Can We Tell What The Mark of the Beast Will Be?

Subtitle:

Can Christians take the Mark of the Beast without knowing it? People have said many different things are the Mark of the Beast, which one is it? Will Christians lose their salvation if they take the Mark?

Synopsis:

There have been many rumors about the Mark of the Beast and many people that have speculated what it could be. Simply put, there is only so much we can know about it from scripture. That seems to indicate that God does not think it necessary to tell us exactly what it will be. Many Christians fear that they could accidentally take the Mark without knowing it. We should ask ourselves if we believe God would allow us to accidentally lose our salvation or if we believe He would protect His followers.

Key Takeaways:

In the past, many have declared that dozens of different things are the Mark of the Beast. So far ALL of them have been wrong.
The Bible has not given us enough information to determine exactly what the Mark will be unless we take it very literally.
The Bible says those that only those that worship the Beast will take the Mark.
To think that a Christian could accidentally take the Mark without knowing it goes against many scriptures.

The Deep Details For Those That Want To Know:

Introduction

The Mark of the Beast and the prophecies about it have been a Christian concern for nearly two thousand years. Over the millennia, the verses in the Book of Revelation that mention the mark have been studied, reinterpreted, theorized, and even guessed about as people have tried their best to figure out exactly what the mark will be. The reason we do not have a definite answer is due to the fact that the details about the mark do not seem to be clear. This opens an opportunity for well-meaning teachers to apply the verses about the Mark of the Beastto the events of their day. Although the widest variety of interpretations have come in recent years, Christians have been trying to figure out what the markwill be since they first read the Book of Revelation. To begin our study, we will start by reading the first two sections of scripture that refer to the mark.

16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18 ESV)

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:9-10 ESV)

The Challenge to Understanding the Mark

Many Christians are at least somewhat familiar with these two passages from reading the Bible or from teachings they have heard. As stated, there have been many different interpretations of these verses and the nature of the mark over the centuries. But there is one important fact that all of these different interpretations miss. They ignore the possibility that the Bible passages could be literal descriptions of exactly what the mark is and where it is located. In other words, it is entirely possible that John is being accurate by saying the mark will be a specific number or name on the right hand or foreheads of those that worship the Beast. All the other interpretations of the mark begin with the assumption that John is using hidden or obscure meaning in these verses for one reason or another. While that may be true, if we are going to do a complete examination on the mark, it is worth our time to at least consider that John’s description of the mark is a literal and accurate one. There are some passages of scripture that might support this idea.

Is There Anything Like This Elsewhere in Scripture?

Among the ancient Hebrews there existed a custom that is still practiced by some Jewish people today. The custom consist of wearing small leather containers that house handwritten scriptural passages. They are called tefillin in Hebrew (phylacteries in Greek) and are worn on the head and arm. This tradition is derived from a literal interpretation of passages like the following:

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV)

18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.(Deuteronomy 11:18 ESV)

9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:9 ESV)

16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:16 ESV)

We know from historical evidence that the tradition was an ancient practice. Though we do not know how old the tradition is, we do find references to it in Jewish texts from 200- 100 BCE. We also have actual archaeological examples of these containers from the same caves as the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Additionally, there is a description of the practice in Josephus’s Antiquities, Book 4. And there is also a reference to the practice found in Matthew.

5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, (Matthew 23:5)

In this verse Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees and makes reference to their phylacteries being large so that everyone can see them.

How this is related to the Mark of the Beast is that we know that the ancient Jews had a similar custom, but they used it to remind them of their relationship with God and as a sign that they worshiped God. It is possible that the Mark of the Beast is intended to be a mockery of the tradition that many took very seriously in Biblical times and many still do today.

Examining Other Interpretations

If we set aside the idea that John is being accurate in describing the mark then we are faced with a different problem. Exactly what the mark is cannot be determined from scriptures, though many have been convinced they have had the answer. While determining exactly what the mark might be (other than a very literal interpretation) is difficult, we might be able to at least determine what it is not.

What We Can Know

To better understand what we can know about the mark, we will turn to scripture. What will be presented here are the facts as they appear in the Bible.

The First Clue: Charagma

The Greek word for mark found in the scriptures you read in the beginning of this article and every other place it is found in the Book of Revelation is charagma, which means an engraving or a stamp (like a stamp used to produce coins or images on metal). The only other place this same word is used in the Bible outside of the Book of Revelation is in Acts 17:29. In this verse Paul is preaching to the people of Athens and telling them that God is not found in idols. How this word is interpreted in that verse is better seen in the King James version of scripture.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. (Acts 17:29 KJV)

Here “graven” in the original Greek is the word charagmati, which means “graven thing”. Again, the use of this particular word implies engraving, which is very different from the Greek word for “writing” (graphe). This is also different from the word used for the “mark” placed on Cain in Genesis 4:15, which is translated into Greek as semeion, or “sign” (or owt in Hebrew). There are also three verses in the Book of Revelation that mention the “servants of God” having a “seal” on their foreheads. In each of these cases, charagma is not the word used.

The only conclusion we can draw from this is that the mark is somehow different from these other examples used in Revelation and elsewhere in scripture -and that it is somehow related to engraving. The question here is why John chose to use that very specific word, when he freely used different words to refer to other similar signs such as the seals in the foreheads of God’s servants? If the mark that John was describing was something like writing, a sign, or a seal, why would he not use a different word that was more accurate? And why would he use the same specific word charagma six times in Revelation to refer to only this particular mark?We may not know exactly why, but we can draw the conclusion that John chose this word for a reason.

Arguments That the Mark is Not an Actual Mark

Over the years many have speculated that the “mark” is not something physical, but is instead a spiritual sign. What follows is a list of some of those speculations.

Early Christians assumed the Beast was imperial Rome and some assumed the “mark” was not an actual mark, but was a spiritual designation that came from participating in worship of the Roman Emperor.
In the Medieval period, the Beast was sometimes viewed as representing heretical cults, Islam, or even the Papacy depending on who was interpreting the scriptures. During this time the “mark” was also believed to be spiritual sign that came from aligning with evil, and not a literal mark.
During the Reformation, reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin identified the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope as the Beast. The mark was sometimes equated with taking Catholic sacraments, papal authority, or an allegiance to the Roman Church.
In the 17^th through 19^th centuries interpreters pointed to a series of political and religious opponents as the Beast (e.g., Napoleon, the Jesuits, Freemasons, etc.) and that the “mark” was something spiritual that came from being aligned with the people or groups accused of being the Beast.

In each of these case, the speculation about the mark and its spiritual (rather than physical) nature turned out to be mistakes. The idea that the mark is not physical, but spiritual and tied to religious practices has continued until today. An example of this is the belief among some Christian denominations that not keeping the Sabbath on Saturday is what John was referring to when he made comments about the “mark”.

This is not to say that the “mark” must be physical. We simply do not know. But what we can know is that past teachings that the mark is spiritual in nature and not physical have proven false (so far).

The Second Clue: What is the Mark?

In both chapters 13 and 14 of Revelation (at the beginning of this article), as well as in Revelation 20:4, it specifically states the mark will be on the forehead or hand.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4 ESV)

That is three times in total John tells us where the mark will be located and there are no other references to the mark being anywhere else, or that it is something that is not on the forehead or hand.

A possible, but unlikely exception to the fact that John says the mark must be on the hand or forehead can be found in the King James version of Revelation 13:17. To see how the wording is a little different we will compare the verse in both the KJV and the ESV:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.(Revelation 13:17 KJV)

17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Revelation 13:17 ESV)

The KJV appears to treat each element (the mark, the name of the beast, the number of his name) as separate. While, the ESV translates the meaning of the sentence as if the mark is the same as the name or number of the name. The difference here is that the KJV version relies on the structure of how this verse was written in Greek. Keep in mind, that written Greek from this period does not use punctuation or spaces between words. The ESV (as well as many other translations) treat “the name of the beast, or the number of the name” as a description of the mark by adding “that is” or some other wording to help readers better understand the verse. In all of the other places the mark is mentioned in Revelation, only the mark is named. It is only in this verse that the name of the beast and the number of the name are separated out.

Finally, and this is important for us Christians to understand, the mark is only given to those that worship the beast and its image. This is clear in the following verses:

2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.(Revelation 16:2 ESV)

20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20 ESV)

The reason it is so important to be aware that only those that worship the beast and its image will receive the mark is because many teachers have pointed to all manners of things as the mark in recent years. This has caused Christians to become afraid that they might “take the mark” accidentally. This is addressed in detail later in this article, but for now know that scripture directly connects receiving the mark with worshiping the beast or its image. If “taking the mark” was something that was NOT tied to worshiping the Beast, or could be done accidentally, God would have given us more information to prevent us from doing so. Why would He provide a path to salvation that could be lost by a trick, by accident, or by not understanding a complex prophecy?

To recap, here is what we can know from the verses that mention the mark in the Book of Revelation:

The word translated as mark specifically means engraving or something similar. For some reason John chose to use that specific word each time he mentions the mark.

The mark only appears on the hand or the forehead. Most translations say that the mark is either the name of the beast or the number of its name. Assuming that John meant anything else is pure conjecture based on the limited information we are given.

Only those that worship the beast or its image will be given the mark. That is made very clear.

The Name or the Number of the Name: Gematria

Another confusing aspect of the markis that it will either be the name of the Beast or the “number” of its name. John tells us that the number is 666 and it is the number of a man. He also says that someone who “has understanding” can “calculate” the number.

18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (Revelation 13:16-18)

The inclusion of a number in John’s description is even more mysterious. How are we to interpret this? Many have tried over the centuries, but to date no one has gotten it correct.

One of the more well known ways that people have tried to interpret this number is through the use of Gematria, which is a Hebrew system of numerology that assigns a numerical value to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. To explain how Gematria works we will first use a similar system in English.

To begin, each letter of the alphabet is assigned a numerical value:

English Example of Gematria
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	200	300	400	500	600	700	800

Then the amount of each letter in a name is added together. For example the name “Susan” would be calculated like this:

S	U	S	A	N	Total
100	300	100	1	50	551

That would make the “number of the name” of Susan = 551

Since the time of the early Church, many have tried to use this technique to determine exactly who was being referenced by John with the number 666. One of the more famous was the Roman Emperor Nero since he was known as a harsh persecutor of Christians. In order for the numerical values to come out correct, those that used this method to make the name of Nero fit the number 666 had to use an interesting approach. First they added Nero’s title to arrive at the Greek version of his name: Nero Caesar. And then transliterated it to Hebrew: נרון קסר (or rsQ norN). Keep in mind that Hebrew is written from right to left, so we will reverse the letters in our example below so they are easier to read for English speakers. Reversing the letters gives us: Nron Qsr (it is also important to note that Hebrew does not generally include vowels in its writing, so those have been removed from the example). Using a similar table as we did for “Susan” we see that Hebrew transliteration of the Greek name totals 666.

(נ) N	(ר) r	(ו) o	(נ) n	(ק) Q	(ס) s	r(ר)	Total
50	200	6	50	100	60	200	666

An interesting twist on all of this is that so many people were certain that John was referring to Nero that several variations of the number have appeared in ancient writings with the number of the Beast being calculated as 616 instead of 666 (Papyrus 115 from the 3^rd century AD and the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus from the 5^th century AD). This is based on a transliteration of Latin instead of Greek, but using the same technique.

(נ) N	(ר)r	(ו) o	(ק) Q	(ס)s	(ר)r	Total
50	200	6	100	60	200	616

Before becoming too concerned that there are copies of the Book of Revelation that have a different number than 666, it should be noted that Papyrus 115 is really a collection of 26 papyrus fragments. In those fragments it is not only the number of the Beast that is different, but there are a total of 165 variations from the Book of Revelation found in the pieces of the text. More on this is found in the next section.

Irenaeus Sets the Record Straight

It is reassuring to know that the early church fathers were well aware of such errors and sought to correct them. For example, the much respected Irenaeus says that he suspects the reason 616 appears in some texts is due to copyist error. He thinks it was done by accident and without evil intent.

In his text Against Heresies (written c. 180-185 AD) Irenaeus also tells us many things that are important to our study on the Mark of the Beast. These are important enough that what Irenaeus has written on the subject has been included at the end of this article for you to read and verify. But we will also cover the highlights here.

First, we will establish the credibility of Irenaeus. Irenaeus was a direct disciple of Polycarp, who in turn was a direct disciple of John. Therefore, when he writes that men who knew John personally say the correct number is 666, we can take him as an established authority on the subject.

Such, then, being the state of the case, and this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned] according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six; (Against Heresies, Irenaeus)

During the early church, many sought better understanding of what was found in scripture- especially in the Apocalyptic writings of John. Irenaeus was central to this because of his direct affiliations with people that not only knew John, but had been taught by John for many years. Due to this we can take any commentary he makes as authentic and the best source available from the period. It should be noted that Irenaeus was very likely a member of the church of Smyrna mentioned in Revelation 2:8-11, although he was not yet born when the Book of Revelation was written. It was there that he received teaching directly from Polycarp, John’s disciple.

In the above quote, Irenaeus also confirms that Gematria is the method of calculation to be used to confirm the name of the Beast. But he also tells us that there is a reason the name is not given to us by John.

But he indicates the number of the name now, that when this man comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is: the name, however, is suppressed, because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. For if it had been declared by Him, he (Antichrist) might perhaps continue for a long period. (Against Heresies, Irenaeus)

Irenaeus also tells us that some people are intentionally using the incorrect number for their own reasons, in order to proclaim who they think is the Beast.

But as for those who, for the sake of vainglory, lay it down for certain that names containing the spurious number are to be accepted, and affirm that this name, hit upon by themselves, is that of him who is to come; such persons shall not come forth without loss, because they have led into error both themselves and those who confided in them. Now, in the first place, it is loss to wander from the truth, and to imagine that as being the case which is not; then again, as there shall be no light punishment [inflicted] upon him who either adds or subtracts anything from the Scripture, (see Revelation 22:19) under that such a person must necessarily fall. Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against. (Against Heresies, Irenaeus)

This is a strong warning from Irenaeus for those that speculate on the name. After this section of the text, Irenaeus gives several coincidental examples of other names that also fit the calculation method. He does this to illustrate how easy it is to assume that one person or another can be made to fit the calculation in error.

History shows us that this was not just a problem in Irenaeus’s time, but has continued to the present day. The exact thing that Irenaeus warned against has occurred over and over when speculators claim they have identified the name. They have not only used Greek and the Gematria, but have used different languages and different systems of numerology to come up with the correct number in order to “prove” their teachings. People have used Roman numerology and the unofficial title of Vicarius Filii Dei to indicate the number’s association with the Pope, L’Empereur Napoleon to point to Napoleon, and many others. Over thousands of years these have all been incorrect.

But Irenaeus, in his wisdom, does not leave us to continue in ignorance. He gives us some sound advice in regard to what we should do with the information about the number and name given to us by John.

It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the coming man bear. It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: (Against Heresies, Irenaeus)

He also adds:

We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. (Against Heresies, Irenaeus)

In other words, Irenaeus is confident that when we Christians need to know the name, it will be revealed to us. He states clearly that if it was important for us to know ahead of time, John would have told us.

Other Efforts to Identify the Mark of the Beast

Mistakes and false guesses about the mark have not been limited to past history. There have been many attempts to identify the mark in more recent times. Many of the things proposed to be the mark in more modern times stray far from the details given to us in Revelation. Some of these guesses have been by good intention, but almost all of them have one critical fact in common- they all require deception to trick people (even Christians) in to taking the mark. This ignores what John said about the mark being taken by people that worship the Beast. What follows are a list of things that have been taught as candidates for the markover the last few decades.

1960s 1970s

Social Security Numbers
Barcodes / UPC (Universal Product Code)
Credit card/ Banking- cashless society

1980s-1990s

Microchips (RFID)
European Union- A single economic system or global government might require a unified ID or financial system with a “mark.”

2000s

Biometric ID and Facial Recognition
VeriChip (FDA-approved in 2004) implantable RFID chip for medical information

2010-2020

Smartphones / Digital Wallets
COVID-19 Vaccines and Digital Passports – vaccine mandates

It is worth noting that almost all of these are missing one or more of the components John gave us for being able to recognize the mark.

Nothing that relates to engraving or something similar.
The mark only appears on the hand or the forehead.
The mark is either the name of the Beast or the number of its name.
None of these require worship of the Beast or its image will be given the mark.

Summary

From all of this we can come to three conclusions:

1. The first is that the name and number of the name have been purposefully hidden from the people of different time periods that do not need to be concerned. We should certainly trust God that this was for a good reason.

2. The second is that when the time comes for the person to be revealed, we will be able to determine who that is. Not by necessarily by Gematria calculations or speculation ahead of time, but by other signs that also align with what John told us.

3. And finally, that God will not allow believers to accidentally take the mark out of ignorance. Christians will be given the ability to recognize the mark for what it is and will have a clear aversion to it since it will require them to worship the Beast or its image. This assurance is given to us in the Book of Revelation.

2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. (Revelation 15:2 ESV)

To think otherwise is to mischaracterize God. If we are afraid He would allow us to be fooled or tricked into losing our salvation and take the mark out of ignorance, we do not truly trust Him. Nor do we have confidence that He will keep us. This stands in stark contrast to verses like John 10:27-29.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.(John 10:27-29 ESV)

To anyone that fears they may accidentally take the Mark of the Beast or for those that go through life suspicious of this thing or that, the above verses are for you. Do you hear our Lord’s voice? Do you know when you hear truth that aligns with scripture? Does your Lord know you and do you follow Him? Jesus did not tell us that we are to go through life worried that He is not able to fulfill this promise. He did not say,”I will do what I can to preserve My sheep and hope they make it.” He said clearly that no one will snatch us from out of His hand, and no one is able to snatch us from the Father’s hand.

Appendix:

Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 30), Irenaeus- around 180-185 AD

Such, then, being the state of the case, and this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned] according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six; that is, the number of tens shall be equal to that of the hundreds, and the number of hundreds equal to that of the units (for that number which [expresses] the digit six being adhered to throughout, indicates the recapitulations of that apostasy, taken in its full extent, which occurred at the beginning, during the intermediate periods, and which shall take place at the end) — I do not know how it is that some have erred following the ordinary mode of speech, and have vitiated the middle number in the name, deducting the amount of fifty from it, so that instead of six decads (decades) they will have it that there is but one. [I am inclined to think that this occurred through the fault of the copyists, as is wont to happen, since numbers also are expressed by letters; so that the Greek letter which expresses the number sixty was easily expanded into the letter Iota of the Greeks.] Others then received this reading without examination; some in their simplicity, and upon their own responsibility, making use of this number expressing one decad (decade); while some, in their inexperience, have ventured to seek out a name which should contain the erroneous and spurious number. Now, as regards those who have done this in simplicity, and without evil intent, we are at liberty to assume that pardon will be granted them by God. But as for those who, for the sake of vainglory, lay it down for certain that names containing the spurious number are to be accepted, and affirm that this name, hit upon by themselves, is that of him who is to come; such persons shall not come forth without loss, because they have led into error both themselves and those who confided in them. Now, in the first place, it is loss to wander from the truth, and to imagine that as being the case which is not; then again, as there shall be no light punishment [inflicted] upon him who either adds or subtracts anything from the Scripture, (references Revelation 22:19) under that such a person must necessarily fall. Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against.
These men, therefore, ought to learn [what really is the state of the case], and go back to the true number of the name, that they be not reckoned among false prophets. But, knowing the sure number declared by Scripture, that is, six hundred sixty and six, let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, [let them learn] to acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking, having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the abomination of desolation. This, too, the apostle affirms: “When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them” (quote from 1 Thessalonians 5:3). And Jeremiah does not merely point out his sudden coming, but he even indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and the fullness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein (references Jeremiah 8:16). This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved.¹
It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the coming man bear. It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name “Evanthas” ²(ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also ”Lateinos”³ (ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. “Teitan”⁴too, (ΤΕΙΤΑΝ), the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and ι, among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters; and [the word itself] is ancient, and removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshipped in public among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation. Among many persons, too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed “Titan” by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word, too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he vindicates the oppressed. And besides this, it is an ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name ”Titan” has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called “Titan”. We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s ⁵reign.
But he indicates the number of the name now, that when this man comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is: the name, however, is suppressed, because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. For if it had been declared by Him, he (Antichrist) might perhaps continue for a long period. But now as he was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the abyss, and goes into perdition, (quote from Revelation 17:8) as one who has no existence; so neither has his name been declared, for the name of that which does not exist is not proclaimed. But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which kingdom the Lord declared, that many coming from the east and from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (quote from Matthew 8:11).

1. Dan- The idea of the Antichrist coming from the tribe of Dan is a theological theory with roots in early Christian interpretation, not a direct biblical statement. It is based on two key points: the prophecy in Genesis 49:17 where Jacob says of Dan, “Dan shall be a serpent by the way,” and the omission of the tribe of Dan from the list of the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1-8.

2. “Evanthes” (or Euanthes) is a figure in Greek mythology, the son of Dionysus and Ariadne. Additionally, the name “Evanthas” (Greek: ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) was proposed by the Church Father Irenaeus in the 2nd century AD as one of the potential names that could correspond to the number 666 mentioned in the Book of Revelation, though he did not claim it as the definitive name for the Antichrist.

3. “Lateinos” is a term derived from the Greek word “Lateinos” (Latinos), meaning “Latin” or “Roman”

4. “Teitan” is a name from the Greek mythological Titan, which was used by St. Irenaeus in his work Against Heresies to discuss the biblical number 666.

5. Domitian was the Roman emperor from 81 to 96, known for his persecution of Christians.

References

The links below are provided as references and resources for additional study. We do not have any affiliation with these Websites or the organizations that publish them. We do not necessarily agree or disagree with anything on the sites or endorse any of the information found at the links. The links are for additional research on the part of the reader and are based on supporting sources that could be verified through an Internet search. Which links the search produced was more due to ease and dependability of access than church or denominational association.