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Rev 13:18 ... calculate the number of the beast, for
it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
THE NUMBER 666
The bible almost always records numbers (both small and large) in word
form (eg 'two hundred and seventy-six' in Acts 27:37).
However, this is not the case for the number '666' found in Rev 13:18.
Most of the received texts depicting Revelation 13:18 present the
number '666' in the Greek letter form, where letters are used to
represent numbers.
 | = Chi = 600 |
 | = Xi = 60 |
 | = Stigma = 6 |
An excerpt from www.scripture4all.org.
A Strong's reference summary of G5516.
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OTHER BIBLICAL REFERENCES TO '666'
Scripture has other references to the number '666'.
- Ezra 2:13 - number of the people of Adonikam who
returned to Jerusalem from Babylon
- 1 Kings 10:14 - '666 talents of gold'
- 2 Chron 9:13 - '666 talents of gold'
The last two references are clearly relevant. Both refer to a fixed
annual income received every year by Solomon. The source of this income
is not stated, but a number of possible sources are excluded.
1King 10:15 besides that from the traveling merchants, from
the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia,
and from the governors of the country.
The fixed nature of this income suggests a 'rental income'.
NB: To some the relevance of any income received by King Solomon may
seem irrelevant. However, the proper way to study a biblical topic
is not to pre-judge the outcome, but to follow the biblical clues
wherever they may lead.
CALCULATION OF THE NUMBER
It happens that Solomon was the recipient of a significant rental income
from many large vineyards.
Song 8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; he leased
the vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring
for its fruit a thousand silver coins (pieces).
:12 My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon,
have a thousand, and those who tend its fruit
two hundred (each).
This rental income was also alluded to in Isaiah.
Isa 7:23 It shall happen in that day, that wherever there
could be a thousand vines [vineyards] worth a
thousand [mina each] of silver, It will be for
briers and thorns.
These verses indicate that in the time of Solomon;
1,000 vineyards x 1,000 silver x 200 people = 200 million silver
pieces pieces
(= 666 gold talents)
AND
1,000 vineyards x 1,000 silver = 1 million silver
mina mina
(= 666 gold talents)
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[ Notes: a) What is apparent from this calculation is that
each of the 1,000 vineyards are tended by the
same number of people (200 each), who also
each paid the same price (1,000 silver pieces).
The implication is that all the vineyards were
of exactly the same size! How is that possible?
In Scripture it seems that land surrounding a
city was laid out in a set manner. Refer Num
35:2-5. Notice that in Song 8:11 a place (city)
is identified as 'Baal Hamon', this being where
one of these vineyards was located.
b) By contrasting Songs 8:11-12 with Isa 7:23 one
can see that Scripture is indicating that a mina
is composed of 200 silver 'pieces'!
The silver piece being discussed is likely a
small silver weight. Suggesting the silver
'pieces', for the rental of the vineyard, were
'bekahs'. The 'bekah' is a half shekel weight.
It was also the weight specified for the census
collection, refer Exod 38:26.
[NB: This would indicate that 100 shekel weights
composed one mina. Refer the following
webpage - bibleinsight.com/weights.html ]
c) Scripture states that a deflated value for silver
was present during the reign of Solomon. Silver
was in excess supply and undervalued.
1 Kings 10:27 "And the king made silver to be
in Jerusalem as stones"
d) The word for 'calculate' or 'count' in Rev 13:18
is Strong's G5585 and means to 'use pebbles in
enumeration'. The use of a word meaning pebbles
indicates that the reader should derive the
number of silver pieces being represented.
(It is interesting that the above verse, i.e.
1 Kings 10:27, also compares silver to stones.)
e) Exodus 38:25-26 states 603,550 bekahs (half
shekels of the sanctuary) was the equivalent
of 100 talents and 1775 sanctuary shekels.
Teaching that 6,000 sanctuary bekahs weighed a
talent.
Therefore the collection of 200 million half
shekels would equal 33,333 talents of silver.
Being 200 million divided by 6,000.
A conversion of 33,333 talents of silver to
666 talents of gold would require a silver to
gold ratio of 50:1. Indicating that at
that time a single gold coin was worth the
equivalent of 50 silver coins of the same
weight!
f) While the collection of vineyard rental from
each person is stated as having been in silver,
it is evident that those responsible for
collection and forwarding to king Solomon would
have paid the king's treasury in gold.
g) NB: The number 200,000,000 is also mentioned
in the book of Revelation, referring to the
number of mounted horsemen bound at the river
Euphrates. Refer Rev 9:16. ]
WHY THE UNUSUAL PRESENTATION - 600 60 6
Why the Unusual Presentation of the Number 666?
As this unusual 'numeric/letter form' of presentation
is only encountered in this verse, there has to be a
meaningful reason for the adoption of this format.
Two perspectives can be seen.
1) The format allows a simple splitting of 666 into
three numbers 600, 60 and 6.
Each of these numbers can be used to allude to
the infamous 30 shekels of silver.
600 gerahs = 30 shekels of silver
60 bekahs = 30 shekels of silver
6 '5 shekel' *1 = 30 shekels of silver
[ *1 For 5 shekel weight references,
refer bibleinsight.com/weights.html ]
This repetition of the equivalent of 30 shekels
of silver (mirroring the 30 shekels paid to Judas)
indicates the defining of a future traitor.
2) When reading these numbers from right to left,
as a Hebrew would be inclined to do, we derive
a progressive recognition of three numbers.
Initial letter only = 6 (6)
Initial two letters = 66 (6 + 60)
All three letters = 666 (6 + 60 + 600)
It is interesting that all three of these numbers
6, 66, 666 have a common attribute. They are all
numbers which are the result of counting and adding
upwards from 1.
i.e. 1+2+3 = 6
1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11 = 66
1+2+3+4 ... 33+34+35+36 = 666.
It is somewhat unusual that these three numbers
6, 66 and 666 have this characteristic.
Consider the upper counted numbers, ie 3 (for '6'),
11 (for '66') and 36 (for '666').
Do these numbers 3, 11 & 36 have any biblical
significance?
The number 3 has biblical significance, the number
11 has limited significance and 36 (being 3 x 12)
could be given some relevance.
However, if these numbers 3, 11, and 36 are added
together we have 3 + 11 + 36 = 50.
As has already been noted, 50 is the number which
allows the conversion of Solomon's vineyard rental
income from silver to gold!
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PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE OF KING SOLOMON'S
VINEYARD INCOME - 666 GOLD TALENTS
From the above verses it appears that Solomon, as king of Israel, had
control of many of Israel's prime vineyards and rented them to whomever
he pleased. Indicating that in the same way the future beast will
control who it is that will be permitted to tend and profit from the
various spiritual vineyards within His kingdom.
In other words, who would be able to 'buy or sell', i.e. trade, in the
wine/teachings of God.
The name/number of the beast is said to also be the number of a man
(Rev 13:17-18).
Obviously Israel is the name of a man (Jacob, Gen 32:27-28) and the
name of an historic nation.
Exod 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says
the Lord: "Israel is My son, My firstborn."
The modern day remnants of ancient Israel carry this identity.
Also, there is also an implied link to one like Solomon. Hence, a
prophesied spiritual king ruling over the people of his domain.
Conclusion: Given the less than favourable descriptions of the
Revelation 13 beasts, the teaching is;
- In the end-time there will arise within the
'arena of faith' a deceptive and spiritually
controlling entity which will suppress dissent
and subvert the thoughts and actions of many.
This entity will prove itself to be a 'traitor'
to the calling and will of God.
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