Three Rules to understand the

meaning of 666

As I began studying the true meaning of 666, I discovered that there are three reasons why most people, including myself have misinterpreted the meaning for so long. These reasons are as follows:

1. A MAN IN BIBLE PROPHECY IS NOT ALWAYS A MAN

In my opinion, this rule is the most common reason why most are misinterpreting the meaning of 666. Because we are taking the Bible at its word, it is logical to look for some man that the prophecy is referencing. The idea that it's a flesh and blood man has led some to believe this man is Nero, Nimrod, Solomon, Adonikam, Nebuchadnezzar, Mankind, and yes, even the Pope. And even though the prophecy clearly says, "it's the number of a man," I can say with confidence, that if your definition of a "man" in Bible prophecy is a flesh and blood man, you are already in error.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we clearly recognize that prophetic symbols are not always literal. For example, the woman in Revelation 12 is not a literal woman. We as students of Bible prophecy understand that this woman represents the Church. Well, if a woman in Bible prophecy is not literal but symbolic, why do we believe that a man in Bible prophecy is not symbolic but literal? If the woman is symbolic, is it hard to believe that the man is also symbolic?

The question now is—What does a man represent in Bible prophecy? Well, when we look at the Scriptures we discover that God has revealed it to us. In Deuteronomy 28, God referred to the nation that would come against the Children of Israel. Notice how God describes this nation:

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young. Deuteronomy 28:49-50

Clearly, we can see that God is referring to a nation. However, notice how verse 51 refers to this power:

And HE shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

God refers to this nation as a man! Thus we can see that, prophetically, a man refers to a nation or political entity. Let's look at another example. Ezekiel 30:24 says, "And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man." Although "man" was added by the translators, we can see that it was correctly supplied as God clearly personified the Egyptian Empire as a man.

Notice Daniel 7:17 says, "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth."

We know that a Beast represents a nation, but here, God calls a nation a king, and what gender is a king? A man. Thus we can see the woman represents the church, and a man represents the state. And when there is a symbolic union of a man and woman, we can see the joining of Church and State.

This is why we must understand that the man in Revelation 13, is not a flesh and blood man, it's a political power.

2. THE MAN REPRESENTS THE GREAT CITY OF BABYLON

The political entity known as the "man" in Revelation 13 refers to a city. This city is not an ordinary city. It's a three-fold union known as Babylon. Notice how Revelation 16 expands on this idea:

“And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Revelation 16:19

Revelation 16 also reveals that these three parts release three spirits in the last days. These spirits are not the focal point of this study, but rather where the spirits come from. Notice what the text reveals:

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” Revelation 16:13

What does the Dragon, Beast, and False Prophet represent?

The Seventh-day Adventist Commentary accurately reveals who these three powers represent:

"Babylon the great" is the name by which Inspiration refers to the great threefold religious union of the Papacy, Apostate Protestantism and Spiritualism. SDA Commentary p. 852

Ellen White also refers to this same union in her writings: "The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power—all will be unmasked." GC p. 606

Here, Spiritualism refers to the Dragon, Papal power refers to the Beast, and the Church by civil authority refers to False Protestantism.

So according to the commentary and Ellen White, the Dragon = Spiritualism, the Beast = Catholicism, and the False Prophet = False Protestantism.

However, we must understand that there is a civil side to these powers. Notice how the following excerpts from Ellen White's writings show this:

• Thus while the dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of pagan Rome. GC 438

• Here is the only hope of God’s people—the unerring word of Jehovah that there would be a remnant only in this trying time who would keep the word of Christ’s patience, who would not worship the beast, papal Rome. Ms 16 1884

• It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamb-like horns. GC88 578 (The Beast with Lamblike horns is synonymous with the False Prophet. The reason this Beast is known as a False Prophet is because it speaks for the Dragon as a Prophet speaks for God.)

Now that we understand Babylon represents the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet, we can see that outside of Revelation 16, there's only one other place in the Book of Revelation where we see all three of these entities operating together— and that's the second half of Revelation 13.

Notice, once we see the Lamblike Beast arise, we then see the two preceding powers arise with it!

And I beheld another beast [United States of America] coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon [Pagan Rome]. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast [Papal Rome] before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Revelation 13:11-12

Thus we can see that the Great City is formed once the United States rises and speaks like a Dragon and exercises the power of the Beast. This "City" is the "Man" that Revelation 13:18 is referring to. This city is Babylon, and Babylon is a three-fold union!

3. Revelation 17 reveals Revelation 13

God also revealed to me that Revelation 17 provides context for parts of Revelation 12 and 13. We can see this as Revelation 12 refers to flood water, and Revelation 13 refers to a Beast coming from the sea. It is Revelation 17:15 that reveals this water represents, "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."

Again, we find a Dragon and a Beast in Revelation 12 and 13. Both creatures have Seven Heads and Ten Horns. And once again, we see that Revelation 17 provides context for these symbols.

Regarding the Seven Heads, it says, "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space." Revelation 17:10

Regarding the Ten Horns, it says, "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast." Revelation 17:12

It should be clear to you that Revelation 17 is connected to Revelation 12 and 13. While this may seem like a simple realization, you will soon realize that this is the most important rule when it comes to understanding the meaning of 666. And the reason why it's the most important is because just as Revelation 17 expounds on the waters, the Seven Heads, and the Ten Horns, Revelation 17 also explains the meaning of 666.

Conclusion

Just to reiterate, the three rules are as follows:

1. A man in Bible prophecy can also represent a nation or political power.
2. Babylon is a man that's also a three-fold union.
3. Revelation 17, provides context for Revelation 13.

Now that you understand the three rules, you will see how these three rules are crucial in giving us the Biblical understanding of 666.