Re: What do you think about the Beck electric blood purifier, and magnetic thingy? n/m

 strange how they use 666 as that is the number of the beast (although i have also heard it was 999)

 

I heard various hypotheses on this and most of them state that the "mark of the beast" is not 666. Never heard the 999 hypothesis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_Beast

The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the ChristianBible, relating to the figure of "The Beast". The number is 666 in most manuscripts of the New Testament, and in modern translations and critical editions of the Greek text. Although Irenaeus (second century) reported several scribal errors of the number, there is still doubt by some theologians about the original reading, as some recently discovered third century early manuscripts of Revelation read 616. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians.^[1] Most scholars contend that the number 666 is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

 

Bible

666

The Number of the Beast is described in the Book of Revelation 13:17-18. The original Greek reads:

17 καὶ ἵνα μή τις δύνηται ἀγοράσαι ἢ πωλῆσαι εἰ μὴ ὁ ἔχων τὸ χάραγμα, τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θηρίου ἢ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ. 18 ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν· ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν· καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ.^[8]

The King James translates:^[9]

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. 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.

In the Old Testament, both I Kings 10:14 and II Chronicles 9:13 state that Solomon collected "six hundred threescore and six" talents of gold each year.^[10] John's reference to "wisdom" and "understanding" might also be hints that point to Solomon.^{[citation needed]}

In the Greek manuscripts, the Number is rendered in Greek numerical form as χξϛʹ,^[11] or sometimes literally as ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ,hexakósioi hexēkonta héx, “six hundred and sixty-six".^[10][12]

Scholars such as Dr. Ellen Aitken, Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies at McGill University, have speculated that the reference to this passage was a way of speaking in code about then contemporary figures whom it would have been politically dangerous to criticize openly.

Most scholars believe that 666 refers to Roman Emperor Nero^[3][5][13] (whose name, written in Aramaic, can be valued at 666, using the Hebrew numerology of gematria), a manner of speaking against the emperor without the Roman authorities knowing.

Some commentators, not only the contemporary but also some ancient ones like Andreas of Caesarea or Origen, reflect an alternative attitude on textual matters of Revelation, in that they accept more than one reading when they know more.^[14] For example the Greek νοείν, as in "ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω", has been suggested to mean "read between the lines", "penetrate below the surface" by Cuthbert Hamilton Turner as a means to indirectly reference Roman power.^[15]

616

A few ancient manuscripts of the Revelation say the number is 616, fifty less than the more well known numeral. A possible reason for the discrepancy lies in early translation. On the assumption that the Revelation was meant to be distributed among the Early Christians, it could very well be assumed that occasionally someone may have used the Latin spelling of Nero's name (Nero Caesar), so the total value of the gematria would be 616.^[16][17]

The early Church father Irenaeus knew several occurrences of the 616-variant but regarded them as a scribal error and affirmed that the number 666 stood "in all the most approved and ancient copies" and is attested by "those men who saw John face to face".^[18]

 

In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques^[19] had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation (a 1,700 year old papyrus), from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P¹¹⁵, dating one century after Irenaeus. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, sigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, sigma).^[1] The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen).^[20]

Significantly, P¹¹⁵ aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P¹¹⁵ has superior testimony to that of P⁴⁷ which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.^[21][22]

Dr. Paul Lewes in his book, A Key to Christian Origins (1932) wrote:

"The figure 616 is given in one of the two best manuscripts, C (Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, Paris), by the Latin version of Tyconius (DCXVI, ed. Souter in the Journal of Theology, SE, April 1913), and by an ancient Armenian version (ed. Conybaere, 1907). Irenaeus knew about it [the 616 reading], but did not adopt it (Haer. v.30,3), Jerome adopted it (De Monogramm., ed. Dom G Morin in the Rev. Benedictine, 1903). It is probably original. The number 666 has been substituted for 616 either by analogy with 888, the [Greek] number of Jesus (Deissmann), or because it is a triangular number, the sum of the first 36 numbers (1+2+3+4+5+6...+36 = 666)".^[23]

Professor David C. Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original.^[24] Dr. Ellen Aitken said: “Scholars have argued for a long time over this, and it now seems that 616 was the original number of the beast. It's probably about 100 years before any other version."^[25]

Interpretations

Name

One interpretation is that 666 encodes the letters of someone’s name identifying the Antichrist. In Hebrew gematria, every letter has a corresponding number. Summing these numbers gives a numeric value to a word or name.

and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

– Rev. 13:17-18(NASB)

Roman Emperors

The hypothesis that 666 or 616 is a code for a Roman emperor seems to have historical support. The emperors were noted for their oppression of both Jews and Christians. Both communities were known to use numerology, codes and symbols (such as the Ichthys) when living under Roman rule to avoid persecution. The Greek term charagma χάραγμα ("mark" in Revelation 13:16) was most commonly used for imprints on documents or coins. Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the first and second centuries.^[26] Those who worshipped the emperor received a certificate or mark of approval – charagma (χάραγμα), the same word used in Revelation 13:16. Furthermore, in the reign of Emperor Decius (AD 249-251), those who did not possess the certificate of sacrifice (libellus) to Caesar could not pursue trades, a prohibition that conceivably goes back to Nero, reminding one of Revelation 13:17.^[27]

Nero

 

Most Bible scholars believe that 666 refers to the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero was responsible for some especially vicious attacks on Christians in Rome. The Book of Revelation was written after Nero committed suicide, but many people thought that he had not died and had come out of hiding in the East to lead this new wave of persecution against Christians in the late first century.^[2][5] The Greek spelling, “Nerōn Kaisar,” transliterates into Hebrew as “נרון קסר” or “nrvn qsr”. Adding the corresponding values yields 666, as shown:

Resh (ר)	Samech (ס)	Qof (ק)	Noon (נ)	Vav (ו)	Resh (ר)	Noon (נ)	TOTAL
200	60	100	50	6	200	50	666

By contrast, the Latin title for Nero is spelled simply “Nerō Caesar,” which transliterates to “נרו קסר” or “nrv qsr” and has a value of 616, which may explain that variation.^[28]

Resh(ר)	Samech (ס)	Qof (ק)	Vav (ו)	Resh (ר)	Noon (נ)	TOTAL
200	60	100	6	200	50	616

Robert Graves suggested that DCLXVI, 666 in Roman numerals, is an abbreviation for the titulus to the antichrist which reads: “Domitius Caesar Legatos Xti Violenter Interfecit”, or “The Emperor Domitius (i.e.Nero) violently killed the envoys of Christ”.^[29]

Caligula

David C. Parker, professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham said that the correct number, 616, refers to the emperor Caligula^[1]. Caligula's attempt to erect his statue in the Temple in Jerusalem may have inspired the author of Revelation to speak against the Roman Emperor.^[30] In Hebrew, Gaius Caligula Caesar is גסקלגסקסר (gsqlgs qsr). Adding the values yields 616.

Resh	Samech	Qof	Samech	Gimmel	Lamed	Qof	Samech	Gimmel	TOTAL
200	60	100	60	3	30	100	60	3	616

In Greek, "Gaios Kaisar" also yields 616

Γ	α	ι	ο	σς	Κ	α	ι	σς	α	ρ	TOTAL
3	1	10	70	200	20	1	10	200	1	100	616

Domitian

The German Protestant theologian Ethelbert Stauffer, arguing that gematria had been the most popular form of numerology not only among Jews but also in the Graeco-Roman world (Pergamon, Pompeii)^[31], conceived a Greek gematrical procedure to explain the number 666. Judging from the precise information that the Book of Revelation gives about the person behind the number 666^[32], Stauffer concluded that the "beast" can in general only refer to a Roman emperor and argued that this Emperor must be Domitian, because he had reigned during the proposed time of origin of the Apocalypse and supposedly was called "The Beast" as a "secret derisive nickname" by Romans, Greek, Christians and Jews.^[33] Stauffer computed the Number of the Beast using the short form of Domitian's five titles and names A KAI ΔOMET ΣEB ΓE, as derived from the abbreviations on coins and inscriptions.^[34] Domitian's official title in Latin was Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus. This was rendered as Autokrator Kaisar Dometianos Sebastos Germanikos for his Greek-speaking subjects. And in turn, for their coins, this abbreviated to A.KAI.DOMET.SEB.GE which totals 666 in Greek Gematria.

Α	Κ	Α	Ι	Δ	Ο	M	Ε	Τ	Σ	Ε	Β	Γ	E	TOTAL
1	20	1	10	4	70	40	5	300	200	5	2	3	5	666

Papacy

Some Protestant Bible commentators have equated the "beast" of Revelation chapter 13 with the Papacy.^[35] To this end, the letters of an alleged title of the Pope, Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of The Son of God), are summed to total 666 in Roman numerals. The earliest extant record of a Protestant writer on this subject is that of Professor Andreas Helwig in 1612 in his work Antichristus Romanus. The title was contained in theDonation of Constantine, a forged document falsely claiming to come from the Emperor Constantine the Great, by which large privileges and rich possessions were conferred on the pope and the Roman Church.^[36] However, this title was never an official title of the Pope. This interpretation also requires the disregarding of letters that had no numerical value for the Romans (such as the AR and S in Vicarivs).

V	I	C	A	R	I	V	S	F	I	L	I	I	D	E	I	TOTAL
5	1	100	0	0	1	5	0	0	1	50	1	1	500	0	1	666

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the "mark of the beast" (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-worship. “Those who reject God’s memorial of creatorship — the Bible Sabbath — choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God’s appointed day of worship, will receive the ‘mark of the beast.’”^[37] "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."^[38]

Some fundamentalists believe that the mark of the beast refers to the practice of making the sign of the cross, common to many branches of Christianity including Roman Catholicism.^[39]

Martin Luther held that the mark of the beast was the tonsured haircut worn by Roman Catholic clergy.^[40] He wrote in a footnote to Rev 13:15-18: "Spirit means / that it is active / and not a dead image / but that it has its rights and offices in its womb. These are six hundred and sixty and six years. So long the earthly papacy remains."

During the Reformation, Martin Luther noted that "Benediktos" added up to 666 in Greek gematria, and he thought it might refer to a Pope named Benedict or to Benedictine monks.[citation needed]

Β	ε	ν	ε	δ	ι	κ	τ	ο	σς	TOTAL
2	5	50	5	4	10	20	300	70	200	666

Luther has many comments and theories against the papacy in the footnotes to his translation of the Book of Revelation.

Lateinos, Euanthas, Teitan

Irenaeus suggested that the number indicates that the beast is the sum of all apostasy committed over the course of six thousand years.^[41]Irenaeus suggested that 666 might refer to Lateinos (The ancient Greek word for "Latin man"), Euanthas or Teitan. Irenaeus wrote:

It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas (ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos (ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. Teitan too, (ΤΕΙΤΑΝ, the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and ι, among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters; and [the word itself] is ancient, and removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshiped in public among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation. Among many persons, too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed "Titan" by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word, too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he vindicates the oppressed. And besides this, it is an ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name "Titan" has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called "Titan."^[42]

L	A	T	E	I	N	O	S	TOTAL
30	1	300	5	10	50	70	200	666

T	E	I	T	A	N	TOTAL
300	5	10	300	1	50	666

E	U	A	N	TH	A	S	TOTAL
5	400	1	50	9	1	200	666

Muhammad

Some researchers have reportedly found the number of the Beast in the Greek word "Maometis". Rodwell in his introduction to the Koran: "The more insight we obtain, from undoubted historical sources, into the actual character of Muhammad, the less reason do we find to justify the strong vituperative language poured out upon his head by Maracci, Prideaux, and others, in recent days, one of whom has found, in the Byzantine Maometis, the Number of the Beast!"

Christians in the Middle Ages believed that Muhammad was the Anti-Christ and that 666 fitted his name (Maometis).^[43] In Quia Maior, theencyclical calling for the Fifth Crusade, Pope Innocent III identifies Muhammad with the beast of Revelation. A leading exponent of the Maometis interpretation was Charles Walmesley, the Roman Catholic bishop of Rama. He observed that the name Muhammad was spelt Maometis or Moametis by Euthymius Zygabenus and the Greek historians Zonaras and Cedrenus.^[44][45] Other proponents include Charles Montagu, Gilbert Genebrard, Francois Feuardent, and Rene Massuet.^[46] Maometis in Greek gematria totals 666:

M	A	O	M	E	T	I	S	TOTAL
40	1	70	40	5	300	10	200	666

Other suggested names

• Andrew of Caesarea in his Commentary on Revelation gives seven names: Lampetis (the lustrous one), Teitan, Palaibaskanos (an ancient sorcerer), Benediktos (blue bastard), Kakos Odegos (bad guide), Alethes Blaberos (really harmful), and Amnos Adikos (unjust lamb) each of which gives a total of 666. Most of these names are repeated by Arethas of Caesarea, who in his Commentary adds Teitan fromIrenaeus and O Niketes (the winner).^[47]

• Victorinus of Pettau gives the names Teitan, Antemos (opponent), Diclux (double-dealer) and Genserikos; the last he calls Gothic. As it is plainly Genseric, the Vandal king, who captured Rome in 455 AD., the passage as a whole can not go back to Victorinus, who belonged to the third century. It is not, however surprising that the commentary should be brought up to date, after Genseric became notorious through the sack of Carthage or of Rome. Of the other names in Victorinus only Diclux needs mention. It is said to be the Latin counterpart of Teitan and by reckoning each letter at its value in Roman numerals, the total of 666 is again given.^[47]

• Venerable Bede gives three names: Teitan, Antemos (opponent), and Arnoyme (I deny).

• Beatus, a Spanish monk, gives eight names among which are Damnatus (Damned), Antichristus (Antichrist), and Acxyme (for aichime or achine=666). The numerical interpretation of Antichristus is based on the order of letters in the Latin alphabet, a=1 to x =300, but the accusative must be taken and spelled Antechristum.^[47]

Mark of commerce

He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

– Rev. 13:16-17 (NIV)

Futurist Christian eschatology typically holds that the Mark of the Beast is one way in which the Antichrist will exercise power over the Earth during the period of Tribulation, because of the prophetic statement in Revelation 13:16-17 that "the Beast" (θηριον) will require all people to receive the mark (χάραγμα "branded mark or character") in their right hands or foreheads in order to buy or sell, making survival for those on the run much more difficult. A possible translation of the meaning of the number 666 may be: the number 666 will be the number that all currency will be based upon. Exact interpretations of this vary widely. For example:

• Some Christians interpret the mark as a requirement for all commerce to mean that the mark might actually be an object with the function of a credit card (eg. RFID).^[48]
• Steven D. Miller proposes that the mark of the beast may refer to a social security number or card.^[49]
• Terry Watkins supposes the mark to be a microchip and or barcode on the human body.^[50]

Alternatively, some who take a historical view of the Book of Revelation identify the Mark of the Beast with the stamped image of the emperor's head on every coin of the Roman empire: the stamp on the hand or in the mind of all, without which no one could buy or sell.^[51][52]

Other interpretations

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Beast for which 666 stands symbolizes many governments, harmonizing with the symbolic depiction of past governments (denoted as "kings") in the Book of Daniel as wild beasts. The Beast is said to have "a human number" in that the governments that the beast symbolizes are all of a human origin, they aren't made up of spirit or demon entities.^[53]

Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) claimed that he was the Beast prophesised in the Book of Revelation and took the name “Το μεγα θηριον” ("To Mega Therion"), Greek for “The Great Beast”, which adds up to 666 by isopsephy, the Greek form of gematria.^[54][55]

In the writings of the Bahá'í Faith, `Abdu'l-Bahá states that the numerical value given to the beast referred to the year^[56] when the Umayyadruler Muawiyah I, who opposed the Imamate, took office as Caliph in 661 AD - see also the scholarly accepted year of birth of Jesus about 666 years before as well as the concept of Mawali who were non-Arab Muslims but not treated as other Muslims - who continued to pay the tax required of nonbelievers and were excluded from government and the military, and thus bore a social "mark".^[57]

See also

• Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia
• Leviathan number

Note

External links

• BBC News - American town changes '666' phone prefix because of satanic connotations
• Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark
• James Grout: Nero as the Antichrist, part of the Encyclopædia Romana

 

 

 

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