What does the number 666 mean? (Revelation 13:18)


666


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.

Apocalypse 13:18 - Louis Segond

 


⚪ Papal mark, numerical values ​​of 'Vicarius Filii dei'
⚫ Commercial, political and religious power
⚫ Not 'Vicarius Filii dei', but human imperfection


 

 

⚪ Papal mark, numerical values ​​of 'Vicarius Filii dei'

Rev. 13 [...] [And his number Is] Six hundred threescore and six. - In the Greek this number is six hundred (represented by the Greek letter χ). Plus sixty (represented by the Greek letter ξ), plus six (represented by the Greek letter ζ). It is not as though it read six plus six plus six. "The following extract on this point is from a work entitled The Reformation, bearing the date of 1832:
" 'Mrs. A.,' said Miss Emmons, 'I saw a very curious fact the other day; I have dwelt upon It much, and will mention it. A person, lately, was witnessing a ceremony of the Romish Church. As the pope passed him in the procession, splendidly dressed in bis pontifical robes, the gentleman's eye rested on these full, blazing letters in front of his mitre (tiara—crown): VICARIVS FILII DEI, the Vicar of the Son of God. His thoughts, with the rapidity of lightning, reverted to Rev. 13:18.' "Will you turn to it?' said Mrs. A. Alice opened the New Testament, and read: '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.' She paused, and Miss Emmons said, 'He took out his pencil, and marking the numerical letters of the inscription on his tablet, it stood 666.'" (Smith.) This explanation was approved by Pastor Russell, and was given by him at a Convention Question Meeting. 'On the pope's crown in the Vatican museum is the recognized and most used title' "of the pope, VICARIVS FILII DEI (Vicar of the Son of God.) The word VICARIVS is on the top of the threefold crown. The word FILII is on the second circlet; and the words are made from dark, shining precious Jewels. The word DEI is on the under part of the threefold crown and is made of 100 diamonds. "The Tiara is a bee-hive shaped, somewhat bulging head-covering, ornamented with three crowns. It is first mentioned by Pope Constantino, In A. D. 715. It first appears on papal coins in the reign of Sergius III., A. D. 911. At this period It was merely a cap of white stuff. The papal coins of the 11th century leave It doubtful whether the ornamental band at the lower edge of the tiara Is intended to represent a crown or merely a decoration. It Is only In representations dating from the late 13th century that the circlet appears as a regular spiked crown. The second circlet was added by Pope Boniface 'VIII., A. D. 1303. The third was added under Clement V., A. D. 1311." (Brit.) The reason for the addition of any of these crowns Is unknown, or why the pope should have any crown at all. The words VICARIVS FILII DEI are, it is said, also carved over the entrance to the Vatican.
  V - 5
I - 1
C - 500
A - 0
R - 0
I - 1
V - 5
S - 0
_____

F - 0
I - 1
L - 50
I - 1
I - 1
_____

D - 500
E - 0
I - 1
________

Total 666


Source : 🇺🇸 1917 - Studies in the Scriptures, Vol 7, The finished mystery, page 215, page 216 + Cover

 

⚫ Commercial, political and religious power

Then the chapter concludes with verse eighteen: "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." Only those who have an understanding will appreciate the meaning of this scripture. Since the Lord has come to his temple, the time is due to understand. Those of the temple being illuminated by the Lord do understand what constitutes "the number of the beast". They see and understand that the" beast" is Satan's organization visible to human eyes, that the ruling factors therein are made up of men who arc imperfect. Six is a symbolic number representing imperfection. Six hundred sixty and six (three orders of six) represents the three ruling elements in the beastly organization, to wit, commercial, political and religious power.

Source : 🇺🇸 1930 - Light, Vol 1, page 299 + Cover

 

⚫ Not 'Vicarius Filii dei', but human imperfection

FEW Bible topics have evoked as much interest and concern as the prophecy about the mysterious mark, or name, of “the wild beast"—the number 666. On television and the Internet, as well as in movies, books, and magazines, the mark of the beast has been the focus of endless speculation.
Some believe that 666 is the mark of the Biblical antichrist. Others say that it signifies some form of compulsory identification, such as a tattoo or an implanted microchip with a digital code that identifies the person as a servant of the beast. Still others hold that 666 is the mark of the Catholic papacy. Substituting Roman numerals for the letters in a form of the pope's official title, Vicarius Filii Dei (Vicar of the Son of God), and manipulating the figures a little, they come up with 666. It is also claimed that the same number can be calculated from the Latin name of Roman Emperor Diocletian and from the Hebrew version of the name Nero Caesar.*
These fanciful and contrived interpretations, however, are very different from what the Bible itself says about the mark of the beast, as we shall see in the following article. [...] Happily, Jehovah God, the very personification of love and the Source of spiritual light, has not kept his servants in the dark on this important matter.

3. The beast's having "a man's number," or "a human number," indicates that it is a human entity, not a demon. Hence, it reflects human failings resulting from sin and imperfection.

4. In God's eyes, the number six, being short of the Biblically complete, or perfect, seven, points to imperfection. The mark 666 emphasizes that deficiency by repeating the number three times.

Source : 🇺🇸 The Watchtower, April 1 2004, page 3, page 5, page 6 + Cover