According to many commentators, letters are hidden behind the number 666: the fact is that in most ancient (and not only ancient) languages there were no numerals, and letters were used instead. In particular, this is characteristic of the ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, ancient Greek, Latin, and Slavonic languages. Therefore...
According to many commentators, letters are hidden behind the number 666: the fact is that in most ancient (and not only ancient) languages there were no numerals, and letters were used instead. In particular, this is characteristic of the ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, ancient Greek, Latin, and Slavonic languages. Therefore, even in antiquity, the assumption was made that 666 is the sum of the numerical values of the letters. Most ancient commentators, in particular St. Irenaeus of Lyons (second half of the 2nd century), believe that the words "Caesar" or "Caesar Nero", written in Hebrew or Aramaic, are hidden behind it. However, the point here is not so much personally in Caesar Nero as a historical figure, but rather in the spiritual phenomenon of which Nero was the brightest representative. This is the deification of oneself, of the earthly state, and of earthly, material things in general; this is the pretension of people, and of earthly authority in particular, to dominion in the realm of the spirit.
In the Middle Ages, the opinion of St. Bede the Venerable (673–735) and St. Albert the Great (1200–1280) became widespread. They correlated the number 666 with the seven days of creation mentioned in the Book of Genesis. If seven is a number that in the ancient mentality symbolized every fullness, then six, on the contrary, was considered a symbol of incompleteness. The number six, Bede and Albert explained, falls a little short of seven; therefore, it became a symbol of incompleteness. Correlating the number 6 with the seven days in which the Creator made this world, Bede and Albert thought that the number 6 designates for the author of the Apocalypse the renunciation of the Creator and the unfinished (and therefore imperfect) creation torn away from Him. Repeated three times (in the number 666), it speaks in the language of numerical symbols of the deliberate and ultimate renunciation of God by the bearer of this name.
The interpretations of Bede and Albert, on the one hand, and of Irenaeus and other ancient authors, on the other, not only do not contradict one another, but even fully agree with each other. Today, most commentators more or less adhere to one of these mutually non-contradictory opinions.
As for the signs by which one can distinguish people marked with this number... I would say that one simply should not do this. As the Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples, whoever is not against you is for you. A Christian, when this is needed for the saving work of God, is endowed with the gift of discerning of spirits, and this gift allows him to see the truth. However, speaking of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scripture of the New Testament urges us to remember that common and necessary to all of us is the gift of love for God and for people, and all the others are given "for the edification of the Church." Usually, however, one can know what people's activities serve only by their fruits, that is, post factum.
However, if one still tries to answer this question, people marked by the sign of the Antichrist are similar in their activities and in their attitude towards God and people to Caesar Nero, a cruel tyrant who implanted an atmosphere of lies, baseness, and betrayal in his country, and who strove to destroy every manifestation of spiritual freedom. In practice, the correct formulation of the question would not be "who is marked with this sign," but rather "am I not serving the Antichrist?"
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13:11 And I saw another wild beast - So he is once termed to show his fierceness and strength, but in all other places, "the false prophet." He comes to confirm the kingdom of thefirst beast. Coming up - After the other had long exercised his authority. Out of the earth - Out of Asia. But he is not yet come, though he cannot be far off for he is to appear at the end of the forty - two months of the first beast. And he had two horns like a lamb - A mild, innocent appearance. But he spake like a dragon - Venomous, fiery, dreadful. So do those who are zealous for the beast.
13:12 And he exerciseth all the authority of the first wild beast - Described in the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh verses. Rev 13:2, Rev 13:3, Rev 13:5, Rev 13:7 Before him - For they are both together. Whose deadly wound was healed - More throughly healed by means of the second beast.
13:13 He maketh fire - Real fire. To come down - By the power of the devil.
13:14 Before the wild beast - Whose usurped majesty is confirmed by these wonders. Saying to them - As if it were from God. To make an image to the wild beast - Like that of Nebuchadnezzar, whether of gold, silver, or stone. The original image will be set up where the beast himself shall appoint. But abundance of copies will be taken, which may be carried into all parts, like those of Diana of Ephesus.
13:15 So that the image of the wild beast should speak - Many instances of this kind have been already among thePapists, as well as the heathens. And as many as will not worship - When it is required of them; as it will be of all that buy or sell. Shall be killed - By this the Pope manifests that he is antichrist, directly contrary to Christ. It is Christ who shed his own blood; it is antichrist who sheds the blood of others. And yet, it seems, his last and most cruel persecution is to come. This persecution, the reverse of all that preceded, will, as we may gather from many scriptures, fall chiefly on the outward court worshippers, the formal Christians.It is probable that few real, inward Christians shall perish by it: on the contrary, those who "watch and pray always" shall be "accounted worthy to escape all these things, and to standbefore the Son of man," Luk 21:36.
13:16 On their forehead - The most zealous of his followers will probably choose this. Others may receive it on their hand.
13:17 That no man might buy or sell - Such edicts have been published long since against the poor Vaudois. But he that had the mark, namely, the name of the first beast, or the number of his name - The name of the beast is that which he bears through his whole duration; namely, that of Papa or Pope: the number of his name is the whole time during which he bears this name.Whosoever, therefore, receives the mark of the beast does as much as if he said expressly, "I acknowledge the present Papacy, as proceeding from God;" or, "I acknowledge that what St. Gregory VII. has done, according to his legend, (authorized by Benedict XIII.,) and what has been maintainedin virtue thereof, by his successors to this day, is from God." By the former, a man hath the name of the beast as a mark; by the latter, the number of his name. In a word, to have the name of the beast is, to acknowledge His papal Holiness; to have the number of his name is, to acknowledge the papal succession. The second beast will enforce the receiving this mark under the severest penalties.
13:18 Here is the wisdom - To be exercised. "The patience of the saints" availed against the power of the first beast: the wisdom God giveth them will avail against the subtilty of the second. Let him that hath understanding - Which is a gift of God, subservient to that wisdom. Count the number of the wild beast - Surely none can be blamed for attempting to obey this command. For it is the number of a man - A number of such years as are common among men. And his number is six hundred and sixty - six years - So long shall he endure from his first appearing.