What is the meaning of the number 666?
On One Hand: Common Biblical InterpretationThe number 666 is found in the Book of Revelation, an esoteric book in the Christian Bible that was written by someone named John during the first century CE. The Bible states that the number 666 is “the mark of the beast,” and many modern Christians associate this figure with Satan and the “antichrist,” a false Christ that will deceive and oppress the Christian people during apocalyptic times. Here is the most familiar Biblical passage on the subject: “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,” (Rev. 13:18).On the Other: Scholarly Debate and Modern CultureEarly Christians were persecuted by the Roman empire, and many scholars hold that 666, and the beast associated with it, is actually a numerical code referencing a Roman leader or emperor that will oppress the Christian faith. The number 666 is also a popular symbol of rebellion and atheism i
