“How does 666 fit into a upcoming Antichrist.”
John gave us a clue as to how to correctly identify him by adding up the letters in his name. You see the Greeks didn’t have numbers (0-9) back then they used letters. So, to find out the number of the beast you just add up the letters in his name, of course you have to convert it to Greek first or at least convert the sounds to match the Greek letters.
Some examples by Iranaeus (Against Heresies Book 5.30.3): Evanthas, Lateinos, & Teitan.
Each one when converted to Greek sounds adds up to 666.
JB
Nero and Nero alone fits the bill as the specific or personal expression of the Beast. This vile character fulfills all the requirements of the principles derived from the very text of Revelation itself. Those principles are particularly abundant in Revelation 13. Notice:First, in Revelation 13:18 the number of the Beast is the number of "a man" and that number is "666." Now the usefulness of this number lies in the fact that in ancient days alphabets served a two-fold purpose. Letters functioned, of course, as phonetic symbols. As such, they functioned just as our modern alphabet. But in ancient times letters also served as numerals, in that the Arabic numbering system was a later development of history.
A Hebrew spelling of Nero Caesar's name was Nrwn Qsr n, e,r, o, n; q, s, r. It has been documented by archaeological finds that a first century Hebrew spelling of Nero's name provides us with precisely the value of 666. Is it not remarkable that this most relevant emperor has a name that fits precisely the required sum? Is this sheer historical accident? But there is more.
Second, the textual variant. If you consult a Bible with marginal references you may notice something of interest regarding Revelation 13:18. Your reference may say something to the effect: "Some manuscripts read 616." The fact is that the number 666 in some ancient manuscripts of Scripture is actually changed to 616. But why? Was it changed accidentally, or on purpose?
The difference surely is no accident of sight made by an early copiest. The numbers 666 and 616 are not even similar in appearance in the original Greek--whether spelled out in words or written out as numerals. As textual scholars agree, it must be intentional.
A strong and most reasonable case may be made for the following probability. John, a Jew, used a Hebrew spelling of Nero's name in order to arrive at the figure 666. But when Revelation began circulating among those less acquainted with Hebrew, a well-meaning copiest who knew the meaning of 666 might have intended to make its deciphering easier by altering it to 616. It surely is no mere coincidence that 616 is the numerical value of "Nero Caesar," when spelled in Hebrew by transliterating it from its more widely familiar Latin spelling.
One question asked of me by a dispensationalist after the Revelation presentation was: "If John is writing to gentile churches in Asia Minor, how could he expect them to understand that the name hidden in the cipher "666" had to be spelled in Hebrew in order to give the correct evaluation?" This was asked in light of my arguing that 666 referred to Nero Caesar, as spelled in Hebrew characters.My response was: (1) This "problem" of Hebrew demands in a gentile letter is not unique to deciphering 666. The entire Revelation is written in such a Hebrew cast that R. H. Charles and David E. Aune had to produce special Greek grammars for Revelation. This is necessary because Revelation is written in a very Hebraic-impacted Greek. (2) Other words and images appearing in Revelation are strongly Judaic and, therefore, not within the thinking pattern of gentile Christians. Nevertheless, John sent them in his Revelation. (4) The theme and thrust of Revelation is a "clue" to such a need. That is, the theme (1:7) and point (God's divorce of Israel) point directly to a Judaic setting.