What does 666 represent? Revelation 13

What does 666 represent?

**Welcome to Pleroma Pathways apocalyptic and mystic Christianity where we explore esoteric and apocalyptic texts.**

# **The Mystery of 666: The Incomplete Dominion of Fallen Man**

The number *666* is one of the most enigmatic and charged symbols in Scripture. While it appears explicitly only once in the Book of Revelation, its thematic roots span the entirety of biblical history—from Goliath to Solomon to the golden image of Babylon. Its mystery lies not only in numerology but in what it represents: **fallen man, carnal dominion, and a system opposed to divine order**.

## **The Number of a Man**

Revelation 13:18 declares, *“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 threescore and six.”*

In Hebrew theology, the number six is deeply symbolic. Man was created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31), and thus the number six represents man in his natural, incomplete state—falling short of seven, the number of divine fullness and spiritual perfection. Paul writes, *“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”* (Romans 8:6). Thus, six is the number of the **carnal mind**, and when tripled—*666*—it becomes the **fullness of imperfection**, the unholy trinity of carnal mind, carnal power, and carnal religion.

## **Old Testament Shadows of 666**

This number reverberates throughout Scripture:

- **Goliath**, the champion of Philistia, stood **six cubits tall**, bore **six pieces of armor**, and wielded a spearhead weighing **600 shekels of iron** (1 Samuel 17:4-7). Goliath represents **military domination and brute force**.

  

- **King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image** was **60 cubits high**, **6 cubits wide**, and accompanied by **six musical instruments** at its dedication (Daniel 3:1-7). This image demanded universal worship under threat of death, symbolizing **political-religious tyranny**.

- **Solomon**, when he began to turn from divine wisdom toward foreign alliances and opulence, received **666 talents of gold** in a single year (1 Kings 10:14; 2 Chronicles 9:13). This moment reveals the **economic corruption and compromise** that later led to Israel’s division and downfall.

Each of these examples showcases an aspect of the beastly pattern:

1. **Military strength without righteousness (Goliath)**  

2. **Religious idolatry enforced by state power (Babylon)**  

3. **Economic wealth divorced from justice and wisdom (Solomon)**

## **Lateinos and the Roman Mind**

The Greek word *Lateinos*—meaning “Latin man”—has a numerical value of 666 when calculated using Greek numerology. This leads some to equate the Beast with the Roman Empire or the Papacy. While not entirely incorrect historically, this interpretation is deeper than just geography or titles. It represents the **collective human consciousness organized apart from God**.

Rome, in prophetic symbolism, is “iron” (Daniel 2:40), denoting strength without spirit. It is a system that:

- Legalizes authority,

- Replaces spiritual discernment with ritual and hierarchy,

- Elevates image over substance.

Thus, *Lateinos* becomes an archetype—not merely of one man or institution—but of **every government, religion, and culture that resists divine transformation** and enthrones human will.

## **The Beasts and Fallen Man**

Solomon writes: *“Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish”* (Psalm 49:20). And Ecclesiastes reminds us, *“That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts… yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast”* (Ecclesiastes 3:19).

When man turns from divine understanding, he becomes beast-like. The Beast of Revelation is not just a political empire but **fallen humanity organized against divine order**, fully realized in military, religious, and economic systems that suppress the truth.

## **The Contrast: 666 vs. 144,000**

While *666* symbolizes **man in his incomplete, carnal state**, *144,000* stands for **man redeemed, sealed, and complete**:

- *“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”* (Revelation 14:1)

Here we see a people governed not by empire but by the Lamb. The 144,000 are symbolic of **spiritual governance**—12 (tribes) × 12 (apostolic foundation) × 1000 (divine fullness). They are the restored Ecclesia, the body of Christ, incorruptible and victorious over the beast.

## **Roman Numerals and the Millennial Symbol**

Fascinatingly, the Roman numeral system is built from six letters: I (1), V (5), X (10), L (50), C (100), D (500)—which together total 666. The **seventh** numeral, *M* (1000), is notably absent—symbolizing the **Millennium**, the divine rest and rule of the Messiah.

Thus, *666* represents the closed system of fallen man, while *M*—the seventh and final Roman numeral—heralds the **beginning of divine government** and the **resurrection age**.

## **Conclusion: The Meaning of 666 Today**

*666 is not merely a future threat, nor a label for a past regime. It is the spiritual DNA of every system that exalts man and suppresses the truth of God. It is the carnal kingdom of this world—the Beast—which must give way to the incorruptible kingdom of Christ.*

Those sealed with the name of the Father are not marked by the world’s system but are shaped by love, truth, and incorruptibility. In the final analysis, 666 will fade before the brightness of the One who bears the Name above every name—not a number.

*“And the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.”* (Revelation 11:15)

---

"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six." (666)

Is the number ‘666’ mentioned somewhere else in the Old Testament?

Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4-7). His height is six cubits. He had six pieces of armor. His spear head weighed 600 shekels of iron (iron, the metal of Rome, Dan. 2). Goliath's brothers had 6 fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot (2 Sam. 21:20).

It should be noted that the only place the number ‘666’ appears in the Old Testament is with King Solomon when he met the Queen of Sheba after building a house for Yahweh. The number refers to the weight of gold talents that the kings and queens gave him as gifts in one year. "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold (2 Chr 9:13, I Kings 10:14);"

Although the number is hidden in a mystery, it appears again in the Bible in the dimensions of the golden image built by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the number of musicians who played at the celebration. The image was 6 cubits wide and 60 cubits in height. There were also 6 musicians present which gives the number 666 (Dn. 3:1-7). At the time that the musicians played, everyone was required to bow to this golden image. If they did not, the king ordered them to be thrown into the fiery furnace. Three Israelites Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego refused and they were thrown into the furnace (Dn. 3:14-20). For their obedience to the Law of Moses, Elohim delivered them, miraculously saving them unsinged (Dan. 3rd Chapter).

What does the number 6 represent?

In Hebrew theology, the number ‘6’ has special meaning. It represents the number of a man who was created on the 6th day of Moses’ vision. Now ‘6’ is one short of the number ‘7’ which in Hebrew theology represents perfection. Elohim worked 7 days to complete or perfect creation. The three ‘6s’ represent man being incomplete state. The number ‘6’ symbolically represents man in an undeveloped spiritual state which Paul called being carnal minded (Rom. 8:6). 

The number of “the wild beast” is 666 and is called “a man’s number,” indicating that it has to do with imperfect, fallen man, and it seems to symbolize the imperfection of that which is represented by “the wild beast.” The number six being emphasized to a third degree (the six appearing in the position of units, tens, and hundreds) therefore highlights the imperfection and deficiency of that which the beast represents, or pictures

The Beast:

Ec 3:18  I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.

Ec 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

Psalem 49:20  Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.

Mankind has observed the characteristics and habits of animals and has applied them in a figurative or symbolic sense to persons, peoples, governments, and organizations. Thus the beast is a symbol of human consciousness organised collectively in opposition to God and his kingdom

—The Barbarian nations are figuratively described as "evil beasts" (Tit. 1:12).

Usually the number 666 is understood has a numerical equivalent of a word or name, both Hebrew or Greek, use the letters of their alphabets as numbers.

"for the number is that of a man":

Mankind was made on the 6th day therefore the number 6 is a man's number

Six is the number of Sin

Sin is symbolized by the number 666. Six is twelve divided. Twelve is the number symbolizing GOVERNMENTAL PERFECTION. (As contrasted to the number seven, which symbolizes SPIRITUAL PERFECTION.) Six--half of twelve. Six--half whole, not whole, un-whole, unholy.

All sin, error, evil, and negativity are the result of lack of true understanding, with or without the accompaniment of malice or violence. Sin and evil are words which refer to ANY HUMAN ATTEMPT TO nullify the DIVINE teachings.

Six, repeated three times, could symbolize repeated attempts to nullify the meaning of 144,000 the number symbolizing spiritual wholeness or rightness and perfect completion

And so the number of the man of sin -- 666 -- will give way to the number of the man of righteousness -- the 144,000 on Mount Zion, who have the name of the Lamb and of his Father (in contrast to the name of the Beast: Rev 13:17) written on their foreheads (Rev 14:1)!

Here is the simplest "explanation" of the 666: there are six Roman numerals that, taken in various combinations, account for all the smaller numbers. They are I (= 1), V (= 5), X (= 10), L (= 50), C (= 100), and D (= 500), Thus the SIX common Roman numerals have a total value of 600 (500 + 100), 60 (50 + 10), and 6 (5 + 1). These are all the numerals involved in the Roman system, at the lower level, until the number 1,000 is reached (which is denoted by "M" -- for "mille", or thousand). This is itself is significant: the lesser numbers, in all their possible combinations, represent all men, or all mankind (Roman, at least!) -- until we come to the "M" (the SEVENTH numeral) -- which, obviously, represents the Millennium! When the Millennium begins, all the numbers of "man" (totaling 666) will cease!

The Papacy

Revelation 13:18. Here is wisdom. He who has understanding must calculate the number of the beast, [the papacy]: for it is the number [standing or value] of a man. The Man of Sin, the Papacy. — Rev. 19:20; 2 Thes. 2:3.; and his number is 666.

From the second century A.D. onwards, the interpretation "LATEINOS" has been given, because the numerical values of the letters add to 666. This identification was given by Irenaeus, the disciple of Polycarp (born A.D. 70) who was contemporary with the apostle John

The official name or title of the popes is "Vicar of the Son of God" -- 'Vicarius Filii Dei'
V	I	C	A	R	I	U	S		F	I	L	I	I		D	E	I
5	1	100	0	0	1	5	0		0	1	50	1	1		500	0	1	=	666

 

The Hebrew word for this power is 'ROMIITH' -- the Hebrew value being:
R	O	M	I	I	TH
200	6	40	10	10	400	=	666

 

The official signature of the Pope is "DUX CLERI" which means "High" or "Chief Priest." Being Latin this adds to:
D	U	X		C	L	E	R	I
500	5	10		100	50	0	0	1	=	666

[666—is the total value of the pope’s crown inscribed with this title translated means Vicar of the Son of God and by accepting such a one as an earthly head, it would constitute one as a part of the anti-Christ].

The mark of the best is the number of a man that is the man of sin so who is the man of sin?

The distinctive marks of the man of sin, identified in 2 Thessalonians  2:

The Apostasy	abandonment of truth.	2:3
The Man Of Sin	an individual apostate.	2:3
The Man Of Sin	a religious organisation continuing from Paul’s time to Christ’s return.	2:3 to 2:8
Exalts Self Above All That Is Called God	claim to be vicar and vice-regent of both God and Christ.	2:4
Coming After The Working of Satan	disguising Apostacy under forms of Christian religion.	2:9
With All Power, Signs and Lying wonders	claiming power of priesthood, mediatorship, secular and spiritual government, and miraculous signs and healings.	2:9
Have Pleasure	In Unrighteousness - profligate, licentious and immoral.	2:12

• Antichrist is the Greek word “antichristos” transferred directly, and untranslated, into English.
• Antichrist has a meaning, translatable into English, which is “One instead of Christ”
• Antichrist is therefore someone who claims to be in Christ’s place.
• Antichrist is identical in meaning to the Latin term: “Vicarius Christi” - “Vicar of Christ”
• Vicar of Christ is one of many evidences which identify the papacy and Roman Catholicism with Antichrist.
• At the close of the council of Rome in AD 495, the assembled bishops shouted in honour of the pope “We see thou art the Vicar of Christ”!

• In assuming the title Vicar of Christ the papacy has identified itself as the Antichrist.

Thus, every time the Pope of Rome officially signs a document, he writes the Latin equivalent of the number 666.

The number 666 has been attributed to many different persons at different times, since John was given the Revelation. Many believe it was a warning from John. The number 666 has most often been attributed to the Emperor Nero--who was the first to persecute Christians.

The number 6 in scripture represents Mankind (created on the 6th day); as such, it does not refer to any one person or thing.

[The Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages use letters to represent a numerical value. Over the past few years, with the advent of computers, many scholars are attempting to decipher "The Bible Code." ed.]