CHAPTER 18
— THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST — Joel Nielsen began. One of his favorite classes in the subject of eschatology, of which he was a doctor — Arithmós toû thēríou..., in Greek is associated with the Beast of the Apocalypse contained in chapter 13, verse 18, of the Book of Revelations , or Apocalypse , as you will.
Bishop Joel Nielsen pressed the button on his slider and the famous figure entitled The Number of the Beast is 666 by William Blake appeared, illustrated by a seven— headed and a five— headed demon in front of him, with the presence of a ram, ready for sacrifice.
— In most New Testament manuscripts and English Bible translations , the number of the beast is 666 or χξϛ, in Greek numerals, χ represents 600, ξ represents 60, and ϛ represents 6. Papyrus 115 , which is the oldest preserved manuscript of the Apocalypse, ancient sources such as, Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus , give the number of the beast in — χιϛ— or — χιϲ— transliterable into Arabic numerals as 616 — χιϛ — , not 666, critical editions of the Greek text , from in the same way that the Novum Testamentum Graece , observe χιϛ, is a variant.
Bishop Nielsen pressed the button on his passer again and a sentence appeared.
— The number of the beast is described in Revelation , Chapter 1 3 , verses 15 to 18 . Various translations have been interpreted for the meaning of the phrase:
— Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding count the number of the beast...—
— Where the peculiar Greek word ψηφισάτω, psephisate is used. Possible translations include "to count", and also "to vote" or "to decide". In the Textus Receptus, derived from Byzantine text— type manuscripts, the number six hundred and sixty— six is represented by the Greek numerals χξϛ, with the Greek letter stigma ( ϛ ), representing the number 6:
He passed the slide.
— Take a look at the original and see the stark difference.
— 17 καὶ ἵνα μή τις Δύνηται ἀγοράσαι ἢ πωλῆσαι εἰ ὴ ὁ ἔ ἔ ope τὸ χ χ χ τὸ ὸνομα του ὐ ἔτονου τοθτomb 18 ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν ὁ ἔχων τὸν νοῦν ψηφιτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου ἀριθμὸ γὰρ ἀνθρώπου αὐξιτurs.
Nobody was seeing any difference.
— We translate literally to:
17 And so that no one buys or sells, except he who has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding calculate the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. —
— Revelation says that if anyone is wise and has understanding of counting the number of the beast, which is also the number of a man, imitating the Son of man , Jesus Christ, the number reaches 666. Although Irenaeus in the second century after Christ, stated the number being the famous 666 and reported several clerical errors of the number, theologians have doubts about the traditional reading, because of the appearance of figure 616, in the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus , one of the four great uncial codices , as well as in the Latin version of Tyconius , and in an Armenian version old. Irenaeus knew about reading 616, but did not adopt it. In the 380s, correcting the existing Latin— language version of the New Testament, commonly referred to as Vetus Latina, Jerome retained "666".
— This is already making my head knot, professor.
Joel Nielsen smiled.
— Once you understand the general concept, it's not that hard to understand.
— I don't know, professor.
'But you'll have to know, Charles, it's sure to be on the test.
There was a rumble of questioning voices, then the professor slapped the table three times for attention.
— Continuing,— he cleared his throat and continued, — around 2005, a papyrus fragment 115 , taken from the local Oxyrhynchus, was discovered at the University of Oxford 's Ashmolean Museum . He gave the number of the beast as, 616 ( χις ).
Joel Nielsen passed the slide and the picture appeared on the screen.
— This fragment is the oldest manuscript, about 1,700 years from Revelation 13 found in 2017. The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, known before the discovery of the Papyrus 115, but dating from after him, has 616 written in full:
"ἑξακόσιοι δέκα ἕξ, hexakosioi deka hex..."
— literally for — six hundred and sixteen.
There was a chorus of "wow", which always filled his heart with joy, it was without a doubt one of his favorite classes.
— Papyrus 115 and the Ephraemi Rescriptus have led some scholars to consider 616 as the original number of the beast. According to Paul Louis, The number 666 was replaced by 616 either by analogy with 888, the Greek number of Jesus, or by being a triangular number by adding up the first 36 numbers:
(1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11+12+12+13+14+15+16+17+18+18+20+21+22+23+ 24 + 25 + 26 + 27 + 28 + 29 + 30 + 31 + 32 + 33 + 34 + 35 + 36 = 666)— .
— Voila… we found the magic number.
— BEAST IDENTITY and beast number are usually interpreted by applying one of three methods:
Everyone looked intently at the slide on the screen.
1. Use Gematria to find the numbers that match the names of world leaders to see if there is a match with the scripture number.
2. Treat the beast number as a time duration.
3. Relating scriptural imagery and symbolism of Antichrist to characteristics of world leaders who oppose Christianity.
— In isopsephy Greek and Hebrew gematria, each letter has a corresponding numerical value. The sum of these numbers gives a numerical value for a word or name. The use of isopsephy to calculate — the number of the beast — , is used in many of the interpretations below.
Joel Nielsen passed a slide again and the Bust of Nero in the Musei appeared Capitolini , in Rome .
Preterist theologians usually support the interpretation that 666 is the numerical equivalent of the name and title Nero Caesar , Roman Emperor from AD 54 to 68. C., world famous for setting fire to Rome and putting the blame on Christians, especially for judging and condemning the two most famous disciples in the bible, Peter and Paul. Written in Aramaic, it can be estimated at 666 using the Hebrew numerology of gematria and was used to speak secretly against the emperor.
The students remained attentive.
— Also, — Nero Caesar— , in the Hebrew alphabet is נרון קסר NRON QSR, which when interpreted numerically represents the numbers 50 200 6 50 100 60 200, which add up to 666. The Greek version of the name and title is transliterated into Hebrew as: נרון קסר and yields a numerical value of 666, as shown:
On the slide appeared the table.
— The Greek term χάραγμα, charagma, — mark— in Revelation 13, were most commonly used for printing on documents or coins. It is proven that the Charagma was an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the 1st and 2nd centuries. In the reign of Emperor Decius , those who did not have the certificate of sacrifice, known as the libel to Caesar, were not allowed to engage in commercial activities, a prohibition possibly dating back to Nero, recalling Revelation chapter 13, verse 17.
Joel Nielsen looked at his students and they only had two expressions:
That some were understanding everything...
And those who weren't understanding at all...
— Preterists argue that Revelation was written before the destruction of the Temple, with Nero exiling John to Patmos. Most scholars, however, argue that it was written after Nero committed suicide in 68 AD. The Catholic Encyclopedia , noted that the Apocalypse was — written during the latter part of the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, probably in 95 or 96 AD— . Other Protestant scholars are in agreement. Because some believe that Revelation 13 speaks of a future prophetic event :
— All that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.— (Revelation 13:8)
— Some have argued that the interpretation of Nero finding fulfillment is an impossibility if Revelation was written some 30 years after Nero 's death. However, rumors circulated that Nero had not actually died and would return to power. It has also been suggested that the numerical reference to Nero, was a code to imply, but not directly identify, the Emperor Domitian, whose style of government resembled that of Nero, who heavily taxed the people of Asia, to whom the Book of Revelation was addressed. mainly. The popular legend of Nero Redivivus , stating that Nero would come back to life can also be mentioned.
— After Nero's suicide in 68 AD, there was a widespread belief, especially in the eastern provinces, that he was not dead and would somehow come back. Suetonius recounts how court astrologers predicted Nero's downfall, however, that he would have power in the East. And, indeed, at least three false suitors presented themselves as Nero redivivus, or resurrected.
Aramaic scroll from Wadi Murabba'at , dated to the — second year of Emperor Nero— , refers to him by his name and title. In Hebrew it is Neron Kaisar. In Latin it is Nro Qsr. The Latin version of the name eliminates the second Nun ( נ ), so that it appears as Nro, and is transliterated into Hebrew as: נרו קסר, resulting in 616: