The beast from the earth represents the priests associated with the emperor cult that flourished in Asia Minor. Not only was emperor worship seen as a reflection of one’s commitment to a community, but during this time large temples operated as both banks and marketplaces. Thus, there were associated privileges of economic, social and political security that came from paying homage to the emperor. 

Have you ever had to make an ethical choice as a Christian that has cost you financially? In this passage those who do not bear the mark of the beast (vs 16,17) – most likely a reference to the imperial stamp on commercial documents, or the impression of the emperor’s head on coins of the time – are isolated economically. They cannot ‘buy or sell’ (v 17) without the mark. 

But this is just the beginning. The beast from the earth can also ‘cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed’ (v 15b).

Many scholars have related the number 666 (v 18b) to Nero but there are evil rulers from throughout history whose behaviour provides analogies. Revelation’s power lies in the reminder that earthly, evil power is limited (Revelation 12:12) and that it is God who remains in control. 

‘I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!’¹ 

Today’s passage includes what must be the most notorious verse in the Bible, the number of the beast in verse 18. To make sense of it, we need to notice three things.

First, in the ancient world with no separate number system, letters had a numerical value and it was common to calculate the value of phrases and sayings. There are inscriptions in Pompeii, Ephesus, Smyrna and other cities where we find things like ‘I love her whose number is 545’; it is easy to calculate the number of someone’s name, but very difficult to do the reverse calculation, so this would only be understood by those in the know. Often the calculation was done in another language, since many were multilingual in Greek, Latin and a local language. Second, the mark of the beast (vs 17,18) forms a pair with the ‘seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God’.² Those who follow the beast carry its mark – and this results in final judgement³ – but those who follow the Lamb receive his seal (which turns out to be the name of the Lamb and his Father)⁴ and are protected and saved. No one expects the seal to be visible, so why should we expect the ‘mark’ to be?

Third, both the word ‘beast’ and the name ‘Nero Caesar’ have the value 666 when the Greek words are written in Hebrew letters.⁵ Early readers clearly knew this; the variant 616 found in Bible footnotes is the value when ‘Nero’ is spelt differently. John is telling his readers: the everyday activities of buying and selling, leisure and entertainment are not neutral but involve us making decisions. You cannot follow the Lamb and simply follow the dominant culture: you have to make a choice.

How do my everyday decisions – buying and selling, how I spend my time, where I find entertainment, the use of technology – reflect my faith? Do my habits need to change?

¹ Ps 119:125, ESV  ² Rev 7:3  ³ Rev 14:11  ⁴ Rev 14:1  ⁵ The word ‘angel’ in Rev 21:17 adds up to 144