11/05/2025
666: THE MARK OF THE BEAST
The Beast That Was, and Is Not, and Yet Is: From Nero to the Papacy.
"Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
- Revelation 13:18
A Biblical Study on the Prophecies of Revelation
Introduction
Throughout history, no number has inspired more fear, fascination, and speculation than 666. Called "the number of the beast" in Revelation, these three digits have become synonymous with evil. But what does this mysterious number truly mean?
This book aims to uncover the true identity of the beast of Revelation through careful study of Scripture and historical events. We will trace the development of this power from ancient Rome through its various stages to its final manifestation in the last days.
"The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the bottomless pit and go to destruction." - Revelation 17:8
This cryptic verse provides the framework for our study: a power that once dominated (was), seemed to fade away (is not), but would reemerge in a new form (yet is). By understanding this prophetic riddle, we can identify the beast and avoid receiving its mark.
Our journey will take us from the reign of Emperor Nero through the fall of pagan Rome to the rise of papal power, examining how each stage fulfills specific biblical prophecies about the beast. We will explore not only what has been fulfilled but what remains to be completed in the final days before Christ's return.
May this study strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of prophecy, and equip you to stand firmly for truth in these challenging times.
Chapter 1: Understanding the Number 666
Before identifying the beast, we must understand what beasts represent in Bible prophecy. The Scriptures themselves provide the key to interpretation:
"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." - Daniel 7:17
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth..." - Daniel 7:23
In prophetic language, beasts consistently represent kingdoms or political powers. The beast of Revelation is therefore not a single person but a kingdom or system of power that opposes God and persecutes His people.
Revelation 13 describes this beast in detail:
It rises from the sea (representing peoples and nations)
It has seven heads and ten horns (political structures)
It combines features of leopard, bear, and lion (absorbing earlier empires)
It receives power from the dragon (Satan)
It speaks blasphemies against God
It wages war against the saints for 42 prophetic months (1260 years)
It has the mysterious number 666
The number 666 itself has profound significance. In Hebrew and Greek, letters had numerical values, allowing names to be calculated as numbers. Revelation tells us this is "the number of a man" (Revelation 13:18), suggesting the beast is both a system and centered around human leadership.
Understanding this beast is not merely academic—it's vital for our salvation. Revelation 14:9-11 warns that those who worship the beast and receive its mark will face God's judgment. By contrast, God's faithful people are described as those who "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).
Chapter 2: The Beast That Was - Nero and Pagan Rome
The first stage of the prophetic beast—"the beast that was"—can be identified as pagan Rome, particularly under Emperor Nero. Rome fulfilled numerous prophetic markers:
Nero as the First Persecutor
Nero Caesar (54-68 AD) launched the first imperial persecution against Christians. Following the great fire of Rome in 64 AD, he blamed Christians and subjected them to horrific tortures. Under his reign, the apostles Peter and Paul were martyred.
Remarkably, the name "Nero Caesar" in Hebrew (נרון קסר - Neron Kaisar) has a numerical value of exactly 666 when each letter is assigned its numerical equivalent:
נ (50) + ר (200) + ו (6) + ן (50) + ק (100) + ס (60) + ר (200) = 666
This numerical connection was recognized by early Christians who lived under Roman persecution. The early church fathers identified Rome as the beast, understanding that this oppressive power was the first manifestation of the prophetic beast.
Rome's Blasphemous Claims
Roman emperors claimed divine titles and demanded worship. They called themselves "Lord" (Kyrios), "Son of God" (Divi Filius), and "God" (Theos). Domitian demanded to be addressed as "Our Lord and God" (Dominus et Deus noster). These blasphemous claims directly fulfilled Revelation 13:5-6.
Rome ruled with absolute authority over the known world, wielding power over "all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" (Revelation 13:7). Its military might made it seem invincible: "Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4).
But prophecy indicated this beast would not remain in this form forever. It would undergo a transformation—appearing to die but later reviving in a new form. This leads us to the next phase: "the beast that is not."
Chapter 3: The Beast That Is Not - The Transition
The prophecy speaks of a time when the beast "is not"—a period when the power described would appear to be absent or dramatically weakened. This corresponds precisely to the fall of the Roman Empire and the power vacuum that followed.
The Fall of Imperial Rome
By the 5th century, the mighty Roman Empire was crumbling. Barbarian invasions, internal corruption, economic decline, and military failures weakened the once-invincible power. In 476 AD, the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by Odoacer, marking the official end of the Western Roman Empire.
This fulfilled the prophecy of the "deadly wound" described in Revelation 13:3: "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death." The imperial head of the beast had received a seemingly fatal blow.
The Power Vacuum
Following Rome's collapse, Europe entered a period of fragmentation and chaos. The centralized imperial authority was replaced by competing barbarian kingdoms. During this transition, the beast appeared to be absent—it "is not."
However, another power was quietly rising in the vacuum left by the emperors. As political Rome declined, ecclesiastical Rome—centered on the Bishop of Rome—began to assume greater authority. The papacy gradually accumulated both religious and political power.
Transfer of Power and Authority
When Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople in 330 AD, he left Rome largely under the authority of its bishop. The absence of imperial power in Rome allowed the papacy to expand its influence. By the time of Pope Leo I (440-461 AD), the Bishop of Rome was claiming authority over all other churches.
In 508 AD, the Frankish king Clovis converted to Catholicism and became the first major barbarian ruler to support the papacy. This began the pattern of the new kingdoms of Europe acknowledging papal authority. The "beast" was preparing to reemerge in a new form—fulfilling the prophecy that it "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit" (Revelation 17:8).
This transition period set the stage for the next phase of the prophetic beast—"the beast that yet is."
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