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Number of the Beast:
Solomon/Wisdom (666)
Revelation 13:18 “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.”
The list below shows a list of names taken from the Bible in order with the object of finding the 666th name. I did this by writing a computer program to identify all non-dictionary capitalised words in the KJV Bible, excluding those that repeat frequently. I used the program to get a list of names from the Bible (cities, people etc.). I went through the Bible manually to identify which were the names of people. I added back in those names that are also in the dictionary (eg. On) and people with the same name that appear in close proximity to each other in the Bible (eg. Zerah in Genesis 36). I applied the following rules:
- Different people with the same name are included as separate names
- Different spellings are included as separate names
- If people are renamed they are included as separate names
- Tribes named after people are included
- Place names are not included unless they are named after a founder identified in the scripture.
- No names of gods are included (the number of the beast is the “number of a man” not a god)
- Titles (eg. Pharaoh) are not included as names
- Some specific points:
- The book of Jasher – Jasher is not a name, it means “upright”.
- The house of Millo – Millo is a fortification not a person.
- Naomi said “call me Mara” in the book of Ruth – I have not included this as a name (she was just saying “call me bitter, because I am bitter”).
- Agag and Abimelech, like Pharoah, are titles rather than names (although there is also a man called Abimelech)
- “Sons of Sheth” means “sons of tumult” and there is no evidence for a proper name here, so it is not included.
- “King Arad” is a mistranslation of “King of Arad” and is not included as a name.
After doing this I found that Solomon is the 666th name. This confirms the quote “Here is wisdom” in Revelation 13:18 because Solomon was famed for being very wise. Note that 1 Kings 10:14 says that “the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents.” This provides further evidence for Solomon as 666, and is suggestive of the material wealth that he gained through his wisdom.
I originally set out to prove that the number of the beast was Saul, but this turns out not to be the case (he is at position 611). However, there were four beasts in Daniel, which may mean that 666+666 (1332), 666+666+666 (1998) and 666+666+666+666 (2664) may have significance; I believe that Paul is represented by the fourth beast, so might be the 2664th person in the Bible.
Why is Solomon 666? This requires careful definitions of both wisdom and knowledge.
- Spiritual wisdom (distinguishing good from evil) is not necessary for following Jesus – you only need to do what Jesus said (an ability to follow instructions).
- Spiritual wisdom is essential for identifying things that go contrary to what Jesus said, which are often difficult to identify. The letters of Paul are an example. Spiritual wisdom must therefore be good, despite the suggestion to the contrary in the story of Adam and Eve (where Eve gained the knowledge of good and evil).
- Conventional wisdom (similar to “common sense”) is quite different from spiritual wisdom. It is described well in Proverbs – wisdom brings wealth. This is the type of wisdom that Solomon had, since some of his sayings are in Proverbs.
- Knowledge is different from wisdom, but related to it. If you live in the world, then you can gain a lot of “common sense” type knowledge (science, mathematics etc.). You can know a lot of things, but still choose to follow Jesus. Knowledge is discussed below.
- Foolishness is the opposite of conventional wisdom, ie. that which defies common sense. If you follow Jesus, then you are seen to be foolish by modern society because your actions are not directed towards the acquisition of wealth (quite the opposite).
The reason that Solomon (conventional wisdom and common sense) is the number of the beast is because it is in direct opposition to following Jesus.
Proverbs are the self-proclaimed wise teachings. They give a good description of what wisdom is, what it stands for and why it has the number of the beast. The wise teachings go against those of Jesus, and are directed towards “getting on” in society and making wealth. Many of the statements actually declare the actions of followers of Jesus as foolish, so by the standards of proverbs it is best to aim to be a fool. Proverbs describe the differences between two kinds of people: righteous and wicked; wise and foolish. This disguises the fact that commonly accepted “wisdom” and “common sense” go against the Truth.
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Proverbs say
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Following Jesus:
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1:8-9 “Pay attention to what your father and mother tell you, my son. Their teaching will improve your character as a handsome turban or a necklace improves your appearance.”
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Luke 14:26 "Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well."
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3:16 “Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honour.”
12:9 “It is better to be an ordinary person working for a living than to play the role of someone great but go hungry.”
21:20 “Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.”
24:4 “Where there is knowledge, the rooms are furnished with valuable, beautiful things.”
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Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.'”
Luke 14:33 “'In the same way,' concluded Jesus, 'none of you can be my disciple unless you give up everything you have.'”
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14:1 “Homes are made by the wisdom of women but are destroyed by foolishness.”
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What if one person in a marriage decides to follow Jesus?
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14:20 “No one likes the poor, not even their neighbours, but the rich have many friends.”
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Friendship between poor people is genuine because it is not based on wealth.
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Knowledge is different from wisdom. It incorporates mathematics, technology and science. Technology is the practical application of science; science is the systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
There are parables that suggest that knowledge is a derivative of wisdom.
- The first Apple Computer went on sale for $666.66.
- Newton's Three Laws of Motion were completed by 1666.
- Oil is composed mostly of carbon atoms, which contain 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons (666). Oil has driven the technology revolution.
- Epistemology is the study of knowledge. It sounds like Epistle, the letters of Paul, suggesting that acquisition of knowledge is to be avoided like Pauline teaching.
- Physics sounds like "three six" (666).
Science and technology can be used for both good and bad purposes. Our society develops technologies for both purposes. Some examples of our technology and its results are described below:
- Advertising
- Consumerism
- Global economy
- Expensive and polluting personal transport
- Many ways to waste money
- Advanced weapons
The side effects of a modern society include political correctness (so no one says anything useful), religious tolerance (no one really tries to convert anyone to the correct faith) and 2.5 billion people in poverty despite overwhelming wealth particularly in Western countries. Science and technology also have the effect of taking people away from God in our modern society - there are many more atheists than in previous generations; arguably science reinforces conventional wisdom. However, there are parables that do come out of science (eg. the curvature of space and how the Universe appears to a light beam as mentioned in "Life After Death" and "How God and Satan Communicate").
In light of this evidence, should technology be banned? City Planning describes the plans for New Jerusalem - the ideal Christian society. Initially, the city is designed to be very low-tech to make sure that everything that the city uses can be produced there. However, later on I believe that it may be possible to re-introduce some technologies if people want them. This would require judging each technology by true standards, ensuring that they are completely safe and do not damage the environment. In a non-commercially driven society, there would be no time limits on the research and development process. If problems arose with any technology then it would be withdrawn. However, it is likely that there are faith-based methods to do things better than technology can (eg. spiritual healing versus medicine) so technology should become unnecessary.
The idea that Solomon and wisdom are 666 is in agreement with the comment on “buying and selling” in the book of Revelation - note that a feature of the ideal Christian society is that there is no buying and selling unlike our own society. Revelation 13:17 “And that no man might buy or sell, save that he had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” In other words everyone who buys or sells has received the mark of the beast.
- adam
- eve
- cain
- abel
- enoch
- irad
- mehujael
- methusael
- lamech
- adah
- zillah
- jabal
- jubal
- tubalcain
- naamah
- seth
- enos
- cainan
- mahalaleel
- jared
- methuselah
- noah
- shem
- ham
- japheth
- canaan
- gomer
- magog
- madai
- javan
- tubal
- meshech
- tiras
- ashkenaz
- riphath
- togarmah
- elishah
- tarshish
- kittim
- dodanim
- cush
- mizraim
- phut
- seba
- havilah
- sabtah
- raamah
- sabtechah
- sheba
- dedan
- nimrod
- asshur
- ludim
- anamim
- lehabim
- naphtuhim
- pathrusim
- casluhim
- philistim
- caphtorim
- sidon
- heth
- eber
- elam
- asshur (2)
- arphaxad
- lud
- aram
- uz
- hul
- gether
- mash
- salah
- peleg
- joktan
- almodad
- sheleph
- hazarmaveth
- jerah
- hadoram
- uzal
- diklah
- obal
- abimael
- sheba (2)
- ophir
- havilah (2)
- jobab
- reu
- serug
- nahor
- terah
- abram
- haran
- lot
- sarai
- milcah
- iscah
- amraphel
- arioch
- chedorlaomer
- tidal
- bera
- birsha
- shinab
- shemeber
- eshcol
- aner
- mamre
- melchizedek
- eliezer
- hagar
- ishmael
- abraham
- sarah
- isaac
- moab
- benammi
- abimelech
- phichol
- huz
- buz
- kemuel
- aram (2)
- chesed
- hazo
- pildash
- jidlaph
- bethuel
- reumah
- tebah
- gaham
- thahash
- maachah
- ephron
- zohar
- rebekah
- laban
- keturah
- zimran
- jokshan
- medan
- midian
- ishbak
- shuah
- sheba (3)
- dedan (2)
- asshurim
- letushim
- leummim
- ephah
- epher
- hanoch
- abidah
- eldaah
- nebajoth
- kedar
- adbeel
- mibsam
- mishma
- dumah
- massa
- hadar
- tema
- jetur
- naphish
- kedemah
- esau
- jacob
- edom (aka esau)
- ahuzzath
- judith
- beeri
- bashemath
- elon
- mahalath
- rachel
- leah
- zilpah
- bilhah
- reuben
- simeon
- levi
- judah
- dan
- naphtali
- gad
- asher
- issachar
- zebulun
- dinah
- joseph
- israel (aka jacob)
- shechem
- hamor
- deborah
- benoni
- benjamin
- adah (2)
- aholibamah
- anah
- zibeon
- eliphaz
- reuel
- jeush
- jaalam
- korah
- teman
- omar
- zepho
- gatam
- kenaz
- timna
- amalek
- nahath
- zerah
- shammah
- mizzah
- seir
- lotan
- shobal
- dishon
- ezer
- dishan
- hori
- hemam
- timna
- alvan
- manahath
- ebal
- shepho
- onam
- ajah
- hemdan
- eshban
- ithran
- cheran
- bilhan
- zaavan
- akan
- uz (2)
- aran
- bela
- beor
- jobab (2)
- zerah (2)
- husham
- hadad
- bedad
- samlah
- saul
- baalhanan
- achbor
- hadar (2)
- mehetabel
- matred
- mezahab
- timnah
- alvah
- jetheth
- elah
- pinon
- mibzar
- magdiel
- iram
- potiphar
- hirah
- shuah (2)
- er
- onan
- shelah
- tamar
- pharez
- zarah
- zaphnathpaaneah
- asenath
- potipherah
- manasseh
- ephraim
- hanoch (2)
- phallu
- hezron
- carmi
- jemuel
- jamin
- ohad
- jachin
- zohar (2)
- shaul
- gershon
- kohath
- merari
- hezron (2)
- hamul
- tola
- phuvah
- job
- shimron
- sered
- elon (2)
- jahleel
- ziphion
- haggi
- shuni
- ezbon
- eri
- arodi
- areli
- jimnah
- ishuah
- isui
- beriah
- serah
- heber
- malchiel
- belah
- becher
- ashbel
- gera
- naaman
- ehi
- rosh
- muppim
- huppim
- ard
- hushim
- jahzeel
- guni
- jezer
- shillem
- machir
- shiphrah
- puah
- moses
- reuel (2)
- zipporah
- gershom
- jethro
- aaron
- pallu (aka phallu)
- libni
- shimi
- amram
- izhar
- hebron
- uzziel
- mahali
- mushi
- jochebed
- korah (2)
- nepheg
- zichri
- mishael
- elzaphan
- zithri
- elisheba
- amminadab
- naashon
- nadab
- abihu
- eleazar
- ithamar
- assir
- elkanah
- abiasaph
- putiel
- phinehas
- miriam
- joshua
- hur
- eliezer (2)
- bezaleel
- uri
- hur (2)
- aholiab
- ahisamach
- nun
- shelomith
- dibri
- elizur
- shedeur
- shelumiel
- zurishaddai
- nahshon
- nethaneel
- zuar
- eliab
- helon
- elishama
- ammihud
- gamaliel
- pedahzur
- abidan
- gideoni
- ahiezer
- ammishaddai
- pagiel
- ocran
- eliasaph
- deuel
- ahira
- enan
- reuel (3) (aka deuel)
- shimei
- izehar (aka izhar)
- mahli (aka mahali)
- eliasaph (2)
- lael
- zuriel
- abihail
- hobab
- raguel
- eldad
- medad
- shammua
- zaccur
- shaphat
- hori (2)
- caleb
- jephunneh
- igal
- joseph (2)
- oshea (aka joshua/jehoshua)
- palti
- raphu
- gaddiel
- sodi
- gaddi
- susi
- ammiel
- gemalli
- sethur
- michael
- nahbi
- vophsi
- geuel
- machi
- jehoshua (aka joshua)
- ahiman
- sheshai
- talmai
- anak (“sons of Anak”)
- dathan
- abiram
- on
- peleth
- sihon
- og
- balak
- zippor
- balaam
- beor (2)
- zimri
- salu
- cozbi
- zur
- eliab (2)
- nemuel
- zephon (aka ziphion)
- ozni
- arod (aka arodi)
- pua (aka phuvah)
- jashub (aka job)
- gilead
- jeezer
- helek
- asriel
- shechem (2)
- shemida
- hepher
- zelophehad
- mahlah
- noah (2)
- hoglah
- milcah (3)
- tirzah
- shuthelah
- becher (2)
- tahan
- eran
- ahiram
- shupham
- hupham
- shuham (aka hushim)
- jimna (aka jimnah)
- jesui (aka isui)
- sarah (2)
- evi
- rekem
- zur (2)
- hur (3)
- reba
- jair
- nobah
- shemuel
- ammihud (2)
- elidad
- chislon
- bukki
- jogli
- hanniel
- ephod
- kemuel (2)
- shiphtan
- elizaphan
- parnach
- paltiel
- azzan
- ahihud
- shelomi
- pedahel
- ammihud (3)
- jaakan (children of)
- hoshea (aka Joshua)
- rahab
- achan
- carmi (2)
- zabdi
- zerah (3)
- adonizedec
- hoham
- piram
- japhia
- debir
- horam
- jabin
- jobab (3)
- arba
- bohan
- achsah
- othniel
- kenaz (2)
- abiezer
- nachor (aka nahor)
- adonibezek
- chushanrishathaim
- eglon
- ehud
- gera (2)
- shamgar
- anath
- jabin (2)
- sisera
- deborah (2)
- lapidoth
- barak
- abinoam
- heber (2)
- jael
- joash
- gideon
- jerubbaal (aka gideon)
- phurah
- oreb
- zeeb
- zebah
- zalmunna
- jether
- jotham
- gaal
- ebed
- zebul
- tola (2)
- puah (2)
- dodo
- jair (2)
- jephthah
- ibzan
- elon (3)
- abdon
- hillel
- manoah
- samson
- delilah
- micah
- jonathan
- gershom (2)
- elimelech
- naomi
- mahlon
- chilion
- orpah
- ruth
- boaz
- obed
- jesse
- david
- ram
- nahshon (aka naashon)
- salmon
- elkanah (2)
- jeroham
- elihu
- tohu
- zuph
- hannah
- peninnah
- eli
- hophni
- phinehas (2)
- samuel
- ichabod
- abinadab
- joel
- abiah
- kish
- abiel
- zeror
- bechorath
- aphiah
- saul (2)
- matri
- nahash
- bedan
- jonathan (2)
- ahiah
- ahitub
- ishui
- melchishua
- merab
- michal
- ahinoam
- ahimaaz
- abner
- ner
- eliab (3)
- abinadab
- shammah (2)
- goliath
- adriel
- ahimelech
- doeg
- achish
- abiathar
- nabal
- abigail
- ahinoam (2)
- phalti
- laish
- abishai
- zeruiah
- joab
- maoch
- ishbosheth
- asahel
- amnon
- chileab
- absalom
- maacah
- talmai (2)
- adonijah
- haggith
- shephatiah
- abital
- ithream
- eglah
- rizpah
- aiah
- phaltiel (aka phalti)
- baanah
- rechab
- rimmon
- shammuah
- shobab
- nathan
- solomon
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