cng (02/11/83)
It seems that all this speculation concerning 'the beast' and the his
number is based on faulty translation of the book of Revelation. In
Revelation 13:18 we find:
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 three score and six.
Since the greek language has no indefinite article, the correct
translation of the above passage would be '...the number of man;...'.
The Authorized (King James) version of the Bible has added to the
confusion of this number and caused many to go off wildly searching for
an individual who fits the description. A more logical interpretation
of the passage would lead us to the conclusion that the number 666
symbolically represents that portion of mankind which opposes God
and His Son, Jesus Christ.
By looking for an individual to represent the work of the beast,
sinful man has attempted to shift the blame for opposing God
from himself to the beast.
Tom Albrecht
...lime!burdvax!cng