Don't Know Much About the Bible - Kenneth C. Davis [185]
A woman crowned with twelve stars appears. She is in agonized childbirth. A great red dragon awaits the child’s birth. But the newborn is taken to heaven, where war breaks out. The angels under the archangel Michael defeat the seven-headed, ten-horned dragon—the Devil and Satan.
Another terrible beast emerges from the sea and is given authority by the other beast. The world worships the beast. Another beast emerges from the earth. The beast has a number: 666.
The day of judgment breaks. Seven angels empty bowls of plague representing God’s anger onto the world and over the beast. The cities of the world collapse and vanish. Babylon, the “Great Whore,” burns and the world laments her passing. Songs of victory resound in heaven. The new age begins—after which Satan is released for a short time before his ultimate end at Armageddon. This was actually a reference to the city of Megiddo, the scene of several major battles in Israel’s early history. Then there is a new heaven and a new earth, and on the earth, a new messianic city of Jerusalem.
Why is 666 the Number of the Beast?
In rock music, books, and films, the number 666 has come to represent Satanism in popular culture. Throughout history, the identity and meaning of the mystical Beast numbered 666 has been applied to such notorious figures as Napoleon and Hitler. In fact, the number has a much simpler and more reasonable explanation. While Satan and the Devil are major players in Revelation, the meaning of 666 was clear to the people of the time. In both Greek and Hebrew, letters doubled as numerals. One simple solution to the 666 puzzle is that the number is produced by adding up the Hebrew equivalent of “Kaisar Neron,” or Emperor Nero. Rome, the “Great Whore Babylon” of Revelation, and its butchering evil emperors, were the real villains for the author of Revelation.
BIBLICAL VOICES
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Rev. 22:18-19)
MILESTONES IN BIBLICAL TIMES VII
117 After completing conquests in Mesopotamia, Emperor Trajan dies while returning to Rome. He is succeeded by a kinsman who rules Rome for twenty-one years as the emperor Hadrian.
132 Jerusalem’s Jews rise in anger at the construction of a shrine to the Roman god Jupiter on the site of their fallen Temple. The uprising begins a two-year insurrection called the Second Revolt.
135 Roman legions retake Jerusalem and Hadrian orders the site of Jerusalem plowed under.
177 Emperor Marcus Aurelius begins a systematic persecution of Christians in Rome because they oppose emperor-worship and are seen as a threat to Roman order.
c. 200 The bishop of Rome gains his predominant position as Pope.
c. 250 Under the emperor Decius, the wide-scale persecution of Christians increases, producing martyrs who will be revered as saints.
303-311 Emperor Diocletian orders a new round of persecutions of Christians in Rome in an attempt to restore the old religion of Rome.
312 The emperor Constantine becomes absolute ruler of the western Roman empire. Before a battle, Constantine claims to see a vision of a luminous cross bearing the words In hoc signo vinces (“In this sign you will conquer”).
313 Constantine establishes toleration of Christianity.
325 Constantine summons the Council of Nicaea, in modern Turkey, the first ecumenical council of the church. It supports the doctrine that God and Christ are of the same substance. Christianity becomes the dominant religion of the empire.
326 Constantine moves to the ancient city of Byzantium and renames it Constantinople (modern Istanbul).
367 Athanasius, a church leader in Alexandria, lists the twenty-seven books of the New Testament as they are known today. Church leaders in Rome accept this list in 382.
391 Emperor Theodosius orders all non-Christian works