666

666
Satan

I left alone, my mind was blank, I needed time to think
To get the memories from my mind
What did I see? Can I believe that what I saw
That night was real and not just fantasy?

6 6 6, the number of the beast
6 6 6, the one for you and me

-- Iron Maiden, The Number of the Beast

A great deal of myth and speculation has sprung up around the meaning of three digits, 666. Is it really the number of the beast. In the Bible Book of Revelation 13:17-18 reads (King James translation):

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 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.

There are quite a number of theories on the meaning of the 666. Before you get too caught up with devils and anti-christs, first find out who or what the Devil is and whether he/she/it really exists.

Mathematics

Some of this stuff is quite interesting!

666 = sum of first 36 numbers, ie 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... + 35 + 36 = 666.

666 is also the sum of the squares of the first seven prime numbers, ie 2*2 + 3*3 + 5*5 + 7*7 + 11*11 + 13*13 + 17*17 = 666, and a number of other interesting properties are noted here.

Also, pi times phi times 7³ = 665.9726, which is very close to 666, as pointed out here.

The ancients were good mathematicians so this number may have had sacred meaning to them - in which case, why has such a sacred number now become associated with Satan? Given that pi times phi times 7³ = 666 the number should be worshipped.

Laurence Gardner

Laurence Gardner pointed out in one of his books (sorry, I forget which!) that in biblical times number had meanings. Seven was the number of spiritual perfection, and thrice seven was thrice perfect (three being the number of divine perfection, ie the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost). 777 was therefore perfection. Six was one less than perfection (incompleteness), and thrice 6 emphasized this. More on this here. This is one of the most convincing arguments I have read.

Summary of the numbers:

0 = perfect number or ideal, so 70 = spiritual fulfilment
1 = number of unity (God)
2 = number of division (heaven and earth)
3 = divine perfection (Father, Son and Holy Ghost)
4 = number of creation (north, south, east, west)
5 = number of grace
6 = number of man (= spiritual perfection minus God)
7 = spiritual perfection
8 = new beginnings
9 = judgement
10 = divine perfection(10 commandments)
11 = revelation (an extra measure over divine perfection)
12 = governmental perfection (12 tribes, 12 apostles, etc.)
13 = rebellion, Satan

This site explains that WWW also means 666!

Carbon atom

One of the more interesting theories is that 666 was the number of the Carbon atom, thus represents the number of all carbon based life forms (hence "beasts"). Indeed, the common isotope of Carbon has 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons - 6 6 6. Carbon (graphite) is black, like hell. It is the basis for organic life on the planet, so 666 is indeed the number of the beast.

However, it is unlikely that the structure of the carbon atom was known at the time the Book of Revelation was written, so whilst it is an excellent theory I don't believe that is what the biblical writers meant.

Name of the Antichrist

Many people have used numerology to try and prove that 666 represents the name of a particular person. If you mess around with a calculator and numbers assigned to letters of the Greek, Hebrew or English alphabet long enough, you'll eventually be able to come up with 666. There are a number of reasons why I find these explanations unsatisfactory, one being that 666 can be further reduced to 6+6+6 = 18 = 1+8 = 9. So what?