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"666" |
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| I must admit
that the identity of 666 and many other symbols in Revelation have never
bothered me too much, not because I know what they mean but because I know
no sure way to know. I am convinced knowledge of such things will not
affect my salvation except to realize that the theme of Revelation is that
victory belongs to the faithful.
Some consider 666 to refer to Domitian, a terrible persecutor of Christians, while others think it refers to Nero. I tend to accept Nero. The numerical value of his name is 666. But what does it matter? The message we need from Revelation does not change. The difference stems primarily from when one considers Revelation to be written, prior to AD70 (as I do) or nearer AD96. Again, I do not really care. About the only thing about which I am dogmatic regarding Revelation is that it seems folly to me to be dogmatic. Many symbols we can possibly grasp by their similar usage in the Old Testament, or by comparing it with the history of the early church. But this I know, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). This I can understand. |