So here are my thoughts, questions, and lack of understanding about Revelation 13:17, 18, with a special focus on the number of the beast.
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.
18 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.
I have preached this text over 100 times to the public in evangelistic meetings. I have explained it to be the number of the name of the man representing the beast power. I have no regrets, and I would still give this explanation publicly to anyone who will listen.
As I prepare to make a video on this topic, my desire to be thorough pushes me to delve deeper. Unlike public preaching, an internet video is forever, and videos age like Fords or Toyotas over time. I want mine to age like a Toyota.
For those who have never looked at this closely, I'd like to give you a list of points that relate to this question so we can get up to speed quickly.
First, I take the position that the mark of the beast and the name of the beast are the same. I do this because several well-known scholars in our church take this position, and it makes sense when examining the passage in other translations. Please note the following:
And that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.
so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.
so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.
From Ranko Stefanovic:
13:17 The mark, that is, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Such a reading is supported by the codex Alexandrinus. However, some other important early manuscripts attest the inclusion of the word “or” in the text: the earliest Greek manuscript P47 reads as “the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name,” and Sinaiticus reads it as “the mark of the beast or his name or the number of his name.” Despite the strong manuscript support for the inclusion of “or,” it appears that the reading of Alexandrinus (which is asserted to be the best textual witness) is more accurate. It places “the name of the beast” in apposition to “the mark”; in other words, the mark consists of the name of the beast. This would place the mark of the beast in contrast to the seal of God on the foreheads, consisting of the name of the Lamb and the Father (Rev. 14:1).
His reasoning is convincing to me, as we can see the following parallel idea in scripture:
Seal of God – Revelation 7:3 goes in the forehead
Father’s name – Revelation 14:1 goes in the forehead
I think it’s safe to say that the Seal = Father’s name.
Likewise, if the mark counterfeits the seal (and also goes in the forehead), there should be a corresponding name component to this as well. Scripture confirms this:
Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (italics supplied)
All of that was to say that I am convinced that the mark of the beast and the name of the beast are the same. One emphasizes outward compliance/consent, while the other represents inward agreement.
If that is true, then Revelation 13:17 takes on a different dimension. Look again.
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.
This means there are two ways to buy or sell at the end of time. You can receive the mark (which is the name of the beast), OR you can have the number of his name.
Now, I have no problem with the Vicarius Filii Dei explanation. One of my favorite modern pioneers, W.D. Frazee, and numerous other contemporary authors, such as Edwin de Kock, Jerry A. Stevens, and Steve Wohlberg, give a sound defense of this exposition.
But this begs the question: if our only exposition of this point is that 666 refers to Vicarius Filii Dei, then
1. How can people buy or sell by having this number? Are they forced to acknowledge that the Pope is the Vicar of the Son of God? From my understanding of prophecy, even apostate Protestantism will keep many of its founding principles intact, including autonomy from the papal system, even though they keep Sunday.
2. How can you gain victory over 666? Vicarius Filii Dei? Does this mean that you don’t acknowledge the authority of the papacy? Notice the following passage:
Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (italics supplied)
3. Notice the following translations of Revelation 13:18
RSV
This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
ISV
In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding calculate the total of the beast, since it is a human multitude, and the sum of the multitude is 600, 60, and six.
From Ranko Stefanovic:
It is a human number. The Greek arithmos gar anthrōpou estin can be translated as “for it is a number of a man” or “for it is a human number” (or “a number of humanity”). The beast in chapter 13 does not refer to an individual or a specific person in history (whether past or future) but a human system that stands in opposition to God; thus arithmos anthrōpou means here “a human number.” John uses antrōpos in the generic sense also in 21:17 where metron anthrōpou means “human measurement.” The text suggests that the number of the beast is somehow related to humanity.
As I was ruminating on that idea, I had a friend suggest looking at the following chapter. Revelation 14 has the following elements in contrast to the final verses of Revelation 13.
1. There is a group identified with a number.
2. They are described as having something in their forehead.
3. They follow and worship a beast (it is a gentle beast, a lamb)
So, my mind went to this: if the number 144,000 symbolizes God’s people, could the number 666 somehow represent the wicked?
You will recall that the story in Daniel 3 uses much of the same language found in Revelation 13. You have
1. An image that was a counterfeit
2. Enforced by a king
3. Forced worship
4. Death for those who do not comply
5. Dimensions given to us of the counterfeit image, which were 60x6
Most prophecy students know that the language in Revelation 13 echoes the story in Daniel 3. Now that the story appears at the end of time, a few things have changed; one is that the number associated with the beast is now hexakosioi hexēkonta hex or 666.
I will be the first to tell you that I went down many rabbit trails in my early experience looking at biblical numerology. Maybe because I’m Asian, perhaps because I liked maths, whatever the case, I went as far as trying to find meaning for the 153 fish caught in the gospel of John. We can all agree that most numbers in scripture don’t have a cryptic meaning. Revelation, however, uses them to emphasize certain truths for our understanding. Most scholars in our church agree that the 144,000 consisting of 12 x 12 x 1000 refers to the patriarchal and apostolic types, which are repeated in the foundation and gates of the New Jerusalem.
So then I began wondering what 600, 60, and 6 represent. Thank God for AI because, with all its shortcomings, AI is particularly good at finding patterns. Here is what AI spits out:
600 - Military Strength: In most passages, 600 is associated with military forces or weapons, symbolizing power, strength, or a significant challenge.
Divine Intervention: In each case, 600 appears in contexts where human strength or power is contrasted with God's sovereignty. Whether it is Pharaoh's army, the Danites, the Benjamites, or Goliath, the narratives highlight God's ultimate control over seemingly overwhelming forces.
60 - The number *sixty* appears in various contexts in Scripture, and while the Bible does not explicitly assign a singular symbolic meaning to it, its occurrences often carry thematic significance related to completeness, maturity, or a transitional phase.
6 – humanity
666 - Humanity, fully matured in wickedness and opposition to God, at a critical and decisive moment to destroy God’s people.
I welcome the needles, I know there are holes in this. Be kind; I’m not saying I have new light; my mind is running down these trails.
“…even apostate Protestantism will keep many of its founding principles intact, including a rejection of the papal system while keeping Sunday”
Thank you for welcoming the needles. This is not even a needle so I feel completely safe in sharing. I don’t think that a reevaluation of the meaning of the number 666 destabilizes the essence of the doctrine of the mark. None the less, it would appear that your words above in quotes would be the pivot point of your re-evaluation of the text or maybe not. While you are formulating the thought and building on this, I would present to you these excerpts from the book The Great Controversy by our commonly beloved and Inspired predecessor.
The defenders of the papacy declare that the church has been maligned, and the Protestant world are inclined to accept the statement. Many urge that it is unjust to judge the church of today by the abominations and absurdities that marked her reign during the centuries of ignorance and darkness. They excuse her horrible cruelty as the result of the barbarism of the times and plead that the influence of modern civilization has changed her sentiments. { GC 563.2; CS.552.1 }
The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to re-establish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done…”{ GC 565.4; CS.553.4 }
Protestants have tampered with and patronized popery; they have made compromises and concessions which papists themselves are surprised to see and fail to understand. { GC 566.1; CS.554.1 }
The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High. { GC 571.1; CS.558.1 }
It is not without reason that the claim has been put forth in Protestant countries that Catholicism differs less widely from Protestantism than in former times. There has been a change; but the change is not in the papacy. Catholicism indeed resembles much of the Protestantism that now exists, because Protestantism has so greatly degenerated since the days of the Reformers. { GC 571.3; CS.559.1 }
As the Protestant churches have been seeking the favor of the world, false charity has blinded their eyes. They do not see but that it is right to believe good of all evil, and as the inevitable result they will finally believe evil of all good. Instead of standing in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints, they are now, as it were, apologizing to Rome for their uncharitable opinion of her, begging pardon for their bigotry. { GC 571.4; CS.559.2 }
The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause “the earth and them which dwell therein” to worship the papacy—there symbolized by the beast “like unto a leopard.” The beast with two horns is also to say “to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;” and, furthermore, it is to command all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” to receive the mark of the beast. Revelation 13:11-16…. And the revelator declares, also referring to the papacy: “All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life.” Revelation 13:8. In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church. { GC 578.3; CS.565.1 }