The number of the beast is described in Revelation β Several translations have been interpreted for the meaning of the phrase "Here is Wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast Possible translations include "to count", "to reckon" and also "to vote" or "to decide". Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is 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 and sixty-six.
Revelation states that if one is wise and has an understanding to count the number of the beast, which is also the number of a man, the number comes to Although Irenaeus 2nd century AD affirmed the number to be and reported several scribal errors of the number, theologians have doubts about the traditional reading [ 16 ] because of the appearance of the figure in the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus C ; Parisβone of the four great uncial codices , as well as in the Latin version of Tyconius DCXVI , ed.
Conybeare , Irenaeus knew about the reading, but did not adopt it Haer. V, 30 noting instead that those who spoke with the Apostle John traditionally considered the author of the Book of Revelation "face to face" said that the number was Around , a fragment from Papyrus , taken from the Oxyrhynchus site, was discovered at the University of Oxford 's Ashmolean Museum.
This fragment is the oldest manuscript about 1, years old of Revelation 13 found as of [update]. Papyrus and Ephraemi Rescriptus have led some scholars to regard as the original number of the beast. In Greek isopsephy and Hebrew gematria , every letter has a corresponding numeric value. Summing these numbers gives a numeric value to a word or name. The use of isopsephy to calculate "the number of the beast" is used in many of the below interpretations.
There is a broad consensus in contemporary scholarship that the number of the beast refers to the Roman Emperor Nero. Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the 1st and 2nd centuries. Preterists argue that Revelation was written before the destruction of the Temple , with Nero exiling John to Patmos. Because some people believe Revelation 13 speaks of a future prophetic event, "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
