Revelation 13:18

Here is wisdom.  Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man:  his number is 666.

• ·        His number shows sufficiently all the wisdom and accuracy of men (MH)

• ·        Only this we know, God has written Mene Tekel upon all his enemies; he has numbered their days, and they shall be finished, but his own kingdom shall endure forever. (MH)

1 Kings 10:14  The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold

Psalm 90:12  So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Revelation 13:16-17

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

• ·        They make an open profession of their subjection (MH)

• ·        Satan is not a creative being, all he can do imitate God. We are not surprised to find that this too is a Satanic parody of something God will do; it imitates God’s mark upon his people (Revelation 7:3-4). (DG)

Daniel 7:23  “Thus he said:  ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces”

Revelation 13:15

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

• ·        The beast rising from the earth will use a deceptive, animated image as the focus point of the worship of the beast. (DG)

• ·        It may seem strange to us to have the whole world give this kind of worship to the image of a man, but the personality cults of totalitarian governments in the twentieth century are a good example of this kind of worship. (DG)

Deuteronomy 4:16    lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure; the likeness of male or female

Daniel 3:18  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.