![]() In the Vilna Gaon's commentary on the Zohar, " the number 666 contains hidden within it exalted and lofty messianic potential."Ī geometric representation of the Bible's first verse affirms the goodness of the number 666. The world was created in 6 days, there are 6 cardinal directions (north, south, east, west, up, down), and the third letter of the Tetragrammaton has a value of six. In kabbalah, the number 666 represents the creation and perfection of the world. Indeed it is the number of man: carbon-12 isotope is the basis of all life on earth and ha 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons. In spite of it's reputation, the number 666 is not intrinsically evil. What has been translated as " six hundred threescore and six" is written in the original Greek as χξϚ which are the Greek letters chi, xi and stigma whose numerical values are 600, 60 and 6 respectively. Interestingly, the only overt example of this form of notation within the Bible is in Rev 13:18. Calculating these values is called gematria (Hebrew) or isopsephy (Greek). So not only each letter, but each word and each verse has a numerical value. Hebrew and Greek, the languages of the Bible, were unique in that every letter of those alphabets were assigned a numerical value. ![]() Incidentally, the first six Latin numerals sum to 666. We are still somewhat familiar with Latin numerals, where the letters I, V, X, L, C, D and M were assigned the values 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 respectively. Prior to that, cultures had different numbering systems, usually assigning numerical values to letters of the alphabet. It's about a number, but it's important to remember that the numbers we are now familiar with (the Hindu Arabic counting system) weren't in widespread use until the middle of the sixteenth century. ![]() But I suspect a little more understanding is required in order to decipher the puzzle posed in Revelation. If it were all that simple, wisdom would be in no short supply. Wife Nancy had the perfect solution, however, by later changing the number to 668. The Greek “ Neron Kaisar” transliterated into Hebrew yields 666, although his full name is more problematic: Imperator Nero Cladius Divi Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus - calculate that! It was noted much later that Ronald Wilson Reagan's name consisted of 6, 6 and 6 letters, and suspicions were enhanced when the hapless President purchased a house at 666 St Cloud Road in Bel-Air following his retirement. The most credible concerns Nero, the Roman Emporor from 54 until his suicide in 68 AD and a notorious persecutor of the early Christians. Many world leaders, theologians and politicians have been subjected to such scrutiny. Many interpretations have been offered down through the centuries, mostly casting aspersions on individuals whose names have the misfortune of tallying to 666 according to diverse cipher codes. 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." Rev 13:18 ![]() Who among us can resist such a challenge? Indeed, those that have understanding are challenged to calculate the number. There is no more controversial verse in the Bible than that concerning the number 666 in The Revelation of St John the Divine.
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