(The Antichrist) 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has [g]the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
You know this beast. The bible tells us clearly it is Satan. He knows you because he has man’s number. That is a play on words, “I’ve got your number.” In today’s idiom it means, “I understand who you are and where you are coming from”. The apostle John, the author or Revelation, did not know today’s idiom.
Here’s what our somewhat-less-than-trustworthy friend google tells us:
“Often, the phrase I've got your number is used to warn someone that you are on to their nefarious pursuits, and their deceit will not work on you. ... The origin of the phrase to have someone's number is unclear. Some believe that the expression is derived from the fact that each telephone has a unique call number.”
I believe that definition is the common understanding today of the phrase “I’ve got your number.” I think the vast majority of us today know what that phrase means. So, I find it immensely interesting that bible tells us Satan “has our number” when John had no idea what that idiom mean 2000 years later. Seems like it is written for today’s generation? The book of Revelation is full of idioms, metaphors, similes and other fancy grammatical terms for “Something that means something else.”
But the Holy Spirit is faithful to provide the meaning of all those metaphors in the whole word of God.
When we study Revelation 13 in our verse-by-verse teaching, I will tell you exactly what 666 means and how to prove it in the bible. But you will likely have the wisdom to figure it out before then if you come meet with us every week.
In part 1 of the 2-Lesson overview we are starting this Thursday, in room A204 at 7:30 PM (Childcare available.) We will be studying the number 7:
· 7 Days of Creation
· 70 weeks of years for Israel. 69 have passed as prophesied, 1 is yet to come at an unknown time.
· 7 Parables
· 7 Days of Passion Week
· 7 Lamp stands
· 7 Stars
· 7 Epistles written by Jesus
· 7 Seals
· 7 Trumpets
· 7 Bowls
· 7 Judgements of Un-Creation
· Glorious Eternity
In part 2 of the overview, we will look at some bible architecture. This amazing book builds into itself a complete unveiling of Jesus Christ and God’s plan not only in the text itself, but in the way it is structured. We will examine how numbers and “types of” are used by the Holy Sprit NOT to be mysterious, but to resolve the mystery Paul speaks of in Ephesians:
3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
We are in the age of “you Gentiles.” Also called “The Church Age.” It is a special age of Grace that we are blessed to live in now and we will talk about it in the overview. The Church in Ephesus was also the recipient of the first of Christ’s epistles, and we will study it in Revelation, Chapter 2. In the overview, we will look at how this Age of Grace stretches to the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel in the last of Daniel’s 70 weeks of years.
I hope you can come and share some time together in His word. This book PROMISES a blessing for those who hear it. God keeps His promises. Want a blessing?
Come claim it Thursday at 7:30 PM in Room A204. I am praying to see you there.
- Jerry Riggin, Member PHUMC