The no. 666 specified in Revelation 13:18 is very interesting and is a very controversial subject. Even today scholars disagree on the actual meaning of it, but the most widely accepted conclusion is that, the beast whose number is 666 is supposed to be Nero Caesar, who is supposed to be the most brutal of all roman emperors.

The mark of the beast is its name or number. It is interesting to know how John got this idea from. The jews at that time used to bear a small bag on their forehead or hands, which contained small inscriptions of their rules. It was considered as a holy act. When the time comes that the beast's name or number should be used as the mark, it is the exact opposite of holy. John was not talking about someone who was about to come, someone who is unfamiliar to those in his period. He "encoded" his writing in such a way that those people would understand what he wrote. The encoding is a very primitive version of what we use in our times for espionage purposes. In Aramaic(syriac), each letter has a particular number associated with it. Like Alaph = 1 Beth = 2 Gamel = 3 Dalath = 4 etc. After 10, it is 10 times etc. When we calculate using this rule and "decode" the message, we can see that the number 666 represents Nero Caesar. If we check it with Latin or Hebrew this case is true. He is in fact the most brutal and the most perfect candidate for that position. As for the question, why did he encode it, it is easy to understand that he was already in prison and wanted those faithful to understand what he was talking about, and those from outside should be confused. John's writings are so hard to understand because it is a mixture of past, his present and his and our future. There is no question that every word said there is true becaue if you say otherwise you are not only a heretic but condemned for making God a liar. The important thing is that even though it was meant to be Nero, the popular belief at that time, even that of John was that Nero was dead(missing?) but he would come back as the portrayal of all evil to cause terrible evil throughout the world. Now, Rome was the empire there giving protection to its citizens and wiping out anyone who dared to touch its citizens(remember St Paul). All that protection and freedom came at a price, of turning against God. The greatest empire has fallen, and is history but John believed and it is clearly stating that the evil will rise again in the future, before the coming of lord, to carry a lot of good souls with him. His words are filled with hints for people of all ages, but we need not worry about that because we already know we are living in the period specified by John. I remember Pope John Paul saying once that we are living in the period specified in the revelation (forgot when). Many people won't like this idea because a lot of hints are hidden, but when we combine the messages given through supernatural means (Fatima, Garabandal, Lourdes etc) and the holy pope's concerns and those already stated in the scripture, we can be relieved to know that it's been a very long wait. Now, there is a connection between St Mary's apperance at Fatima, Garabandal and our pope (John Paul the 2nd). I'll specify it in another post.

-- Abraham T (lijothengil@yahoo.com), April 23, 2003

Answers

Oooooooh...be careful of numerology! Some Protestant Fundamentalists say the same exact thing about the Holy Father's ancient title, Vicarius Filii Dei, "Vicar of the Son of God." If you convert the letters as Roman Numerals, you will add up "666." For many years, the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit University had 415-666-XXXX as their phone numbers. They finally changed it after years of crank calls, accusing them to be the anti-christ. I say take that numerology stuff with a grain of salt.

-- joseph (josephwill@aol.com), April 23, 2003.

Actually all scholars agree on one thing (that's a surprise) that John was actually speaking about Nero who died before he was imprisoned. He coded the message so that the people OF THOSE TIMES would understand, except the anti-catholics of course. I have seen the 666 nonsese a lot, and some even go up to the stage of saying a big dragon with wings and horns will be coming, etc. etc. That is the problem of some people's imagination and ignorance on how, when and why John wrote all that. As for the protestant theories, who is going to listen to heretics anyway? I have yet to see one protestant who does not shout "CATHOLICS WORSHIP MARY AND SAINTS" even though we say with clear proof to them a thousand times that they are being absolutely wrong. I have reason to believe that everyone who is converted to be a protestant is somehow programmed by someone(hint) to bash catholics and shout nonsense regardless of proof or what the truth is.

-- Abraham T (lijothengil@yahoo.com), April 23, 2003.

Dear Joseph,

"Vicarius Filii Dei" is not "the Holy Father's ancient title". The Holy father's title is and always was "Vicarius Christi", Vicar of Christ. "Vicarius Filii Dei" is a fabrication by anti-Catholic writers (I believe Lorraine Boettner was the first to use it), specifically designed for exactly the purpose you mentioned - to render a Roman numeric equivalent of 666.

-- Paul (PaulCyp@cox.net), April 23, 2003.

Abraham, the 666 is not NERO but Domitian. Only Greek and Hebrew had the letters stand for numbers. Revelation looks like a translation by someone whose primary language is not Greek but Hebrew.

In Latin Caesaris Domitianus, in Greek his name might be Kaisaros Domitianos, to a Hebrew/Aramaic speaker Kaisaros Domitsianos ( K. Domitsinos, no written sign for a). K=20 D=4, o=6, m=40, i=10, t=400 s=60, i=10, n=50, o=6, s=60. See Hebrew and Greek alphabets.

Why Domitian, because, according to Rev. Ch.13 the beast has 7 heads and 10 horns.It has 10 crowns. The number is 666, a human number.This passage in Revelation ch. 17

Ch. 17:9 the seven mountains or hills represent the original 7 hills of the city of Rome. since the Pope lives in Rome, Protestants think it refers to the Pope. The woman Protestants think is the Catholic Church. She stands for the city of Rome, not the Church.

Verse 10 clarifies everything: heads are 7 kings, 5 have fallen: Augustus, Tiberius, Galigula, Claudius, and Nero. One is: Vespasian (there were 3 others : Galba, Vitellius,and Otho,disputing the throne after the death of Nero, but never held total power). The one holding a short time is Titus: 78-81. This adds to 7 heads and 10 horns.See list of Roman Emperors.

Then an 8th that goes with the 7: Domitian. He was the brother of Titus and the son of Vespasian.Eusebius mentions his many cruelties. He was killed in AD 96.

See Eusebius Book III, Ch. 18

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 23, 2003.

bold off?

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 24, 2003.

Eugene, you are right in this regard. Protestants believe the Vatican is Rome.However, historically, the 7 hills are these ones They are located here at the opposite side of the Tiber River and the vaticanus area.

Thus the Vatican historically is not part of the 7 hills. Today < a href="http://www.arcaini.com/ITALY/ItalianRegions/Rome.htm"> The Vatican is within the city of Rome. Though since 1929 has become an independent entity, a nation, in the world.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 25, 2003.

I messed up. Trying again. The Vatican historically is not part of the 7 hills. Today < a href="http://www.arcaini.com/ITALY/ItalianRegions/Rome.htm"> The Vatican is inside Rome.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 25, 2003.

I messed up. Trying again. The Vatican historically is not part of the 7 hills. Today < a href="http://www.arcaini.com/ITALY/ItalianRegions/Rome.htm" > The Vatican is inside the city of Rome.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 25, 2003.

Seems like you could make the number game mean pretty much what you want it to. God gave John the Revelation, and these symbols all came from God. He had a specific purpose in giving them. With that in mind, it seems that there would be a more easily comprehensive solution to all of the numbers in Revelation.

In Him,

Jared

-- Jared Morgan (jpmorgan5150@gamebox.net), April 25, 2003.

All right; thank you, Elpidio.

Nice clarifications; but not likely to quiet the anger against the Pope coming from anti- Catholics. I like to direct them to the first chapter of Romans.

Saint Paul extolled this church, soon to be the See of Peter for the centuries. In fact, his words give a clue to her ''Catholic'' appellation which resulted later:

''To all God's beloved who are in Rome, called to be saints; grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. --First I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed all over the world (UNIVERSALLY, or Catholicly). This is Rom 1 :7,: 8 /

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), April 25, 2003.

There is no secret. 666 is just a symbol for a name like any other name. It means evil or devil or Satan or evil personified or mammon. It's just a word. God may communicate to us using that symbol or word. People may communicate with eachother using it. If the presence of the symbol is searched out like there is some code to crack in order to understand God's will or the truth or the future or something, than we've crossed into superstition.

-- Mike H. (michael.hitzelberger@vscc.cc.tn.us), April 28, 2003.

I was careful not to see the revelation as a source for satisfying curiosity. The facts about Nero, the decoding, the image etc are actual catholic teachings. Although a group of scholars still argue about all that, they all agree that this is the most acceptable meaning.

It is important to know how the church explains the words of God, because only it knows how to explain and interpret. Also, I have seen many people picturing a big dragon coming and all things like that. The hollywood movies on John's revelation creates further problems among catholics who are called "catholics" but live like children of satan.

Only by knowing the enemy well could we make strategies to defeat him. This world is still his, and we have to wait for God's second arrival which would only happen once the Jews accept him as the lord, as he said.

-- Abraham T (lijothengil@yahoo.com), May 11, 2003.

Ok, we should not understand all that is going on in revelation, John did'nt. Look at this site it has interesting ideas on this topic. http://www.av1611.org/666/

-- it doesnt add to 666 (teknodragon@aol.com), May 14, 2003.

I once thought the same about this. There were things that weren't taken into account. The reference of the beast in Revelation is taken from the writings (Kethuvim), in the book (sefer) Daniel. The name Daniel means "God is My Judge", or "The Judgement of My God". The book happens to be about the judgement, or curse against this 1% world that unless mankind repents (changes direction toward Him), will indeed have to endure. How can I state that this section of The Revelation comes from the so-called old testament? It is in the other writings of John, and other places in the cannon. "Lean not unto you own understanding","....and Jesus replied,'It is written...", "To the instruction (The Torah), and the testimony (the Prophets)if they speak not according to this word there is NO Light in them.(Isaiah 8:20)" Both Jesus and John were ultra-devout Jews, my friends; they did not lean unto thier own understandings of things. Everything they said, and did was in accordance with the writings of moses and The Prophets of Israel. To say otherwise, is blasphemous even by The church's doctrines and rulings. Unless they have altered their doctrines and now espouse anti-nomianism. The Writings of Daniel are the reference to which John was given further inspiration throught the spirit of the Messiah (The Light of YHVH), as he meditated and fasted and prayed for understanding and wisdom to see what the scripture he knew held in them. The beasts are well documented in Daniel. There were 5, to come; not 4. It did not stop with the Roman Empire, which was the 4th, the beast of Iron. The 2nd- the 5th had not arrived in Daniel's lifetime. But his writings made clear that the 3rd (The Bronze Beast) was Alexander and the Greek Empire. The 4th would have been the Roman Empire. There was a 5th Beast that was iron mixed with clay, that would be in place until the time A Prince of The Covenant (A Jewish descendant of the rightful King (aka; Messiah) stood up (took power). In Daniel (chptr 9), it is quite specific that the Messiah would be 'cut-off' but not for himself, BUT FOR THE PRINCE THAT IS TO COME. It also states specifically that these things were for the time of the end. And again later, "Seal these things up until the time of the end." The end would NOT be during the time of the 4th beast (the Roman empire), but the 5th beast of Daniel would be in power. The 5th beast is of iron & clay; it is a government that is similar o the Roman Empire but mixed with the laity, the common people being synonymous with the word clay (Adam=red clay= mankind was formed from the clay). I do not hate the people of the churches, I wish there were a way to address these issues in a way that would be less obtrusive and less provacative. But there are times when temporal power must end its iron grip upon others who feel that mankind is still infantile and in the process of growing. Man is approaching a time where he will need to stop the divisions, and stop the madness that has preyed upon the world through man's immaturities. When The Pope finally, rules that the commands and rules of the Torah are still valid as they are stipulated in the Jewish faith, and when the Jewish faith reckognizes the man from Nazareth to have been the Messiah of the House of Joseph, which is written of in their Talmud, I think peacefulness will begin to shine forth.It wasn't the Jewish people who killed Jesus, if you believe the writings of John, it is written in the gospel of John that Jesus SENT Judas of Iscariot, He Sent him; to betray him. In other words Jesus instructed Judas to carry out the worst kind of mission there could ever be asked by his teacher. I didn't write that, John did. Out of all 4 gospels, I believe John was the only one that may have actually been a witness to those events. I have done my own testing of the apparatus of Opus Dei, and other organs of the Church. I am not ignorant, and I know that because my words are taken by catholicism, offensively, I realize that My words have caused some reactions that are not good toward me in general. I had no wish for that to happen, but to get your attention, long enough to get you to consider an alternative approach, then it has been worth it. My friend John Casteel awarded honorary knighthood for certain actions, my family placed in bad positions to try and disuade me from what My G-d has put on my heart. I'm a nobody in the scheme of things, but with all of the Church's inner turmoil (brought on by lack of self disipline) can be alleviated greatly if joint discussions toward this end could be begun. The church knows I am very correct about the descendants of the Lost Tribes joining the Jewish people just before the coming of Messiah. The church already knows that Jesus said He (The Messiah) would come in a different name, the Church knows and has known all along. I tell you to re assess you stance on dogmatism, and hatred may just take a backseat. The last Emperor of the Roman Empire bestowed the title of VICarIVs fILII DeI upon the Bishop of the Roman Church, sometime in the 13th- 14th century. The Pope is the only one authorized to crown a world Emperor (even if as an honorary title) upon one who is reckognized as royalty. The monarch of England will probably receive this distinction in the coming years. Remember, there are to be three men associated with the number 666 (Revelation 16:13) 3 men=Triumvirate; i.e.; similar to the Roman style of government. Stop the hatred before it costs all of us. You know who I am, and I realize what this may cost me, but at least I have come to you before going to court (the heavenly one). Shalom I stand naked before My G-d, I pray that He will be merciful upon those who have attempted to destroy His Torah, and His people of the House of Judah, I need no intercessor except the spirit of the Torah, The Word of G-d. The Torah written on the skin of a Passover Lamb, with the blood of the Passover as the ink did Moshe write it. You take communion but have forgotten what it stands for. It is a symbol of the agreement between the G-d of Israel and His people. That same agreement was sent out to the nations via the Nazarene and his students. What was new about it was that all who had a change of heart, no matter from where they were born, were to be welcome into it. It would be the same agreement as that of Mt.Sinai, but it would be written upon the hearts of men. By arguing against the obedience of the Torah, the new covenant is also being thrown out. Or is earthly kingdoms and earthly power and earthly influence more important to you? Answer me not, answer it for yourselves. YHVH Eloi sends warning to you ( I am but a vessel), "Those who bless My people shall be blessed, and those who curse them shall have this from My hand; they shall lie down in sorrow." This is my last message to you, it is in the interest of world peace, and indeed in the Light that is also called 'Messiah".

-- Kolyahu ben Asher (trathnos@netzero.com), August 16, 2003.