The beast out of the earth (Rev 13:11)
Artwork by Duncan Long
Contents
- Scripture (Rev 13:11-18)
- Introduction
- Verse by verse commentary
- The mark and 666 (Rev 13:16-18)
Rev 13:11 Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14 Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
13:18 This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.
This is the second of the devil's henchmen, the beast from the earth is otherwise known as the false prophet and he completes this unholy trinity of Dragon, beast and false prophet. If the Devil gives to the first beast all his authority and the second beast gives glory to the first beast, then we have the counterfeit to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If the first beast represents political power this one represents religious power. Later he is called the false prophet, he looks like a lamb but speaks like the devil, he is a counterfeit Christ. He receives his authority from the political power and his function is to coerce the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast. He performs counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders as will the antichrist. As well as false religion it can be any false man-made philosophy that supports the state such as nazism or communism. He also exercises economic control within the state, so that no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast on their right hand or forehead. The saints do not receive this mark and as a result they suffer for this. The beast's number is 666, 6 is mans number because man was created on the sixth day, therefore 666 is a trinity of sixes, that is, mans religion or philosophy.
We can see some of the ways in which the dragon and the beast wage war against the church through the beast out of the earth:
i. He looks like Christ (a lamb) but speaks like a dragon i.e. he speaks lies and false doctrine, he is a false prophet.
ii. He performs counterfeit signs and wonders which deceive the world and could deceive even the elect.
iii. He kills all who refuse to worship the image of the beast, this is persecution.
iv. He forces everyone to receive a mark on his right hand or forehead without which no one can buy or sell, this is economic control.
v11 - Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. - The devil had been hurled down to the earth (12:4) and in 12:12 woe is pronounced on the earth and sea because the devil has gone down there and is filled with fury. The first beast came out the sea, i.e. people, nations and the second beast came out of the earth. The earth is significant, it could imply a man (note, man came out of the earth, see Gen 2:7) or belonging to man. This is further implied in verse 18 the number of the beast is man's number, it is 666. Six is man's number because he was created on the sixth day. Six is one less than perfection. James 3:14-17 contrasts the wisdom of the earth which leads to envy and selfish ambition which is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil; with the wisdom that comes from heaven which is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Paul contrasts Adam who was of the dust of the earth with Jesus who came from heaven (1 Cor 15:47-48 cf. John 3:31).
v11 - He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. - He looks harmless enough until he opens his mouth to utter Satanic lies and deceit, just as the dragon tried to destroy the church with his river of lies in 12:15. It looks like a lamb, i.e. Christ, but he comes like a wolf in sheep's clothing and inwardly is a ferocious wolf (Mat 7:15). This lamb is different to the one that was slain (Rev 5:6). He has two horns like a lamb, i.e. like Christ who had seven horns, but it had not been slain, (Christ without the cross) but speaking like a dragon. The two stands for his witness, compare with the two witnesses who are the true prophets of God. He is the counterfeit of Christ (Rev 5:6) but speaking the words (lies) of the dragon, i.e. Satan. This indicates false religion and false philosophy which imitates true religion, it is a counterfeit of the real thing. Deception is how he operates, he looks like a lamb but when he speaks he speaks lies. Later the beast from the earth is called the false prophet, 16:13. His purpose is to deceive the world and the saints, if he can, into accepting the mark of the beast and worshipping his image (Rev 19:20). This completes the unholy trinity, the dragon, the beast out of the sea and the beast out of the earth (the false prophet). Jesus warns us of false prophets and false messiah's who will appear before the end and deceive many people (Mat 24:4, 5, 11, 23, 24). This beast seems to personify the antichrist in the sense of 'instead of' Christ, although, since John later calls him the false prophet (who points to a false Christ) he seems to be talking about two personages. Berkhof points out that Daniel refers to the political nature of the antichrist and Paul (2 Thess 2) refers to the religious nature of the antichrist, both these aspects are combined in Revelation (see section on the antichrist in the introduction).
v12 - He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf. He made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. - We should note the progression of delegated authority, firstly from the dragon to the beast (13:2), then here from the first beast to the beast out of the earth. Even the dragon can only act with the permission of God as Job shows, chapter 4 shows us that God is clearly in control and will finally judge the dragon. The authority of the first beast is world-wide as shown in verse 7. The second beast is backed by the state and therefore by the devil. He has the approval of the first beast and exercises all his authority on his behalf, this is a coalition of religion and state. Johnson points out that 'on his behalf' can be better translated 'before him.' One who stands 'before' someone else is ready to do that person's bidding. The same preposition is used of the two witnesses in 11:4: 'These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.' As the antitheses of the two witnesses, the false prophets derive their authority and ministry from the first beast. His aim is to make all the inhabitants worship the first beast v15, it is a priestly role (cf. Deu 10:8, 2 Chr 29:11, Jer 33:18, Ezek 44:15). A true prophet encourages people to worship God, but the false prophet forces the beast to be worshipped. Just as Christ received his authority from the Father so the second beast derives his authority from the first beast. His aim is to coerce, i.e. force, the world to worship the first beast and break the first and second commandment (Ex 20:3-5, he does this by miraculous sign's v13, deception v14 and coercion.
He represents religious power, false religion or false philosophy. Consider communism which is the philosophy that sustains the great world powers Russia, and China, the beast would be the state. In order to explain the created order man has replaced the Creator God with the man made theory of evolution. Man has to have a belief system and if he rejects Christianity then it must be replaced by something else. These are all proto-types of the final world religion that lead up to and will culminate in a religion that permits the worship of the antichrist which will be the final idolatrous act of mankind. They worshipped the first beast and they gave their allegiance to it and therefore to Satan.
For the fatal wound that had been healed see comments on v3, in v14 we find that it was caused by a sword.
v13 - And he performed great and miraculous signs - In Deu 13:1 God's people are warned not to follow after prophets who performs signs and wonders if they entice the people to follow other gods. This does not mean that all signs and wonders are wrong, the church as the two witnesses also performs signs and wonders, 11:6. Just as the church performs authentic miracles in the course of it witness so the false prophet produces the counterfeit like the Egyptian magicians copied the first three plagues on Egypt, Exo 7:10-12, 7:22, 8:7 but they could not copy the forth plague. Notice the miraculous signs, they are demonic, they are counterfeit, he uses these to deceive the world, in both Rev 16:13 and 19:20 he is called the false prophet. He authenticates his task by deceit, just as the Lord authenticates His word by signs and wonders. The man of lawlessness will also perform counterfeit miracles, 2 Thess 2:9, a solemn commentary on this is given in 2 Thess 2:10-12 see comment in verse 8. Sorcery was common in John's day (Acts 8:9). Mat 7:22-23 clearly demonstrates that prophesying and performing many miracles is not proof that one is a Christian, for the Lord says to them, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'. The false prophet is also a parody of the Holy Sprit and his gifts (1 Cor 12:7-11), thus we find a parody of the trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit and Dragon, Beast out of the sea, False prophet.
v13 - even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men - The beast is the false prophet and is the counterfeit of Elijah the true prophet who caused fire to come down from heaven twice (1 King 1:10, 2 King 18:38) and the beast out of the earth produces counterfeit miracles. It is also the counterfeit of the miracles worked by the two witnesses, Rev 11:5-6, they are depicted as having power to stop rain as did Elijah, and fire comes from their mouths. The beast is depicted here as a counterfeit of the church, whenever the church is witnessing in power then the beast will be producing the counterfeit. There are some who would argue that he represents the apostate church, historically represented by the church of Rome. Note he is a public figure he is not hidden as is Satan. Note: this is also the counterfeit of God's fire that comes down from heaven and devours those who rebel against God in Satan's final rebellion (20:9).
v14 - Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. - In Rev 19:20 he is called false prophet and his signs and deception are also referred to. The false prophet is linked to the beast and the dragon in Rev 16:13 see also 13:12 where exercises all the authority of the first beast. He works by deception, note the warning given by Christ in Mat 24:24 that 'false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible', see also Mat 24:4-5. We are warned not to be deceived by these miracles, although the world will be deceived, we need to be on our guard. See also Paul's warning in 2 Thess 2:9 'The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing'. He is successful because he works by deception. He is clearly a type of the antichrist who displays all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders (2 Thess 2:9). He does the work of the devil by leading the whole world astray 12:9. Notice again the words 'he was given' implying God's sovereignty over all. In 2 Thess 2:11 God himself sends powerful delusions on them so that they believe the lie. Deception (planao) is mentioned in 2:20 when Jezebel deceives God's servants into sexual immorality; in 12:9, 20:3, 8 and 10 where the devil deceives the inhabitants of the earth and in 18:23 where it refers to the whore deceiving the nations.
v14 - He ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived - In 13:4 we are told that men worshipped the dragon who had give authority to the beast and they also worshipped the beast. In 13:8 we are told that all the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast -- all who whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life. In 13:11 the beast coming out of the earth made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, then he performs great and miraculous signs to deceive the inhabitants of the earth. Now in the final stages of idolatry he orders the inhabitants of the earth to set up an image (eikon), that is an idol, in honour of the first beast so that the people can worship the image (verse 15) which is contrary to the first and second commandments (Ex 20:3-6).
They worship the work of their own hands, see 9:20, as all idolaters do (Lenski). One of the main purposes of the book is to make it clear that only God is to be worshipped. The word image (eikon) is used in the NT to describe the image of the emperors head on coins (Mat 22:20), Jesus as the image of the Father (1 Cor 11:7, Col 1:15) and Paul uses it to describe icons which men made when they 'exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles' Rom 1:23. Instead of worshipping the Lamb that was slain (5:12) and who died but lives for ever more (1:18) they worship the image of the beast who was wounded and yet lived. The same idea is expressed in Nebuchadnezzar's statue made of gold and measuring sixty cubits by six cubits (Dan 3:1 KJV), notice the use of six (the NIV converts this into feet, 90*9). Notice the element of coercion and authority, he ordered them to set up an image of the beast. In John's time this would have been a bust or statue of the emperor. In many countries around the world it is usual to find pictures of the national leader on the wall in the workplace.
Here we find out more about the fatal wound that had been healed (Rev 13:3, 12), which was caused by a sword. The short sword (Gk. machaira) is not likely to be the word of God, Rev 1:16, 19:15, in which rhomphaia (long sword) is used. In 19:21 the long sword is used to slay the kings of the earth and their armies, here the short sword is used to wound the beast. The word for sword, machaira, is a common word for sword in the NT it is used for the sword Peter used to cut the ear of the slave at Jesus arrest (John 18:10) and of the sword of the spirit (Eph 6:17) and the word of God (Heb 4:12), it is used elsewhere in Revelation as the sword that killed the martyrs (6:4) and the sword used by the beast to kill the saints (13:10).
v15 - He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. - He was given power to give breath to the image; this is the counterfeit of creation in which God gives the breath of life and man became a living being, its speech is the counterfeit of the word of God (Hughes). Contrast this to the breath of God that brought back to life the two witnesses (11:11). Unlike Baal (1 King 18:29) this idol could speak, it is interesting that in John's description of idols in 9:20 he says that they 'cannot see or hear or walk', he does not say they cannot speak (cf. Isa 45:20, Jer 10:5, Hab 2:18).
We should again notice that the source of the voice is the dragon through the line of delegated authority from the dragon to the beast out of the sea 13:2, to the beast out of the earth (13:12) and now to the image of the beast. Just as God speaks his word, the Devil speaks lies (12:15), the beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies (13:5-6), the beast out of the earth spoke like the dragon (13:11), evil spirits come out of the mouth of the dragon, beast and false prophet (16:13-14), so also words come out of the image of the beast. The words are caused by demons cf. 16:14, they are a miraculous sign (13:13). The Lamb fights with the word of God, the sword of the spirit which proceeds out of his mouth (1:26, 2:16, 19:15, 21), so the image of the beast speaks lies and death. Like Nebuchadnezzar, he forces everyone to worship the image of the beast under pain of death. Those who refuse to worship the image are in the Lamb's book of life (13:8), by refusing to worship the image they betray their identity as worshippers of God (11:1) and are killed (Beasley-Murray) but later we see them in heaven as victorious over the beast and his image (15:2).
Consider false religion (Hinduism, Islam, etc.) or false philosophy such as communism, it is this that gives power to, and sustains, the state. If we take Mao as our model of the beast then the Party is his minister of propaganda (false prophet) and his image would equate to the many pictures of Mao around China, however we should note that Mao did not have world-wide rule. It is unfashionable to say but the false religion would also apply to the Roman Catholic church prior to the reformation, which was also based in Rome. Consider such Papal titles as Holy Father, these are clearly blasphemous. Papal infallibility, only God is infallible. Such practices as indulgences, that is Simony, i.e. buying forgiveness.
v15 - and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed - Worship and idolatry are once again the issue here. This reminds us of the story in Daniel, of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Dan 3:5-6, in which the order is given 'Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace' Dan 3:6. This gives a clue to the identity of the beast who in this case is Nebuchadnezzar, that is a world ruler who ruled Babylon the great city. Daniel's description of Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4:22 says 'You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth'. Dan 3:7 indicates that 'all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold', that Nebuchadnezzar made under pain of death. The saints are required to have the same bravery as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who said "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.", Dan 3:16-18. The fire of Nebuchadnezzar is temporary but God's fire is eternal, those who worship the image of the beast to avoid man's fire will end up in God's fire instead (14:9-11, 20:15, 21:8). While Christ may not save them from any furnace of this world he will save them from the lake of fire which is the second death.
If a Christian refused to make an act of worship to Caesar he was liable to the death penalty. Here the beast forces the people into idolatry, only those who know their God will refuse to worship the image (Dan 11:32), we find those who had been victorious over the beast and his image in Rev 15:2. This implies that to be victorious over the beast is to be a martyr (cf. 12:11). Resisting joining in with those who worship the image involves patient endurance on the part of the saints (Rev 14:12), together with death or imprisonment. However the penalty imposed by God for worshipping the image is severe, Rev 14:9-11. The image is mentioned three times in this chapter and seven more times in Revelation (Walvoord).
v16 - He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead - As well as forcing people to worship the image he also forces everyone to receive a mark on the hand or forehead. This mark is on the hand or forehead and is therefore conspicuous, it is not hidden. He had great power over all classes of society, note the three couplets giving six in all: small and great, rich and poor, free and slave. Contrast this mark on the hand or forehead with God's command to the Israelites in Deu 6.8 to 'Tie them (the commandments) as symbols on your hands (meaning strength i.e. actions) and bind them on your foreheads (i.e. mind)'. It is also a parody of God's deliverance from bondage in Egypt, only it is enslavement, (the Passover observance) see Exo 13:1-16 'And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand'. But the Christians do not receive the mark (Rev 20:4). This mark is a parody of the sealing of God's servants in Rev 7:2, who have the name of the Lamb and his Fathers name written on their foreheads Rev 14:1. As the elect are sealed upon their foreheads to escape the destruction about to fall upon the earth, so the followers of the beast escape his wrath against the church by bearing his mark (Mounce). The mark affects their action (hand) and thinking (forehead), it identifies those who worship the beast.
The mark (Gr. charagma) must not be taken literally as in most of John's imagery. The mark received is a parody or counterfeit to the seal received by the children of God, see Rev 14:1, this seal is not a visible seal. They have the name of the Lamb and the Father written on their foreheads, if we do not take this as a literal mark then it is likely that the mark of the beast is not a literal mark. Here it is described in v17 'the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name' which is identified as 666 in verse 18. It is closely linked to those who worship the beast and his image, it marks them as his (the beast's). It is received on the forehead meaning their mind or on the hand meaning their actions i.e. anyone who follows the philosophy or who carries out the actions of the beast. The characteristics of those so marked is described in Rev 21:8, also Rev 22:15, everyone who loves (mark on the forehead) and practises falsehood (mark on the hand). From Rom 12:1 those who worship the beast are those who are conformed to the pattern of this world (worldly) and are not renewed in their mind, they do not obey the will of God. The mark can mean ownership, devotion, acceptance of the authority of the beast, just as the seal of God marks out those who are His, so the mark of the beast marks out those who are his. Not only cattle but slaves were branded as a mark of ownership. Perhaps John is also thinking of the marks of the cross that Jesus bore on his hands and the marks caused by the crown of thorns. Those who receive this mark are going to be punished along with the beast (Rev 14:9-11, 19:20). Those who worship the beast and his image and those who receive the mark of his name are the same (4:11). The saints are those who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or hands (20:4). The saints are those who worship God (11:1), obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (14:12).
Barclay has the following comments on the mark: The word for the mark of the beast is charagma, and it could come from more than one ancient custom.
i. Sometimes domestic slaves were branded with the mark of their owner. But usually they were branded only if they had run away or had been guilty of some grave misdemeanour. Such a mark was called a stigma; we still use the word in English. If the mark is connected with this, it means that those who worship the beast are his property. Note: the word used for servants in Revelation means slaves [of Christ] so in the same way those marked by the beast are his slaves or servants.
ii. Sometimes soldiers branded themselves with the name of their general, if they were very devoted to him. This to some extent, corresponds to the modern custom of tattooing upon one's person the name of someone specially dear. If the mark is connected to this, it means that those who worship the beast are his devoted followers.
iii. On every contract of buying or selling there was a charagma, a seal, and on the seal the name of the emperor and the date. If the mark is connected with this, it means that those who worship the beast accept his authority. Note: this could also be the seal of ownership.
iv. All coinage had the head and inscription of the emperor stamped upon it, to show that it was his property. If the mark is connected with this, it means that those who bear it are the property of the beast.
v. When a man had burned his pinch of incense to Caesar, he was given a certificate to say he had done so. The mark of the beast may be the certificate of worship which a Christian could obtain only at the cost of denying his faith.
The only other NT use of the word charagma apart from Revelation is in Acts 17:29 where Paul speaks to the men of Athens "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image (charagma) made by man's design and skill.' Paul is contrasting idols with the living God who made the world and everything in it see Acts 17:24 cf. Rev 14:7. We should note then the close connection between the mark and worshipping the image (13:15) which is an act of idolatry cf. 2:14, 2:20, 9:20, 21:8, 22:15, therefore receiving the mark means being marked as an idolater.
v17 - so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. - The second beast as well as having religious power (v15) also has economic power, no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast on their forehead or hand. It is significant that the coinage of the time had the head of the emperor on it (Mat 22:19-21) and some emperors used divine titles on the coinage as did Antiochus Epiphanes (Gleason) who is a type of the antichrist. The number of his name is most likely referring to a gematria. The penalty for worshipping the beast and his image and receiving the mark is proclaimed by the third angel in Rev 14:9-11 and is eternal torment. The first bowl is poured out on those who have the mark of the beast and who worship his image. Those who are victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name will sing the song of Moses and of the Lamb in heaven (15:2). They will reign with Christ for a thousand years (20:4).
v18 - This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666. - Here we are warned that wisdom will be required, as in 17:9 where wisdom is also required to interpret the seven heads of the beast. The one having a mind, let him count the number of the beast! i.e. let him use his mind. In the seven letters to the churches the one having ears is told to use them (Lenski). It is man's number meaning literally it is the number of a man, but note that in the Greek the definite article is omitted so that the NIV is correct in saying that it is man's number not a mans number (see also Hailey). Man's number is six because he was created on the sixth day, in Revelation seven stands for completeness as in the seven days of the week, God rested on the seventh day of creation (Gen 2:2).
Some interpret this as a riddle in the form of a gematria, whereby the number stands for the letters of a mans name, has not been satisfactorily solved to this day. But the simplest understanding is that if seven means complete then 6 always falls short of 7 and therefore 666 is a trinity of imperfections, it is man's religion. Certainly Nero, Domitian, Mao, Stalin and Hitler all fit the role of the beast quite nicely. Any church under persecution will readily identify who their beast is. To any church not under persecution it is just idle speculation, they will have to wait until the beast is revealed (2 Thess 2:3-7). Perhaps we should heed the words of the angel to Daniel (Dan 12:9), 'the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end', only then will we be able to identify the last but greatest antichrist who the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth. However all the saints need to be able to interpret the signs of the times and an understanding of the principles involved in the book of Revelation will therefore be of value. Lenski shows that John writes the number not in words but in Greek letters: cxs; c=600; x=60; s=6 (chi_xi_stigma: G5516). This is the number 6, plus its multiple by 10, namely 60, again plus its multiple by 10*10 (intensified completeness), namely 600 -- thus 666, three times falling short of the divine 7 (cf. the measurements of Nebuchadnezzar's statue 60*6 cubits, Dan 3:1).
v18 - 666 - There are alternative explanations, it is difficult to pin down any one person but this is probably intentional. Whenever you try to be specific you usually end up having to twist some historical fact to make it fit. The point is that John is giving principles that apply throughout the gospel age and not to one particular point in time. Remember that John is seeing human history from the point of view of heaven. As John makes clear in his epistle, 'the' antichrist is coming, and also many antichrists have come. The number can be interpreted symbolically as man's number, a trinity of sixes or specifically to one man, the antichrist.
i. It tells us that it is man's number, 6 is the number of man for he was created on the sixth day, 666 is a trinity i.e. it indicates a man accepting worship due to God, this is reflected in the antichrist, see 2 Thess 2:3-4, who proclaims himself to be God. This happened in John's time with Domitian who claimed divinity. This also fits in with Mat 24:11 and 24:23-24, here Jesus warns that there will be false Christ's performing great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect.
ii. The number 666 is a trinity (Satan, beast, false prophet) it can also be considered to be man's religion, or his man made philosophy, but it falls short of true religion that is revealed from God. The evidence is more in favour of a man, a ruler or emperor, however the false prophet (a man) will give false doctrines, the resulting product will be false religion or false philosophy. Those who have the mark are therefore those who follow and believe in the false religious system or philosophical system. For example Marxism, Confucianism, Buddhism all these fall short of true divinely revealed religion. They fail to enter into God's rest. Six always falls short of perfection (seven) it misses the mark which is the very essence of sin. Milligan points out that John would be well aware of the perverted Judaism of his day which eventually crucified his Lord, it was the religion of men (Mark 7:6-8).
iii. 666 can also be a gematria in which letters of the alphabet are also used as numbers, both in Hebrew and Greek. Various attempts have been made, most of them unsuccessful, an interesting one is made by translating the Greek Neron Kaisar into Hebrew which gives 666. The principle is that Nero would be an example of the beast out of the land others would arise after him i.e. Domitian. The name of Jesus in Greek is 888, I H S O U S (10, 8, 200, 70, 400, 200), if John's audience knew this, as Sweet maintains, then 666 would immediately indicate that 666 was the devil's counterfeit of Jesus namely the (or an) antichrist. If Nero is the type, then modern examples would be Hitler (consider Nazism, the philosophy that helped keep him in power), Mao (communism), Stalin (communism); the final fulfilment is the antichrist. If a=100, b=101 c=102 etc. then HITLER=666. The first six Roman numerals I V X L C D add up to 666. J B Smith quoted by Walvoord says 'All the numbers from 1 to 36 total 666. Beast in the evil sense occurs exactly 36 times (6*6) in Revelation'. Mounce adds that all the numbers from 1 to 8 also add up to 36 and eight is the number of the antichrist because he is an eighth king (17:11). The main problem with the use of a gematria is that many names can give the resulting 666, there is no unique name. Some texts have even been altered to give 616 which can give Nero Caesar in Latin or Gaios Kaisar (Caligula) in Greek, see Sweet. If we take the number of Jesus being 888 this fits into the 7 day pattern of creation in which the eighth day is the first day of the new order. The Jews believed that the seven days of creation corresponded to 7,000 years based on Ps 90:4 in which one day equalled a thousand years, the sixth day belongs to the antichrist and the seventh to the millennium. The fact that the antichrist is an eighth king indicates that he is the counterfeit of Christ (17:11), the penultimate claiming ultimacy (Sweet).
iv. The number sums up the character of the beast. To the Jew six falls short of the sacred number seven which is perfection, triple it and it represents a potency of evil than which there can be none greater, a direfulness of fate than which there can be none worse (Milligan).
Does Revelation indicate that there will be a world wide religion at the time that the antichrist is revealed? Rev 13:7 indicates that the first beast will have authority over 'every tribe, people, language and nation', this fourfold description indicates over the four corners of the earth. And 13:8 indicates that all the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, except for the saints. The second beast exerts religious and economic control over the world. He performs miraculous signs that deceive the inhabitants of the earth 13:14. He coerces the inhabitants of the earth to worship the first beast and his image 13:12, 15. He forces everyone from all strata of society to accept the mark of the beast without which no one could buy or sell, 13:16-17. Therefore the answer to our question is that during the reign of the antichrist there will be world-wide worship of the beast and his image, but the saints will resist him even to the death. Since the worship of the beast is forced it is likely that any world-wide religion prior to the unveiling of the beast will be voluntary. It should be noted that with modern travel, media and communications the structure through which a world-wide kingdom of the beast could be ruled is being set-up. Every household even has its own TV set.
It is likely that very soon it will be possible for a person to have an identifying mark, even invisible, on the hand or forehead which will uniquely identify that person and it will be used for buying and selling, is this the mark of the beast? Firstly this mark did not apply to previous generations and yet there were many who did follow the beast in their generation. Goldsworthy points out that taking a literalistic interpretation of the mark being 666 tends to break down under its own weight because then every single individual will be stamped with exactly the same mark, 666, which has value only to identify the members of the group but not to distinguish one from another. Again the 144,000 referred to in chapters 7 and 14 have the mark of God on their forehead but we do not take this literally, it symbolises that we are securely sealed as the Father's own possession, the redemption which is received by faith and sealed by the Spirit of God. Similarly the mark of the beast must symbolise unbelief, rejection of Christ and his gospel (Goldsworthy). This expectation of a literal mark arises because we interpret Revelation literally rather than symbolically as it should be interpreted. We should also note that both rich and poor have the mark so that it is unlikely to be something to do with credit cards which only the rich have.
However there is a danger here, if we look for some world-wide dictator who has economic control over individuals as well as political and religious control and who therefore looks like the 'antichrist' this does not necessarily mean that the end is about to come unless that other prerequisite of the second coming is fulfilled, namely the preaching of the gospel to all nations (Mat 24:14). We must not allow speculation as to the nature of the mark of the beast to deflect the church from its primary mission, namely the preaching of the gospel. Each of the four gospels ends with the great commission (Mat 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23) and Acts starts with it, Acts 1:7-8. The two witnesses continued to prophecy until the beast killed them (11:7). Keener observes that because Satan does not know the date of Christ's return he must always have an antichrist waiting in the wings.
The two beasts represent both the political and ecclesiastical power of the beast. The founding fathers of America separated the church and state, they recognised that an amalgam of church and state was potentially lethal for both church and state. The separation was to prevent the state interfering with the church and to prevent the church having political power with which it might coerce the people. It recognised the distinction between giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and giving to God what belongs to God. When Caesar starts claiming those things that belong to God he becomes a beast. In China there is an official state sponsored church, again this is dangerous because the claims of Christ on his people are above that of the state. When the emperor Constantine declared himself a Christian this removed persecution but had a disastrous effect on the church. Persecution keeps the church pure but when it becomes the official religion the church become weak and feeble and eventually it becomes apostate. The apostate church is not just backslidden it is has so completely fallen away that it is part of the political structure of the beast. Therefore some see the apostate church as Babylon the great, Ch. 17. The apostate church had become so worldly that she is indistinguishable from the world.
- The Beast out of the sea (Rev 13:1-10)
- The Mark of the Beast and 666 Rev 13:16-18