I can’t help but think 666 is related somehow to the Roman numeral system, Rome being the ruling state at the time Revelation was written.
Maybe it is a coincidence, but 666 in Roman numerals is DCLXVI - one each of the first six Roman numerals:
D = 500
C = 100
L = 50
X = 10
V = 5
I = 1
I don’t know how that specifically relates to anything prophetical, but to me it is interesting how that works out, that it’s exactly one each of the first six numerals.
Thanks for your post # 60. I believe the beast is the Roman Empire and the number of the beast is the Roman numeral system, as noted at the end of this brief interpretation of John’s Revelation: http://bswett.com/1992-09Revelation.html
Hardly a coincidence I should say, as DCLXVI was also the Roman abbreviation for the Department of Motor Chariots.
OK, what is the wisdom behind the Roman numbers?
I read the whole range of responses through to find if anyone had the thought that I have believed in for many years, and you are the only other one who has come up with this sensible interpretation. Congratulations for your plain, no-nonsense approach.
First, John was in a culture where Alexander's language was the standard, but where the government was by the Romans whose numerals were predominating.
Roman numerals can be used to communicate quantities of materials, men, and money, but they cannot be used to add, subtract, multiply, and divide like the Arabic (our) decimal system does, and for which we have rules that are natural in concept. Therefore, to me the Roman numeral(s) (arithmos) is (are) derived from human reasoning, not a natural number (that would include zero).
In order to understand what I am going to say, we must look at the actual Greek, as compared to the translators' interpretation, which in this case may be a little off base:
"και ινα μη τις δυνηται αγορασαι η πωλησαι ει μη ο εχων το χαραγμα η το ονομα του θηριου η τον αριθμον του ονοματος αυτου" (Rev 13:17 Textus Receptus).
"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name" (Rev 13:17 AV).
Here, the word "beast" is neuter (therion in the nominative), therefore the pronoun "his" (autou, which can be either masculine or neuter in the genitive case of the second declension) which refers to the beast, should be neuter also, and should be "its", not "his." By translating this pronoun as "his", the translators have done more than simply translate--they have misinterpreted this verse.
Also, the word "tis", an enclitic indefinite pronoun, has been translated as "man" when it should be simply "one." Furthermore, the word "number" (arithmos) is in this sentence anarthrous (no definite article), and therefore the definite article placed there by the translators is not necessary.
A better translation should be as follows:
"And that no one is able to buy or to sell not having the etched stamp, the name of the beast, or its name's number(ing system)."
That is, its numbering system could well be the Roman numeral assigned as alphabet letters as a method of dealing with quantities. Going on:
"ωδε η σοφια εστιν ο εχων τον νουν ψηφισατω τον αριθμον του θηριου αριθμος γαρ ανθρωπου εστιν και ο αριθμος αυτου χξς " (Rev 13:18 TR).
"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" (Rev 13:18 AV).
Again, the Greek "arithmos" means numeral or numbering system, the manipulation of which is "arithmetic." Furthermore, in Greek the absence of the definite article with a noun often denotes the quality the noun lends to an expression or that the noun is used adjectivially. Here in the above, the phrase is not speaking of a number derived by somehow counting the letters of a person's name as numerals. The phrase means the number system is humanly derived--it is a human numbering system, not a natural one.
"This is the wisdom: he who hath intelligence let him compute the beast's number(ing-system), for it is a human(ly-derived) number(ing system), and its numeral is chi epsilon sigma (in the Greek numbering system = 666 in Arabic numerals).
BUT the Beast's embossed seal, its "mark", also must display that numeral system.
And, as you have said, DCLXVI exactly represents tha whole numbering system. And that numbering system was not only present in John's day (the Roman Legion X was in charge of Jerusalem and its environs, and X was stamped on everything it owned or made there), but it is also present today. In fact, our American legal system, and it language, and our forms of government and speech are still greatly Roman in nature.
Remember the old clocks with Roman numerals for the hour marks? More so, look at the Great Seal of the United States, which is imprinted on every dollar bill, both obverse and reverse of the seal on the reverse of yhe demand note. Take out a dollar bill, and look on the reverse side, down at the bottom of the pyramid. On its base you will see there "MDCCLXXVI", containing the complete list of the numerals of the man-made system of numerals by which we still mark clocks, make outlines, etc.
The world now buys and sells in currencies which are evaluated in terms of that American dollar, eh? Is that not the world standard for buying and selling?
Who pushed for a United Nations, a New World Order ("Novus Ordo Seclorum" in Latin), as printed also on the Great Seal? Are we then, ah, to be equated with The Beast," or are our undertakings approved by God ("Annuit Coeptis", he.she/it approved our undertakings)?
Well, one might take a look at Daniel 2, where in verses 40-44 what we are is described there, a part of the Beast that will defy Christ until it is broken, and Christ triumphs. That is the Beast, and could be we are it, as Pogo said many years ago, rather than what we thought we were. Is one of our leaders--one of our Presidents--the Antichrist of The Beast personified?
Perhaps --