In the last chapter we saw a beast (representing Islam and Christianity) coming up from the sea. We also saw a governmental beast (representing the UN) coming up from the land. The UN will tell all those who dwell on the earth (or perhaps all who dwell in the land of Israel) to make an image to the religious beast. This image will be the URI (United Religions Initiative). It will be given breath to speak, meaning human representatives (such as the pope and the Islamic Mahdi) will speak for it. Let us review this passage here before we analyze it in detail.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 13:11-18
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb [UN and URI] and spoke like a dragon [Satan].
12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast [Rome/Islam] in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast [URI] who was wounded by the sword and lived [Catholic and Ottoman empires].
15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast [URI], that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666 [chi xi stigma].
There are a few keys to understanding this passage. One key is to realize that all this takes place before trumpet 7. Another key is to remember that when our translations say “land,” the Hebrew word is aretz (ארץ). This word can mean either earth or land (as in the land of Israel), depending on the context.
Another key is to remember that Scripture sometimes speaks in generalities, rather than absolutes. In verse 16 we are told that “all” will receive the mark of the beast. However, in context, this does not necessarily mean that 100 percent of all human beings everywhere will receive the mark of the beast. It may mean “the vast majority of all those who are living in the land.” We know that something less than 100 percent of all people worldwide will receive the mark of the beast, because we are told that some groups (such as the elect) make it all the way through the tribulation without receiving the mark. The text of Revelation 14:9-12 also reinforces this.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 14:9-12
9 Then a third messenger followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the set-apart messengers and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of Elohim and the faith of Yeshua.
Verse 9 implies that we will have a choice whether or not to receive the mark. Verse 12 seems to suggest that the saints can escape the mark through patience and faith.
We learned earlier that there will be war between the nations during the trumpets. This means the UN will not have supreme global power. Although they may be able to enforce allegiance to the beast in the land of Israel (and in many areas of the world), they will not be able to enforce acceptance of the mark of the beast worldwide, or else there would not be war between the nations.
Another key is to recognize the difference between signs of the beast, and the mark of the beast. Signs and marks are not the same. Since there is so much confusion on this point, let us take some time to break this down.
Physical circumcision is a sign (אות) of the covenant between Yahweh and the children of Avraham in all generations.
B’reisheet (Genesis) 17:11
11 “and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign (אות) of the covenant between Me and you.”
Circumcision is not the covenant itself: it is, rather, an outward sign of the spiritual covenant between Yahweh and us. It is one of the signs that we love Him, and want to keep His commandments.
Another sign of our inward allegiance to Yahweh is that we teach His commandments diligently to our children, and that we talk of them when we sit in our houses, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we rise up.
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6:4-8
4 “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one!
5 You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
The symbolism of verse 8 reveals that we should do all that Yahweh says to do, and we should have a scriptural worldview. That is, we are to do everything by faith. Our faith and obedience serve as an outward sign (אות) of an inward allegiance to Elohim. This inward allegiance is the mark of Yahweh.
In a vision, Yahweh told a man with a writer’s inkhorn to go through Jerusalem and put a spiritual mark (תו) on the foreheads of all the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in Jerusalem. This mark of Yahweh protected them from harm.
Yehezqel (Ezekiel) 9:3-6
3 Now the glory of the Elohim of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side;
4 and Yahweh said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark [תו] on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.
6 Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark [תו]; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
Because this is a vision, we do not expect to see a literal mark (תו) written on anyone’s forehead. Rather, those who are inwardly loyal to Yahweh will perform outward signs (אותות) of the covenant. They will circumcise their children, teach them to keep the Sabbath, and obey His commandments. They will also sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within Jerusalem.
If an inward mark of allegiance to Yahweh is evidenced by outward signs of obedience to Him, then the same should be true of those with allegiance to the Babylonian beast. Those who love Babylon will be happy when the UN comes to power, and the URI is established. They will gladly kill the servants of Yahweh (as those loyal to Catholicism and Islam have long been pleased to do).
Now let us consider some illustrations which show us the difference between the mark and the signs of the beast. Some people don’t want to use the US dollar bill because it has satanic imagery on the back. For example, there is an unfinished tower of Babylon, and below the tower is written, “Annuit coeptis novus ordo seculorum.” This is Latin (i.e., Roman) for “Announcing the birth of the secular New World Order.” That the US dollar bill has Babylonian imagery on the back is a clear sign that the US Federal Reserve (which issues the dollar bill) is part of the Babylonian system. However, even though the US dollar bill carries all of these outward signs, that does not mean we profess inward allegiance to the beast if we use US dollars to buy groceries.
Yeshua used Roman coinage.
Matityahu (Matthew) 17:27
27 “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”
Yeshua and His disciples were not defiled by using Roman currency, because they did not have allegiance to Rome. They simply used the currency of the day.
Some fear the government placing a microchip in our hands. However, Yeshua said that it is not what enters a man from outside that defiles him. Rather, it is what is in his heart (i.e, his allegiance) that either purifies or defiles him.
Marqaus (Mark) 7:14-23
14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:
15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.
16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.
18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,
19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?”
20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye [greed], blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Biometric scanning promises soon to make microchips obsolete. Yet even if someone takes a biometric scan of our body, it does not affect our salvation, because it says nothing about the allegiance of our hearts.
Now that we understand the difference between signs and marks, let us consider the number of the beast. Verse 18 tells us that the number of the beast is 666. We will see both a primary fulfillment in the papacy, and a secondary fulfillment in Islam.
Hitgalut (Revelation) 13:18
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666 (chi xi stigma).
In Nazarene Israel we show how an anti-messiah is not someone who fights against the Messiah, but is someone who pretends to be the Messiah. This is a perfect description of the papacy. In fact, one of the pope’s many titles is Vicarius Philii Dei, which means, “Instead of the Son of the Deity” or “In the place of the Son of the Deity.” This title originally comes from a forged imperial document called the Donation of Constantine, which allegedly transferred authority of the western leg of the empire to the papacy. Although the Donation of Constantine was later proved to be a forgery, it was widely believed for centuries, and many Catholics still call the pope the Vicar of Christ (i.e., “he who stands in for the Messiah”). This title is very significant, because Latin (like many other languages) assigns numerical values to its letters. When one adds the numerical values of Vicarius Philii Dei, one gets a numerical value of 666.
Because Christianity and Islam are the two legs of the Babylonian statue, there is also an Islamic fulfillment of the 666. Although we believe Revelation was originally written in either Hebrew or Aramaic, the evidence shows up in the most ancient Greek texts. To see this, first let us look at the number 666 in a typewritten Greek text of Revelation 13:18.
From left to right, the first Greek letter, χ (pronounced chi), has a numerical value of 600. The letter ξ, pronounced xi, has a numerical value of 60. The letter ς is pronounced stigma. Its numerical value has changed since the first century, but in the first century it had a numerical value of 6. Putting these three letters together we get Chi Xi Stigma (χξς), which has a numerical value of 600 + 60 +6 = 666.
These Greek letters look very much like the Bismillah, which is Arabic for “the name of Allah.” If we flip the Bismillah around, we can see a striking similarity to the Codex Vaticanus, which is widely believed to be the oldest extant Greek manuscript, dated circa 350 CE. The line above xi (under “A.D. 350” below) is not an underline, but is actually part of the handwritten text.
Looking closely, one can see these same letters (χξς) next to crossed swords (denoting conquest) in the (Islamic) Chechin revolutionary flag, here flipped diagonally.
The Greek version of Revelation 13:18 tells us that the mark of the beast will be worn on the forehead or on the right hand. In Hebrew, the word hand is yahd (יד), which means both hand and arm. This fits Islam perfectly, as Islamic jihadists wear the Bismillah on their foreheads, and on their right arms.
Below is a picture of a Hamas headband. Similar bands are typically worn on the right arm. If one looks closely and is willing to turn these images on their sides, one can see images resembling the xi, the chi, and the stigma (χξς).
To be complete, there are some nagging issues. As we explain in Nazarene Israel, the apostles spoke Hebrew or Aramaic, so it is not logical that Yochanan (John) would write Revelation in Greek. Further, the language of verse 18 does not support the idea that he was trying to portray the Bismillah in Greek letters. Rather, Yochanan is clearly expressing a number (666).
Hitgalut (Revelation) 13:18
18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666 [chi xi stigma].