IV.       Analysis of Revelation 13:11-18

I.          The Number of the Beast

            Ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν. ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν, καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ. (13:18)

1.         Textual and Exegetical Issues

a.         ἑξήκοντα ἕξ {A}

1)         “Instead of ἑξήκοντα, which is strongly supported by P47 ℵ P 046 051 all extant minuscules itgig vg syrph, h copsa, bo arm al, δέκα is read by C some manuscripts known to Irenaeus (who, however, says that 666 is found “in all good and ancient copies,” and is “attested by those who had themselves seen John face to face”) and Tyconiuspt. According to Tischendorf’s 8th ed., the numeral 616 was also read by two minuscule manuscripts that unfortunately are no longer extant (nos. 5 and 11; cf. C. R. Gregory, Prolegomena, p. 676).6 When Greek letters are used as numerals the difference between 666 and 616 is merely a change from ξ to ι (666 = χξϛ and 616 = χιϛ). Perhaps the change was intentional, seeing that the Greek form Neron Caesar written in Hebrew characters (קסר נרון) is equivalent to 666, whereas the Latin form Nero Caesar (נרו קסר) is equivalent to 616.” (Metzger, 676)

2)         This phrase is an “encoding aside” that “raises a new question about the identity of the beast.” (Lee, 104)

b.         ἀριθμὸς is used 10 times in Revelation, 5 referring to the number of the beast:

5:11     many angels, number myriads of myriads

7:4       the number of the sealed, 144,000

9:16     the number of the mounted troops was…

                        I heard their number

13:17   the number of his name

13:18   the number of the beast

                        the number of man

                        his number is 666

15:2     conquered the beast and the number of his name

20:8     their number is like the sand of the sea

c.         ἀνθρώπου is anarthrous (“of man”).

1)         If ἀνθρώπου is generic, then it means: “it is [the] number of mankind.” Beale (Revelation, 723–724) argues for the “generic” understanding.

2)         If it is definite, then it means: “it is [the] number of a man.” (Cf. Wallace, 254)

•           Apollonius’ canon: if both the head noun and the genitive are anarthrous, then if one is definite the other is also definite.

•           Therefore, if ἀριθμὸς is taken as definite, it is very unlikely that ἀνθρώπου would be generic.

•           “Grammatically, those who contend that the sense is “it is [the] number of a man” have the burden of proof on them (for they treat the head noun, ἀριθμός, as definite and the genitive, ἀνθρώπου, as indefinite—the rarest of all possibilities).” (Wallace, 254)

2)         However, in Revelation 16:18 ἄνθρωπος is used generically.

•           If ἀνθρώπου is generic, then 666 would represent mankind.

•           Even if it points to a particular individual, it could still represent all mankind.

•           “Thus the Seer might be suggesting here that the antichrist, who is the best representative of humanity without Christ (and the best counterfeit of a perfect man that his master, that old serpent, could muster), is still less than perfection (which would have been represented by the number seven).” (Wallace, 254)

d.         “This calls for…” (ὧδε … ἐστίν)

1)         ὧδε draws a conclusion from the preceding statement (BDAG, 1101):

•           is used 6 times in Revelation, 2 spatial and 4 referential:

Spatial:

4:1                   ἀνάβα ὧδε

11:12   ἀνάβατε ὧδε

Referential:

13:10   ὧδε ἐστιν ἡ ὑπομονὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις τῶν ἁγίων

13:18   ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν

14:12   ὧδε ἡ ὑπομονὴ τῶν ἁγίων ἐστίν

17:9     ὧδε ὁ νοῦς ὁ ἔχων σοφίαν

•           “This calls for wisdom” (σοφία), followed by a challenge to the one who has understanding (νοῦς), is a “contextual aside” that draws the reader’s attention to the context. (Lee, 104)

•           Dan 12:10 says that those who are wise (διανοούμενοι) will understand.

•           Mark 13:14 (Matt 24:15) says, “Let the reader understand” (νοείτω).

1)         σοφία is used 4 times in Revelation, two attributed to God or the Lamb, and two as a requirement to understand a mysterious symbol (number of the beast [13:18] and the woman sitting on the seven hills [17:9]). Outside of 13:18 and 19:9, σοφία is an attribute of the Lamb who has the ability to fulfill God’s plan in history (Rev 5:12; 7:12).

2)         ὁ ἔχων νοῦν

            Rev. 13:18       ὧδε      ἡ σοφία            ἐστίν    ὁ ἔχων νοῦν 

            Rev. 17:9                     ὧδε      ὁ νοῦς                                     ὁ ἔχων σοφίαν

3)         Those who have such perception they will not be deceived (Beale and Carson, 11:30).

4)         In 4 Ezra 12:37-38 (alluding to Dan 12:10), the seer is told to write what he saw and teach it to the wise so they will not be deceived in the great trial at the end of time.

•           πειρασθῶσι καὶ ἁγιασθῶσι πολλοί, καὶ ἁμάρτωσιν οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί· καὶ οὐ μὴ διανοηθῶσι πάντες οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί, καὶ οἱ διανοούμενοι προσέξουσιν.  

            Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. (Dan. 12:10)

•           Therefore write all these things that thou hast seen in a book, and put them in a secret place; and thou shalt teach them to the wise of the people, whose hearts thou knowest are able to comprehend and keep these mysteries. (4Ezr 12:37–38)

6)         Those who are victorious over the beast, its image, and the number of its name are able to stand before God and sing the Song of Moses (Rev 15:2).

e.         ψηφισάτω:

1.         To add up digits and calculate a total, count (up), calculate, reckon; τὴν δαπάνην Luke 14:28; to probe a number for its meaning, interpret, figure out τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου Rev 13:18 (BDAG).

2.         It means more than merely performing math; the reader needs to discern the true significance of the riddle.

2.         Literary Background (Thomas, 345-350):
666 (ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ) χ' = 600  ξ' = 60  ζ' = 6  [6 plus multiples of 10]

a.         Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (1 Sam 17:4) and his spearhead weighed 600 shekels (1 Sam 17:5).

b.         Nebuchadnezzar’s statue was 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide (Dan 3:1)

c.         The numerical value of the Hebrew letters of Dan 3:1 add up to 4,683, which is
7 x 666 (4,662) + 21 (a triangular of 6).

d.         The names of Daniel and his three friends add up to 888 (the number of Jesus Christ in Greek).

e.         Jesus was denounced before Pilate and the Jews said, “We have no king but Caesar” on the sixth day at the sixth hour (John 19:13-22).

f.          Solomon received 666 talents of gold in one year at the height of his reign (1 King 10:14; 2 Chron 9:13) after which he abandoned God and his kingdom began to decline.

3.         Historical and Cultural Background

a.         An Apocalyptic Riddle

1)         Jesus = 888 while the beast = 666.

2)         Symbolic number of man in rebellion against God: 6 is man’s number repeated three times but falling short of 7, the number of perfection.

b.         Gematria

1)         Graffiti in Pompeii: “I love her whose name is 545.” (Mounce, 260)

2)         Name of a world leader: Sib Or. 5.1-51 uses gematria to allude to emperors from Alexander to Hadrian; adding up all the initials of Roman emperors from Julius Caesar to Vespasian (omitting Otho and Vitellius) results in 666.

3)         Nero Caesar

•           Nero Caesar in Greek equals 1,005.

•           Nero Caesar in Hebrew equals 676

•           Nero Caesar in Aramaic equal 666

קסר נרונ

נ =       50

ר =       200

ן =        6

נ =       50

ק =       100

ס =       60

ר =       200

            666

•           Latin of Nero Caesar transliterated into Hebrew adds up to 616. However, Gaius Caesar (Caligula) also adds up to 616. (See textual variant above.)

•           Domitian’s and title abbreviated on coins equals 666 (Aune, 770):

            ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ = 755

            ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΕΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ

            Α ΚΑΙ ΔΟΜΕΤ ΣΕΒ ΓΕ = 666 [abbreviation of the above title]

4)         The duration of the Antichrist’s reign. (cf. Chilton, 274)

A         11:2                             = 42

            B         11:3                 = 1260

                        C         11:9     = 3 ½

                        C`        11:11   = 3 ½

            B`        12:6                 = 1260

A`        13:5                             = 42

5)         Isopsephism:  two different words with the same numerical value (Bauckham, Climax, 386-389)

•           Νερων = ιδιαν μητερα απεκτεινε 1005  =  1005 (Suetonius, Nero 39)

•           (Lam 1:16) םנחם = צםח  138 = 138 Branch = Comforter, therefore Messianic

•           מימ רבים = הםלאך גבריאל  Many waters = the angel Gabriel

•           קסר נרונ = θεριον = 666. Therefore, Nero is the beast

6)         A Triangular Number (Thomas, 345-350; Bauckham, Climax, 390-407):

•           Triangular numbers were seen as sinister but square numbers are used to designate the martyrs (Rev 7:4) and the New Jerusalem (Rev 12:16).

            * * * * * *                        *

            * * * * * *                       * *

            * * * * * *                      * * *

            * * * * * *                     * * * *

            * * * * * *                   * * * * *

            * * * * * *                   * * * * * *

(Chart adapted from, Bauckham, Climax, 393)

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
triangles	1	3	6	10	15	21	28	36	45
squares	1	4	9	16	25	36	49	64	81
rectangulars	2	6	12	20	30	42	56	72	90

	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th	16th	17th	18th
triangles	55	66	78	91	105	120	136	153	171
squares	100	121	144	169	196	225	256	289	324
rectangulars	110	132	156	182	210	240	272	306	342

	19th	20th	21st	22nd	23rd	24th	25th	26th	27th
triangles	190	210	231	253	276	300	325	351	378
squares	361	400	441	484	529	576	625	676	729
rectangulars	380	420	462	506	552	600	650	702	756

	28th	29th	30th	31st	32nd	33rd	34th	35th	36th
triangles	406	435	465	496	528	561	595	630	666
squares	784	841	900	961	1024	1089	1156	1225	1296
rectangulars	812	870	930	992	1056	1122	1190	1260	1332

•           666 is the triangular of the square of 6:  6x6 = 36 and the triangular of 36 = 666 [triangular numbers: 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55, 66, 78, 91, 105, 120 … The sum of two consecutive triangular numbers is a square number, with the sum being the square of the difference between the two (and thus the difference of the two being the square root of the sum); 3+6=9 and 6-3=3 and 32=9 ].

•           The square of 6 is 36 but the triangular of 6 is 21. The triangular 666 contains 12 triangles, one inside the other, and the outer triangle is 105, so that 666 is the “fulfillment” of 105. 105 = 30 x 3½ so that 3½ years of 12 months with 30 days each = 1260 days, the length of the beast’s reign (12 x 30 x 3½ = 1260).

•           666 is doubly triangular:

°          It is the triangle of 36 (1+2+3…+36 = 666)

°          36 is a triangular number (1+2+3…+8 = 36)

°          36 is also the square of 6.

°          Doubly triangular numbers are rare (1, 6, 21, 55, 120, 231, 406, 666, 1035, 1540…).

°          Numbers that are triangular and square are very rare (1, 36, 1225, 750925).

°          Rectangular numbers are always double their corresponding triangular.

•           There are many connections between these numbers:

°          There is a connection between Rev 13:18 and 21:17 —
Angel = 144, man = 666; measure of man vs. angel.

°          666 is triangular but 144 is the square of 12; 12 used a lot: 12,000 stadia, 144 cubits, 144,000 in Lamb’s army. 

°          Rectangular Numbers: 42 and 1260 —
The reign of beast and persecution of the saints = 42 months = 1260 days =
3½ years (13:5-7; 12:6, 14; 11:1-3; 12:6; 13:5).

°          12 and 30 are rectangular which we use for months in a year and days in a month: 42 months = 1260 days. 

°          42 is a rectangular number (6 x 7 = 42 and 2+4+6+8+10+12 = 42).

°          1260 is rectangular (35 x 36 = 1260 and 2+4+6+8…70 = 1260).

°          1225 is the triangle of 49 and 49 is the square of 7.

•           This method only identifies the beast with the eighth king (17:11) but does not give us his name. (Aune, 772)

c.         Constellation Deltoton (666 in Phoenician) shaped like the Greek letter Delta (Malina, 173-174, 177-178).

4.         Interpretive Options (see Appendix IV)

a.         Preterit

1)         Nero Caesar.

2)         Domitian.

3)         The number of man.

b.         Idealist

1)         Man is 6, always falling short of achieving the divine 7, repeated 3 times to emphasize mans repeated abortive attempts.

2)         Nero Caesar as signifying tyrannical rulers like him throughout history.

3)         666 belongs to Satan and all individuals who do the devil’s work in history.

c.         Futurist

1)         Will only be understood in the future since it refers to an individual not yet seen.

2)         A symbolic number revealing secret information about the beast.