Man O Man O Man I never thought I would be writing on 666. I have seen this number wrap believers in fear, and Hollywood has helped the paranoia. I have seen a loud rock band in the 80s have this as a venue decoration, of course, they had their own traveling pharmacist also. There have been Christians who have tried to calculate who it is by converting letters to numbers. Then there is the www and an energy drink. I have observed its change as technology has changed, my example is barcodes tattooed on a person to a microchip implanted in you, and do not forget eighteen-digit credit card numbers.

I will look at the occurrences of it in the Bible. This study started because of a post I am doing on Solomon. As I was doing this my wife was reading a book on Revelations – Wedding of the Lamb by James L. Papandrea. He takes a different approach to John’s vision, and he makes many good points. One is the source of John’s concern and who was the 666 he was writing about. Is there an end-time warning and person, probably?

Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:13 and 1 Kings 10:14 tell the same story of how much gold was brought to Solomon each year, 666 talents. Different translators assign various numbers and values to that amount, the NIV has 25 tons (US). We are not told when that amount started coming in or for how long. We know he used it to gold plate the Temple and build up Israel. That was a good use for it, but it should be noted that later kings stripped it off to pay tribute to invaders (That is a Muse Moment). I believe a bad outcome from all of his business dealings and that much money helped to lead his heart away from God.

666 talents of gold a year was it a blessing or curse? Jesus gave up gold streets to be born in a barn and die on a cross, who came out ahead?

Adonikam

Well, he is not a household name. 666 men of his family were part of the first wave of those who returned to Israel when Cyrus let them go (Ezra 2, especially vs 13). Nehemiah relates the same thing but he listed 667 men, no I do not know why.  So, why am I including a list “number”? In Ezra 8:13 Adonikam’s family shows up again by sending more men to Israel, this time with Ezra in the second wave. I think the names are worth mentioning.

• Adonikam – The lord is raised
• Eliphelet – God delivers me
• Jeuel – God hath taken away
• Shemaiah – God heard

Not the set of names you might expect to be associated with 666.

The Beast and His Number

Hollywood has used these ideas for their own good. I believe many well-meaning Christians have tried to scare people out of Hell with them. Jesus gave Revelations and the visions to warn the Churches in Asia to be on their guard. Yes, parts of that Book were for future times and some of them are only possible now with our advanced technology. So much of what drives us into a frenzy they easily understood, because it was written for them. I will say that in another way; Jesus gave the visions and the imagery for good, not to be confusing or to destroy.

These are not new ideas or even mine, but they are worthy of consideration. 666 shows imperfection and sin. It was probably the coins of the Roman emperor Domitian. (The Expanded Bible and Wedding of the Lamb) The part of Revelation 13:18 that is so in your face is “this calls for wisdom” and “who has insight” has been taken as a challenge so we can show who is right. I am pretty sure there are no bragging rights in Heaven.

The real challenge for the Churches and us is to not worship and follow the idolatry of the rulers of this world system. See the lesson of Solomon, money allows you to do things, but too much will lead you to sin and a hard heart.