[Vanders9]

I think that the generally accepted interpretation of theologians today is that 666 is indeed a reference to Nero, based on the fact that letters were used to denote numbers in Greek, thus providing an automatic kind of cipher system. And 666 does add up to his name.

People argue incessently over whether biblical language should be taken literally or symbolically. There is no reason why it cannot be both. In this case, even if the text is literally pointing to Nero as the antichrist and Rome as the beast, symbolically it is also describing any tyrant, or any oppressive political system.

[Eva]

Interesting.