666: The Mark of the Beast...

  

Introduction: The Greek word apocalypse means ‘to reveal’ what is concealed. The book Apocalypse is a revelatory literature with two approaches, namely apocalyptic and prophetic. The apocalyptic approach distinguishes the righteous from the wicked and rewards them accordingly. In a prophetic dimension, the wicked may repent and change their ways; the righteous stand in need of exhortation to faithfulness. It is highly pictorial, symbolic and metaphorical. There are about 800 allusions to the Old Testament. It was written in the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian 81-96 C.E. The scholars have opined the date from 90-95 C.E. The apocalyptic imagery and language reveal the severity of God’s judgement. The dominant image of the Lamb shows that God’s word of judgement was spoken in the Cross. Therefore, this book contains prophetic messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor. It is here that we must see the universal salvation that is intended by the author despite a deep struggle between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and falsehood and the Church and the Roman Empire. In the end there is victory for light, truth and the Church. Therefore, John invites the communities to understand how God is at work through Jesus Christ.  

   

The Imperial Cult: In the context of Asia minor (the seven churches), God speaks through Jesus Christ to John for the benefit of the Christians during persecution in Domitian Empire. He was characterized as a tyrant who fostered the imperial cult of the divine title dominus et dues (The Lord). In his time there was a wide spread of oppression and persecution of Christians. Hence, John had a negative approach to the Roman Empire and to the values of the empire. The Asian Christian communities brought John joy since they shared his visions. With a prophetic vision he saw that something was rotten at the heart of Rome. He felt the need to assist Christian communities through these pastoral letters since the tide of the Roman Empire flowed steadily against them. Therefore, he wished that Christians to be good citizens of this world. So also John must have been moved by the teachings of Jesus Mk. 10: 43 “it shall not be so among you” the total rejection of the Gentile style and authority. He had a two-fold reason for his attack on Rome. First, his conviction that imperial Rome was an instrument of satan. Second, he had to wean his fellow-Christians from their willingness to work within the Roman Imperial system.   

Two Beasts: John sees the two beasts that were created by God to inhabit in the sea and on the land. They are instruments of the dragon. John considers Rome and the propagators of the imperial cult as these two beasts. The first beast, emerging from the sea, is a composite of the four beasts of Daniel 7:2-8. The beast is a parody of the Lamb and is the enemy of God and humankind. The healing of its mortal wound is a reference to the legend of redux-Nero returned from exile/death/abyss. His frustrated rage (blasphemy) senses failure hence, aims at God’s dwelling. To this beast the dragon (satan) gives his power and authority on earth. Satan though cast down from heaven, is still ‘the ruler of this world’ for a short time. He can still declare ‘To you I will give all this authority and the glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will’. This beast is the dragon’s instrument in his warfare against the seed of the woman and his authority covers the world, the orbis Romanus. This imagery of the source (tēs thalassēs, the sea) is as the vision draws upon the imagery of Daniel 7:3. What is this source/sea in the vision? Is it the sea as a symbol of the great mass of humanity, particularly the Gentiles? In 17: 15 and Daniel 7:2-3 the four winds of heaven make the sea turbulent, the reservoir of evil.       

  

Like the first beast, the second beast is a superhuman entity that advances Satan’s goals in human history. He even appears as good and Christ like and yet its message is from the devil. The two beasts collaborate with each other to wield the political power. Thus he even deceives the human beings to worship him as the Lord and God. Those who refuse to worship him as the Lord he puts them to death and threats others of the economic exclusion in the empire. It even makes propaganda to other kings and kingdoms to join him to battle against God ad his people. He is called as the false prophet, with the ten horns of a lamb. When it speaks, it is the voice of the dragon that is heard: a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It is the interpreter and servant of the beast and can work miracles. This beast still had to operate within a divine plan: ‘it was allowed.’ He causes all those who adopted the imperial cult to wear the mark of the beast. Like the servants of God who receive the seal upon their foreheads 7:3, and the followers of the Lamb have his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads 14:1. So too, the servants of the beast are marked with the ‘stamp’ of the beast (666): it is a travesty of the seal of the living God 7:2. He is the anti-Christ in the New Testament.

What is so special about this number 666? Well, at the most basic level of biblical symbolism, of seven represents perfection, six signifies imperfection. Since, there are three sixes, meaning it is in a superlative form of imperfection. John has in mind a more precise meaning since he says that it is possible to calculate the number of the beast and that is stands for a person ‘is the number of a man.’ In Hebrew and in Greek the letters of the alphabet were also used as numbers. It is therefore possible to add up the numerical value of the letters and to ascertain a number for a word or phrase. So, the Greek word for ‘beast’ therion, is translated into Hebrew, the numerical value of the letter is 666. When the Greek version of Nero’s name Caesar Neron is translated into Hebrew it totals 666. Therefore, according to the opinion of the scholars John identifies Nero with this number of the beast. Thus Nero was seen as a historical embodiment of the beast. (The numeric value of the Hebrew letters to English letters; Q=100+S=60+R=200+N=50+R=200+W=6+N=50, totaling 666. In this context the Roman Emperors Caligula and Domitian also total 666.  

Conclusion: we cannot worship the beast because God is the ultimate source of all power and authority. Even Satan’s activity falls mysteriously within the divine purpose, which is always a saving purpose. And the beast is one form or other, will survive as long as the earthly duration of the Church. But those who dwell in heaven, the martyrs and saints will rejoice at the fall of the beast. His worshipers ‘the inhabitants of the earth’ are in contrast to the followers of the lamb, whose names are in the book of life. John does not thereby assert that the worshipers of the beast are predestined to damnation. He is clear that salvation is a free and unmerited gift of God. Therefore, John warns the Christians that the day of persecution is at hand. They will be saved through the tribulation; captivity, exile, death may be the fate of the believers. So he calls for a patient endurance hypomonē and faith in face of active persecution. Our comfort is that ‘satan’ has been conquered. Victory is God’s victory, by the power of the Cross. More precisely, the Cross is, for us, the definitive promise of final victory. We still stand in need of salvation.  

True sovereignty belongs solely to the One on the throne. In each case the wearers of the seal are under patronage: divine or satanic according to their allegiance. It seems that v.17 envisages an economic boycott against those who stand aloof from the imperial cult. A totalitarian regime, especially in a sycophantic atmosphere has many ways and means of bringing pressure to bear. The yellow star, which Jews compelled to wear in Nazi Germany, victimized them. Christians in Asia, if not in quite the same manner, could be efficiently marginalized. For John, the second beast represented false religion-specifically, the imperial cult- historically, even religion that is ‘authentic’ has too often worn aspects of the beast. The word of Jesus stands as perennial challenge: ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Religion is for men and women; men and women are not meant to be slaves of religion. The beast ‘made’ people to do, ‘caused’ people to do things. Can we honestly claim that it does not still, in some measure, dominate? We have it on the authority of Jesus that we ought not only to reject, but actively oppose, this abuse of religion. To take such a stand may cost us dearly. Jesus paid his price.

Other parallels between the beast and Christ include both wielding swords, both having followers on whose foreheads were inscribed their names both having horns 5:6, 13:1, and both rising to new life and authority, and both having power over the whole world. The conflict of transpires while the seven world empires are running their course, but as the focus has shifted to the last of these kingdoms when the beast will enjoy his supremacy over the ten kings who act as sub-rulers under his authority. The seven heads will reveal that the seven heads stand for seven successive world monarchies: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and the regime represented by the ten simultaneous kingdoms i.e the ten horns. The explanation that sees the ten horns as ten Roman emperors of the past (Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitelius, Vespasian and Titus). On the head of the beast were written ‘the names of blasphemy’ that amounted to words or conduct injurious to God’s honour and holiness. The combined strength of historical Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece will comprise the total character of this beast.   

            

The beast blends two types of endeavor: insolent blasphemy toward God and almost irresistible powers of seduction over men. Both resemble the activities of the little horn in Daniel 7:8, God allows the beast to blaspheme for a limited time (forty two months), but will still hold him accountable. One of the great lessons in Daniel from which John draws so heavily is the sovereignty of God over the world’s governments. The dragon, the beast from the sea (Antichrist), and the beast from the earth (false prophet), comprise the ‘unholy trinity’ (Paralleling Father, son and spirit respectively). Yet, God is in control of the beast. In the first century Nero and Domitian were notorious for their persecution of Christians. The twentieth century saw the rise of Hitler, shown here and the atrocities committed under his leadership. Many more evil rulers may come to power before the final Antichrist appears, as described in John’s vision. Satan’s forces are eager to deceive and will readily accept the worship that belongs to God alone. Those who are not genuine followers of the Lamb will be deceived and worship the beast. Christians should be prepared to suffer as part of their disciple to Jesus. All these evil powers and the false prophets and Antichrists will face Christ’s judgement at his return. Roman 13 (all authority was from God and for God says Paul). “There is no authority except that which God has established.” When operating properly under divine authority, the state upholds law and order and serves as an instrument of justice 13:4.