The Beast of Revelation 13
Before we identify the 666 or the Antichrist, we need first to identify the beast. Revelation 13:1-8, 16-18 provides 11 identifying characteristics for the beast. They are listed below:
- Rises from sea (verse 1).
- Composite of the four beasts of Daniel chapter 7 (verse 2).
- Dragon gives it power and authority (verse 2).
- Receives a deadly wound (verse 3).
- Deadly wound healed (verse 3).
- Strong political power (verses 3, 7).
- Strong religious power (verses 3, 8).
- Guilty of blasphemy (verses 1, 5, 6).
- Wars with and overcomes the saints (verse 7).
- Rules for 42 months (verse 5).
- Has mysterious number 666 (verse 18).
The “beast” of Revelation 13 is simply another name for the “Antichrist,” which as pointed in Daniel 7 is the papacy. For more information, check: https://bibleask.org/who-is-the-beast-of-revelation-13/
The 666 or the Antichrist
“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).
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 beast or the papacy, we must find the official name of the pope, who is the head of his church.
Here is the official Latin title for the pope which has been granted by the Church itself and found repeatedly in the publications of Rome. The Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor, of April 1915, gives the following quotation: “The letters inscribed in the pope’s miter 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 miter does not contain the Latin title, but the words are incorporated into the coronation ceremonies of each newly crowned pope.
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.
Someone might think that this could be coincidental. This may be possible if we had only this one point to depend upon. But the fact is that this is the eleventh point of a long list of characteristic points and they all point to the Papacy as the beast. The eleventh point only adds weight to that which has already been shown.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
Disclaimer:
The contents of this article and website are not intended to be against any individual. There are many priests and faithful believers in Roman Catholicism who serve God to the best of their knowledge and are seen by God as His children. The information contained herein is directed only towards the Roman Catholic religio-political system which has reigned in varying degrees of power for nearly two millennia. This system has established an increasing number of doctrines and statements that directly go against the Bible.
It is our purpose to lay the clear Word of God before you, the truth-seeking reader, to decide for yourself what is truth and what is error. If you find anything here contrary to the Bible, do not accept it. But if you desire to seek for Truth as for hidden treasure, and find herein something of that quality and feel that the Holy Spirit is revealing Truth to you, please make all haste to accept it.
