I wrote the following piece back in 1998, part of "The Final Equinox-2000".
Y'all ignored me then, too. I expect the same again now.

Chapter Six: The Number of the Beast

"Here 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
threescore and six."

(Revelation 13:18 KJV)

The first thing we must do is acknowledge that this verse is definitely an
invitation from the true author of the Book of Revelation, our Lord Jesus
Christ, speaking through His disciple John, for readers to use the number
666 to establish the identity of either the Antichrist, who is the first
'beast' spoken of in the thirteenth Chapter, or the second 'beast', the
False Prophet, or most probably, both. Now, most people will be surprised to
hear that this auspicious number may refer to the False Prophet, or both,
but a careful reading of the 13th chapter reveals this possibility. I will
deal with this later.

Secondly, we have to acknowledge that the 13th Chapter is speaking about a
man, an individual. Not a system, institution, corporation or any other
'thing'. And, despite the New International Version's rendering of that
phrase

as "...for it is man's number.", the number 666 is definitely pointing
towards a single individual human being, not mankind in general. And
finally, it is a man still to come, not some historical figure long since
dead, such as Nero,

who was pushing up daisies even when Saint John wrote Revelation.

Thirdly, we have to consider the context in which the Book of Revelation, or
Apocalypse was written. The author, John, had been exiled by the Roman
authorities to the tiny island of Patmos off Asia Minor, present-day Turkey.
Irenaeus, an early Church elder, dated the Book of Revelation to being
written somewhere in the latter part of the Roman emperor Domitian's reign,
which was from 81 to 96 A.D. He also postulated that the author was the same
John who wrote the Gospel and letters, the son of Zebedee. Some have
questioned this, pointing to differences in style, grammar, thought, etc.
But what they may have overlooked is that this book is more properly called
'The Revelation of Jesus Christ', which is the book's opening line. No
matter. The writer of the Book of Revelation, John, was a Jew, who, one
would assume, could speak, read and write Hebrew. The letter itself was
written in Greek, and was addressed to John's Christian brethren in Rome,
where Latin was developed. It is from those three languages and cultures
that one must look to if he or she hopes to unlock the meaning of '666'.

The first thing that one ought to notice is that both the ancient Greek and
Hebrew alphabets doubled as numbers, sort of like an alphanumeric system.
Unfortunately, both require a specific name to be entered into them in order
for its letters to be converted into numbers, with the total adding up to
666. Since the number of names that could possibly do this are astronomical,
it doesn't really help much in the way of identifying the Antichrist, as
there would be about a hundred million 'Antichrists' in the world today, all
sharing the same 'number' as the real McCoy. Fortunately, however, using an
alpha-numeric system isn't the only way to identify the Antichrist using the
number 666. There are two other known ways: using the roman numeral system,
and Hebrew number symbolism. First off, the number 666, if converted to
roman numerals, is DCLXVI;

D = 500

C = 100

L = 50

X = 10

V = 5

I = 1

Add them up, it's 666.

Now, in order to extract the full significance of this, you have to focus on
certain keywords that 'DCLXVI' yields up, by observing its properties;

1. They are all ROMAN numerals.

2. The numbers are all in SEQUENTIAL ORDER.

3. The numbers are in sequential DESCENDING order.

4. Conversely, they are in sequential ASCENDING order.

5. They are all ROMAN NUMERALS.

Thus, the keywords here are 'Roman', 'Sequential Order', 'Descending',
'Ascending' and 'Roman Numerals'.

For the moment, let's leave those keywords alone, while we consider the
second known way to identifying the Antichrist through the number 666, by
using Hebrew number symbolism.

The number six represents incompletion, such as the six days of God's
creation in Genesis weren't complete until the end of the seventh, or
Sabbath day of rest. As the number seven in the Bible always represents
completeness and

perfection, seven minus one, that is, six, is incomplete and imperfect. In
the Book of Revelation, the six seals, trumpets, etc. symbolize God's
Earth-oriented Judgments, with the seventh representing God's final Judgment
on the matter, thus ending that particular series.

Early Church fathers, such as Ireneus, placed Adam's creation in circa 4000
B.C. If this is an accurate representation of Biblical chronology, then we
are now on the very doorstep of the Seventh, or 'sabbath' millenium. The
20th and 21st Chapters of the Book of Revelation bears this out as it talks
about a thousand years of Christ's spiritual rule on Earth, at the end of
which, after Satan's final stand, God will make everything new, including
Heaven and Earth. God's original plan will thus be 'complete'.

Until that time, however, every 'thing' including man himself, is
incomplete, and imperfect. Therefore, the New International Version's
rendering of Revelation 13:18, that 666 is "man's number" is at least half
right, insofar that one could say that a single 6 does represent all
mankind, or anything else that's incomplete, or imperfect in God's eyes.

But the number in Revelation 13:18 isn't a single six, it is three of them.
Now, why is this? Why does Jesus, the inspirer of Revelation, triple that
imperfect number, which He says is the number of a certain man?

In the Bible, prophetic Scripture often describes events that are to take
place in the future as having a historical antecedent, or past fulfillment
as well. One example is the Antichrist's future 'abomination of desolation'
in the Jewish Temple. This 'future' leader finds his historical precedent in
the person of the Greek king Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), who set up a statue
of Zeus in the Second Temple, and even slaughtered a sow (female pig) in its
Holy of Holies, which housed the sacred Ark of the Covenant.

The number three itself holds a certain divine symbolism in the Bible, such
as the three days needed for the Jews following Moses to prepare themselves
to meet their God (Exodus 19:10-11), the three days preparation of those

following Moses' successor, Joshua, before they crossed the River Jordan to
claim the land as their own; the three days and nights the prophet Jonah
spent in the belly of the 'great fish', which of course, not coincidentally,
was the exact same number of days and nights that Jesus Christ spent in the
'belly' (bowels) of the Earth, before being resurrected. The number three
also symbolizes the past, present and future: " 'I am the Alpha and the
Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the
Almighty.' " (Revelation 1:8 NIV) The number three, then, seems to represent
the Hand of God upon man, causing them to do or say something three times,
as opposed to the number seven, which God seems to reserve solely for His
own perfect nature and actions, and His plans for the universe.

Applying all of the above to our number 666, we can translate it roughly as
'This certain imperfect man of the future, the Antichrist, shall be symbolic
of another earlier imperfect man, who displayed his imperfection, his
weakness

of being human, all of three times." If this is an accurate translation,
then we should look into finding out who this earlier historical figure was,
who is serving as a prototype of sorts for the future Antichrist. But where
can one

find an historical account of this past prototype? Where should one look?

In the Bible, of course. It is somewhere in there that you should look to
try to find this certain man who displayed his imperfect and incomplete
human nature, his 'six' so to speak, all of three times, perhaps while under
the Hand of God. You shouldn't have to look very hard to find him, as he was
Saint John the Evangelist's contemporary, and brother in Christ.

"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this
night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because
of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the
***** crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny
thee."

(Matthew 26:31-35 KJV)

"Now Peter without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou
also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto
them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter,
Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And
immediately the ***** crew.

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the *****
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

(Matthew 26:69-75 KJV)

Peter, in his human weakness and fallibility, displayed that imperfection,
that incompletion, that humanity all of three times that awful night.
Six-six-six.

Fortunately for Peter, and the rest of the disciples, and due to the
compassionate mercy and blessings bestowed upon him by Jesus, he was able to
recover from his earlier weakness, and went on to to lead them after Jesus'
crucifixion, death and resurrection, becoming the 'rock', or 'petros' in
Greek that his Master (or 'Rabbi') Jesus had named him;

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and
others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the son of the
living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

(Matthew 16:13-19 KJV)

Jesus renamed Simon Bar-jona Peter, after 'petros' in Greek, which is that
language's translation of the Aramaic word 'cephas', meaning 'stone' or more
properly, 'rock'. And in the words of Jesus Himself, Peter became the rock
upon which Jesus' church would be established. Simon, the simple rough-hewn
fisherman, who toiled with nets most of his life, was handed the keys to the
kingdom of Heaven, even though Christ probably well knew that this same
Peter

would deny even knowing Him three times the night before His crucifixion. He
would go on to Rome, where he would be persecuted for his missionary work
there, and ultimately martyred for his efforts under the orders of Emperor
Nero in the year 64 A.D.

Considered the very first Bishop of Rome, Peter was succeeded in title by
Linus, who 'ruled' from about 67 to 76/79 A.D., and he in turn was succeeded
by Anacletus, who served as bishop of Rome from 76-88 A.D., or 79-91 A.D.,
who

in turn was succeeded by Clement I, etc., etc. It wasn't until the 4th
century that these bishops of Rome became known as popes, but whatever they
have been called, there is a direct lineage from the current Pope, John Paul
II, right back to the original bishop of Rome, Peter.

It's time to look at our keywords from DCLXVI again. 'Roman', 'sequential
order', 'descending', 'ascending', and 'roman numerals', and apply what we
know about the Apostle Peter to these words.

1. 'Roman'--Strictly, a citizen of Rome. One who lives in Rome, like a
Parisien of Paris, or a Neapolitan of Naples, or a New Yorker of that city.
The Antichrist will, at the very least, reside in the city of Rome, just as
Peter did.

2. 'Sequential Order'--One after the other, in a lineage. As Peter is
recognized as the very first pope, the Antichrist too shall be among the
same lineage, using the same title, name, or both.

3. 'Ascending'--The Antichrist will ascend to the same title, name or both
that Peter had.

4. 'Descending'--The Antichrist will be a descendant, by title, name of his
'ancestor', the Apostle Peter.

5. 'Roman Numerals'--The Antichrist will have roman numerals after his name,
just as most popes do.

Simon Bar-jona, Peter the Apostle, was himself one prototype of the
Antichrist, the original '666'. His full title ought to read Pope Peter I.
The roman numeral is left out, since no pope since Peter has had the
audacity to take that title for himself, being almost a sacrosanct name for
a pontiff in the Roman Catholic Church.

That is, perhaps, until now.

Now, having said all that, it is quite possible that this future Pope Peter
II, or whatever he may call himself, just might be the False Prophet, and
not the Antichrist. Read the pertinent passage in the Book of Revelations
carefully;

"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a
lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the
first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship
the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great
and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in
full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of
the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them
to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and
yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first
beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image
to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free
and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that
no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the
beast or the number of his name.

This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number
of the beast, for it is (a) man's number. His number is 666."

(Revelation 13:11-18 NIV - (My bracket, and emphases)

Note that every time the writer wants to distinguish between the two beasts,
it does so by referring to the 'first beast' when applicable and necessary.
However, when referring to the beast with the number, as seen in the
emboldened text above, it fails to do so. Why is that? Is it because we are
to assume that the beast which has the 666 number applies only to the 'first
' beast, which came out of the sea? Why should we? How do we know that that
number doesn't apply also to the 'second' beast, that is, the False Prophet,
as well? Or how do we know that the number 666 doesn't apply to both of
them? If there's one thing I've learned in my studies in Biblical
eschatology, it's that you simply cannot assume anything.

Also note that the False Prophet has 'two horns like a lamb, but spoke like
a dragon'. If you've ever seen a pope or even a bishop wearing a mitre, a
hat which is fashioned after the head of the fish, a popular symbol of the
early Christian church, you will notice that it appears very much like two
horns, if viewed from the side. And the fact that the second beast is from
the earth, and its horns are like a lamb's also has great significance,
since as the Vicar of Christ on earth, the pope is, according to the oldest
and largest Christian sect in the world, the vicarious leader of the church
of Jesus Christ, the Lamb in Heaven, which makes him the quintessential
earthly lamb.

So, who is this False Prophet? He is none other than the "Master Jesus", one
of the Ascended Masters of Wisdom, one step lower in the Hierarchy than the
"Lord Maitreya", the Antichrist himself. Check out their website at
http://www.shareintl.org/ and read the FAQ at
http://www.shareintl.org/background/FAQ/faq_main.htm

You and I may think that's all a bad joke now, but come April 18, 2004,
unless we prepare for theze bozos, the joke will be on us.

Dan