The number of Man: 666

The number of Man; 666
5/6/06

Yesterday during prayer for our ministry the Lord said to me that this is a time when deceiving spirits are trying to court our ministers and leaders. These spirits’ objective is to get God’s leaders to give their authority to the beast. Before I go on, let me give some background on the mark of the beast. We can learn more about who the beast is by studying the number that symbolizes his image.

My husband Dave went into the study of numbers and their symbolism while in the School of Biblical Study. He explains that the number 666 (Rev 13:18) is broken down like this;
6= conformity
60= measure of our image
600 = fullness
666= conformity to the measure of the image of Man in its fullness. The word “Man” comes from the angel’s explanation to John in Rev 13:18.

This mark, 666, is what the beast has to offer Man. We see it in the world through the extremities people go through to win, out-maneuver, and out-smart each other. It is an outward manifestation of the pride of life. But we see it in our churches, not as a spirit of excellence on God’s servants, but as a spirit to excel in one’s own abilities, often called “Humanism”. For a Christian, excelling seems like a good thing when done in service to God. Yet it puts sovereignty in Man’s hands, and takes it out of God’s. Perhaps the sign of the Cross in us (as opposed to 666) is that we point people to Jesus, we lift Him up so that He can draw all men to Himself.

To those who find that their end-goal is success, it will be hard to argue against teachings that promise safety, peace, and numbers in their ministries. I believe this is why the response of some will be “Who can make war against him?” (Rev 13:4). It is hard to argue against the success of a ministry that is measured in the numbers of people it reaches, its financial success, and the amount of good works it accomplishes. But is this measurement what God measures by? Perhaps the leading of the Holy Spirit might interfere with the success of just such a ministry.

We could say that the appeal of Humanism will cause a man to take on the image of 666, but perhaps is even broader than that. The deceiving spirits will cause Man to put confidence in his own wisdom and abilities, and question God’s sovereign power and authority. Humanism will lead to rebellion against God because its root is pride in self. And pride in self is Lucifer’s sin.

The deceitful spirits which court God’s ministers make humanistic teachings look helpful. But once a minister sets aside the simplicity of the gospel of Christ, he begins leading people to put their trust somewhere else.

So, who can make war against this beast? There is One who makes war with every Christian who holds false teachings, and that is Jesus (Rev 2;16). He uses the sword of His mouth, the Spirit and the Word. Why? So that the ministers He so loves and invests Himself in will turn around and point men to Him. Amen. I pray that He will find us so doing when He returns.