Author: Charlie Garrett

Friday, 2 April 2021

These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4

John continues with his description of the one hundred and forty-four thousand that were “redeemed from the earth,” saying, “These are the ones who were not defiled with women.” The words here, and in the next clause, have given rise to all kinds of unusual – and even strange – doctrines. This is speaking of a particular group of end-times Jews. It also prescribes nothing.

The words cannot be used to justify the Roman Catholic doctrine concerning chastity of their priests, alluding to the notion that being with a wife somehow defiles a man. Marriage is, elsewhere, said to exclude that –

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

It is sex outside of the bonds of marriage that defiles. This includes homosexual sex, which is practiced by a gigantic part of the RCC’s priesthood, as evidenced in countless lawsuits and media exposés over the past many years. However, a perverse mindset could use this verse to supposedly “justify” such behavior, saying, “it is only sex with a woman that defiles.”

The point here is that these men being referred to have remained free from intimacy with women outside of the bonds of marriage. However, the words have been spiritualized to indicate that this is referring to idolatry and superstition rather than actual sexual intercourse. That could be argued from other verses in Scripture. But John next restates the words, using parallelism, to show what the most likely meaning of the first clause is, saying, “for they are virgins.”

The word translated as “virgins” is generally considered to signify a person who has not had sex. It can simply mean “pure,” as in 2 Corinthians 11:2, where Paul equates those of the church as being a chaste virgin –

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Despite this, John’s restating of the thought in two different ways shows us that he is most likely referring to actual virgins. These are men who have not had sex outside of marriage, and also who were not yet married. Instead, they were sealed and have been set aside to God. And there is a reason for this that will be mentioned towards the end of this verse’s analysis. In this state, John next says, “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”

The meaning of this is, “As believers, they live for Christ at all times and in all ways, even to death.” As a lamb will follow a shepherd, these men have a calling that is above all else. The fact that Christ is again referred to here as “the Lamb” signifies the sacrificial act of His ministry. He is the One who took away the sin of the world through His death. To follow the Lamb, then, means that these men will be willing to also die. The nature of the Leader of the flock is seen in those who follow Him. It is reflective of the words of Paul in the book of Acts –

“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, ‘What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’” Acts 21:12, 13

Like Paul, regardless of what this physical life holds, these men will stay focused on the goal, and will not be swayed from the path of righteousness in Christ. The same type of calling was laid upon Simon Peter in John 21. The Lord set him as an example to the sheep and told him that he was to follow his Lord, even to his death. This will be the calling of the one hundred and forty-four thousand because, as John next says, “These were redeemed from among men.”

It is the same word just used in the previous verse. It signifies to purchase. Christ’s blood is what purchases those who come to Him in faith. The world is sold out to sin, and only what Christ has done can make the necessary purchase from that state. Saying they were redeemed from among men shows us this.

Man without Christ does not belong to God, but to the devil. Christ came to restore man to God. His life is the price of that redemption. These men have believed, and He has redeemed them through that act. Of them, John finishes with the thought that they are “firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”

Because of the wording here, it is assumed that these one hundred and forty-four thousand are a special portion among whom special favor is given. The cult known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses claims that only one hundred and forty-four thousand of their members will go to heaven, and all the rest will live on earth for all eternity – thus setting up two classes of believers.

The amount of theological error in this is immense, but it is similar in thought to the doctrine of countless others. The first point to be remembered is that these are Jews (their tribal connections were explicitly stated in Revelation 7). The second thing to remember is that “firstfruits” are a separate category in time, not in being.

In other words, the idea of the firstfruits that is derived from the Old Testament, is that of being the first as a representative of a greater whole. This even carries through in the New Testament –

“Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23

“For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16

“Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.” Romans 16:5

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

“I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 16:15

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” James 1:18

These (along with Revelation 14:4) are all of the references to “firstfruits” in the New Testament. Each of them clearly indicates the first of others to come, all having the same characteristics. These one hundred and forty-four thousand, then, are different only in time, not in being. They are the firstfruits of a great harvest, a harvest of tribulation saints, to come. Their state of physical purity is selected for a reason. It is to demonstrate that all of those who come to Christ will be like them – not meaning virgins, but pure.

In other words, the purification of Christ upon the tribulation saints will be complete. Those who are redeemed by the Lamb will be as undefiled as these who were set apart as the firstfruits. They will be washed, purified, and sanctified as holy. This is the marvel of the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb.

Life application: As just noted, the one hundred and forty-four thousand being redeemed from Israel as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb means they are symbolic of the rest of a harvest. They are redeemed in anticipation of the redemption of many others. The harvest, which is God’s crop of souls cleansed and purified by the work of Jesus, is coming. But it will be during a time of great trial and woe. People will have to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, meaning even to death.

For those who do, great things lie ahead for them. But now, before that time, we have been given a wonderful and blessed hope of being saved out of that time of tribulation. All God asks us to do is to believe the gospel message. In this, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and will be taken to glory before the tribulation begins. This is the hope of the rapture of the saints. It is a hope that has its solid foundation in the Lamb, our Lord JESUS.

It is by the precious blood of Jesus Christ that defiled man is cleansed and purified. Thank You, Lord, for Your work done on our behalf! On our own, we are impure in thought, word, and deed, but by the beauty of Your cross, we are cleansed from all impurity. Thank You, Lord Jesus! Thank You. Amen.

Thursday, 1 April 2021

They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14:3

John continues with his vision of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, saying, “They sang as it were a new song before the throne.” The Greek is present tense – “They sing” rather than “They sang.” The Greek uses an adverb, hós, which is variously translated, but which is used in a comparative sense. Strong’s says, “it also assumes the nature of a conjunction, of time, of purpose, and of consequence.” Hence, the NKJV says “as it were.”

What is surely being conveyed is that this is referring to what is recorded in verse 5:8, 9 where it says –

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:”

It was these figures of that vision who sang a new song. Here, it is the one hundred and forty-four thousand. They have joined the heavenly chorus in singing before the throne, meaning they have come to accept that Christ is Lord and the One who sits on heaven’s throne. John next says, “before the four living creatures.”

The four living creatures are those that picture the four gospels. It is these gospels that depict the life and work of Christ, detailing the four aspects of His ministry – the lion, the calf, the man, and the eagle signifying His kingly authority, His servanthood, His humanity, and His deity. John continues with “and the elders.”

As noted in the Chapter 4 commentary, these picture the heavenly government of Christ being praised by those of Israel and those of the nations, united as one government under Christ. John then next states, “and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand.”

The meaning of this is that the song of redemption is one that can only be learned by those who have been redeemed in the manner in which their redemption occurred. It is not saying that the song cannot be learned by anyone else in the absolute sense. But only those who come to know Christ can learn the song as it pertains to them.

The song is the same theme of the one sung in Revelation 5:9, but it is only intelligible to these one hundred and forty-four thousand. In 5:9, it included “every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Here it is redemption of only this group of Jews. In their redemption, they can sing their own new song before the throne. This is surely what is conveyed because the song that was sung in Chapter 5 was also one of redemption –

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9, 10

Being a song of redemption, the redeemed can learn it. In this case, those who can learn it are this group of Jews “who were redeemed from the earth.” The Greek word translated here as “redeemed” means “purchased” or “bought.” A price was paid for them, which was the blood of Christ, signifying His death. They are now a part of the heavenly chorus.

Life application: Singing a new song is a theme that goes back to the Old Testament and is found in no less than five psalms. One example is in Psalm 96 –

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
² Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
³ Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.” Psalm 96:1-3

Although this verse in Revelation contains a “new song,” it is only so because of the progressive working of God in human history. In other words, the overall message of such a song will be the same – proclaiming the greatness and the glory of God in His unfolding plan of redemption.

Even if a “new song” for the Old Testament saints will be different than a “new song” for the New Testament saints, the salvation is ultimately of the same source – the Person and work of Jesus Christ. But how that salvation is brought about in the individual has differences.

Old Testament saints, prior to the Law of Moses, looked forward to it in their own unique way. Those who lived during the Law of Moses looked forward to it in a different way. Each succeeding “dispensation” has the same Savior, but with a clearer picture of His work. In the end, though, each relies on grace through faith in Him for their redemption.

Over the ages, people have tried to identify who the 144,000 are. Cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses claim it springs from specially sealed members within its organization. Many older, mainstream denominations claim it is symbolic of the redeemed of all the ages and thus excludes Israelis of a future tribulation period. All such analyses are wrong.

Chapter 7 clearly identifies these as Jews, not cult members of aberrant denominations or sects, and they are also not a “symbolic” counting of the redeemed of the ages. The same scholars who argue this view also argue that the twenty-four elders are representative of the redeemed of the ages. This then confuses the narrative.

If the twenty-four elders of Chapter 4 are representative of the government of the redeemed, then why would the one-hundred and forty-four thousand need to be its own separate category here? There are also the great multitude in white robes (and so on) who must be accounted for.

No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand referred to here because they are not of the same group. The new song reflects the process of the redemption of these numbered and sealed Jews of the future. The reason that no one could learn that song is because this specific redemption has only happened to them.

As an example, only a person who was on the Titanic and was saved from that drowning can “sing the song of the Titanic.” Only a person who was on the Lusitania and was saved from that accident can “sing the song of the Lusitania.” The salvation was the same, from drowning, but the actual experience in time and history is unique to each situation. This is the same for these one hundred and forty-four thousand. No one else can sing their song because it is a unique event that God has designed for them alone.

In the end, each of us is redeemed by the blood of Christ, but our salvation story is unique to us. From there, it is brought into a larger category, such as “from this tribe, and then a larger one, such as “from this nation.” Eventually, however, all redemption comes to the final, single category of us being from humanity. All redemption comes solely because of the shed blood of the Lamb. No matter who is in heaven, and no matter what the individual salvation was like, in the end, it came solely and completely in one way alone. It came through JESUS.

Heavenly Father, it is important for us to realize that we are all saved in the same way, but not in the same context. We can’t insert our salvation experience into another person’s life, and so we cannot make unfounded assumptions about their walk with You either. Help us to focus on the fact that they are redeemed through faith in Christ. Thank God for Jesus Christ! Amen.

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. Revelation 14:2

Chapter 14 reintroduced the one hundred and forty-four thousand first seen in Chapter 7. They are seen together with the Lamb on Mount Zion. With that scene before John, he next says, “And I heard a voice from heaven.” A single voice from heaven is heard. Therefore, this is not the multitude recorded in verses 7:9-11. Nor is it the “loud voices” recoded in verse 11:15. Rather, One is speaking forth who has “the voice of many waters.”

It is the voice of the Lord Jesus as was seen in Revelation 1:15 –

“His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”

The voice of many waters was described in detail in verse 1:15, but simply stated, it gives the sense of the roaring of the sea, crashing and terrifying. It is one voice, but it is as if a multitude of voices, all with varying wavelengths, is speaking at one time. This is John’s way of describing the thundering resonance of the Lord’s awesome and glorious voice. John then says it is also “like the voice of loud thunder.”

This may be compared to the voice of the first of four beasts that call forth in verse 6:1, the voice of the Lion –

“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’”

The lion’s voice is one of kingly authority. This is exactly what one would expect as the Lamb stands on Mount Zion, the place of the King of Israel –

“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6

The symbolism of Revelation 5 is called to mind here where both the Lion (5:5) and the Lamb (5:6) were seen. Each revealed a different aspect of the work of Christ. It is so here as well. He is both the Redeemer of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, and He is their King. John next speaks of these redeemed Jews, saying, “And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.”

The Greek more closely reads “voice” instead of “sound.” It is most probably both the playing of harps and singing that accompanies the playing of them. As noted in verse 5:8, this would be a lute or a guitar (the Greek word kithara is the root of guitar).

It will be understood from the coming verse that these harpists are the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

Life application: The 66th Psalm shows us one intent of music when used in worship –

“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
² Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
³ Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
⁴ All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah Psalm 66:1-4

In the New Testament, Paul says –

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:16, 17

Music and singing are ways of exalting God. They are used to both bring Him the honor and glory He is due. It is a means of aligning our minds with proper thinking in regard to His wonderful works. At the same time, they are for building others up to the attainment of that same attitude. Let us be sure to follow this pattern and sing out to the Lord of His great and wonderful works. Especially in the cross and resurrection. Let us thank God in song for JESUS!

Oh God, we will sing praises to You, our Redeemer and King. With every bit of our fiber, may we remember to praise and exalt You for what You have done. Praise You, Lord, for Your mighty deeds among the children of men. Hallelujah to the Lamb who has redeemed us to God! Amen.

Tuesday, 30 March 2021

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. Revelation 14:1

There are two major differences in source texts in this verse. One is that it says, “the Lamb” instead of “a Lamb.” The other is that it adds a few words, saying, “had His name and His Father’s name.” With that noted, John begins Chapter 14 with a new vision. It is a vision tied into that of Chapter 7. This interlude is given before returning to the bowl judgments which follow the trumpet judgments. Of this interlude, John begins with, “Then I looked.”

John’s attention is drawn away from the vision of the two beasts (one out of the sea and one out of the earth) to a new scene. Continuing, he says, “and behold, a Lamb.” As noted, some manuscripts say, “the Lamb.” Either way, it is Christ Jesus. He is being depicted here as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (verse 13:8). In other words, the scene is speaking of the atoning nature of Christ’s work. Of this Lamb, John says He is “standing on Mount Zion.”

The vision is a heavenly one, depicting victory in the Lamb. He is standing. Mount Zion was originally a designation for a hill at the south edge of Jerusalem captured by David in 2 Samuel 5:7. The name is developed in the Old Testament, especially in Isaiah, to refer to the whole city of Jerusalem and which speaks of the place of the worship of the Lord on earth. It is the place of the temple and all of its associated rituals.

The term is used to refer to the same location in the future as well. It is from this place that Isaiah says –

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days
That the mountain of the Lord’s house
Shall be established on the top of the mountains,
And shall be exalted above the hills;
And all nations shall flow to it.
³ Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
⁴ He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:2-4

Isaiah’s words describe the rule of Messiah from Jerusalem during the millennium. However, that only is an anticipation of the true worship in the heavenly Mount Zion. This is referred to in the book of Hebrews –

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24

Even if Christ’s reign in the millennium is literally from Jerusalem, as noted by Isaiah, it is still a heavenly reign because Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament types found in the temple, its rites, and in its worship. To worship Jesus is what all of those things anticipated. With that noted, John next says, “and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand.”

The one hundred and forty-four thousand are those mentioned in Revelation 7:3-8. They are Jews, redeemed as “firstfruits to God and to the Lamb” (14:4). They have been taken from the tribes of Israel. Being firstfruits, they are reflective of a greater harvest to come. Of them, John next says, “having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.” As noted above, various texts say, “His name and His Father’s name.”

In verse 7:3, it said they were sealed as “the servants of God on their foreheads.” The variation in the text of Revelation 14:1 means that someone either wanted to diminish the notion of Jesus’ deity by removing the words in question, or someone wanted to solidify it by adding them in. The former seems more likely. Either way, however, these Jews are sealed, having been saved by the atoning work of Christ. They are His forever.

Of these redeemed, the common teaching is that they are going to be evangelists during the tribulation period. This may be true, but that is not stated anywhere in Revelation. The word simply states that they are sealed, having the name of God written on their foreheads. From there, more will be said of them, but nothing refers to them in an evangelistic capacity. Being firstfruits, they are reflective of a much greater harvest – whether by their evangelism or some other way.

Life application: The previous chapter referred to the beasts out of the sea and earth, and of the mark of the beast. This chapter begins with those Jews who are sealed (meaning saved), and it will refer later to those who do not take the mark and who “die in the Lord.”

In other words, the sides are being divided up. Those who accept the number of the beast and bow allegiance to him will be eternally condemned. Those who follow the Lamb will be His forever. Even if they die, they will be raised to eternal life. The contrast couldn’t be clearer, and the consequences of the choice will be fixed.

Now, during the church age, we have the choice of following Christ or rejecting Him. Once the decision for Christ is made by a person who accepts the gospel and believes, he will be saved forever. During this time, we have our own trials to face, but they are nothing compared to what lies ahead during the tribulation.

Those who are wise now will avoid entering that time of trouble by receiving the Gift of God through remission of sins. This was made possible through the shed blood of the Lamb of God. Believe today! Seek after God as He has presented Himself, and call out for His Gift of life and restoration. He is JESUS.

Great and mighty is the Lord God! How wonderful to know that despite the wickedness in the world today, the battle is already won. Jesus has prevailed and will return again to rule all nations. May that day be soon! Hallelujah and amen.

Monday, 29 March 2021

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. Revelation 13:18

The previous verse referred to the mark, “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.” With that, John now says, “Here is wisdom.” The Greek reads, “Here is the wisdom.” It is a particular wisdom that is set forth.

The words have several possible meanings. The first is that of calling for wisdom, just as John did in Revelation 13:10 when he said, “Here is the patience of the saints.” There, it is “calling for” patience. In this interpretation, it would mean that a special wisdom would be needed to determine what will next be said.

Another possibility is that it is saying there is a special wisdom that has been demonstrated in the laying out of what will next be expressed. That wisdom then calls for those with understanding to pay heed.

Other lesser likely possibilities have been suggested for the meaning. The most normal interpretation would be the first option, wisdom is necessary in order to determine what John is conveying. However, an obvious problem with that is that unless that wisdom is a “simple” wisdom, meaning that anyone can readily understand it, then it will not be attainable to the “simple.” In other words, it says in Proverbs 9:10 –

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

The words of the proverb reveal a “simple” wisdom. Anyone can do it. It doesn’t take a textbook and years of study to grasp what is plainly stated – “Fear the Lord and you will be wise.” Those who do not have understanding will take the mark, not knowing to refuse it

If it is a simple wisdom, it is something that anyone can readily understand and be warned about. Thus, a highly intelligent person may know the meaning and still take the mark because he has no wisdom. But a person simple in the head, but who is wise towards the Lord will demonstrate “the wisdom” and not take the mark. With that considered, John next says, “Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast.”

This follows the same theme as the proverb just cited. The first clause spoke of the beginning of wisdom. The second refers to knowledge of the Holy One being understanding. The two thoughts are parallel. The same is probably the case here. The understanding is displayed in calculating the number of the beast.

The word translated as “calculate” is used only in Luke 14:28 and here. It comes from a root meaning to use pebbles in enumeration. Thus, it is to count or to add up. In the commentary of the previous verse, the study of gematria was referred to. That is where a specific value is assigned to each letter of an alphabet. From there, the total is added up. For example, it was noted that the gematria of Jesus in Greek (the language of the New Testament) is 888.

This same method of gematria is probably what is being referred to. Eight is the number of superabundance. It is also the starting of a new series of numbers. In this, one could say “new beginnings,” because seven is the number of completion and rest. EW Bullinger shows that six in Scripture is “the “number of imperfection; the human number; the number of MAN as destitute of God, without God, without Christ.”

With this in mind, John next says, “for it is the number of a man.” This actually aligns perfectly with Bullinger’s commentary on biblical numbers. This is dealing with a man and not a “god.” He bears imperfection and he is without God. Thus, he is set in opposition to Jesus. The verse says that this is the number of the beast, but the beast is represented by a man.

A question arises which is left open to speculation though. Is this “beast” the beast out of the sea, or is it the beast out of the earth? In verse 13:15, it says, “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, 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.”

The word “he” that opens the verse is referring to the beast out of the earth. The words then refer to the image of the beast. That is referring to the beast out of the sea, led by the antichrist. However, if the “image” of the beast is simply a copying of the system set forth by the antichrist, then the words now refer to the beast out of the earth (led by the false prophet) and not the beast out of the sea (led by the antichrist). Verse 13:16 continues referring to the beast out of the earth – “He causes all.”

Either way, the number is that of a man. John finishes the verse and the chapter with “His number is 666.” This may be the most studied, debated, misused, and twisted set of words in the entire Bible. People who don’t even believe in the truth of the Bible seem to find themselves drawn in by them. From the earliest days after John received Revelation, people have tried to fit someone they don’t like, or some contemporary ruler, into the number of this man.

In order to find fulfillment of the verse at the time of John, people have attempted to align the number with the emperor Nero. In doing this, one must spell his name wrong and convert his name to Hebrew (which makes no sense as the New Testament is written in Greek). Or as an option, they will use the number 616, not 666.

In order to substantiate this as valid they use a variation in manuscripts that has the number 616 instead of 666. However, the overall consensus of manuscripts, and of ancient commentaries on this number, clearly state that the correct number is 666. But in order to justify that the antichrist was Nero, someone changed a manuscript after calculating the number.

This view is popular with replacement theologians, because it then places the events of Revelation in the first century AD, and it means that the church has replaced Israel. This is not sound. Nero wasn’t the antichrist and only a foolish attempt at biblical interpretation could come to this conclusion.

Another habit of those desperate to solve the mystery is to convert one’s own language, such as English, into gematria and then “solve” the mystery of the number. Again, this is unsound. The Bible was not written in English. Such manipulations of the intent of the words in this verse are always popular, but they are not theologically sound.

Countless attempts have been made to match this number with many other world leaders for the past two thousand years. But this approach is actually pointless for Christians, because Paul explains in 2 Thessalonians 2 that this man, be it the antichrist or the false prophet, won’t be revealed until the Day of the Lord. This period will only begin after the rapture of the church –

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, ⁴ who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4

A few things we can know from this verse –

1) The wise will be able to understand who this person is when he is finally revealed.
2) The number requires a sort of calculation that can be understood from a biblical perspective.
3) It is the number of a man.

Life application: It is exciting to try to figure out what John is saying in this verse because people want to be the ones with the secret “wisdom” that nobody else possesses – “Everyone else has been wrong. I am right. I am the man of wisdom.” In order to demonstrate that wisdom, they then show themselves unwise.

Until this person is revealed during the tribulation period, we can only make guesses as to who this person is. Should we be wrong, as so many have been throughout the ages, we only bring discredit upon ourselves, and we give those who look for reasons to dismiss the Bible abundant reason to mock Christianity.

The best approach concerning the number is to not spend an inordinate amount of time on it, but rather direct our attention to the greatness of Jesus, the true Christ. Save your money and don’t buy the book. Save your time and don’t watch the video. Don’t waste your effort and attempt to show yourself wise. The number will be understandable at the time when this man is revealed. If you want wisdom now, fear the Lord, seek after God as He has presented Himself, and call out for His Gift of life and restoration. Call out for JESUS!

Lord Jesus, Your word asks us to fix our thoughts and eyes on You. Help us to remember this and to not get sidetracked by hype and sensationalism – especially over things that are hidden until the time they are to be revealed. You alone are worthy of our devotion and praise, so help us to remember this as we live out our lives in Your presence. Amen.