John’s vision as seen in Revelation chapter 13 tells the story of a strange combination of two systems. A religious political power arises that demands the allegiance of the nations. What John sees is depicted using the earthly symbolism of Daniel’s animal visions. John sees two beasts empowered by a dragon. One of them represents national military power that conquers through violence. The other beast symbolizes the religious propaganda machine that exalts this power as divine. And the system created by these beasts demand full allegiance from the nations and that is symbolized by the taking of the mark of the beast and his number “six-hundred, sixty six” on the forehead or hand.
Now, this is an infamous image and you won’t discover its meaning by reading news headlines. John is making a clear, Hebrew, Old Testament reference here. First of all, this mark is the anti-Shema. The writing on the forehead and hand—it’s a clear reference to the Shema—an ancient Jewish prayer of allegiance to God that’s found in the book of Deuteronomy (chapter 6, vs. 4). This prayer also was written on the forehead and hand as a symbol of devoting all your thoughts and actions to the one true God (Deuteronomy 6:8). But now the system put in place by the beasts demands allegiance and forces everyone to decide who they will follow.
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Keywords: Gematria, Gemetria, Six, 606, Mark of the beast, Numerology, Count the number, Counting the number, Counting, 666, Number of the Beast, Six six six, Six hundred sixty six, Number of man, Man's number
Bible reference(s): Rev 13
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