6 things you should know about the number 666

By CP Staff, Sunday, May 21, 2023

2. Some scholars believe 666 corresponds to a historical figure

Hank Hanegraaff, known to his fans as the “Bible Answer Man,” has argued that the words of the Apostle John in Revelation 13 are actually directed to a contemporary audience.

“Remember that Revelation is communicating the words of John to people in the first century and saying overtly that with wisdom and understanding they could discern the number of the beast, and the number of his name,” he told The Christian Post in a 2012 interview. “Now, obviously, only a first century audience could understand the number of the beast and the number of his name.”

According to Hanegraaff, the actual number is 660 and six, not three consecutive sixes.

“Obviously no amount of wisdom and insight would have enabled a first century audience to calculate the number of a 21st century beast,” he added. “And therefore, it would have been cruel and dangerously misleading for John to suggest that first century Christians would be able to identify the beast if, in fact, the beast was a 21st century individual or institution.

But other prophecy experts, like Todd Hampson of the "Prophecy Pros Podcast," say the mark is either the name of the future Antichrist or the number of his name — likely using Gematria where a numerical value is assigned to each letter — which will total 666.

“I believe those taking the mark will be able to essentially choose from two insignia tattoos ... either the Antichrist’s name or 666,” Hampson told CP, adding he believes based on the Greek term used, it will be a visible insignia on the surface of the skin rather than under the skin, similar to what Roman soldiers used to do for their commanding officers.

There were some people who thought Ronald Wilson Reagan was the Antichrist because his first, middle and last names each contained six letters: 666.