In the Bible
χξϛ
χιϛ
Identification by gematria
Numerical significance
Fear and superstition
Number associated with the Beast of Revelation
The number of the beast is 666 by William Blake
The number of the beast (Koinē Greek: Ἀριθμὸς τοῦ θηρίου, Arithmós toû thēríou) is associated with the Beast of Revelation in chapter 13, verse 18 of Book of Revelation. In most manuscripts of the New Testament and in English translations of the Bible, the number of the beast is six hundred sixty-six or χξϛ (in Greek numerals, χ represents 600, ξ represents 60 and ϛ represents 6).[1] Papyrus 115 (which is the oldest preserved manuscript of the Revelation as of 2017[update]), as well as other ancient sources like Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, give the number of the beast as χιϛ or χιϲ (transliterable in Arabic numerals as 616) (χιϛ), not 666;[2][3] critical editions of the Greek text, such as the Novum Testamentum Graece, note χιϛ as a variant.[4]
Contrasting beliefs
Historicism (Interpretations of Revelation)
The Millennium
Prewrath rapture
Biblical texts
Seventy Weeks
Synoptic Gospels
Johannine literature
Revelation (Events)
Pseudepigrapha
New Heaven and New Earth
Woman of the Apocalypse
The number of the beast is described in Revelation 13:15–18. Several translations have been interpreted for the meaning of the phrase "Here is Wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast..." where the peculiar Greek word ψηφισάτω (psephisato) is used. Possible translations include "to count", "to reckon" and also "to vote" or "to decide".[5]
In the Textus Receptus, derived from Byzantine text-type manuscripts, the number six hundred sixty-six is represented by the Greek numerals χξϛ,[6][7] with the Greek letter stigma (ϛ) representing the number 6:
17καὶ ἵνα μή τις δύνηται ἀγοράσαι ἢ πωλῆσαι εἰ μὴ ὁ ἔχων τὸ χάραγμα, τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θηρίου ἢ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ. 18Ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν· ὁ ἔχων τὸν νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου· ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστί· καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ χξϛʹ.[8]
"17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666."
In several editions of the Greek Bible, the number is represented by the final three words, ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ, hexakósioi hexēkonta héx, meaning "six hundred [and] sixty-six":[9][10]
17καὶ ἵνα μή τις δύνηται ἀγοράσαι ἢ πωλῆσαι εἰ μὴ ὁ ἔχων τὸ χάραγμα, τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θηρίου ἢ τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ. 18Ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν· ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν· καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ.[11]
"17And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is wisdom. 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."
Revelation 13:18 states that if one is wise and has an understanding to count the number of the beast, which is also the number of a man, the number comes to 666.
Although Irenaeus (2nd century AD) affirmed the number to be 666 and reported several scribal errors of the number, theologians have doubts about the traditional reading[12] because of the appearance of the figure 616 in the Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C; Paris—one of the four great uncial codices), as well as in the Latin version of Tyconius (DCXVI, ed. Souter in the Journal of Theology, SE, April 1913), and in an ancient Armenian version (ed. Conybeare, 1907). Irenaeus knew about the 616 reading, but did not adopt it (Haer. V, 30). In the 380s, correcting the existing Latin-language version of the New Testament (commonly referred to as the Vetus Latina), Jerome retained "666".[13][14]
Fragment from Papyrus 115 (P115) of Revelation in the 66th vol. of the Oxyrhynchus series (P. Oxy. 4499).[15] Has the number of the beast as χιϛ, 616.
Around 2005, a fragment from Papyrus 115, taken from the Oxyrhynchus site, was discovered at the University of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum. It gave the beast's number as 616 (χις). This fragment is the oldest manuscript (about 1,700 years old) of Revelation 13 found as of 2017[update].[2][3] Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, known before the Papyrus 115 finding but dating to after it, has 616 written in full: ἑξακόσιοι δέκα ἕξ, hexakosioi deka hex (lit. "six hundred and sixteen").[16]
Papyrus 115 and Ephraemi Rescriptus have led some scholars to regard 616 as the original number of the beast.[17] According to Paul Louis, "The number 666 has been substituted for 616 either by analogy with 888, the [Greek] number of Jesus (Gustav Adolf Deissmann), or because it is a triangular number, the sum of the first 36 numbers (1+2+3+4+5+6+...+36 = 666)".[18]
The beast's identity and the beast's number are usually interpreted by applying one of three methods:[19]: 718
Using gematria to find the numbers that equate to the names of world leaders, to check for a match with the scriptural number.
Treating the number of the beast as a duration of time.
Linking the scriptural imagery and symbolism of the Antichrist with characteristics of world leaders who oppose Christianity.
In Greek isopsephy and Hebrew gematria, every letter has a corresponding numeric value. Summing these numbers gives a numeric value to a word or name. The use of isopsephy to calculate "the number of the beast" is used in many of the below interpretations.
Bust of Nero at Musei Capitolini, Rome
Preterist theologians typically support the interpretation that 666 is the numerical equivalent of the name and title Nero Caesar (Roman Emperor 54–68 AD).[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Written in Aramaic, this can be valued at 666 using the Hebrew numerology of gematria, and was used to secretly speak against the emperor.[citation needed] Additionally, "Nero Caesar" in the Hebrew alphabet is נרון קסר NRON QSR, which when interpreted numerically represents the numbers 50 200 6 50 100 60 200, which add up to 666.
The Greek term χάραγμα (charagma, "mark" in Revelation 13:16) was most commonly used for imprints on documents or coins. Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the 1st and 2nd centuries.[27] In the reign of Emperor Decius (249–251 AD), those who did not possess the certificate of sacrifice (libellus) to Caesar could not pursue trades, a prohibition that conceivably goes back to Nero, reminding one of Revelation 13:17.[28]
Preterists argue that Revelation was written before the destruction of the Temple, with Nero exiling John to Patmos.[29] Most scholars, however, argue it was written after Nero committed suicide in AD 68. Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia has noted that Revelation was "written during the latter part of the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, probably in A.D. 95 or 96".[30]
Additional Protestant scholars are in agreement.[a] Because some believe Revelation 13 speaks of a future prophetic event, "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8 NKJV), some have argued that the interpretation of Nero meeting the fulfillment is an impossibility if Revelation was written around 30 years after the death of Nero.[b][33][34] However, rumors circulated that Nero had not really died and would return to power.[35]
It has also been suggested that the numerical reference to Nero was a code to imply but not directly identify emperor Domitian,[36][37] whose style of rulership resembled that of Nero, who heavily taxed the people of Asia (Lydia), to whom the Book of Revelation was primarily addressed.[38] The popular Nero Redivivus legend stating that Nero would return to life can also be noted; "After Nero's suicide in AD 68, there was a widespread belief, especially in the eastern provinces, that he was not dead and somehow would return.[39] Suetonius (XL) relates how court astrologers had predicted Nero's fall but that he would have power in the east. And, indeed, at least three false claimants did present themselves as Nero redivivus (resurrected).[40]
An Aramaic scroll from Wadi Murabba'at, dated to "the second year of Emperor Nero", refers to him by his name and title.[41] In Hebrew it is Nron Qsr (pronounced "Nerōn Kaisar"). In Latin it is Nro Qsr (pronounced "Nerō Kaisar").
Nron Qsr
The Greek version of the name and title transliterates into Hebrew as נרון קסר, and yields a numerical value of 666,[41] as shown:
Resh (ר) Samekh (ס) Qoph (ק) Nun (נ) Vav (ו) Resh (ר) Nun (נ) Sum
200 60 100 50 6 200 50 666
Nro Qsr
The Latin version of the name drops the second Nun (נ), so that it appears as Nro and transliterates into Hebrew as נרו קסר, yielding 616:[20]
Resh (ר) Samekh (ס) Qoph (ק) Vav (ו) Resh (ר) Nun (נ) Sum
200 60 100 6 200 50 616
Gematria has also been used with the word Maometis (Ancient Greek: Μαομέτις); which scholars have described as a dubiously obscure Latinisation of a Greek transliteration of the Arabic name محمد (Muhammad). A leading proponent of the Maometis interpretation was Walmesley, the Roman Catholic bishop of Rama.[42] Other proponents include 16–17th century Catholic theologians Gilbert Genebrard, François Feuardent, and René Massuet.[43] Maometis in Greek numerals totals 666:
Μ α ο μ ε τ ι ς Sum
40 1 70 40 5 300 10 200 666
Thom (1923)[44] rejects "Maometis" as a valid translation, observing that
"of the seven different ways in which Muhammad's name is written in Euthymius and [by] the Byzantine historians, not one is the orthography in question".
None of the spellings actually used add up to 666 under Greek gematria.[44]
Setton (1992) is critical of the idea: Muhammad was frequently defamed and made a subject of legends, taught by preachers as fact.[45]: 1–5 For example, in order to show that Muhammad was the anti-Christ, it was asserted that Muhammad died not in the year 632 but in the year 666. In another variation on the theme the number "666" was also used to represent the period of time Muslims would hold sway of the land.[45]: 4–15 In Quia maior, the encyclical calling for the Fifth Crusade, Euthymius Zygabenus and Zonaras wrote the name as "Maometh" and Cedrenus wrote the name "Mouchoumet" none of which is the "Maometis" in question.
Coin showing Nero distributing charity to a citizen, c. 64–66
The Classical Greek word charagma (χάραγμα), translated as mark (of the beast) in Revelation 13:16 can also mean any mark engraved, imprinted, or branded; stamped money, document, or coin.[46][47]
The mark of the beast is interpreted differently across the four main views of Christian Eschatology.
Preterist view
A common preterist view of the Mark of the beast (focusing on the past) is the stamped image of the emperor's head on every coin of the Roman Empire: the stamp on the hand or in the mind of all, without which no one could buy or sell.[48] New Testament scholar C.C. Hill notes, "It is far more probable that the mark symbolizes the all-embracing economic power of Rome, whose very coinage bore the emperor's image and conveyed his claims to divinity (e.g., by including the sun's rays in the ruler's portrait). It had become increasingly difficult for Christians to function in a world in which public life, including the economic life of the trade guilds, required participation in idolatry."[49]
Adela Yarbro Collins further denotes that the refusal to use Roman coins resulted in the condition where "no man might buy or sell".[50][51] A similar view is offered by Craig R. Koester. "As sales were made, people used coins that bore the images of Rome's gods and emperors. Thus each transaction that used such coins was a reminder that people were advancing themselves economically by relying on political powers that did not recognize the true God."[52]
In 66 AD, when Nero was emperor—about the time some scholars say Revelation was written—the Jews revolted against Rome and coined their own money.
The passage is also seen as an antithetical parallelism to the Jewish institution of tefillin—Hebrew Bible texts worn bound to the arm and the forehead during daily prayer. Instead of binding their allegiance to God to their arm and head, the place is instead taken with people's allegiance to the beast.[48]
Idealist view
Idealism, also known as the allegorical or symbolic approach, is an interpretation of the book of Revelation that sees the imagery of the book as non-literal symbols.[53]
The idealist perspective on the number of the beast rejects gematria, envisioning the number not as a code to be broken, but a symbol to be understood. Idealists would contend that because there are so many names that can come to 666 and that most systems require converting names to other languages or adding titles when convenient, it has been impossible to come to a consensus.
Given that numbers are used figuratively throughout the Book of Revelation, idealists interpret this number figuratively as well. The common suggestion is that because seven is a number of "completeness" and is associated with the divine, six is "incomplete", and the three sixes are "inherently incomplete".[19]: 722 The number is therefore suggestive that the Dragon and his beasts are profoundly deficient.
Historicist view
Historicists believe Revelation articulates a full range of the history of the Christian church, from John's day to the Second Coming of Christ. The author alludes to Daniel 2:28 and 2:45; Daniel's vision (Daniel 2) uses symbols giving a sequence of future events in history, from the Babylonian empire, through Medo-Persian period, Greece and Rome, continuing until the end of the current civilization.
This apocalyptic volume builds on Daniel's approach focusing on major points of Christian history: the cross of Christ (Rev. 5:6,9,12); the Second Coming (Rev. 14:14–16; 19:11–16); the 1,000 years in heaven (Rev. 20:4–6); the third advent of Christ to earth along with his loyal followers and the destruction of Satan and those who refused Christ (Rev. 20:7–15); and the creation of a new heavens and a new earth where death, sorrow, and sin cease and God dwells with His people (Rev. 21:1–8, 21:22–27; 22:1–5). The Book of Daniel is divided into two parts: The historical narrative of the captivity of Judah, and the prophecies pointing to both promised Messiah and the events of the end of the world. Attention to the text of Revelation aids the student of Bible prophecy by showing how the Apostle John and Jesus intended us to interpret Bible apocalyptic literature as found in Daniel.[54]
Seventh-day Adventists taking this view believe that the 'mark of the beast' (but not the number 666) refers to a future, universal, legally enforced Sunday-sacredness. "Those who reject God's memorial of creatorship — the Bible Sabbath — choosing to worship and honor Sunday in the full knowledge that it is not God's appointed day of worship, will receive the 'mark of the beast'."[55] "The Sunday Sabbath is purely a child of the Papacy. It is the mark of the beast."[56]
Futurist view
Some fundamentalist Christian groups interpret the mark as a requirement for all commerce to mean that the mark might actually be an object with the function of a credit card, such as RFID microchip implants.[57] Some of these groups believe the implantation of chips may be the imprinting of the mark of the beast, prophesied to be a requirement for all trade and a precursor to God's wrath.[58][59] Similar objections were raised about barcodes upon their introduction.[60]
Bahá'í Faith
In the writings of the Bahá'í Faith, 'Abdu'l-Bahá states that the numerical value given to the beast referred to the year[61] when the Umayyad ruler Muawiyah I took office as Caliph in 661 AD. He opposed the Imamate, according to the beliefs of Shia Islam, who continued to pay the tax required of nonbelievers and were excluded from government and the military, and thus bore a social "mark".[62] (See also the scholarly accepted year of birth of Jesus about 666 years before as well as the concept of Mawali who were non-Arab Muslims but not treated as other Muslims.)
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the beast identified by the number 666 represents the world's unified governments in opposition to God. The beast is said to have "a human number" in that the represented governments are of a human origin rather than spirit entities. The number 666 is said to identify "gross shortcoming and failure in the eyes of Jehovah", in contrast to the number 7, which is seen as symbolizing perfection.[63]
Saints of the Last Days
See from Latin: Vicarivi Filius Dei
Vi=6 vi=6 D=5(00)+1=6 6 and 6 and 6 represent 666 the number of the beast as seen in the book of Apocalypse or Revelation 13:8.
In 1989, Nancy and Ronald Reagan, when moving to their home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles after the 1988 election, had its address — 666 St. Cloud Road — changed to 668 St. Cloud Road.[64][65]
In 1988, the address of Chicago's American Furniture Mart building was changed by its new owner from 666 to 680 N Lake Shore Drive, ostensibly to distance the new tenancy from the former owners' financial problems.
In 2003, U.S. Route 666 in New Mexico was changed to U.S. Route 491. A New Mexico spokesperson stated, "The devil's out of here, and we say goodbye and good riddance."[66]
The phobia has been a motif in various horror films such as The Omen and its 2006 remake (released on 6/6/06), and in music albums such as Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast. The number of the beast also appears in films such as Pulp Fiction, The Doom Generation, End of Days, Final Destination, Bedazzled, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Some women expressed concern about giving birth on 6 June 2006 (6/6/06).[67]
In November 2013, Codie Thacker — a cross-country runner at Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky — refused to run in her Kentucky High School Athletic Association regional meet, forfeiting a chance at qualifying for the state championships, when her coach drew bib number 666.[68]
In 2015, US Representative Joe Barton had the number of a legislative bill he had introduced changed from 666 to 702 because "the original bill number carried many different negative connotations", according to a spokesperson.[69]
In 2017, church leaders in Papua New Guinea were concerned by newspaper reports that the Governor-General had been requested to sign 666 writs for an upcoming election. They were reassured by the Electoral Commissioner that the number merely reflected 6 copies of each writ for 111 electorates.[70]
In October 2017, flight AY666 from Copenhagen to Helsinki (HEL) departed for the last time before being renamed to AY954. Since 2006, the flight had been scheduled on a Friday the 13th on 21 occasions. A Finnair spokesperson said that the number had not been renamed due to superstitious passengers.[71]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines and mask wearing were associated in some groups with the 'mark of the beast' through misinformation on social media. The metaphor stemmed more so from a lack of trust in government and medical systems but variations of the disinformation included 'the mark of the beast' being a microchip in the vaccine. Many religious leaders, whether famous or at a local level, spoke out[72] against the rumours as well as medical institutions like Hennepin County Medical Center.[73] The same rumour spread over politically to claims like the vaccine passport issued by Joe Biden were another sign[74] and to the QAnon movement with the 2020 election and the following 2021 United States Capitol attack.[75]
In 2021, Brookfield Properties decided to renumber 666 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, which it had just acquired and planned to spend $400 million renovating, to 660 Fifth Avenue.[76]
Bible portal
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Names for the number 0
0#Classical antiquity
^ Berthold-Bond (1989)[31] notes in consensus that Revelation was written around 95 AD.
^ Lewis (n.d.),[32] along with other scholars, notes that Revelation was written about 95 AD.
^ Revelation 13:18
^ a b Stewart, Robert B.; Ehrman, Bart D.; Wallace, Daniel B. (2011). The reliability of the New Testament. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN 978-0-8006-9773-0.
^ a b "Papyrus reveals new clues to ancient world". News.nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic Society. April 2005. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle and Aland, 1991, footnote to verse 13:18 of Revelation, page 659: "-σιοι δέκα ἕξ" as found in C [C=Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus]; for English see Metzger's Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, note on verse 13:18 of Revelation, page 750: "the numeral 616 was also read ..."
^ Samuel Fuller, The Revelation of St. John the Divine self-interpreted, page 226
^ Aland, Kurt (1983). The Greek New Testament (Third ed.). Stuttgart: United Bible Societies. p. 892. ISBN 3-438-05111-7.
^ "Revelation 13:18". Stephanus New Testament. Bible Gateway. Archived from the original on 1 March 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
^ Textus Receptus Greek NT (edition Stephanus, 1550): Revelation 13:17 Archived 15 September 2011 at Wikiwix and 18 Archived 15 September 2011 at Wikiwix
^ "Revelation 13:18". Westcott-Hort New Testament. Bible Gateway. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
^ "Revelation 13:18". Codex Alexandrinus. Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. Archived from the original (JPEG) on 23 March 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2006.
^ "Revelation in the 26th/27th edition of the Novum Testamentum Graece". Sacred-texts.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ Anderson, Tom (1 May 2005). "Revelation! 666 is not the number of the beast (it's a devilish 616)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2009. [...] 616 refers to the Emperor Caligula.
^ De Monogramm., ed. Dom G. Morin in Revue Bénédictine, 1903
^ See "Hieronymus – Divina Bibliotheca 58 Beati Joannis Apocalypsis [0347-0420] Full Text at Documenta Catholica Omnia". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2015. – "Qui habet intellectum c(om)putet numerum bestiae. Numerus enim hominis est, et numerus ejus sexcenti sexaginta sex." Compare the Vulgate version: "qui habet intellectum conputet numerum bestiae numerus enim hominis est et numerus eius est sescenti sexaginta sex" at "Latin Vulgate Bible with Douay-Rheims and King James Version Side-by-Side+Complete Sayings of Jesus Christ". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
^ Parker, David C. (2009). Manuscripts, Texts, Theology: Collected papers 1977–2007 ([Online-Ausg.] ed.). Berlin, DE: Walter de Gruyter. p. 73. ISBN 978-3-11-021193-1.
^ Hoskier, Herman C. (1929). Concerning the Text of the Apocalypse: A complete conspectus of all authorities. 2. p. 364.
^ Philip W Comfort and David P Barrett, The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Incorporated, 2001)
^ Couchoud, Paul Louis (1932). A Key to Christian Origins. London, UK: Watts & Co. p. 140.
^ a b Beale, G.K. (1999). Revelation : A commentary on the Greek text (3. Dr. ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-2174-4.
^ a b Cory, Catherine A. (2006). The Book of Revelation. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-8146-2885-0.
^ Garrow, A.J.P. (1997). Revelation. London.: Routledge. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-415-14641-8.
^ The Catholic Youth Bible: New American Bible including the revised Psalms and the revised New Testament (rev. ed.). Winona, MN: Saint Mary's Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-88489-798-9. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Translated from the original languages with critical use of all the ancient sources.
^ Just, Felix (2 February 2002). "666: The Number of the Beast". Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2006.
^ Hillers, D.R. (1963). "Revelation 13:18 and a Scroll from Murabba'at". Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 170 (170): 65. doi:10.2307/1355990. JSTOR 1355990. S2CID 163790686.
^ Brown, Raymond E.; Fitzmyer, Joseph A.; Murphy, Roland E., eds. (1990). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. p. 1009.
^ Head, Peter M. (2000). "Some recently published NT papyri from Oxyrhynchus: An overview and preliminary assessment". Tyndale Bulletin. 51: 1–16. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. "Some recently published NT papyri from Oxyrhynchus" (PDF). online copy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011.
^ Elwell, Walter A., ed. (1996). Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books [u.a.] p. 462. ISBN 0-8010-2049-2.
^ Pate, C. Marvin; Haines, Calvin B. (1995). Doomsday delusions: what's wrong with predictions about the end of the world. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-0-8308-1621-7.
^ Robinson, J. (1976). Before Jerusalem Fell.
^ Stravinskas, Peter M.J.; Shaw, Russell B. (1998). Stravinskas, Peter M.J. (ed.). Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Encyclopedia. Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. p. 861. ISBN 978-0879736699.
^ Berthold-Bond, Daniel (1989). Hegel's Grand Synthesis: A study of being, thought, and history. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. p. 118. ISBN 0-88706-955-X.
^ Lewis, Terri, Dr. (September 2010). Understanding the Book of Revelation. ISBN 9781609576189.
^ Ridges, David J. Part 2: Acts Through Revelation. Your Study of the New Testament Made Easier. p. 409. ISBN 9781599556574. The Book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John about AD 95.
^ The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge. The New York Times. 30 October 2007. p. 73. ISBN 9780312376598.
^ Mays, J.L., ed. (1988). Harpers Bible Commentary. San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins. p. 1300.
^ Burkett, Delbert Royce (10 July 2002). An Introduction to the New Testament and the Origins of Christianity. p. 510. ISBN 9780521007207. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ Ashe, Geoffrey (2001). Encyclopedia of prophecy. p. 204. ISBN 9781576070796. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ Rhoads, David M. From Every People and Nation: The Book of Revelation in intercultural perspective. p. 193. ISBN 9781451406184. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. [no title cited]. LVII. [full citation needed]
Publius Cornelius Tacitus. Historiae. II.8.
Lucius Cassius Dio. Historia Romana. LXVI.19.3.
^ "Nero as the Antichrist". Penelope.uchicago.edu. Encyclopaedia Romana. University of Chicago. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
^ a b Hillers, D.R. (1963). Revelation 13:18 and a Scroll from Murabba'at. 170. BASOR. p. 65.
^ "Review: The History of Esau considered". The Gentleman's Magazine (book review). Vol. 10. October 1838. p. 407. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ Brady, David (1983). The contribution of British writers ... ISBN 978-3-16-144497-5. Retrieved 17 July 2010 – via Google Books.
^ a b Thom, David (1848). The Number and Names of the Apocalyptic Beasts. H.K. Lewis. p. 197. With an explanation and application in two parts: Part 1. The Number, and Part 2. Names.
^ a b Meyer Setton, Kenneth (1 July 1992). Western Hostility to Islam and Prophecies of Turkish Doom. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0-87169-201-5.
^ Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott. "χάραγ-μα". A Greek-English Lexicon. Digital Library. Tufts University. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015 – via perseus.tufts.edu. CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link).
^ Strong, James (1890). "χάραγμα". Greek Lexicon. Strong's Greek Library. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015.
^ a b Spilsbury, Paul (2002). The Throne, the Lamb & the Dragon: A reader's guide to the Book of Revelation. InterVarsity Press. p. 99.
^ Hill, Craig C. (2002). In God's Time: The Bible and the future. Eerdmans. p. 124.
^ "Collins, 1984, p. 126: Adela Yarbro Collins: "The juxtaposition of buying and selling with the mark of the beast refers to the fact that Roman coins normally bore the image and name of the current emperor. "The inability to buy or sell would then be the result of the refusal to use Roman coins."
^ Craig R. Koester (2001), Revelation and the End of All Things, Eerdmans; p. 132
^ Campbell, Stan; Bell, James S. (2001). The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Book of Revelation. Alpha Books. pp. 212–213. ISBN 978-0028642383.
^ Dybdahl, Jon (2010). Andrews Study Bible. Berrien Springs: Sutherland House. p. 1659. LCCN 2010924514.
^ Seventh-day Adventists Believe. Ministerial Association (2nd ed.). General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. 2005. p. 196.
^ "Advent Review, Vol. I, No. 2, August 1850". ChristianSermonsandMusicVideos.com. May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
^ Scheeres, Julia (25 November 2003). "When Cash Is Only Skin Deep". Wired.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2003.
^ Albrecht, Katherine; McIntyre, Liz (31 January 2006). The Spychips Threat: Why Christians Should Resist RFID and Electronic Surveillance. Nelson Current. ISBN 9781418551759. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ Baard, Mark (6 June 2006). "RFID: Sign of the (End) Times?". Wired.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009.
^ Metz, Cade (28 December 2012). "Why the Bar Code Will Always Be the Mark of the Beast". Wired. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
^ Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (7 January 1986). "Interpretation of Biblical Verses". Bahá'í Library. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
^ "Student Resources, Chapter 12: The First Global Civilization: The Rise and Spread of Islam, The Arab Empire of the Umayyads – Converts and "People of the Book"". Occawlonline.pearsoned.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
^ "Identifying the Wild Beast and Its Mark". The Watchtower. 1 April 2004. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
^ "First family easing into private life". The Los Angeles Times. The Reagans. 19 November 1988.
^ Ni, Ching-Ching (21 May 2011). "In Arcadia real estate, 4 is a negative number". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2011. Supporters say changing building numbers isn't such an unusual thing. After all, they say, when President Reagan left office, he and Nancy took up residence at 666 St. Cloud Road in Bel-Air but had the address changed to 668 to avoid the 'number of the beast'.
^ Linthicum, Leslie (31 July 2003). "It's now US 491, not US 666". The Albuquerque Journal. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008.
^ Allen-Mills, Tony (30 April 2006). "Mothers expect Damien on 6/6/06". The Sunday Times. London, UK. Archived from the original on 12 January 2008.
^ "Whitley County cross country runner refuses to run after being assigned "666" number". Lexington, Kentucky: WLEX-TV. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
^ Barron-Lopez, Laura (2 February 2015). "Republican avoids apocalyptic 666". The Hill. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015.
^ Tlozek, Eric (3 April 2017). "PNG's electoral commissioner reassures church leaders on 666 writs". Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017.
^ Buckley, Julia (13 October 2017). "Finnair's flight 666 to HEL makes its last Friday the 13th run today". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018.
^ "Some say COVID-19 vaccine is the 'mark of the beast.' is there a connection to the Bible?". USA Today.
^ "No, the COVID-19 vaccine is not linked to the mark of the beast – but a first-century Roman tyrant probably is".
^ "Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts COVID-19 vaccine passports: 'Biden's mark of the beast'". 30 March 2021.
^ "Some evangelical Christians say covid vaccine is the mark of the beast - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
^ Cuozzo, Steve (31 January 2021). "660 Fifth Ave. sheds Satanic address, to reopen next year". New York Post. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
Kleinhenz, Christopher; LeMoine, Fannie J., eds. (1999). Fearful Hope: Approaching the new millennium. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-299-16434-8.
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Myth and ritual
List of superstitions
List of lucky symbols
List of bad luck signs
Sailors' superstitions
Theatrical superstitions
Gris-gris
Sampy
Ascalapha odorata
Carranca
Cooties
Djucu
I'noGo tied
Oscar love curse
White lighter myth
Witch window
Superstition in India
Superstition in Pakistan
Superstition in the Philippines
Japanese superstitions
Bhoot (ghost)
Chhaupadi
Churel
Ghosts in Bengali culture
Jackal's horn
Kuai Kuai culture
Muhurta
Navaratna
Nazar battu
Pichal Peri
Puppy pregnancy syndrome
Akabeko
Kanai Anzen
Maneki-neko
Okiagari-koboshi
Ofuda
Fan death
Agimat
Arbularyo
Kulam
Lihi
Pagtatawas
Usog
Kuman Thong
Palad khik
Takrut
Nang Kwak
Curse of 39
Jin Chan
Numbers in Chinese culture
Superstitions of Straits Chinese
August curse
Barbary macaques in Gibraltar
Bayern-luck
Blarney Stone
Cimaruta
Cornicello
The Goodman's Croft
Himmelsbrief
Icelandic magical staves
Kitchen witch
Klabautermann
Mooncalf
Need-fire
Powder of sympathy
Rabbit rabbit rabbit
Ravens of the Tower of London
Russian traditions and superstitions
Spilling water for luck
Troll cross
Tycho Brahe days
Witch post
Wolfssegen
4 (Four-leaf clover, Tetraphobia)
7 (Seventh son of a seventh son)
13 (Friday the 13th, The Thirteen Club, Thirteenth floor, Triskaidekaphobia)
17 (Heptadecaphobia)
666 (Number of the Beast)
Auspicious wedding dates
Baseball superstition
Bread and butter
Bullroarer
Chain letter
Cramp-ring
Dead man's hand
End-of-the-day betting effect
Fear of frogs
Fear of ghosts
Fertility rite
First-foot
Four Eleven Forty Four
Gambler's conceit
Knocking on wood
Law of contagion
Literomancy
Lock of hair
Maternal impression
Miasma theory
Numismatic charm
Rabbit's foot
Rainmaking
Ship sponsor
Shoes on a table
Sign of the horns
Spilling salt
Statue rubbing
Three on a match
Toi toi toi
Witch ball
Apotropaic magic
Astrology and science
Debunker
Magic and religion
Perceptions of religious imagery in natural phenomena
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Urban legend
Superstition in Judaism
Superstitions in Muslim societies