666—the mark of the beast

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Main ref.: Rv 13:11-18; Dn 3:1-7; 1 Kgs 10:14; 1 Kgs 11:2-8; Mt 25:14-3; Dn 2; Dn 4; Dn 7; Mt 13:34-35

Question: There are two different beasts in Revelation. The beast coming out of the sea enters the tabernacle of heaven and defeats its congregation members. Because it is victorious, the beast seizes authority over the defeated congregation members. The other beast, which comes from the tabernacle (the figurative earth), arrives at the throne of the beast from the sea and works on its behalf. This beast from the earth entices the congregation members of the tabernacle to worship the first beast and its idols. He kills anyone who refuses to worship the idols. His name, in fact, is 666. Isn’t the number 666 familiar to you? Who is this beast called 666?

Answer: The actions of this beast from the earth are similar to the actions of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the nation of demons (Rv 18:2). King Nebuchadnezzar set up an idol—an image of gold sixty cubits high and six cubits wide (Dn 3:1). Nebuchadnezzar then threw anyone who refused to fall down and worship the image he made into a blazing furnace (Dn 3:6). According to 1 Kgs 10:14, the weight of gold that Solomon received yearly as a tribute from gentile nations was 666 talents—the same as the number of the beast (666) in Revelation. Solomon used this gold to make shields to protect himself. According to 1 Kgs 10:16, six hundred measures of gold went into each shield. Solomon also made shrines for the worshiping of gentile gods in the temple of Jerusalem. These actions of Solomon are the same as the actions of the beast from the earth. The number of the beast symbolizes Solomon, who betrayed God, and the gentile King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The Bible says that this beast from the earth, which has two horns like a lamb, belongs to the first beast that had seven heads and came up from the sea. This beast from the earth is also referred to as an eighth king, who once was, now is not, but arises later (Rv 17). This beast works with ten horns to judges the prostitute.

A few people who witnessed all of these events in the tabernacle of heaven fought against these beasts, overcame them, and expelled them from the tabernacle (Rv 12). After overcoming the beast, these people gather at the sea of glass (Rv 15) with God and his angels. Since they are living witnesses who can testify about all of these events, their group is referred to as the “Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” They also know the true identity and actions of the beast called 666. When the true identity of Babylon, which is the nation of demons, is revealed, is it surprising that the people of Babylon (including the seven heads and ten horns of the beast) persecute the congregation members of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony? The people of God are always persecuted by the people of the devil. The congregation members of the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony truly belong to God because it is the place for those who have overcame the beast. All Christians should realize that these are the events that God wants to reveal to his people. We must all know and believe in the events revealed by God.

Since the witnesses in SCJ Church of Jesus—Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony are testifying about what they have seen and heard, their testimony is true. The events of the book of Revelation are understood only by those who receive the revealed word (i. e. the revelation). Believers can attain heaven and eternal life only by knowing the one true God, Jesus, and the one who overcomes in Rv 2 and 3—the true pastor through whom the spirit of the Advocate is working.

Source: http://cafe.daum.net/scjschool