Deciphering the Number of the Beast: A Study of Revelation 13:18

In Revelation chapter 13, John describes the emergence of beasts from the sea and the earth. In a visionary experience, John observes a mark bearing either the name or the number of the beast—six hundred sixty-six. Scholars have been debating the meaning of the number of the beast in Revelation 13:18. Some speculate that the mark of the beast may manifest in modern technologies like barcodes, VeriChips, or even the Covid-19 vaccine. Others interpret the number as symbolic of an antichrist figure, with proposed candidates ranging from Roman emperors to modern leaders. Despite the varied interpretations, it is evident that the author of Revelation intended to convey a message through the mention of the number of the beast. To delve deeper into this enigma of the number, I will employ two methodologies: (1) textual analysis of the number itself, and (2) an examination of scholarly efforts, including gematria, isopsephism, and Pythagorean Arithmetic, aimed at deciphering its meaning. Through this comprehensive investigation, I will propose a more accurate meaning of what the number of the beast represents.