Why Is 666 The Number Of The Beast?

What’s so special about the number 666? It’s the sum of all the numbers on a Roulette wheel, which is nice. For number nerds, it’s a double triangle number, which is pretty cool, and it’s also equal to the sum of the squares of the first seven prime numbers – try it! But that’s not what most people’s minds jump to when they hear 666. After all, not every number has its own phobia.

For most people, the number 666 has one specific meaning: the Rapture, Apocalypse, End of the World – call it what you will, its harbinger is the number 666. It’s all written right there in The Book of Revelation: “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.”

Sounds spooky! But what’s really going on here? Why would a beast have a number at all, let alone a fairly ordinary one like 666? Well, here’s the thing: The Book of Revelation is pretty bizarre. And we don’t mean that as a dig against Christianity – serious scholars of religion say the same thing… read more >