slm9q@cc.usu.edu (Kenneth Dean Hunsaker) (04/09/91)
Subject: The Number 666 in Revelation
In article <Apr.5.03.18.36.1991.9611@athos.rutgers.edu>
ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson)
suggests that Revelation 13:18 refers to Caesar Nero. Since that name in
the Hebrew equals the number 666. Deciphered the best I can, he suggests:
Greek: Kaisr Neron (Kappa alpha iota sigma rho Nu epsilon rho omega nu)
Hebrew: Ksr Nrwn (Koph Samech resh Nun resh vau nun)
100 + 60 + 200 + 50 + 200 + 6 + 50 = 666
---
My understanding is that the number 3 symbolizes completeness. 7 symbolizes
perfection. And 6 is the number symbolizing fallen (wicked) man (6=7-1
--man falls short of perfection; on the sixth day man was created, etc).
Thus 666 is symbolic of wicked man being completely given over to evil.
I have heard 666 applied to Damitian, Nero, Trajan, the Catholic Church,
Nixon, Kissinger, The Beatles, etc. Although these are often humorous, They
involve rather poor scholarship. They usually involve some great creativity,
and often outright dishonesty to arrive at the shocking coincidence.
Requests:
1) Will someone better with Greek and Hebrew provide a better
deciphering than mine? And give the numeric equivalent for the
Greek letters? TIA.
2) I thought It might be fun to collect some of these mis-
representations. If you will e-mail any to me, I will post what
I collect. I would appreciate it if you explain how you get to the
number 666 (e.g. How do you get 666 from the name Richard Nixon.)
And please point out any dishonesty in arriving at the shocking
conclusion: "He is really the beast 666!"
I would like to use some of these as examples of poor scholarship and as
an entertaining way to illustrate how not to be a good christian.