also told his disciples, like the Buddha did, to not carry and gold, silver, script or brass in their purse.Jesus also said, "Who's picture is on the $$$?" Caesar's!

I'll bet xyzzyn hides his theory in the page somewhere. Like, why do these people get their theory in and not me? Who the hell are they?!

• Keith Krell interprets 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.[13]
• Steven D. Miller proposes that the mark of the beast may refer to a social security number or card.[14]
• Terry Watkins supposes the mark to be a microchip or barcode in or on the human body.[15]What good are their references? My reference comes from the Unabridged Greek-English Lexicon by Lidell and Scott.

ADD:

• Raquel Baranow says the context of buying & selling and Nero, whose picture is on the $$$ = 666 and the definition in the UNABRIDGED Greek-English Lexicon by Liddell & Scott shows that the word Χαραγμα mistranslated as "mark" should be MONEY. For more information see http://www.666ismoney.com/

You might have a point, but I don't think insulting other users by calling them Christian bigots with secret agendas is the right way to have your point heard. If it means that much to you to have it heard try publishing it elsewhere on the web. Freewebs.com will give you 50 Megs free and dot.tk will give you a free www.yourname.tk URL which will forward to whatever URL you provide.--Silverclodhopper 15:26, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] External Links

Hey I like how the page looks... It could have more information on some aspects. I was thinking maybe there should be some more external links. What do you all think?

People could have a link showing their groups(religious groups) opinion. Like the following link 666 Mark of the Beast. Or just have links that link to more information that isn't contained on this page. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Alexme (talk • contribs) .

Negative. See WP:EL; your website fails the prominence check and is ineligible under all other criteria. —xyzzy_n 11:08, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] English Translation

Is it "and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." or "and its number is Six hundred threescore and six." ? If you know how to read greek, answer please. IMHO it is likely the first, but the second cannot be excluded. Faaaa 23:33, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

According to [11], it can be either one. Why is this important? —xyzzy_n 00:05, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Because, between fun and serious, according revelation epilog, "if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Wood of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.". Faaaa 00:16, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

So what? I meant, why is this important for this article? —xyzzy_n 00:35, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Bible Version

I Just changed the bible version from KJV to NIV because I have always found the KJV hard to understand. xyzzyn changed it back and told me it was because the NIV, unlike the KJV, is copyrighted. Perhaps the bible version should be an uncopyrighted one that uses more current English, assuming such a bible exists. Maybe I'm just being selfish, but hopefully someone agrees with me that the language used in the KJV is less than current and sometimes a little difficult to follow.--Silverclodhopper 06:47, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

PS According to Bible Gateway The King James Version simply has no copyright information available. Whereas the New International Version gives certain parameters under which it may be quoted if a certain copyright notice provided by bile gateway is included. Perhaps this is unacceptable for Wikipedia, maybe I should have read more of the help pages before trying to bring this up. If this is the case then perhaps my original suggestion from 13 Aug 06 requires more attention (possibly from me).--Silverclodhopper 04:09, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

The KJV was published in 1611. Copyright law began in earnest in 1710 with the Statute of Anne and a maximum copyright term of 21 years. The KJV is not now and was never protected by copyright (apart from some kind of restriction applicable only somewhere in the UK). —xyzzy_n 05:36, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

According to Bible Gateway, the DARBY is public domain and it's English is a lot more current. My only problem with the KJV is that I find the English used somewhat hard to follow. Sorry if I seem to be just another whiny pest trying to have everything my way and make you like it.--Silverclodhopper 15:05, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, for comparison… KJV:

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.

Darby:

Here is wisdom. He that has understanding let him count the number of the beast: for it is a man’s number; and its number [is] six hundred [and] sixty-six.

The pronouns vary a bit, the number is written in a more modern way and ‘hath’ has been replaced by ‘has’. However, the square brackets are confusing.

The main reason for quoting the KJV, imho, is its recognition factor, but if Darby’s translation of the verse is significantly easier to read, we can quote it instead. —xyzzy_n 15:36, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I'll leave it up to you, xyzzyn, unless anyone else would care to share an opinion?--Silverclodhopper 20:33, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

If you are quoting only a few verses in the context of a wider discussion, the copyright of the NIV is irrelevant -- see Fair use. This kind of limited attributed quoting is explicitly allowed by copyright law. Jheald 16:25, 18 September 2006 (UTC).

[edit] Atom theory

There is a theory rotating that the "666" represents 6 electrons, 6 neutrons, and 6 protons there composition of which carbon is. Suggesting this it can be supposed that it refers to organic material i.e. organic molecules which must contain carbon. Thinking this then it can be proposed that 666 represents any and all of the living which could be though of the "devil" or "evil" while things of "energy" or the "sprit" could be considered the only good.

I've just been thought Chemistry 30S in Canada and put this idea together...

Could someone clean it up for me please and add it to the main page...i'm a new member and can't add..

Thanks,

Stanley Nickarz (16 year old)

4:05:29 AM - August - 23 - 2006

No. Please see WP:OR. —xyzzy_n 12:53, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ellen Gould White=666

The foundress of the Seventh Day Adventists name, Ellen Gould White, adds up to 666. An interesting fact given the beliefs of the sda's.

No, its actually a trivial fact, of a phenomennon rather common among people called "Law of truly large numbers", in wich numbers are given ilogical occult meannings regardless of their real mathematical value. To say it in another way, every time a 666 number is sayd to have an occult meanning in a name or a simple mathematical formula, its basiclly just selective thinking and nothing else (to pick favourable evidence regardless of the overwhelming evidence that contradicts it, think of how many Seventh Day Adventists dont have a name that sums up or makes a 666 with the letter count, probably hundreds if not thousands, or of other cults, or probably even holy people, it really doesnt mean anything).

[edit] The Number and Mark

Hello All,

I would like to comment on the article 666 and help to clear up any misconceptions. First the number 666 and the mark of the beast are two seprate things. The number is the number of the mans name at the head of the beast power. The mark mentioned in Revelation is spiritual and not literal. I'm amazed how so many people today think 666 is the mark of the beast and its stamped in the forhead. The Bible plainly states the mark goes in the forhead and on the hand not the number. Please allow me to share some simple reasoning how the mark can only be spiritual. The old testament was literal and you had a literal church and literal battles. In the new testeament it's spiritual and you have a spiritial church (spiritual jews) and spiritial battles waged on the battle field of the heart. I totally agree with Uriah Smith and the Seventh Day Adventist Leaders on their enterpritation of this topic. The first and most important reason is it agrees with the Bible, where the other wild interprtaitons do not agree througout and have glaring errors that can be exposed by any real student of the word. I was glad to see Vicarius Filii Dei as one of your deffinitions...it is correct and is the official name given to the pope by the church. The angel also told John later in Revelation that the heads, found on the beast, that supports the harlot woman drunken with the blood of the marters of Jesus (cathloc church during the dark ages)were seven mountains. Need I remind everyone that the vatican is nesteled in the middle of seven mountains and from classical times until now has been known as the city of seven hills. Food for thought. See below for a greater detail of the beast and his background. Let's make sure to get this one right...

I. THE BEAST AND HIS BACKGROUND

The most fearful warning of punishment found anywhere in the Bible is contained in Revelation 14:9, 10: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."

This description is so alarming and so very unlike all other verses which deal with God's character that we almost recoil in horror. But it points clearly to a time when God's mercy will be withheld from those who have persistently rejected the authority of Heaven. It will be an unparalleled performance on the part of God in His relationship to the human family. For almost 6,000 years His punishing judgements upon the most wicked men have been tempered with mercy. But now the measure of rebellion reaches a point which makes it necessary for God to intervene and to expose the terrible extent of man's treason against God's government.

Right here we are curious to know more about the sin which provokes God's strange act of fiery punishment. Notice that the final issue involves a false allegiance to the beast power, so often referred to in Bible prophecy. At last the world shall stand divided into two great camps: those who worship the true God, and those who worship the beast of Revelation 13. But what issue leads to this massive division of the world's people? After describing the fate of the false worshipers in Revelation 14:9-11, John has this to say in the very next verse: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." We see here a startling contrast between those who follow the beast and those who follow the Lamb.

Please note that the issue revolves around the keeping of God's commandments. Those who do not have the mark of the beast are described as obedient to those commandments, and the rest suffer the wrath of God. This agrees perfectly with Paul's statement in Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"

The highest allegiance is accorded through the act of obedience. At last, the majority of earth's inhabitants will accept the authority of an antichrist counterfeit power, in disobedience to God's great ten-commandment laws. Every individual will be on one side or the other. The Bible makes it very clear that life or death revolves around the final decision concerning the beast of Revelation 13.

Strangely enough, modern theologians have simply ignored the warning message of Revelation 14, relating to the mark of the beast. The interest of multitudes has been destroyed by the influence of pastors who would not take seriously the solemn words of John's prophecy. Often it is dismissed as a confused, insignificant letter, applying only to a local problem in the early church. For some reason the book called Revelation is counted a sealed book, instead of the obviously revealed truth which its name implies. But please note the promise made to those who search out the truth of this wonderful book, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Revelation 1:3.

Before delving into John's vivid account of that final clash between Christ and Satan, let us take time to examine the contestants in the conflict. When and how did it get started, and how will it end?

Two Powerful Contenders

Even though the climax in the great struggle takes place in the very end of human history when all the world is arraigned in two opposing camps, the controversy between Christ and Satan has been going on for almost 6,000 years. It started in heaven with the rebellion of Lucifer against God's rule of the universe. The story of that beautiful angel who coveted the position of God Himself is revealed through a number of Old Testament prophetic writings. Isaiah says in reference to this glorious being: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14: 12-1.

The seeds of that selfish revolt of one leading angel spread rapidly to affect the loyalty of other angels. Soon one-third of the heavenly host had joined the disaffection of Lucifer, and the great controversy was under way - a controversy that was to rage for over 6,000 years, and which would finally demand the decision of every living creature in heaven and on earth.

The immediate result of the discord was war in heaven which climaxed in the complete expulsion of Lucifer from the presence of God and the loyal angels. John describes it this way: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:7-9.

No more was the fallen angel to be known as Lucifer, signifying "star of the morning," but Satan, which means "adversary." The conflict had now been transferred from heaven down to this earth. Here it will continue until it reaches a desperate climax in the division of earth's multitudes for or against the commandments of God. Just as the rebellion began by disloyalty to the authority of God, so it will end by a defiance of His authority as vested in the law of His government.

Satan has been here with his evil angels from the time he was banished from the regions of light. With devilish cunning, he has experimented with successive forms of warfare against God and His plan for this world. Through various insidious approaches he has continued his efforts to overthrow the authority of God. The purpose of this booklet is to expose the massive assaults which have been made, and are being made, by Satan against the foundations of truth.

Every generation has witnessed a new manifestation of that evil power in its untiring warfare with Heaven's program to save the world. The final form of the enemy opposition will be that of the beast of Revelation 13. That counterfeit power will be set up in deadly conflict with the commandments of God. The whole world will be called to take sides. The confederation of evil will consolidate for a desperate last-ditch struggle to engage the loyalty of earth's inhabitants. The issues will be clearly revealed, and no one can remain neutral. Obedience to God or to Satan, as manifested through the beast power, will be the only alternatives open to man.

A Life or Death Issue

Now, with this little background of the contenders, let us look closer at the biblical setting for the last decisive engagement in the great controversy. Please note that the beast of Revelation 13 symbolises a gigantic antichrist power which attempts to displace God entirely. Here is the description of that power in the language of Revelation 13:1-7: "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him ? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

We cannot fail to see here an unprecedented scale of opposition to God and those who follow Him. Later in this same chapter, we read that this beast power will exercise so much influence over the earth, that it causes men to receive a mark in their foreheads or hands (Revelation 13:16). Finally, those who have the mark will suffer the terrible wrath of God as described in Revelation 14:9, 10. The wrath of God is further defined in Revelation 15:1 in these words, "Seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."

The awful nature of those plagues and the extreme sufferings they visit upon those who receive the mark of the beast are fully revealed in the sixteenth chapter of Revelation. We will not dwell on them at this point in detail, but let us remind ourselves again that this issue will involve eternal life or death for all. How earnestly should we seek to understand who the beast represents and how we might avoid that mark! There must be no guesswork or speculation on this vital subject. We must know exactly where the danger lies and how to avoid it.

The average Christian has scarcely even heard about the urgency of this subject. He has not the faintest idea about the beast or his mark, even though his destiny hinges upon the issue. Multitudes of preachers comfort the people in their ignorance of this point. They say, "Don't worry about the beast. It's too complicated to understand. As long as you love the Lord you will be all right. You can't really know who the beast is." Listen, will God warn us about the fearful danger of this beast - a danger so deadly that it will mean life or death - and then tell us it is impossible to know what it is? Would He say to us, "You will be cast into the fire if you have the mark, but I'm not going to tell you what it is - it's just too bad if you have it"? No, that is not like God. He warns us of a danger that can be avoided. We can know that we are safe from the beast only if we know who the beast is. We can know we are free from the mark only if we know what the mark is.

A Symbolic Animal

Is it possible to understand the mark of the beast? Without fail, we can know and must know. But first we must understand the identity of the prophetic beast itself. Let us establish that this strange, composite animal is not to be taken literally. No one ever saw a creature with the body of a leopard, the mouth of a lion, and the feet of a bear. The prophetic books of the Bible usually deal in types and symbols. This beast represents something. But what does it symbolise? There must be no guessing here. The Bible does not leave any room for doubt. It serves as its own divine commentary and provides the key for understanding the prophecies.

Everything in the Bible description of the beast is symbolic. Consider the water, for example, out of which the animal arises. What does it represent? Read the answer in Revelation 17:15, "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest ... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." There can be no quibbling over this point. God clearly explained the meaning of water in prophecy. Once the symbol is interpreted in any prophecy, the rule will apply in every other prophecy. Water will always symbolise people in biblical prophetic imagery.

Now, what about the other parts of the strange, apocalyptic beast? What do they represent? In order to understand the beast we must go back to the Old Testament book of Daniel and compare Scripture with Scripture. The books of Daniel and Revelation explain each other. They fit together like a hand and glove. Please notice that Daniel had a vision very similar to that of John. It is described in Daniel 7:2, 3: "Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." He saw the prophetic water just as John did, but Daniel saw four beasts arising instead of only one.

We have already found out that water symbolises peoples or multitudes, but what do the animals represent? The answer is found in verse 17, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." There it is. So plainly worded that no one can question or doubt! God says that animals in prophecy represent nations. Just as we have the American eagle and the Russian bear in our modern political vocabulary, God used animals long, long ago to represent countries also. Then, to be more explicit, God added this in verse 23, "The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth." If the fourth animal represented the fourth empire of history, then the first three would have to represent the first three empires.

This explanation becomes more simple and clear when we remember that there have only been four world empires in the earth since the days of Daniel. These kingdoms are referred to often in Bible prophecy and are called by name in some related prophecies of Daniel. Refer to Daniel 8:20, 21 and Daniel 11:2 for examples of this. In the second chapter of Daniel the same four world kingdoms are symbolised by four metals in the great statue of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Those four empires are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

Four Empires of History

Will you take a closer look at these animals, one by one, as they arose in the prophet's vision? The first was "like a lion and had eagle's wings." Daniel 7:4. Here we have represented that grand empire of Babylon, so well symbolised by the king of beasts. It was one of the wealthiest, strongest nations ever to exist on the earth. Notice that this animal has wings. Wings are used in prophetic terminology to symbolise speed. And sure enough, Babylon arose very quickly to take its place as a ruler of the entire world.

From 606 B.C. until 538 B.C. Babylon continued to exercise her extensive authority. But a change was to take place. Daniel saw the second beast, "like unto a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it." Daniel 7:5. After Babylon came the kingdom of Medo-Persia in 538 B.C., the second world empire.

The bear is raised up on one side to represent the fact that Persia was stronger than the Medes. Those two powers were allied together in their domination of the earth. The three ribs probably symbolise the three provinces of that kingdom - Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt.

Then in 331 B.C. Medo-Persia went down, and the third world empire arose. According to the prophecy, "dominion was given to it." Verse 6. It was "like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads." Verse 6. Any schoolboy who has studied his lessons carefully in ancient history will know that Greece arose as the next world ruler. Alexander the Great came marching from the west, laying the world at his feet in a very short time.

The four wings of the leopard denote the exceeding speed with which Alexander subdued the nations. Within eight years he had completely subjugated the world and sat down to weep because there were no more worlds to conquer. But he could not conquer himself; he died as a young man of thirty-three in a drunken debauch. At his death the kingdom was divided among his four leading generals: Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy. The four heads of the beast represent those divisions of his empire. This brings us to the year 168 B.C. and the downfall of the Grecian empire in that very year. So far, every detail of the prophecy has been fulfilled exactly.

The Terrible Fourth Beast

Now let us notice the rise of the fourth beast, which is "the fourth kingdom upon earth." Verse 23. Although Daniel had seen living wild beasts like those portrayed in the first three prophetic symbols, he had never seen anything resembling the fourth terrible beast. This is the way the Bible describes it: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it ... and it had ten horns." Verse 7.

As we have already learned, this symbolises the fourth world empire, which was the iron monarchy of Rome. The extension of its cruel domination of the earth has been well documented in the pages of ancient history. But this powerful nation was also to be divided, as verse twenty-four indicates, "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise." Please notice that this is God's interpretation of the ten horns on this animal. Rome would be divided into ten distinct areas.

By following the course of history we discover that the exact fulfilment did come in the year 476 A.D. Fierce tribes came sweeping down from the north country, and overwhelmed the territory of western Europe, dividing it finally into ten parts. Those parts, of course, correspond to the ten toes of the great image of Daniel 2.

All students of history are well acquainted with the names of those tribal conquerors of western Europe in 476 A.D. They were the Anglo-Saxons, Alemanni, Heruli, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Suevi, Lombards, Burgundians and Franks. Seven of those tribes are still in existence to this very day, having grown into modern nations. They survive on the map of Europe as significant twentieth-century powers. Three of them disappeared from the stage of history, as we shall learn in just a moment.

The Little Horn

Now we are prepared to read the next verse of the prophecy and find out the meaning of the little horn in the vision of Daniel. "I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Verse 8. Here we must be very, very careful, indeed. We must not make the mistake of falsely identifying the little-horn power, because it will prove to be the great antichrist power of history.

In order to avoid all mistakes of identity, it would be well first to consider the nine characteristic marks described in the prophecy itself. These marks of identity will enable us to be absolutely sure of the interpretation. We dare not guess or speculate concerning the historical identity of this "little horn" of prophecy.

First of all, the little horn came up among the ten. This places it geographically in western Europe. Second, it came up after the ten arose, because it came up "among them." Since the ten arose in 476 A.D., the little horn would have to begin its reign some time after that date. Third, it would uproot three of the ten tribes as it came to power. The eighth verse says that before the little horn, "there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots."

Fourth, the little horn would have "eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things." Verse 8. This indicates that a human being would be at the head of the power represented by the little horn. Fifth, "he shall be diverse from the first (horns)." Verse 24. This means that the little horn would be a different kind of power from those purely political kingdoms which preceded it. The sixth characteristic is revealed in the first part of verse twenty-five, "And he shall speak great words against the most High." Another verse says, "speaking great things and blasphemies." Revelation 13:5.

At this point let's define from the Bible the meaning of blasphemy. In John 10:30-33, Jesus was about to be stoned for claiming to be one with the Father. The Jews who were going to kill Him said, "For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." According to this text it is blasphemy for a man to be accorded the place of God.

Now let's read another definition of blasphemy. Jesus had forgiven a man his sins, and the scribes said, "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" Mark 2:7. Clearly, Jesus was not a blasphemer, because He was God and He was able to forgive sin. But for a man to make such claims would constitute blasphemy, according to the Bible's own definition.

Now we come to the seventh point of identity, found also in verse twenty-five, "and shall wear out the saints of the most High." This tells us that the little horn is a persecuting power. It will make war with God's people and cause them to be put to death. The eighth mark is also given in verse twenty-five, "and think to change times and laws." Apparently, in its bitter opposition to the God of Heaven, in speaking great words against Him, this power also seeks to change the great law of God. This move of the little horn could only be an attempt to make a change. Obviously, the moral law of God can never be altered by man.

A Rule of 1,260 Years

The ninth, and final identifying mark, in verse twenty-five, tells us exactly how long this little horn would exercise authority in the earth, "and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Here we are faced with a strange expression. It is actually a prophetic term which the Bible itself explains. In Revelation 12:14, we read these words concerning the same time period, "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Now read verse six, which describes the same event. Instead of saying,"a time, times, and half a time," it says, "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Thus we see that the two periods of time are exactly the same. By comparing these Scriptures, we understand that a time is a year in Bible prophecy, times is two years, and half a time is half a year. This gives us a total of 3 1/2 times, or 3 1/2 years, because 3 1/2 years is exactly equal to 1,260 days. We are using, of course, the Bible year of 360 days.

We are now ready to apply another great principle in the interpretation of prophecy. Please notice that always in measuring prophetic time, God uses a day to represent a year. In Ezekiel 4:6 we read the actual rule, "I have appointed thee each day for a year." Further support of this is found in Numbers 14:34. This method of reckoning time must always be applied in the study of Bible prophecy. This means, then, that the little-horn power would rule for 1,260 years, instead of merely 1,260 days.

An Exact Fulfilment

We have before us now a list of nine specific characteristics, which have been lifted out of the seventh chapter of Daniel in description of the little-horn power. There is only one power in all history which meets the description given here. In other words, God closes every other option, and forces us to the only possible conclusion: the Catholic Church alone fulfils all the points of identity established in Daniel 7.

Let us take a quick look and notice how clearly this is done. First of all, the papacy did arise in western Europe, at the very heart of the territory of the pagan Roman Empire - in Rome itself. Second, it did come up after 476 A.D. It was in the year 538 A.D. that a decree of Emperor Justinian went into effect which assigned absolute pre-eminence to the Church of Rome. These are facts of history that can be verified by any authoritative historical source.

Third, when the papacy arose, it was opposed by three of the tribes which had taken over at the collapse of the Roman Empire. The Vandals, Ostrogoths and Heruli were Arian powers who strongly opposed the rise of the Catholic Church. The armies of Rome marched in to uproot and completely destroy these three tribes. The last of the three was destroyed in the very year 538 A.D., when Justinian's decree went into effect.

Fourth, the Catholic Church did have a man at the head of its system. Fifth, the papacy was a diverse kind of power from the other political kingdoms before it. It was a religio-political system quite unlike anything which had been seen in the world before that time.

Now we take a look at the sixth characteristic - the speaking of great words and blasphemy against the Most High. Does the papacy meet this description? We need only to be reminded that the Catholic Church has ever attributed to itself the power to forgive sins. As to the great words, let me quote from an article by F. Lucii Ferraris, contained in the book Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica Juridica Moralis Theologica. This book was printed at Rome and is sanctioned by the Catholic encyclopaedia. Listen to these claims: "The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted, that he is not a mere man, but as it were God and the Vicar of God. The Pope is, as it were, God on earth, chief king of kings, having plenitude of power." Volume VI, pp. 25-29. These are only a few of the words which the Bible defines as blasphemy. Thus, the papacy meets the marks of identity as the little-horn power.

Coming now to the seventh point of identity, we find that history supports the prophecy concerning papal persecution. Everyone who has any knowledge of the Middle Ages is acquainted with the fact that millions of people were tortured and killed by the Catholic inquisitions. From a book written by a Catholic cardinal, which also bears the sanction of the Church, we read, "The Catholic Church ... has a horror of blood. Nevertheless when confronted by heresy ... she has recourse to force, to corporal punishment, to torture. She creates tribunals like the Inquisition. She calls the laws of the state to her aid. ... Especially did she act thus in the 16th Century with regard to Protestants. ... In France, under Francis I and Henry II, in England under Mary Tudor, she tortured the heretics." The Catholic Church, The Renaissance and Protestantism, pp. 182-184.

We could multiply statements like this from historians, both Catholic and Protestant, that describe the horrible tortures of the papal authorities upon Protestants. Thus we can see the complete fulfilment of this description of the little horn.

The eighth mark, as given in verse twenty-five, concerns the attempt to change God's laws. Does this apply to the papacy? Please note this: the Catholic Church has removed the second commandment from her doctrinal books and catechism, because it condemns the worship of images. The tenth commandment is then divided so that they still have ten commandments. But two are against coveting, and there is none against idolatry. In this way, the papacy has thought to change the law, but unsuccessfully. God's law cannot be changed.

Finally, we come to the ninth identifying mark, which tells us exactly how long this papal power would exercise its authority in the earth. We discovered that it would be for a period of 1,260 years. Is this according to the record of history? Remember, that we have noted how the papacy began its reign, by order of Justinian, in 538 A.D. By counting down 1,260 years from this date we are brought to the year 1798. In that very year the French general, Berthier, marched his armies into Rome and pulled the Pope off his throne. He was carried away into exile, and all the properties of the Church were confiscated.

The French Directory government decreed that there would never be another Bishop of Rome. As far as the world was concerned, and by all outward appearance, the Catholic Church was dead. After exactly 1,260 years, in fulfilment of the prophecy, she lost her control of the world. Thus, the final point is clearly fulfilled in the papacy, and in it only.

The Beast and Little Horn Identical

You may be wondering what all of this has to do with the beast of Revelation 13. We are now ready to identify that strange, composite animal described in the book of Revelation. Let's read the description of that beast once more, which has the body of a leopard, the feet of a bear, and the mouth of a lion. "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies." Verse 5. Notice, please, that this beast is doing exactly the same thing as the little horn of Daniel. Verse five continues, "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." How long is forty-two months? Exactly 1,260 prophetic days or years - the same as the 3 1/2 times of Daniel's prophecy.

Concerning the beast, we read further, "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them." Verse 7. This beast is also a persecuting power. In other words, the beast of Revelation 13 is the very same power as the little horn. Both are symbolic of the papacy. This is God's graphic illustration of the papal power, as it came up to exercise arbitrary authority over the earth for 1,260 years.

Further similarity is found by reading Revelation 13:3, "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." As we have already established, the deadly wound was given in the year 1798 A.D., when the French armies carried the Pope away into exile. But that wound was to be healed, and finally the whole world would give its allegiance to the papacy again. That prophecy has been fulfilled very, very vividly before our eyes.

It was in the year 1929 that Mussolini executed the Concordat of 1929 with the Pope, restoring the properties that had been taken away from the Church. At that time the Pope was actually made king once more, and the Vatican City was set up as a political sovereign power. From that day to this, the strength of the papacy has been advancing with tremendous strides.

At this present time most of the countries of the world have political representatives at Vatican City. The incredible influence of the papacy in world affairs is attested to by the headlines in today's newspaper. Almost every utterance of the pope is published to the ends of the earth, and millions and millions of people look to the papal power as the greatest influence in politics today. Yes, the wound has certainly been healed, and the world continues to follow after the beast.

II. THE DRAGON AND THE WOMAN

At this point, we are prepared to ask another question concerning this appropriation of power on the part of the beast. Where did she receive the authority to rule over the world for 1,260 years and to persecute so many millions of people for their faith? The answer is found in Revelation 13:2, "And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." Notice that the power comes from the dragon. But who is the dragon? Revelation 12:7-9: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

The dragon, of course, is Satan himself. But when did Satan deceive the whole world? When he was cast out of heaven, there were only two people on the earth, and they represented the entire world. By deceiving Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, Satan led all the world astray and came into temporary possession of the earth. The great controversy between good and evil, which had started in heaven, was now transferred to this planet.

A Prediction of Enmity

After the fall of man God pronounced a curse upon each participant in that original transgression. In Genesis 3:15, we read of the curse which was placed upon the devil or the dragon. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Here is a prophecy of the age-long struggle that would exist between the dragon and the woman, and between the seed of the dragon and the seed of the woman.

But who is the woman referred to in this prophecy? A woman, in Bible prophecy, always represents the church. In Jeremiah 6:2 we read, "I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Who is Zion? Isaiah 51:16, "And say unto Zion, Thou art my people." So the great controversy has been going on ever since Eden. There have been two sides from then until now. The dragon and his followers are arraigned against God and His followers. Truth versus error, and Satan versus the church.

Two Sides

Satan and God have been contending for the control of every living human being. Even in the children of Adam the two sides were represented. Cain was on the dragon's side and wanted to substitute his own way instead of the way God had commanded him. Abel belonged to God's side and was so righteous that Cain finally killed him. Do you remember how God told each one of them to bring a lamb, but Cain substituted fruit or vegetables for that which God had commanded as a sacrifice? This, you will discover, will always be the mark of the dragon. He tries to substitute, or make a counterfeit, for the exact truth of God.

Through the descendants of Cain the earth was so corrupted that God finally had to destroy it with the flood. But after the deluge the two sides appeared once again. The dragon's followers concentrated in Babel and tried to defy God by building a great tower that was to reach up to heaven. The plan failed, of course, and that site of the tower of Babel later became Babylon, which in 606 B.C. began to rule as the first world empire.

During those early years of confusion God called Abraham out of Babylon and sent him over into Canaan. Abraham had grown up right there in Mesopotamia, near the place where the great tower of Babel was attempted, and where the empire of Babylon developed. God's plan has always involved a call of separation from the confusion of falsehood.

The Dragon and Sun Worship

Briefly, let us study the history of the dragon's side. The city of Babylon was the first capital of the dragon on this earth. A pagan system of religion developed there in the form of sun worship. It was a blasphemous idolatry, filled with immoralities, licentious ceremonies and degrading rites. But soon the dragon's followers quarrelled among themselves, and Medo-Persia came into power. But it was still the dragon's headquarters. Baal worship continued to predominate as it did in the previous kingdom. Then Greece took over, and she also subscribed to the same pagan sun worship. Finally, Rome began to rule the world. But there was no change in the religion. Mithraism, or sun worship, was the universal religion of the pagan Roman Empire. From Babylon to Rome, the dragon held control through heathen sun worship.

But during the Roman rule, a great thing happened! It was time for the seed of the woman to appear. Remember, the prophecy spoke of enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the dragon. The seed of the woman appeared in the days of the Roman Empire. Let's read about it in Revelation 12:1, "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Do not forget that a woman in prophecy represents a church. A pure woman stands for the true church, but a fallen woman symbolises a false religious system.

The Seed of the Woman

This woman in white, described in Revelation twelve, represents the true church, the apostolic church, with its pure doctrines. The twelve stars on her head are the twelve apostles. "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns ... and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Revelation 12:2-5. Now, who was this man child? There has been only one man child who was destined to rule all nations and who was finally caught up to God's throne. It is none other than Jesus Christ. But who tried to kill Jesus as soon as He was born? You answer, "Herod, the Roman king." And so it was. Herod tried to put all the boy babies to death in Judea in an attempt to destroy Christ.

The Roman Empire, then, is symbolised in Bible prophecy by the same red dragon as is the devil himself. Because Satan worked so closely through that nation to destroy Jesus, pagan Rome is represented by the same symbol in prophecy as the devil. But Herod did not succeed in his attempt to destroy the man child. Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt and escaped the terrible decree. The master stroke of Satan to destroy Jesus on the cross was foiled on that Sunday morning when the Crucified One broke the bonds of death in the resurrection. Forty days later He was caught up to heaven in perfect fulfilment of the words of the prophecy.

When the dragon saw that he was not able to destroy Christ, he turned his wrath against the early church. According to Revelation 12:13, "When the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." At this time there was only a small number of Christians in all the world, and Satan felt that he could completely obliterate them by persecution. Thousands and thousands of Christians were martyred under the terrible persecutions of the cruel Roman emperors. But the gospel continued to grow and spread. The blood of the martyrs seemed to become the seed of the church. When one died a hundred more sprang up to take his place. Paul preached his gospel right up to the very gates of Rome. The old dragon became worried. It was now time for the seed of the dragon to appear.

The Seed of the Dragon

For centuries Satan had tried to destroy God's people through the violent opposition of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Through violence and persecution he had failed to stamp out the truth. So what he could not do through force, the dragon would now attempt by strategy and deception. He would organise his own counterfeit religious system. He would bring in pagan doctrines and philosophy from the old empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome and combine them with Christian teaching. Thus he attempted to destroy millions through deception.

In what form did the seed of the dragon appear? It was brought forth as the beast of Revelation 13. It is very significant that the beast is actually made up of parts of the lion, the leopard, the bear and the non-descript animal of Daniel 7. God's illustrative depiction of the papacy reveals that she was made up of parts from all those old pagan kingdoms. In particular did she draw her strength from the pagan Roman nation. According to Revelation 13:2, the dragon gave the beast his power and seat and great authority. We have learned that the dragon actually symbolises the pagan Roman Empire, as well as the devil himself.

Did the pagan Roman Empire actually bestow any authority upon the papacy? The fact is that in 330 A.D., Constantine, the Roman emperor, turned the whole city of Rome over to the Pope as the seat of his authority. History uses almost the words of the prophecy in describing it. I shall quote from one Catholic source and one history book on this point: "When the Roman Empire became Christian, and the peace of the Church was guaranteed, the Emperor left Rome to the Pope, to be the seat of the authority of the Vicar of Christ, who should reign there independent of all human authority, to the consummation of ages, to the end of time." Papal Rights and Privileges, pp.13, 14.

"The removal of the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople in 330 A.D., left the western church practically free from imperial power, to develop its own form of organisation. The Bishop of Rome, in the seat of the Caesars, was now the greatest man in the west, and was soon forced to become the political as well as the spiritual head." The Rise of the Medieval Church, p. 168. How clearly these statements show that the papacy received her seat and power from pagan Rome! But where did Rome get it? From Greece. And where did Greece get her power? From Medo-Persia. And where did Medo-Persia get hers? From Babylon. And where did Babylon get it? From the dragon. So we begin to understand why God has given such fearful warnings against the beast power. The dragon is actually behind it all.

Counterfeits In Pagan Dress

Let us consider for a moment how pagan doctrines were able to find a place in this counterfeit religious system which Satan introduced. Because a mark of the dragon power is to counterfeit and substitute, we will be able to see in this religio-political system the operation of Satan at his infernal best. Just as was the case with Cain, substitutes were fashioned to meet the commandments of God. Many relics of sun worship actually came to be accorded Christian status. A whole set of counterfeit doctrines was added so that the papacy could gain prestige with the pagan peoples of that age. Pagan idols were left at the door, but idols of Peter, Mary and the saints took their place.

As an example of the way in which pagan concepts came into the church, consider the example of Christmas. Do you know where the observance of Christmas originated? Christmas, as a festival, existed long before Jesus was born into this world. December 25 was actually celebrated hundreds of years before Christ was born. The pagans worshiped the sun, and they noticed that in December the days were becoming shorter and shorter and the sun was getting farther away from them. Fearing that the sun would leave them altogether, they prayed and offered sacrifices. Then on December 25, for the first time, they could tell that the sun was coming back closer; the days were beginning to lengthen out again. So these people said, "The sun is reborn to us." They called December 25 the birthday of the sun or sun god. It became a great religious festival with them.

The day was celebrated only by the pagans until the counterfeit papal system was taking form. At that time, the day was adopted by the papacy and called the birth of the S-O-N, instead of the birthday of the S-U-N. Dr. Gilbert Murray, M.A., D. Litt., LL.D., F.B.A., professor of Greek at Oxford University, has written this: "Mithraism had so much acceptance, that it was able to impose on the Christian world its own Sun-day in place of the Sabbath; its Sun's birthday, 25th of December, as the birthday of Jesus." History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge, Chapter III; cited in Religion and Philosophy, pp. 73, 74. New York: 1929.

Actually, we do not know the date of Christ's birth. As you can readily see, the adoption of December 25 was based purely upon the heathen observance of the festival of sun worship. Please take note how easily a pagan institution can slip into Christian churches and can even be passed along in Protestantism.

And what about Easter? It is a well-known Christian observance in our modern churches. Yet, it was also celebrated by pagans long before the resurrection of Christ. All Christian groups recognise that Easter Sunday is often as much as five weeks apart from one year to the next. Few know that it is all governed by the heavenly bodies. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox.

The pagans of long ago noticed that everything seemed to take on new life in the early spring, as soon as the sun crossed the equinox. So they designated a day in the spring to honour the goddess of reproduction. That day was dedicated to Ishtar, the goddess of reproduction, because of the new life and growth in nature. The very word Easter has been transliterated from the name of the goddess Ishtar, whose worship was memorialised by the adoption of Easter.

Many times Christian laymen have asked just what the bunny rabbit and Easter egg have to do with the resurrection of Christ. Of course, they have nothing to do with it. The rabbit was chosen by those pagans as a symbol of Ishtar's day because it was the most prolific reproducer. The egg was also chosen because it was a symbol of fertility. Among the heathen the day was associated with the most licentious practices.

During the time the papacy was developing, Ishtar's day was adopted by the Church and called Easter. Even the symbols, the bunny rabbits and eggs, are retained as reminders of its pagan origin. These examples have been presented merely to show how easily the devil was able to impose pagan ideas upon that church. As the papacy developed, it was open to the reception of unbiblical customs that marked it clearly as the real counterfeit power described by God in Revelation 13.

The question comes to our minds at this point: Are we really following the Bible in all our doctrines? If tradition and heathen custom have crept so easily into the church, what about other doctrines? The things mentioned so far have not been opposed to the direct commandments of God. We do not have any commandments concerning the observing of Christ's resurrection or His birth. We can think of His resurrection and birth at any time and on any day of the year. In the next chapter we shall discover, though, that other pagan doctrines were introduced which strike at the very heart of true Bible religion. We are not so concerned, except for those things which contravene a plain command of God.

The growing power of the papacy continued its program by counterfeiting some of the most vital truths contained in God's Word. May our eyes be opened to recognise these counterfeits and to remain loyal to the exact truth in its original form.

III. THE NUMBER AND MARK OF THE BEAST

Two of the most important aspects of the beast's power are brought to light in Revelation 13: "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." Revelation 13:16-18. So far in our study we have described nine identifying marks of the beast power and its application to the papacy. Right here we will add the tenth point to our list by explaining the number of his name.

According to Revelation 13:17, the number of his name will also be the number of a man. Undoubtedly this refers to the man who heads the beast power. The ancient method of deriving the number of a name is to take the numerical value of all letters and add them up to get the sum. If we want to apply this test to the papacy, we must find the official name of the pope, who is the head of his church. If this is the number of a man, it would naturally be the man who is the head of the organisation.

It is interesting to note that there is an official Latin title for the pope, a title which has been granted by the Church itself. This title is found repeatedly in the publications of Rome. But in the weekly Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, of April 1915, we have the interesting statement that the letters of the official title are inscribed in the pope's mitre. Here is the actual quotation: "The letters inscribed in the pope's mitre are these; Vicarius Filii Dei, which is the Latin for 'Vicar of the Son of God.' Catholics hold that the Church, which is a visible society, must have a visible head; Christ, before His ascension into heaven, appointed St. Peter to act as His representative. Hence, to the Bishop of Rome as head of the church, was given the title, "Vicar of Christ.'" At present the pope's mitre does not contain the Latin title, but the words are incorporated into the coronation ceremonies of each newly crowned pope.

So with this official name of the pope in hand we can proceed to apply the test of the Scripture. How do we derive the number of his name? By getting the numerical value of the Roman numerals of the title Vicarius Filii Dei, we actually come to a definite number 666. Notice how it is worked out below as each letter is given its numerical value:

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

    112  +   53   +   501 = 666

Someone might object that this could be a coincidental occurrence. We grant that it is possible for such a thing to be a mere happenstance if we had only this one mark of identity to lean upon. But the fact is that this is the tenth of a long list of characteristic marks which the Bible uses to identify the beast power. It only adds weight and strength to that which has already been said in making the application to the papal power. It is the capstone proof in conjunction with all the other marks laid down so clearly in the Scripture.

The Mark - A Master Counterfeit

We are now prepared to consider the climax of counterfeits as far as the beast power is concerned. We have already learned that this power was to counterfeit many of the great truths of God. It was a combination of pagan ideas with Christian doctrine which formed a conglomeration of confusion, well designated as "Babylon" in the Scripture.

A few of the counterfeits might be listed as follows: instead of the word of God, tradition; instead of the Holy Spirit, the pope; instead of baptism, sprinkling; instead of communion, transubstantiation; instead of the eternal law of God, the changed law; instead of tithe, taxes and indulgences; instead of death, purgatory; instead of the seal of God, the mark of the beast.

Here we are especially concerned about the mark of the beast. In Revelation 14:9, 10, we read, "If any man worship the beast ... and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation." This is a matter of life or death. We must know exactly what this mark is and how we can avoid it.

We first of all notice in the Bible that the mark is always opposed to the seal of God. In Revelation 7:2, 3, we learn that the seal of God is placed in the forehead, just as the mark of the beast is set in the forehead. The two things seem to be in direct contradistinction to each other. Both are received in the forehead. Now we ask, "What is the seal?" If we can establish this point, it will help us to identify the mark.

The Seal of God

A seal is something which has to do with legal affairs. Official documents are always stamped with the seal of the governing body. Every government has a seal which is placed upon its legal documents. Its purpose is to show that there is authority behind the document. This is especially true of the laws of the country. Every new law has a seal to show that there is power and authority to back up the law.

Notice that each seal has three things in it. It must contain the name of the authority, the office or title of the authority, and the territory over which he has power. The seal of America's president contains the following words: Bill Clinton, President, United States of America. When that seal is placed upon a law or an official document, it shows that the president's authority is supporting that declaration.

Does God's seal have to do with His law also? If so, how and where is it impressed? Let's read Isaiah 8:16, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." This proves that the seal is connected with the law. In fact, His law is sealed among the disciples of God. But where is the law actually placed upon those who are faithful? The answer is found in Hebrews 10:16, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."

This, then, is how the Lord's seal is placed on the disciples. It is written on their minds or, symbolically, on their foreheads. Proverbs 7:2, 3 makes it even plainer: "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart." The law, you see, is observed both by the hand and in the mind; thus, it is spoken of as being applied to the hand and forehead.

The Sign of God's Authority

We want to search in God's law to see which part actually does constitute the seal. But first, let's find out what constitutes God's power and authority. The President exercises authority by virtue of his office as President. God claims power based on His office as Creator of the universe. Notice the words found in Jeremiah 10:10-12: "But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: ... Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power." Again, Psalm 96:5, "For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens." Put with these texts one more found in Isaiah 40:25, 26: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things."

We are impressed that the great thing which distinguishes the true God is His creative power. He bases His claims of authority as the true and only God upon His power to create. But what is the sign or memorial of His creation? Genesis 2:2, 3 gives the answer: "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." The Sabbath is a memorial of the creative power which distinguishes Him from the false gods.

The Seal in the Law

We are now prepared to search God's law to determine what His seal of authority really is. Remember that a seal must contain the name, office and territory of the authority. One by one we study through the ten commandments of the Decalogue. Gradually all are eliminated except one. The three requisites of a seal will be found only in the one which includes name, title and territory of God.

Right in the heart of the law is the memorial of His creative power, and behold, in that fourth commandment we find also the three components of the seal. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God (name): ... For in six days the Lord made (office - Creator) heaven and earth(territory), the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day." Exodus 20:8-11. In other words, the Sabbath is the seal of God - the mark of the only one who can create and who is authorised to rule the earth. And to make His law authoritative, He has placed the seal in it, showing that He stands behind every single commandment in that law.

You may ask, "Is the Sabbath really the seal of God?" Let's look at Ezekiel 20:12, "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Here the Sabbath is called the "sign" of God. Is that the same as a seal? Romans 4:11 reveals that "seal" and "sign" are the very same thing, being used interchangeably in the Scripture. "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised."

Seal and Mark in Competition

Let us see what the relation is between the seal of God and the mark of the beast. The two things are in competition with each other. In Revelation 14:9, 10, the third angel's message portrays those who have the mark: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb."

In verse twelve we have another group identified by these words, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In other words, those who keep the commandments of God do not have the mark of the beast and those who have the mark of the beast do not obey the commandments of God. The Ten Commandments, containing the seal of God, are set up in competition with the mark of the beast. The seal is the Sabbath, therefore the Sabbath is opposed to the mark. Then what is the mark?

An Attempted Change

To answer this question we are pointed back again to Daniel 7:25, where the papacy is described as a power who would "think to change times and laws." We have learned already how the second commandment was removed and the tenth commandment divided in the catechisms of the papacy. But what about the "times" mentioned in the text? Where only is time mentioned in the law? It is in the fourth commandment. Did the papacy think to change the Sabbath, the only time designated by the law? Yes, it did, and it happened in a most interesting way.

The pagans had a system of religion based on sun worship. Their sacred day was the first day of the week, which they named Sun-Day in honour of the sun god. Sunday was observed by the pagans in contrast to the Sabbath observance of Christians. But in the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine, a significant thing happened. Constantine professed conversion to Christianity and opened the doors of the church to all his heathen followers.

In order to gain power, prestige and greater numbers to the church, he accepted many of the customs of sun worship from the pagans. Many of these compromises, such as Christmas and Easter, have already been described. Another of those customs was the observance of Sunday. It appeared more convenient to let the pagans keep their own day of worship on Sunday and ask the Christians to join them in it. So Constantine actually made the first law about keeping Sunday instead of the Sabbath. Papal church councils strengthened that law until it became firmly entrenched in Christianity and the world.

The Testimony of History

Turning now to the witness of secular historians, you may read the facts for yourself. Every statement is clearly defined in the historical records. From the Encyclopaedia Britannica under the article "Sunday" we read: "It was Constantine who first made a law for the proper observance of Sunday, and who ... appointed that it should be regularly celebrated throughout the Roman Empire." Here are the words of Dr. Gilbert Murray, M.A., D. Litt., L.L.D., F.B.A., professor of Greek at Oxford University: "Now since Mithras was 'The Sun, the Unconquered,' and the Sun was the 'Royal Star,' the religion looked for a King whom it could serve as the representative of Mithras upon earth. ... The Roman Emperor seemed to be clearly indicated as the true King. In sharp contrast to Christianity, Mithraism recognised Caesar as the bearer of the divine Grace, and its votaries filled the legions and the civil service. ... It had so much acceptance that it was able to impose on the Christian world its own Sun-Day in place of the Sabbath, its Sun's birthday, twenty-fifth of December, as the birthday of Jesus." History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge.

Dr. William Frederick states the same historical truth: "The Gentiles were an idolatrous people who worshipped the sun, and Sunday was their most sacred day. Now, in order to reach the people in this new field, it seems but natural, as well as necessary, to make Sunday the rest day of the Church. At this time it was necessary for the Church to either adopt the Gentiles' day or else have the Gentiles change their day. To change the Gentiles' day would have been an offence and stumbling block to them. The Church could naturally reach them better by keeping their day." Sunday and Christian Sabbath, pp. 169, 170.

The North British Review gives the following reasons for the Christians adopting the heathen Sun-day: "That very day was the Sunday of their heathen neighbours and respective countrymen, and patriotism gladly united with expediency in making it at once their Lord's day and their Sabbath. ... That primitive church, in fact, was shut up to the adoption of the Sunday, - until it became established and supreme, when it was too late to make another alteration." Volume XVIII, p. 409.

Catholic Agreement

Since the prophecy of Daniel predicted that the papacy would "think to change times and laws," let us ask her if she had anything to do with this change of the Sabbath. We want to be fair to everyone, and get authentic testimony from all. The next several quotations are taken from well-known Catholic authorities who express clearly the claims of the papacy about the attempted change. From the Catholic Encyclopaedia, Volume IV, p. 153: "The Church ... after changing the day of rest from the Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day of the week, to the first, made the third commandment refer to Sunday as the day to be kept holy as the Lord's day."

Salvation History and the Commandments, p. 294, 1963 edition, by Rev. Leo. J. Trese and John J. Castlelot, S.S. describes it in these words: "Nothing is said in the Bible about the change of the Lord's day from Saturday to Sunday. We know of the change only from the tradition of the Church - a fact handed down to us from earliest times by the living voice of the Church. That is why we find so illogical the attitude of many non-Catholics, who say that they will believe nothing unless they can find it in the Bible and yet will continue to keep Sunday as the Lord's day on the say-so of the Catholic Church."

Another well-known Catholic writer gave this explanation of the change: "The Catholic Church transferred the observance from the seventh to the first day of the week. ... The Catholic Church deemed it more fitting to appoint this day, rather than Saturday, the festival day of Christians." This Is Catholicism, 1959 edition, John Walsh, S. J., p. 325.

A 1958 catechism by Killgallen and Weber entitled Life in Christ - Instructions in the Catholic Faith explained it thus: "Why did the Church change the Lord's day from the Sabbath to Sunday? The Church, using the power of binding and loosing which Christ gave to the Pope, changed the Lord's day to Sunday." Page 243.

Rev. Stephen Keenan's A Doctrinal Catechism has this to say: "Question - Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept? Answer - Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority." Please note the word "substituted," a term we have used over and over to describe the activities of this power.

Cardinal Gibbons, in his book The Question Box, p. 179, makes this startling admission: "If the Bible is the only guide for the Christian, then the Seventh-day Adventist is right in observing the Saturday with the Jew. ... Is it not strange that those who make the Bible their only teacher, should inconsistently follow in this matter the tradition of the Catholic Church?"

Rev. John A. O'Brien in the book Understanding the Catholic Faith, p. 13, 1955 edition, states: "The Bible does not contain all the teachings of the Catholic religion, nor does it formulate all the duties of its members. Take, for instance, the matter of Sunday observance, attendance at divine service, and abstention from unnecessary servile work on that day. This is a matter upon which our Protestant neighbours have for many years laid great emphasis; yet nowhere in the Bible is the Sunday designated as the Lord's day; the day mentioned is the Sabbath, the last day of the week. The early Church, conscious of her authority to teach in the name of Christ, deliberately changed the day to Sunday."

One of the greatest challenges ever cast into the face of Protestantism is contained in a statement by Father Enright, President of Redemptorist College in America: "It was the Holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week. And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but urged all persons to labour on the seventh day under pain of anathema. Protestants ... profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church. The Bible says, 'Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.' But the Catholic Church says, 'NO: Keep the first day of the week' and lo, the entire civilised world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church."

You must answer that challenge! Whom are you going to obey? Listen to these words by C. F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath: "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." Thus the issues become plain - God says that He is the true God: He has given the Sabbath as a seal of His authority as the Creator of all. By keeping the Sabbath we recognise His authority as the true God. But the Catholic Church appears and says in effect, "No, don't keep the Sabbath; keep the first day of the week. We changed it, and that change is a mark of our power to overrule God's law and authority."

The mark of the beast, then, is the counterfeit Sunday by which the beast power is trying to be recognised as an authority greater than the Creator Himself. The sign, or seal, of God's authority (Sabbath) is displaced by the papal institution of a substitute mark (Sunday) which she claims as her authority. Oh, that the world would see clearly the tremendous issue before us today! To whom will we yield our obedience - to God or to the beast? When we understand the issues we must make a tremendous decision either to keep the true Sabbath and recognise God's authority, or to take the false Sabbath and recognise the Catholic Church's claims. We must finally receive the seal of God or the mark of the beast. There are only two sides - God and the dragon, truth and error, Bible and tradition.

A book published in 1956 entitled The Faith of Millions and currently available from the Catholic Book Store as a textbook on the Catholic religion has this interesting statement on page 473: "But since Saturday, not Sunday, is specified in the Bible, isn't it curious that non-Catholics who profess to take their religion directly from the Bible and not from the Church, observe Sunday instead of Saturday? Yes, of course it is inconsistent; but this change was made about fifteen centuries before Protestantism was born, and by that time the custom was universally observed. They have continued the custom, even though it rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church and not upon an explicit text in the Bible. That observance remains as a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away - like a boy running away from home, but still carrying in his pocket a picture of his mother or a lock of her hair."

Long ago Cardinal Gibbons summarised the issue facing every individual on the Sabbath question: "Reason and sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible." Catholic Mirror, December 23, 1893.

Protestants Concur

Perhaps you are wondering what the Protestant bodies think of these things we have been considering. They will speak for themselves. Here are some candid admissions of those churches upon the Sabbath question. All statements are taken from the most authoritative spokesmen. Here is a quotation from Dr. Edward T. Hiscox, the author of the Baptist Manual: "There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath day was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the seventh to the first day of the week. ... Where can the record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament - absolutely not. ... Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day, as we learn from the Christian Fathers, and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of the sun-god, when adopted and sanctioned by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism!" (From a paper read before a New York ministers' conference held November 13, 1893.) This great Baptist leader condenses into a few sentences all that has been said in the pages of this booklet.

The Presbyterian Christian at Work said this: "Some have tried to build the observance of Sunday upon apostolic command, whereas the apostles gave no command on the matter at all. ... The truth is, as soon as we appeal to the litera scripta (the literal writing) of the Bible, the Sabbatarians have the best of the arguments." Ed. April 19, 1883. The Methodist Theological Compendium states: "It is true that there is no positive command for infant baptism ... nor is there any for keeping holy the first day of the week."

Dr. W. R. Dale (Congregational) in The Ten Commandments, pp. 106, 107, says: "It is quite clear that however rigidly or devotedly we may spend Sunday, we are not keeping the Sabbath. The Sabbath was founded on a specific, divine command. We can plead no such command for the observance of Sunday. ... There is not a single line in the New Testament to suggest that we incur any penalty by violating the supposed sanctity of Sunday."

The Lutheran position, as revealed in the Augsburg Confession of Faith, states: "The observance of the Lord's day (Sunday) is founded not on any command of God, but on the authority of the church." Episcopalian spokesman Neander writes in the History of the Christian Religion and Church, p. 186: "The festival of Sunday, like all other festivals, was always only a human ordinance, and it was far from the intentions of the apostles to establish a divine command in this respect, far from them and from the early apostolic church to transfer the laws of the Sabbath to Sunday."

In Ten Rules For Living, by Clovis G. Chappell we read: "We ought to remember that the Sabbath is God's gift to man. We realise, of course, that our Sabbath is not the same as that observed by the Jews. Theirs was the seventh day of week, while ours is the first. The reason we observe the first day instead of the seventh is based on no positive command. One will search the Scriptures in vain for authority for changing from the seventh day to the first. The early Christians began to worship on the first day of the week because Jesus rose from the dead on that day. By and by, this day of worship was made also a day of rest, a legal holiday. This took place in the year 321. Our Christian Sabbath, therefore, is not a matter of positive command." Page 61.

Mark Enforced

We could give statements from dozens of other denominational sources, but space does not permit. What is your answer to these things? Clearly we have seen that God predicted the rise of a power who would try to change the Sabbath; history records that the power attempted the change; the power herself admits that she tried to change it; and Protestants confess the change was made. How many will take their stand on the side of Bible truth?

The world is rapidly approaching the time when God's Sabbath becomes a great test of obedience. Its claims will be placed before all earth's inhabitants. At that time, when the issues stand clearly revealed, individuals will accept the seal of God or the mark of the beast. The book of Revelation describes a final edict of this earth's governments which will actually seek to enforce the mark upon all the world. "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." Revelation 13:16.

It is evident that no one has the mark until it is pressed upon all through this legislative act of human government. Then, the true Sabbath and the counterfeit (Sunday) will be so revealed that no one can escape a decision - a decision to keep the true Sabbath with mind and hand, or to submit to the counterfeit Sabbath of the papacy. In the next chapter you will learn the identity of the nation which will influence the world to accept the counterfeit Sabbath, and which will seek to enforce that mark of loyalty to the papacy.

IV. THE UNITED STATES IN PROPHECY

Any person should be proud to be an American. Certainly there is no spot on earth where freedom is so fully enjoyed as in our own United States. Have you ever wondered why this is true? There is a reason for the rise of democracy in this hemisphere. It is not just a happenstance that America is the freedom capital of the world. Actually, the beast power of Revelation 13 had a lot to do with the rise of America.

You may be asking, "How could the papal power be responsible for the United States of America?" It was because of the persecutions of the beast power in Europe that the United States came into existence. The Pilgrim Fathers, to escape the religious persecutions of the papacy, fled to the New World of America where they could follow their conscience in worship.

Let's get the picture now from the pages of prophecy in God's Word. The first ten verses of Revelation 13 describe the papacy in its rise to power. We have already studied this prophecy in detail. Verse 10 closes with the description of the Pope's capture in 1798: "He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." Then immediately John saw a second beast in vision which he describes in the next verse. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Revelation 13:11. Let us be very careful in identifying this second beast. There are several points which will reveal the identity of this power.

First of all, it is seen "coming up" as the first beast received his deadly wound. Since the first beast (papacy) received its wound in 1798 when General Berthier took the Pope captive, we should look for the second beast to be coming up at that time. This means that around 1798 this power would be rising in the world. Secondly, this second beast would come up "out of the earth." This is in contrast to the first which rose out of the water. We found in Revelation 17:15 that water symbolises peoples and nations. The second beast, coming out of the earth, would depict a nation rising in some area of the world where there were no previous civilisations and multitudes. The absence of water denotes a dearth of people.

Thirdly, this nation had two horns like a lamb, and they had no crowns on them, as did the first beast. It came up peacefully, like a lamb, and the absence of crowns reveals that there were no kings at the head. It was not a monarchy, or dictatorship. Everything about this beast indicates a peaceful democracy.

Second Beast Identified

We are now ready to identify this second beast. There can be no doubt as to its identity. There is only one nation in history which meets the description. The United States of America was the only nation "coming up" to power in 1798, as this first beast received its deadly wound. The Constitution had been voted in 1787, and the Bill of Rights adopted in 1791. Also, it was in 1798 that America was first recognised by a world power. Historians record that there was something wonderful and providential about the rise of this country.

In exact fulfilment of the prophecy this nation arose in the New World, where no former civilisations had existed. It came up peacefully, democratically, and established itself upon the two great principles of Protestantism and republicanism. Church and state were to be kept separate. Our forefathers had seen enough of the evils of a church-state government.

Let us read a statement by John Wesley, a marvellous student of the Bible, and the architect of the Methodist Church. Writing in 1754 in his New Testament with Explanatory Notes after applying the first beast of Revelation 13 to the papacy, he said, "Another ... beast ... But he is not yet come, though he can not be far off; for he is to appear at the end of the forty-two months of the first beast." Page 427. Please note that Wesley was looking for a nation to be rising within a very short time which would meet the description of the prophecy. Only the United States could have fulfilled his expectation.

It would be good if we could stop right here in our study, but we would not be true to the Scripture if we did not read the rest of the prophecy. Verses 11 and 12 continue: "He had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." In other words, the time would come when the United States would change its peaceful, democratic tone. Under some influence it would begin to compel worship, "saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 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." Revelation 13:14-17.

A nation speaks through its laws. It may seem incredible to us as we read these things today that the United States would ever be persuaded to enact religious laws, and try to force people to worship a certain way, but prophecy has never failed. She will make an image to the papacy, or develop a system which resembles that power. Church and state will be united enough to enforce religious laws and will thus closely resemble the papal system.

According to the prophecy, America will finally enforce the mark of the beast. What does this mean? What is the mark? On the basis of God's Word we have shown it to be the counterfeit Sabbath set up by the beast power. The keeping of Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath is claimed as a mark of allegiance to the Catholic Church by her own priests and leaders. Will the United States, then, seek to enforce the keeping of Sunday? That is exactly what is predicted, and it is also exactly what is shaping up right now in American politics.

No matter how much we might prefer to believe otherwise, our own beloved country will begin to use its influence to compel the keeping of Sunday. Already the groundwork has been laid. Right now, most of the states have such Sunday laws on the books. In some places these religious laws have created economic hardships on Sabbathkeepers. A few large cities have been urged to boycott those who refuse to keep Sunday. The prophecy in Revelation 13:17 indicates that economic sanctions will be applied, "and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark."

National Sunday Law Near

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Sunday laws are not unconstitutional or discriminatory. This opens the way for all the present confused, contradictory local state laws to be replaced by a national law which will standardise the enforcement of Sunday all over America. With the incredible strides being taken toward federal control of individual freedoms, this step to regulate the day of worship will not seem so drastic when it actually does take place.

Mark this well: These developments are already on the horizon. Those who refuse to accept the false day of worship will face fines, boycott, prison and finally, the threat of death. When the Sabbath question is thus made a national issue, people will be forced to accept one side or the other. Every single person will have to make a decision. The mark of the beast will then be placed upon all who choose to disobey the commandment of God to keep the Sabbath day holy. By accepting the mark of allegiance to the papacy (Sunday), they reject the mark which God claims as His sign of authority - the seventh-day Sabbath.

Decision

One might well raise the question, "What does all this have to do with me?" That is an important question, and the answer is even more important. Your eternal salvation hinges upon your decision now. You cannot shrug off the implications of this revelation concerning obedience to the Sabbath commandment. There is no question of convenience or inconvenience. We are dealing with the Ten-Commandment law which was written by God Himself. To break one of those commandments is to commit sin, and no wilful sinner will be saved. The keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath has been made the test of loyalty and love to God. "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17.

Rapidly, the world is confederating under the two banners. Time is running out. The great controversy is entering its final stages. While ecumenism draws one block of denominations into a liberal camp, based largely upon disobedience to the Sabbath of God's holy law, another group is distinguished as those who "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12. As the test becomes more severe, every individual must choose to obey God or man, to follow the commandments of God or tradition, to keep the true Sabbath or the counterfeit, to receive the seal of God, or the mark of the beast. Now is the time to settle the issue. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.

Sincerly, Mr. Johnson