The Number of the Beast.
By J. M. Stephenson
In presenting this subject I propose the following order: 1. The beast numbered is a definite beast. This is evident by reference to the following passages: Rev. xiii, 17. “And 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.” In this passage, the mark, the number and the name, all, evidently, refer to the same beast, i. e., the beast which had the wound by the sword and did live. Rev. xiii, 3, 14; xiv, 9–12. In the last clause of verse 17, in the message, the mark and the name inhere in the Papal beast. See Rev. xv, 2. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Here the mark and the number, the image and the name, all refer to the Papal beast. The pronoun his in each case personifies the same beast, i. e., “his image, his mark, his number,” or the number of his name.—Hence it is the beast with seven heads and ten horns, and not the two-horned beast that is numbered. 2. It is a definite number, i. e., 666, Hence, it cannot refer to man’s mode of reckoning; for any number from one to the highest number in the reach of human computation, would be as much in accordance with man’s mode of reckoning as 666. 3. It is a definite man who is numbered. "It is the number of a man,” not of man or men; hence it cannot refer to the ancient mode of reckoning by letters; because that makes the number indefinite; as there have lived more than one man whose name numbered 666. Some have referred this number to the first Pope, others to Latinus, and others to Napoleon Buonaparte. But, if, as Adventists profess to believe, the Bible be its own expositor, we must find a clue to the man here spoken of, in some part of that Book. What saith the Scriptures? Ans. They distinctly bring to view, two definite men, as the heads of the two great antagonistical churches—the Christian and the Anti-christian. The one represented by the Man, Christ Jesus, and the other by the “Man of Sin.” 2 Thess. ii, 3. “And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” That this man represents the Papal Anti-christian church, we all believe. And he will represent that church until the revelation of Christ.—Verses 8, 9. The church represented by this man, continued a unit nearly a thousand years after its foundation, when it commenced breaking up under Luther and Calvin, and these divisions have continued dividing and subdividing until, according to the Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, they now number about six hundred three score and six. We may trace the lineage of every Protestant church back to the mother of harlots, [Rev. xvii, 5,] and we can go no further. Not only are they daughters by natural descent, but by initiation. I have not room in one epistle to note the points of identity between the daughters and the mother. Suffice it to say, the Protestant churches are the daughters, or she has none. But that she has daughters is evident from Rev. xvii, 5. In reference to their character, the text says, they are harlots. Now, a harlot mother may have chaste and virtuous daughters; also, harlot daughters may have a virtuous mother; but all, mothers and daughters, are included in the same Babylon (Babel) of confusion. Rev. xvii, 5. They are harlots because of their intercourse with the man of sin. And their number is the number of a man, (the man of sin,) and his number is six hundred three score and six. Those churches collectively or individually have that number. To illustrate, compare the mother and her daughters to one family, represented by one man who is the head of the family; and who represents the whole family; and consequently has the number of the mother and all her daughters, if her family be composed exclusively of daughters. Or it might be illustrated by a great organization, plural in form, but having a unit sign.—For example, the 1001 Society. The number of the society, collectively, or every division, and every number belonging thereto is, 1001. Hence the number of his name, [Babylon. Rev. xiv, 8; xvii, 5.] i. e., the church represented by him is, 666; and this is the number of every division of that church, and of every member belonging thereto; hence the number is coupled with the mark and the name of the beast, as a matter of equal importance, and as involving the same consequences. Rev. xvii, 15; xv, 2. If all the Protestant Churches are represented by Harlot women—then to belong to those churches is to be defiled with women; hence John in his description of the 144,000, (who obtained the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name. Rev. xv, 2,) says, These are they which were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. Rev. xiv, 4. To belong to any of the Protestant Churches of this land, is to be a part of the body of the Two-Horned Beast; and to aid in any way, by our property, or by our influence, in supporting those Churches, is to be an accomplice with them; and to be an accomplice with them, will involve us in their fearful destiny.—Once more: To belong to Babylon is to endorse her sins; and to endorse her sins, is to doom ourselves to receive her plagues. See Rev. xviii, 2–5. I believe the mighty cry of Rev. xviii, 2–12, synchronizes with the loud cry of Rev. xiv, 9–12; for both are messages of unprecedented importance, to be proclaimed with a loud—a mighty—voice; both are associated with the same Babel of confusion; both cry aloud, Separation! Separation!! and both toll the same solemn note of warning: “If any man worship the beast and his image,” &c.—“Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Amen. Union, Rock Co., Wis., Nov. 7th, 1853.