I'll have to disagree with you on that one.
How the apostles visions were recorded, and how modern biblical scholars have interpreted what he was saying seem to change as time passes. Maybe you are one of those biblical scholars and have studied Greek, if so, my hat is off to you sir.
I find what Walid Shoebot has to say about "666" more believable and convincing, especially in light of recent events (such as the spread of Islamism)
Let me try this again. John clearly says in 13:18 that it is a number (three times actually) not a symbol. You can check any bible translation you like (below are 17 of them) they all translate that verse almost exactly the same way.
Revelation 13:18
(ASV) Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.
(Bishops) Here is wisdome. Let hym that hath witte, count ye number of the beast: For it is the number of a man, & his number is sixe hundred threescore and sixe.
(CEV) You need wisdom to understand the number of the beast! But if you are smart enough, you can figure this out. Its number is six hundred sixty-six, and it stands for a person.
(Darby) Here is wisdom. He that has understanding let him count the number of the beast: for it is a man’s number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
(DRB) Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.
(EMTV) Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man—his number is 666.
(ESV) This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
(Geneva) Here is wisdome. Let him that hath wit, count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is sixe hundreth threescore and sixe.
(ISV) In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding calculate the total number of the beast, because it is a human total number, and the sum of the number is 666.
(KJV) Here is wisdom. 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.
(KJV-1611) Here is wisedome. Let him that hath vnderstanding, count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is, sixe hundred threescore and sixe.
(MKJV) Here is the wisdom. Let him having reason count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. And its number is six hundred and sixty-six.
(Murdock) Here is wisdom: let him that hath intelligence, compute the number of the beast of prey; for it is the number of a man: and its number is six hundred and sixty and six.
(RV) Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.
(Webster) Here is wisdom. 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 and sixty six.
(WNT) Here is scope for ingenuity. Let people of shrewd intelligence calculate the number of the Wild Beast; for it indicates a certain man, and his number is 666.
(YLT) Here is the wisdom! He who is having the understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for the number of a man it is, and its number is six hundred and sixty six.
I don’t disagree with you regarding where the a/c will be coming from or what the 4th beast of Daniel is but as I mentioned in my previous post to you it’s a number not a symbol.
Regarding “How the apostles visions were recorded” needlessly confuses the issue. John wrote down what he saw, nobody recorded it for him nor was there any confusion from the beginning. As I mentioned, Irenaeus just 100 years later looked at the passage the same way we see it today and even postulated on a few names that fit the criteria.
If your not familiar with Irenaeus he was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of John himself. If anyone would have known what John meant around that time it would have been him.
Finally biblical scholars are always coming up with different interpretations from scripture and there is nothing wrong with that but if they don’t match up with scripture then they should be discarded.
JB