666 and the Mark of the Beast
Samuel Smith
23 Jan'19
5
LESSON 14
666 AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST
You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible Study Programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.In this edition, we continue with our series on The Final Events of Bible Prophecy. The topic for this study is: 666 and the Mark of the Beast. In this study, we are going to determine from Scripture, the truth about the mysterious number 666 and the dreaded mark of the beast. It is my sincere prayer that the Lord will use this study to provide sound Bible - based answers that will help millions to know the truth about these issues, and be able to distinguish this truth from the numerous counterfeits out there.
Even though several interpretations abound in regard to these apocalyptic issues, one basic interpretation stands tall among the rest. This widely accepted interpretation is the explanation that the mark of the beast is actually the number 666. In fact, if you should do a quick survey; asking people this simple question: What do you think is the mark of the beast? Many of your respondents, I believe, will tell you that the mark of the beast is 666. Some will go further and make use of a popular text found in
First, I will want us to consider the mysterious number 666, after which we will find out what the Bible has to say concerning the mark of the beast. Friends, as I said earlier, the Bible actually differentiates the NUMBER 666 from the MARK of the beast. From
Beloved, after we have critically examined the various passages in Scripture that describe this beast power, we realized that there is only one power in all history that fits the numerous identifying characteristics provided by Scripture. And friends, we learn that this power is none other than the Papacy or the Roman Catholic Church System.
Beloved, now that we know who the beast power is, I believe, we can make some safe inferences. We can actually deduce at this point that; since 666 is the number of the beast, and the beast power is identified to be the Papacy, then the number 666 must logically apply to the Papacy. Besides this key information in
From the deductions we have made above, a key question we need to ask ourselves is this: Does the Roman Catholic Church has a powerful man at the head of its system? Beloved, the answer is a resounding yes. In fact, any school boy is likely to tell you that the most powerful man at the head of Roman Catholicism is none other than the Pope. Now that we are certain that the Papacy is headed by a powerful man in the person of the Pope, a follow - up question that begs for an answer is this: How does the number 666 apply to the Pontiff of Rome? You see friends, in the Greek, Latin and Hebrew languages, the various alphabets are assigned distinct numeral values. This makes it possible for anyone to calculate the number of various personalities of interest. This is the reason why the verse in
What are the letters inscribed in the Pope's crown, and what do they signify if anything?" The letters inscribed in the Pope's mitre are these: Vicarious Filii Dei, which is the Latin for Vicar of the Son of God. Beloved, another evidence of this title is found in the Jesuit Catechism. From this Catechism, we read the following: Question: "What is the Pope?" Answer: "He is the Vicar of Christ, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and there is but one judgement seat belonging to God and the Pope."Friends, it is a fact that VICARIOUS FILII DEI is the official title of the pope. This title means vicar or representative of the Son of God on earth. But beloved, the Bible does not declare any human being as the representative of Christ on earth. The Bible actually teaches that we should set our affections on things above (
At this point, let's find out whether the pope's official title; Vicarious Filii Dei actually adds up to 666. From our basic knowledge of Roman numerals in the primary school, I believe this wouldn't be a difficult hurdle to cross over.
For VICARIOUS, the Roman numeral values are as follows: V=5 , I=1, C=100, A=0, R=0, I=1, U=5, and S=0. If we sum the Roman numeral letters in the word VICARIOUS, we obtain a value of 112.
For FILII, the Roman numeral values are as follows: F=0, I=1, L=50, I=1 and I=1. If we sum the Roman numeral letters in the word FILII, we obtain a value of 53.
For DEI, the Roman numeral values are as follows: D=500, E=0 and I=1. If we sum the Roman numeral values in the word DEI, we obtain a value of 501.
Now, if we add up the totals of the words Vicarious Filii Dei, we obtain a grand total of 666. Let's check that out: 112+53+501=666. Beloved that's exactly 666. But you see, this is no news to many Bible Prophecy students. This is because the principal exponent of this interpretation, ANDREAS HELWIG lived from 1572 to 1643. However, many people are not familiar with Helwig's work because a lot of work has been done by loyal Catholics over the years to counter such Bible - based works, and divert the attention of the masses away from viewing the papacy as the antichrist of Bible Prophecy.
Beloved, you might be wondering whether you will still find the title Vicarious Filii Dei in the pope's crown today. The answer is an obvious NO. This is because the Roman Catholic Church was sufficiently embarrassed by this revelation from Helwig that they took the title Vicarious Filii Dei from the pope's mitre. However, this title continues to remain the pope's official title, and is used whenever a new pope is being ordained.
Irrespective of the explanations I have given so far, someone is likely to object that the application of the number 666 to the Papal power is a mere coincidence. I would quickly agree with anyone that this might be a mere twist of fate, if all we had to identify the beast power from the Bible was this mystic number. But friends, the fitting application of the number 666 to the pontiff of Rome, is actually the twenty - first of a long list of characteristic marks that we have gleaned from the Bible to identify the papal system as the antichrist. Even if we should scrap off this one mark of identifying the beast power, what about the other twenty characteristics that point unmistakably to the Roman Catholic System as the antichrist? Do we scrap them too? Friends, the fact that the number 666 fits the Papal pontiff, only adds more weight and strength to solidify our stance that the Papacy is the true antichrist power of Bible prophecy.
Friends, based on what we gone through so far, I believe you have gained a clearer understanding of the number 666 and what it represents. Now, I want us to focus on the second issue in our study; that is, the MARK of the beast. Beloved, a lot of people in our world today believe that the mark of the beast might be related to one technology or the other. Some believe that the mark might be either a bar code or some computer chip. Others think the mark might be some iris scanning, or better still, an RFID chip that will be planted on the forehead or on the hand. Recently, I have received several posts on WhatsApp in regard to a particular article written by one Jonathan Annobil. This article by Jonathan Annobil presents one of the widely accepted explanations concerning these end time issues. I have therefore featured a portion of Jonathan Annobil's article in this study so we can compare his views on these end time issues with what the Bible has to say. Featured below is a portion of Jonathan Annobil's article:
"666 is here already. Let's Pray Hard:Friends, before I address certain points from this article that I do not see eye to eye with Jonathan, I want to emphasize the fact that Jonathan Annobil is sincere in his desire to reach the lost for Christ. You can feel it from the tone of his words as he delves into diverse end time issues. Unfortunately, his explanations to these apocalyptic issues do not synchronise with God's Word. For instance:
666 The Mark of the Beast Prophecy
Finally Fulfilled...
Written By: Jonathan Annobil on 10th August, 2014.
The US Senate has passed the Obama Health Bill into law. The implementation will commence soon. The bill will require all Americans to be implanted with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip in order to access medical care. The device will be implanted on the forehead or on the arm. This is to fulfill the prophecy in the Book ofRevelation 13:15-18 concerning the MARK OF THE BEAST. Are you still doubting the END TIME? Do you know that the special car which was made for Obama is known as the BEAST? Get READY. The rapture is near.Revelation 13 is being played out right before us. Many are still unaware.
1. Why is the chip being implanted exactly where the Bible says it would be? Why on the hand and forehead? Why not anywhere else?
2. Why is it being connected to your bank account? Remember, the Bible says you won't be able to buy or sell without the mark 666. And guess what! The chip is connected to your financial details. What breaks my heart the most is that many people in the church will not make it if Jesus comes now. Many are unaware that the end is near. Don't tell me that it's advancement in technology or development. If any area of your life is not in sync with God's Word, repent and be converted. If you miss heaven you cannot miss hell…think about it. Hell is not a pretty place, the worst part is that it is for eternity…He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the church" (Bold emphasis have been added and shortened words written in full).
1. Jonathan Annobil makes the passing statement: "The rapture is near." I believe he makes this statement in connection with the popular secret rapture theory which has been accepted by many in Christendom today. Unfortunately, this doctrine has no scriptural basis. The Bible clearly teaches about a single literal second coming of Jesus and not a secret rapture hoax. If you will want to obtain our clear explanations on the Bible’s position concerning the secret rapture doctrine, just send a request for our series on THE RAPTURE AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST through our WhatsApp numbers found at the end of this study.
2. Jonathan Annobil also makes the statement: "Hell is not a pretty place, the worst part is that it is for eternity". Friends, the Bible does not teach that people go to heaven or hell immediately after death. The Bible’s clear teaching is that when people die, they take an unconscious sleep in their graves waiting for one of two types of resurrection depending on their works here on the earth. Moreover, even though the Bible mentions hellfire, it is quick to add that it is a future event that will take place at the end of the age (
3. Concerning our topic for today, Jonathan Annobil believes that the Mark of the beast is 666; and that through the technology of RFID, this 666 mark will be implanted on the forehead or on the hand of people. Beloved, from what we have considered earlier in today's study, we can confidently say that; this view that postulates that the mark of the beast is 666 is not supported by Scripture.
4. Jonathan Annobil also believes that the beast is actually US President Obama. This is because according to him,
Beloved, for us to be able to ascertain what the mark of the beast is, we must first know who or what the beast power represents. And to know from Scripture, the identity of the beast power was what Jonathan Annobil could not correctly determine. From our previous studies, we have proven beyond reasonable doubt that the beast power is the Papacy or the Roman Catholic Church system. Get this fact wrong, and you are likely to make several errors concerning end time issues as Annobil has made in this article.
Friends, from our previous studies, we know for sure that the beast power is the Papacy. Now, from simple logic, we can postulate that if the beast power is the Papacy, then if follows that the mark of the beast will actually be a mark that is associated with Roman Catholicism. Now, with this clear point made, a very important question that we will have to find an answer to is this: What does the Roman Catholic Church claim to be the mark or sign of her authority?
Friends, I want us to hear this from the horses' own mouth. And so let's check some Catholic sources:
1. From the Catholic Record, London, Ontario September 1, 1923 we read the following:
"Sunday is our mark of authority, the church is above the Bible and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of the fact and any protestant who keeps Sunday acknowledges this".2. From the "Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" 2nd Edition 1910, p. 50 we read the following:
"QUESTION: Which is the Sabbath day?"3. From C. F. Thomas, Chancellor to Cardinal Gibbons, we read the following answer in regard to a letter concerning the change from the Bible Sabbath to Sunday:
"ANSWER: Saturday is the Sabbath day."
"QUESTION: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?"
"ANSWER: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the council of Laodicea transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."
"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. ...and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters."4. From the book Rome's Challenge, page 34, we read the following:
"Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Roman Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants to base its teachings only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday."5. From the Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel May 21, 1995, we read the following:
"Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the church ever did happened in the first century. The Holy day, the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday... not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the churches sense of its own power. People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become Seventh-day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy."Friends, from the several quotes above, we learn clearly that the mark of the beast, that is, the mark of Catholic authority, is SUNDAY WORSHIP. In fact, the Bible predicted several centuries ago, through the prophet Daniel; that the antichrist power will actually attempt to change God's times and Laws (
Beloved, you might be wondering why I am being so passionate about this Sabbath - Sunday issue. You might be wondering what at all is wrong with going to worship God on Sunday. You see friend, the reason I seem to be so passionate to get this message across to you is basically because of your eternal salvation. For God has reserved the fiercest of His wrath for people who will worship the beast and receive his mark. From
Friends, you might be a little bit surprised why God seems to be so passionate about pouring His unadulterated wrath on people who will keep Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath as we near the close of this earth's history. The reason friend is basically that Sunday was never ordained by God. The Lord ordained the keeping of the Sabbath; that is, the Seventh day, right after creation (
Beloved, Sunday is the day that the pagans worshipped the sun god. It is this same day that has been Christianised by the papal power and promoted across the world as the Lord's Day. From the pointed words of the Roman Emperor Constantine, we read the following in regard to the first Sunday law:
"On the venerable day of the sun, let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed."Friends, as we can see from this law, Sunday was actually revered because the sun god was worshipped on this day.
Beloved, from the words of Dr. Edward T. Hiscox D. D., author of the Baptist manual, we read the following:
"There was and is a commandment to keep holy the Sabbath day, but that Sabbath was not Sunday. It will be said, however, and with some show of triumph, that the Sabbath was transferred from the Seventh to the first day of the week, with all its duties, privileges, and sanctions. Earnestly desiring information on this subject, which I have studied for many years, I ask where can a record of such a transaction be found? Not in the New Testament, absolutely not. There is no scriptural evidence of the change of the Sabbath institution from the Seventh to the first day of the week. Of course, I quite well know that Sunday did come into use in early Christian history as a religious day, as we learn from the Christian fathers and other sources. But what a pity that it comes branded with the mark of paganism, and christened with the name of the sun god, when adopted and sanctified by the papal apostasy, and bequeathed as a sacred legacy to Protestantism." Stated November 13, 1893, at a New York Minister's Conference discussing the heated debate over whether the Chicago's World Fair should remain open on Sunday.Beloved, the famous Cardinal Gibbons summarizes this Sabbath - Sunday controversy with these strong words:
"Reason and sense demand the acceptance of one or the other of these alternatives: either Protestantism and the keeping holy of Saturday, or Catholicity and the keeping holy of Sunday. Compromise is impossible." - Catholic Mirror, Cardinal Gibbons Dec. 32, 1893.Friends, from what we have studied so far, it is very clear that each one of us has a choice to make in the final battle between good and evil. The choice, as to whether we will give our allegiance to the beast power (that is, the Papacy) and take his mark of authority (that is, Sunday worship), or we will choose to obey the commandments of God, including His holy Sabbath, because we love Him with all our heart. Beloved, which of these two options will you choose today? Are you going to follow human traditions or you will be obedient to the Commandments of God? Christ stands at the door of your heart, and implores you with these clear words: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (
Exhortation: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (
In this subsequent study, I’m going to answer questions such as:
1. What about the mass number of people who worship on Sunday? Do their worship on Sunday mean they have received the mark of the beast?
2. What is the meaning of receiving the mark of the beast in the forehead? What is the meaning of receiving the mark on the hand?
3. Does the Bible predict a National Sunday Law in the various countries of the world as part of a Global New World Order?
4. What will be America's role in the final conflict between good and evil?
The Bible study reference for our next study is found in
The remaining topics in our series dubbed: The Final Events of Bible Prophecy are as follows:
1. When a Lamb becomes a Dragon: The United States of America in Bible Prophecy.
2. Coronavirus, Climate Change and Sunday Laws.
3. Come out of her, My People: God's Final Call of Mercy to His Children in Babylon.
4. A Great Wonder in Heaven: a Woman Clothed With the Sun, and the Moon Under her feet.
5. Countdown to Armageddon: Survivors of the War Behind all Wars.
Stay tuned and never miss any of these upcoming series. May the Lord bless you and keep shining for King Jesus.
Maranatha!
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