666 - Revelation 13:11-18

Revelation 13:11-18 ESV
The Deception
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:His number is 666.

Another beast rises, this time from the earth. It has the appearance and power of a lamb, but it is not the lamb of God. It speaks the words of the dragon rather than the words of the Father. It seems to be the deceptive equivalent of Jesus. An example of this sort of deception exists in Islam. Their teachings say that Jesus will come back, but he will discredit Christianity and lift up the Prophet Mohammed as his superior.

The sword can remind us of the word of God, the sword of truth in the mouth of God. It is this sword that the Savior wields and will defeat His enemies.

This beast causes all to worship the first beast. It is given authority and performs great signs. Many are slain that refuse to follow this deception. Those that do receive the mark of the beast instead of the mark of God. Those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit and receive the new name as children of God.

The meaning of 666 has been endlessly debated and has been assigned to many individuals over time. Various meanings may apply. I will note that 6 is the number of man and just short of perfection. It could refer to the timing of the beast's appearance, during the sixth event of each series of seven events, eg. - the seals, trumpets, and bowls. They seem to address the same unfolding story, but from different perspectives, a multifaceted view as it were. The beast appears sometime before the seventh, or last event in each group. Hence 666.

The grouping of three may indicate the attempt of man to be divine with no need for God. This unholy trinity of the dragon and the two beasts seeks to displace God and to be like Him. That was why Satan was cast from heaven.

The irony here is that there is a way to be like Him. One way, and that is through Jesus Christ. We will be like Him. It is only by dying to self that we will change into the glory of God. Trying to elevate one's self will only result in a fall. Building a tower into heaven has been tried before and has never been successful. The modern version of doing enough good works is equally useless. To be like Him, we must first experience and accept His grace. It sounds quite easy, too easy for many. He forgives all if we come to Him, but that is hard to believe and too simple. The harder part may be a consistent walk with Him, but He never leaves us.

Some sing, "I'll do it my way" instead of "have Thine own way Lord". We will hum a different tune later.


Romans 16:18-20
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
True Tradition on the Second Coming
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Daniel 11:36
“Then the king shall do according to his will. He will be exalted and magnified above every god, and speak arrogant words. He shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished, for it is to be ended.

Habakkuk 2:19-20
“Woe to him saying to the wood, ‘Awake and rise up,’ and to the dumb stone, ‘Be exalted. ’ It is a merely a fantasy, being but a hammered piece of gold and silver. There is no living breath in it at all. But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be reverent before Him.”