number of the beast biblical numerology Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-of-the-beast Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-of-the-beast Also known as: 616, 666, beast, number of the Written by Roland Martin Roland Martin is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. Roland Martin Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 8, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents number of the beast, well-known instance of biblical numerology appearing in chapter 13, verse 18 of the Revelation to John. The number of the beast is usually referred to as 666, although the earliest extant written copy of Revelation gives the number as 616. While the exact identity of the beast is contested, there exists a popular belief that 666 can signify the Antichrist or Satan. The Revelation (i.e., Apocalypse, Greek: “Unveiling”) to John is an answer in terms of apocalypticism to the needs of the church in a time of persecution as it awaits the end-time expected in the ...(100 of 1780 words)

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