Introduction: Does God expect us to un-fathom what this is all about? The are 2 more beasts and some perfect 7’s to come after this; seven angels, seven plagues, seven bowls of God’s wrath! Maybe we won’t understand it perfectly but I am convinced that we will be blessed if we look honestly and prayerfully at what is said and be blessed thereby!
11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. – so the wounded, healed beast becomes an idol (a god) – at the command of the second, nice looking, beast. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. – Universality of worship for the evil one is sought! – 16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. – harsh control of any dissidents to idol worship is enforced! – 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
Comment: It says, ‘This calls for wisdom‘ and it tells me to ‘calculate the numbers‘ There is a branch of theological study called ‘Biblical numerology’ about which I know little. ‘7’ is apparently Biblically the number of perfection – maybe because of seven days of creation ending in God resting. The ‘6’ is near completion, near perfection and it is suggested that 666 means looking near to perfection but repeated three times meaning while looking perfect, being absolutely the opposite! when young I used to hear people say that it was the Roman Catholic Church – I personally doubt that. Working in the Muslim world I heard some say that it is the extreme jihad oriented Muslim world – I also doubt that. I think that it is all the forces of evil pulling together to try and dethrone God. Certainly there are many governments and religions, even branches of ‘Christianity’, flying under false colours, which are uniting to try and dethrone the Omnipotent, Sovereign YHWH!
Jude 1:4 – For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: I plead please give me wisdom, as you have promised, where I fall short of seeing what You say in Your Word.