$500.00 cash to the first person who meets the challenge

[_The1Guy]

In the Book of Revelation, John uses symbols, metaphors and riddles to describe what he sees. King James Bible, Revelation, Chapter 13, verse 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 Three Score and Six." (emphasis added) John is continuing from previous verses to describe the nature of the beast by invoking the nature of the number of a man and he herewith gives us a clue as to who that man is (who was guilty of blasphemy). The man is not the beast but merely a vehicle to help describe the nature and makeup of the beast. When John said, "count the number of the beast," he is saying take note of the number for it has significance. It is an identifier and bridge to understanding.

[_Bret Ripley]

In the Book of Revelation, John uses symbols, metaphors and riddles to describe what he sees. King James Bible, Revelation, Chapter 13, verse 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 Three Score and Six." (emphasis added) John is continuing from previous verses to describe the nature of the beast by invoking the nature of the number of a man and he herewith gives us a clue as to who that man is (who was guilty of blasphemy). The man is not the beast but merely a vehicle to help describe the nature and makeup of the beast. When John said, "count the number of the beast," he is saying take note of the number for it has significance. It is an identifier and bridge to understanding.

John didn't write "it is the number of the nature and makeup of the beast" -- he wrote "it is the number of a man". Also, he makes it clear that a calculation is involved. There is no calculation required to tie the number to Solomon's income. Also, your solution has no explanatory power when it comes to the number 616, which is what appears in several early (including the earliest) extant manuscript.

I am certain World Visions will be grateful for your donation.

[_The1Guy]

You obviously have concrete knowledge. But do you have "understanding?" John could have said, "Let him who knoweth count the number of the beast...." And how do you "count" a static number with no listed parts? Obviously he is using the word "count" in a different way and anyone who is hung up on the word as meaning "calculation" will never gain the "understanding" he is talking about. As to the number "666," that is the number generally accepted by Christians world wide. There are many different translations of the Bible but 666 is the number, if you have understanding.

[_Bret Ripley]

You obviously have concrete knowledge. But do you have "understanding?" John could have said, "Let him who knoweth count the number of the beast...." And how do you "count" a static number with no listed parts? Obviously he is using the word "count" in a different way and anyone who is hung up on the word as meaning "calculation" will never gain the "understanding" he is talking about. As to the number "666," that is the number generally accepted by Christians world wide. There are many different translations of the Bible but 666 is the number, if you have understanding.

You are a hoot.

[_The1Guy]

You obviously have concrete knowledge. But do you have "understanding?" John could have said, "Let him who knoweth count the number of the beast...." And how do you "count" a static number with no listed parts? Obviously he is using the word "count" in a different way and anyone who is hung up on the word as meaning "calculation" will never gain the "understanding" he is talking about. As to the number "666," that is the number generally accepted by Christians world wide. There are many different translations of the Bible but 666 is the number, if you have understanding.

You are a hoot.

Is that the best you can do? Read the book! And then we can discuss what John is telling us. We don't have much time left.

[_Bret Ripley]

You are a hoot.

Is that the best you can do?

No, but it is the best I can do politely.

We don't have much time left.

Oh, I know. It's just that we haven't had "much time left" for two millennia, eh what? Boy who cried wolf and all that jolly rot.

[Guest]

...

[_The1Guy]

We don't have much time left.

Oh, I know. It's just that we haven't had "much time left" for two millennia, eh what? Boy who cried wolf and all that jolly rot.[/quote]

We are about to see a cyber war that will likely shut us down.

[_Bret Ripley]

So just in the interest of discussion , Ill tell you my thoughts on what is the beast. And im sure its been said before.

Basically , its money ...

That's basically the idea The1Guy pitches in his novel. 666 was Solomon's income one year, so the capitalist system that generated Solomon's money is the beast. Or something.

But in all seriousness: there need be no mystery about to whom John referred by "666" or "616" (which may have been the number John originally wrote). Christian writers from the 2nd century onward have identified "The Beast" with Nero or Rome, and today it is widely accepted by scholars that John is making clear reference to Nero.

For an account of how John's writing may have played off his audience's familiarity with the "Nero Redivivus" legend, see:

http://books.google.com/books?id=SkOg-tEYbR4C&pg=PA86#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero_Redivivus_legend

[_The1Guy]

Basically, its money ...That's basically the idea The1Guy pitches in his novel. 666 was Solomon's income one year, so the capitalist system that generated Solomon's money is the beast. Or something.

No, the beast is not money. If you would simply read at least the appendix of the book, you wouldn't have to say, "Or something." There is a side by side verse by verse explanation in the paperback edition that normally sells for $9.99 plus shipping. But I am sure you are not interested, if you won't even read the free digital version. I have just read J.P. Garrow's book that you refer to; if it is typical of all the author's in the past, they all have holes in their interpretations because they simply don't see what John saw. John is relating a vision that reveals the future not his current time-frame or past but a time-frame ushering in the Second Coming in the future. Revelation 19:19-21 tells what will happen to the beast and those who have the mark of the beast or worship his image. The beast can't be Nero. He is long gone at this point. Like I said, the beast is not a man.