Judgment · The mark of the beast
Revelation 13:16-18
John · ~95 AD · Status: Future · Confidence: 68%
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 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.”
King James Version · the opening — all 3 verses are below
The second beast enforces the mark of the first beast — required to buy or sell — and the riddle of its number, 666.
Read the whole passage — all 3 verses (KJV)
13:16And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
13:17And 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.
13:18Here 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.
Fulfillment References
Revelation 13:1-18 Revelation 14:9-11 Revelation 7:3 Deuteronomy 6:8
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe mark is counterfeit allegiance; God's own are sealed with His name (Rev. 7:3; 14:1) — the name of the one Lord Jesus.
JewishThe 'mark' parodies the binding of God's word on hand and forehead (Deut. 6:8) — a counterfeit allegiance.
CatholicThe mark as enforced allegiance to the idolatrous power, opposed to the seal of God.
ProtestantThe mark as the badge of submission to the beast; 666 as the number identifying it.
OrthodoxThe counterfeit seal of the beast, set against the seal of the living God.
DispensationalA literal future economic mark required in the Tribulation under the Antichrist.
Academic666 is widely read as gematria for 'Neron Kaisar' in Hebrew; the variant 616 (= 'Nero Caesar') supports it. The mark parodies God's seal (7:3) and the Shema's hand/forehead (Deut. 6:8).
Scholarship & Sources
666 (or the variant 616) is most often explained as gematria for Nero Caesar transliterated into Hebrew. The mark on 'hand and forehead' parodies the Shema (Deut. 6:8) and stands opposite the seal of God (7:3; 14:1). Pairs with 13:1-18.
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