We constantly hear about a "new" candidate to identify as "The Beast" of Revelation and his number being 666. It is a tragedy of massive proportions that the huge majority of Bible "students" are not in fact deep students at all! They are sensationalists who do not practice solid hermeneutic and do not know must about exegesis. The number of the Beast is an excellent example of such superficial an dangerous kind of Bible study. In this short article my friend Mike Bennett offers some really great, factual, evidence that will dispel the modern day "pop theology" of the so-called prophecy experts! Unfortunately, the Hebrew text that Bennett offers does not come through, but the reader can nonetheless get the point of his article. Enjoy!
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THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST = NERO
666 AND THE MANUSCRIPT VARIANT 616
AD70 DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
Revelation 13
18 This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.
***The numerical value fits in both the textual form (666) and the important variant in some manuscripts (616). One using a Hebrew spelling (in a very OT oriented book composed with Hebraic grammar); the other using a Latin spelling (apparently to help non-Hebrew readers to understand it). Nero’s name is written without the final “N” (the way it would occur to a Gentile to spell it in Hebrew), it yields the number 616 — which is exactly the variant reading in some New Testament manuscripts. Your bible may show the variation in the foot or side notes next to the verse.
Revelation 17
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, (<= Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius), and one is, (<= Nero), and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. (<= Galba, who reigned for just a short period June, 68 to January, 69)
***THE ABOVE ALONE PUTS THE 2ND COMING AT THE AD70 DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. JUST LIKE THE BELOW SCRIPTURES PLAINLY TEACH.
Luke 21
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how THE TEMPLE was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “AS FOR WHAT YOU SEE HERE, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” … 20 “When you see Jerusalem being SURROUNDED BY ARMIES, you will know that its desolation is NEAR. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in FULFILLMENT OF ALL THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN. … 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. … 27 AT THAT TIME they will see the SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR.” … 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR. 32 “Truly I tell you, THIS GENERATION will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
Revelation 11
11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure THE TEMPLE of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months (<= Jewish Roman war lasted 42 months) … —which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.