TOM · The Owner's Manual · New Testament

Revelation 13

Chapter 13 in 30 seconds

A beast rises from the sea, and the whole world worships it. A second beast from the earth does fake miracles and makes everyone take a mark on the right hand or forehead to buy or sell. Its number is 666.

Tap a color to hide it

In this chapterThe Big Question · Christians disagreeThe Number of the Beast · after verse 18 The Big QuestionWhat Irenaeus Wrote · after verse 18 The Big QuestionWhat Irenaeus Wrote · after verse 18 The Big QuestionWhat Irenaeus Wrote · after verse 18 The Big QuestionWhat It Tells Us · after verse 18 The Big QuestionPapyrus 115 · after verse 18

The Beast from the Sea// Daniel 7:1–8

¹Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. ²The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

REV 13:1[ALLUDES TO]Refers to ← DAN 7:3-7
REV 13:1[NOTE]THE BEAST. Its parts come from Daniel 7's four beasts. Many see Rome; many see a final world ruler; many see both.

³One of the heads of the beast appeared to have been mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast. ⁴They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

REV 13:4[DEMONIC]The world worships the dragon and the beast

⁵The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. ⁶And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.

REV 13:5[PROPHECY]The beast will speak blasphemies, rule for 42 months, and make war on the saints → STILL TO COME

⁷Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation. ⁸And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

REV 13:8[DEMONIC]Everyone not in the Book of Life worships the beast

⁹He who has an ear, let him hear:

¹⁰“If anyone is destined for captivity,

into captivity he will go;

if anyone is to die by the sword,

by the sword he must be killed.”

Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

The Beast from the Earth

¹¹Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. ¹²And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

REV 13:12[DEMONIC]The second beast makes an image of the beast that speaks

¹³And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. ¹⁴Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived. ¹⁵The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.

The Mark of the Beast

¹⁶And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, ¹⁷so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

REV 13:16[PROPHECY]The mark of the beast → STILL TO COME

¹⁸Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.

REV 13:18[NOTE]666. See The Number of the Beast and What Irenaeus Wrote. TEXT. Papyrus 115 and Codex Ephraemi read 616.

The Big Question · Christians disagree

The Number of the Beast

666, or 616?

Revelation 13:16 to 18 · 14:1 · 15:2 · Deuteronomy 6:8

WHAT JOHN SAID: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666, 13:18. No one can buy or sell without the mark on the right hand or forehead, 13:17.
NUMBERS AS LETTERS: Greek and Hebrew used letters as numbers, so every name had a number. People played with this. A wall in Pompeii says: I love her whose number is 545.
NERO CAESAR: Written in Hebrew letters, Nero Caesar adds up to 666. Spelled the Latin way, without the last n, it adds up to 616. That may explain why some old copies, like Papyrus 115, say 616. Nero burned Christians alive in AD 64, and many believed he would come back, like a beast that was and is not, 17:8.
IRENAEUS: About AD 180 Irenaeus knew the 616 copies and called them a copying mistake. He listed names that make 666, like Lateinos, a Roman, and Teitan, but refused to choose. See What Irenaeus Wrote.
A FUTURE RULER: Many say it is the name of a final world ruler, still future. Over the years people have named popes, Napoleon, Hitler and others, and every guess has passed away.
THE NUMBER OF MAN: Some read it as a symbol: six falls short of seven, God's perfect number, three times over. Man trying to be God and failing.
THE MARK: God's people are sealed on their foreheads with His name, 7:3 and 14:1, like Israel binding God's word on hand and forehead, Deuteronomy 6:8. The beast copies God. Many read the mark as loyalty shown in what you think and do; others expect a literal mark. Barcodes, chips and vaccines have all been called the mark; none has fit.
WHAT ALL SIDES AGREE ON: Do not set dates or name names. Worship God alone, even when it costs you your living, and trust the Lamb.

The Big Question

What Irenaeus Wrote

The Number of the Name

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30 · Revelation 13:18

WHO IRENAEUS WAS: Bishop of Lyons in Gaul, about AD 180. As a boy he listened to Polycarp, who had known John. He wrote Against Heresies in five books; this chapter is the end of the fifth.
WHAT HE WROTE: Here is the whole of book 5, chapter 30, in the Ante Nicene Fathers translation, 1885. Words in [square brackets] were added by the translators. Decads means tens.
AGAINST HERESIES 5.30: Such, then, being the state of the case, and this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned] according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six; that is, the number of tens shall be equal to that of the hundreds, and the number of hundreds equal to that of the units (for that number which [expresses] the digit six being adhered to throughout, indicates the recapitulations of that apostasy, taken in its full extent, which occurred at the beginning, during the intermediate periods, and which shall take place at the end),—I do not know how it is that some have erred following the ordinary mode of speech, and have vitiated the middle number in the name, deducting the amount of fifty from it, so that instead of six decads they will have it that there is but one. [I am inclined to think that this occurred through the fault of the copyists, as is wont to happen, since numbers also are expressed by letters; so that the Greek letter which expresses the number sixty was easily expanded into the letter Iota of the Greeks.] Others then received this reading without examination; some in their simplicity, and upon their own responsibility, making use of this number expressing one decad; while some, in their inexperience, have ventured to seek out a name which should contain the erroneous and spurious number. Now, as regards those who have done this in simplicity, and without evil intent, we are at liberty to assume that pardon will be granted them by God.

The Big Question

What Irenaeus Wrote

Continued

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30

AGAINST HERESIES 5.30, CONTINUED: But as for those who, for the sake of vainglory, lay it down for certain that names containing the spurious number are to be accepted, and affirm that this name, hit upon by themselves, is that of him who is to come; such persons shall not come forth without loss, because they have led into error both themselves and those who confided in them. Now, in the first place, it is loss to wander from the truth, and to imagine that as being the case which is not; then again, as there shall be no light punishment [inflicted] upon him who either adds or subtracts anything from the Scripture, under that such a person must necessarily fall. Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against. These men, therefore, ought to learn [what really is the state of the case], and go back to the true number of the name, that they be not reckoned among false prophets. But, knowing the sure number declared by Scripture, that is, six hundred sixty and six, let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, [let them learn] to acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking, having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the abomination of desolation. This, too, the apostle affirms: “When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them.” And Jeremiah does not merely point out his sudden coming, but he even indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, “We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and the fulness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein.” This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved.

The Big Question

What Irenaeus Wrote

Continued

Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.30

AGAINST HERESIES 5.30, CONTINUED: It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the coming man bear. It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas (ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos (ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. Teitan too, (ΤΕΙΤΑΝ, the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and ι, among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters; and [the word itself] is ancient, and removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshipped in public among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation. Among many persons, too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed “Titan” by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word, too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he vindicates the oppressed. And besides this, it is an ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name “Titan” has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called “Titan.” We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision.

The Big Question

What It Tells Us

A Witness One Lifetime From John

Revelation 13:18 · 7:5 to 8 · 1 Thessalonians 5:3 · Jeremiah 8:16

AGAINST HERESIES 5.30, CONTINUED: For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign. But he indicates the number of the name now, that when this man comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is: the name, however, is suppressed, because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. For if it had been declared by Him, he (Antichrist) might perhaps continue for a long period. But now as “he was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the abyss, and goes into perdition,” as one who has no existence; so neither has his name been declared, for the name of that which does not exist is not proclaimed. But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which kingdom the Lord declared, that “many coming from the east and from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
616 WAS ALREADY THERE: Only about ninety years after John wrote, some copies already said 616. Irenaeus trusted the oldest copies and the men who saw John face to face, and they said 666.
NO NAME: He gives three names that add up to 666 but will not pick one. His advice: wait and see, and do not guess.
THE DATE: His line that the vision was seen near the end of Domitian's reign is the main reason most scholars date Revelation about AD 95. Eusebius quotes it; see What Eusebius Wrote.
A THOUSAND YEARS: His last section shows he expected a real reign of Christ on earth after the Antichrist, the times of the kingdom, the rest, the hallowed seventh day. See The Millennium pages.

The Big Question

Papyrus 115

The Number 616

Revelation 13:18 · P.Oxy. 4499

WHAT IT IS: Twenty six scraps of a papyrus book of Revelation, found at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt, and published in 1999. This piece holds the end of 13:18.
HOW OLD IT IS: About AD 225 to 275, one of the oldest copies of Revelation.
WHAT IT SAYS: On the third line are three Greek letters with a line over them: chi, iota, sigma. A line over letters meant they were a number: 600, 10 and 6. So this copy says the number of the beast is 616.
WHY IT MATTERS: In 2005 new photographs made the faded letters easy to read, and the news spread around the world. It proves the 616 copies Irenaeus complained about were real. Codex Ephraemi, from the 400s, also has 616.
WHAT IT DOES NOT PROVE: Most copies, including Papyrus 47 on the title page of this book, say 666, and most scholars think 666 is original.

CONFIDENCE: HIGH

Revelation 13

The Beast from the Sea// Daniel 7:1–8

The Beast from the Earth

The Mark of the Beast

See the whole Bible light up in color.

Frequently asked questions