The number 666 has been the cause of many a conversation and argument. It is not my purpose to continue on with that tradition in this article. But, I believe some of the things I'11 cover here could easily lead to some lively discussions. Well, lets get to the two questions mentioned at the end of last months article concerning the Biblical number 666. (1) What does the number mean, what does it represent? (2) How can a person receive the number on their forehead or hand?

As the eighth vision of Revelation unfolds, a wild beast rises from the turbulent sea of humankind. It has seven heads and ten horns with ten diadems, which signifies regal authority bestowed on it by Satan. It blasphemes our Creator, mauling His servants as would a leopard, a bear, or a lion, but its authority is temporary, being derived from the dragon, Satan, whom it closely resembles.

The prophet Daniel had earlier described earthly political governments as beasts, and the governments themselves have often chosen creatures of the wild as their national symbols, such as the British lion and the American eagle. Lets not forget the Russian bear! (COMPARE DANIEL 8:5-8 20-22) Now, though, we see a composite beast, embracing all the political powers of Bible history that have so often oppressed God's true servants on earth. Outstanding "heads" among these have been Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and lastly the Angle-American Dual World Power. REV. 13:1,2: 12:3,7-9

During the world war of 1914-1918, Great Britain, as the seventh world power, received a "sword-stroke" that could have been fatal. But the United States of America came to her rescue. Since then, America and Britain have cooperated as a dual world power, which John goes on to describe as a wild beast with two horns, coming out of the earth. This two horned beast takes the lead in making an image to the first wild beast and breathing life into it, portraying how the Angle-American World Power became the chief sponsor and lifegiver both to the League of Nations and to its successor, the United Nations. The first wild beast has a number-name, 666.

Six is an imperfect number, short of Biblically perfect seven, so that six to the third degree suggests the woeful imperfection of today's human rulers. This imperfection has led to the deaths of millions upon millions of people. Two world wars and countless smaller affairs, have caused much of the death toll. But spread of disease and famine by man's sinful actions has also killed millions.

Thus all of todays nations are part of the wild beast. They in turn give power or authority to the symbol of the beast, which is the United Nations. As we have seen in the news lately, more and more power is being given to the U.N. They are making military moves and are willing to make more.

Of course, without the support of the member nations, this would not be possible. Why was the Bible written? It was written as a guide for us. It was for those who would serve God. Not for the godless ones. Thus the Bible helps to separate the sheep from the goats. Those that obey the Bible are the sheep and those that ignore its' teachings are of the goat class. Jesus will do the final separating of course, but the Bible lays the foundation for those who want to be his sheep! The goats would include those that had the mark of the beast on them. Now, how would one get the mark of this wild beast? Lets go to the Bible and read the text that deals with having this mark.

Revelation 13:16-18 tells us: "And it puts under compulsion all persons, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give these a mark in their right hand or upon their forehead, and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name. Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man's number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six."

Here John says that it "is a man's number," not that of a spirit person, so the name helps to confirm that the wild beast is earthly, symbolizing human government. The world's political wild beast rules supreme under the name-number 666, while big politics, big religion, and big business keep that wild beast functioning as an oppressor of mankind and a persecutor of God's people.

So, what does it mean to be marked on the forehead or in the right hand with the name of the wild beast? Well, when God gave Israel the Law, he told them: "You must apply these words of mine to your heart and your soul and bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they must serve as a frontlet band between your eyes." (Deuteronomy 11:18 This meant that the Israelites had to keep that Law constantly before them, so that it influenced all their actions and thoughts. The 144,000 anointed ones are said to have the Father's name and that of Jesus written on their foreheads. This identifies them as belonging to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. (Revelation 14:1)

In imitation, Satan uses the demonic mark of the wild beast. Anybody engaged in everyday activities such as buying and selling is pressured to do things the way the wild beast does, dishonestly. They are expected to worship the wild beast, letting it rule their lives, and thus receive its mark. One actively involved in the military or political functions of the wild beast would have the mark on their hand. But one could receive the mark on their forehead if they only mentally or verbally support the beasts activities. Such ones are in for a shock, notice how Revelation 14: 9, 10 warns us: "And another angel, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice: 'If anyone worships the wild beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he will also drink of the wine of the anger of God that is poured out undiluted into the cup of his wrath."'

Thus we see that God has determined to bring to judgement those "having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name." What will this mean for them? In 607 B.C.E., when Jehovah forced Jerusalem to drink "his cup of rage," the city experienced "despoiling and breakdown, and hunger and sword" at the hands of the Babylonians. (Isaiah 51:17, 19) Similarly, when idolizers of earth's political powers and their image, the United Nations, get to drink the cup of God's wrath, the result will be a calamity for them. They will be utterly destroyed, (Jeremiah 25:17, 32, 33)

In these last days, many governments have demanded what amounts to worship from their subjects, insisting that the State must be exalted above God or any other loyalty. (2 Timothy 3:1: Luke 20:25; John 19:15) Since 1914 it has become common for nations to conscript their youth in order for them to fight, or be ready to fight, the kind of total warfare that has so bloodied the pages of modern history. During the Lord's day, the nations have also produced, as a substitute for God's Kingdom, the image of the beast, the League of Nations and now the United Nations.

The first draft of the Covenant of the League of Nations based on joint British and American proposals, was made public on February 14 1919. The next day, in an editorial entitled "The League of Peace," The Times of London said: "It is a cause of legitimate pride to recognize in the Covenant so much of the work of Englishmen. We venture to say that it is the most important international document ever published."

George Thayer, a minister of the First Congregational Church of Cincinnati, described it as "the most sublime declaration of the wil.l and desire of the enlightened people of the earth which has ever been put upon paper." Praise also came from the foreign language press. "It is not a Bible," stated the French newspaper L'Homme Libre, "but it is capable of being more than that, since neither the Bible, nor any Evangelist ever prevented men from killing one another. Idealism descends to reality."

The French newspaper Victoire described it as "the greatest collective effort ever made since the beginning of the world for setting up reason and justice on the earth." After the League was established, General Jan Smuts, one of the representatives of Britain on that commission, wrote: "The covenant is one of the great creative documents of human history. It must succeed, because there is no other way for the future of civilization. One by one the peoples still outside the covenant will fall in behind this banner under which the human race is going to march forward to triumphs of peaceful organization and achievement."

All such expectations were proved false when World War II broke out. The League failed. It was merely a human organization made up of imperfect men. So is its successor, the United Nations. Yet, on the day the UN Charter was signed, an editorial in The New York Times labeled it "the tree of peace" and said, "A great hope is born. Great things may come." Similarly, church leaders have labeled the UN "the sole hope" for peace and "the last hope." Today most of the world puts its hope for peace on the United Nations. It is looked up to and respected by many. That support comes from many nations and religions. Many now have the mark of the beast.

Thus most of the world is not looking to their Creator who has the power and will to change things. His plans call for the destruction of all the kingdoms of this world. This will lead to Jesus becoming the ruler of earth and of those who remain. (Daniel 2:44) Just as in Jesus days on earth, the vast majority of people are looking to human governments to save and protect them. They refused Jesus then and are in reality doing so now! If your familiar with the history of the early Christians and of the Creek Scriptures, then you know that the early followers of Jesus did not partake in the political process. Neither did they fight in the wars of that time. They kept separate and had the mark of Jehovah on them, not that of the world. No, they did not hide, they preached and moved among the people. They were separate in that they did not support the political nations nor their views! Thus, while in the world, they were free of it!

So, who today has the mark of the beast? Those who do not follow the Bible, those who support the efforts of this world to achieve peace by other means than those outlined in the Bible. Thus billions of people today have the mark of the beast, either on their forehead or hand. The sad thing is that they do not know it. This letter would certainly anger many people, but I cannot water down the words of the Bible, just soothe or cool down the message. You feel the same way, and it is only right! Jesus words caused torment for the religious leaders (and others) of his day. And the words of God and Jesus are doing the same today. Thus true Christians today have also been mauled by the kingdoms of this earth, which is pictured by the wild beast of Revelation.

They don't like the message of peace. They don't like hearing that only God's Kingdom can bring true peace and happiness. So they have oppressed true Christians in many lands. Their actions have taken on the characteristics of beasts. How fitting. They certainly fall short of pleasing God. Thus the number 666 is fitting in this case, is it not? More detailed information on the beasts mentioned is this article is available. It is yours for the asking.