In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John introduces the mysterious number 666 in the context of the Beast’s mark. He writes:

This cryptic verse has fascinated and perplexed readers for centuries. The number 666 – six hundred sixty-six – is explicitly called “the number of a man,” tied to the Beast, an end-times figure of immense evil. What could this number signify? Far from mere superstition or a “hex,” the symbolism of 666 runs deep into biblical theology and even into ancient occult practices. To understand it, we must delve into both Scripture and history, exploring how 666 relates to themes of false divinity, sun worship, and human power.

Notably, 666 is not unique to Revelation. Elsewhere in the Bible, it marks a moment of opulent human power: King Solomon’s annual income of gold was “six hundred threescore and six talents of gold” (1 Kings 10:14, KJV). Solomon at that time was at the height of his wealth and splendor – and also on the verge of spiritual decline. It is no coincidence that 666 in Scripture is associated with earthly riches and power apart from God. As one commentator notes, “666” is merely the number “of man” in conflict against God’s kingdom. In other words, 666 represents humanity’s zenith without God – worldly achievement that falls short of divine perfection.

In this study, we will journey through the layers of meaning behind 666. We will uncover its links to ancient sun worship and occult numerology, examine the Babylonian cosmology that exalted certain numbers, and see how Revelation portrays the final Beast as an embodiment of counterfeit divinity. We’ll compare 666 with the number of divine perfection (often represented as 7 or 777), and trace the “Sun-King” archetype – rulers who claimed godhood – from antiquity to modern times. In particular, we will focus on how the papal office has historically fulfilled this archetype of Antichrist, an office exalting itself as if it were divine. By the end, we will issue a call to action: to discern and reject the Beast system – any man or institution that claims to be God on Earth – and to remain faithful to the true God.

(Let us now “count the number” and seek understanding, with Scripture as our guide and history as our teacher.)

As previously mentioned.....

The 6×6 Sun Square: 666 and Solar Occultism

One remarkable connection to the number 666 comes from the realm of ancient occult symbolism: the “magic square of the Sun.” In antiquity, mathematicians and sorcerers were fascinated by magic squares – grids of numbers with mystical properties. The Sun’s magic square was a 6×6 grid containing the numbers 1 through 36. In this configuration, every row, column, and diagonal sums to 111, and the sum of all 36 numbers is 666. This is not a coincidence but a deliberate design. The 6×6 square (with its 36 cells) was associated with the Sun because of the special significance of the number 6 in pagan thought – and the fact that 1+2+...+36 = 666.

In occult tradition, this 6×6 grid was one of the most important symbols used to represent the Sun because of its mathematical harmony with the “perfect number” 6. Thus, the total 666 was venerated as a sacred solar number – the numeric embodiment of the sun-god’s energy.

In ancient Chaldean and Babylonian astrology, numbers held divine meaning. The numbers 6, 36, 111, and 666 were considered “sacred to the Sun”. Why? The Babylonians used a sexagesimal (base-60) system for time and astronomy, dividing the circle into 360 degrees and the calendar into (originally) 360 days. The number 36 featured prominently: they divided the sky into 12 zodiac signs of 30° each (12×30 = 360), and further into 36 decans (constellations) each ruling 10 days. It was believed that 36 celestial gods presided over the days of the year, with the sun considered chief. Summing up the numbers 1 through 36 to get 666 was like symbolically adding up all the gods (fallen angels) – a way to invoke the power of the entire pantheon in one number. Thus 666 became a kind of numeric talisman, representing the might of the sun and the host of heaven in pagan thought.

Occultists later inherited this idea. Even in Western magic and Kabbalistic tradition, the Sun’s sacred numbers are still noted: “in Western Occultism and Magick, 6, 36, 111, and 666 are numbers sacred to the energy of the Sun.” The repetition of 6 (the solar number) three times amplifies its power. We can already see a counterfeit pattern forming: what God in Scripture labels the number of the Beast (and of fallen man), pagan religion was venerating as the number of a sun-god. This is a clue that 666 is more than a random numeral – it is a symbol of false, man-made divinity, the kind of worldly spiritual power that stands in opposition to the true God.

The early Christians, aware of such pagan associations, understood the dark significance of 666. Possessing a diagram of the Sun’s 6×6 magic square could even get one accused of sorcery. As one historian notes: owning the magic square of the Sun could be a capital offense. The early Christian Church recognized that this symbol was linked to occult sun worship – precisely the kind of idolatry that the biblical God opposes. It is therefore fitting (in a divine irony) that God’s revelation in Apocalypse takes 666, “the number of the sun”, and stamps it on the Beast – marking it as a sign of a false god.

In summary, the Sun Square shows 666’s deep roots in Babylonian mysticism. The Beast’s number is a solar cipher: it evokes the pomp of pagan sun-gods, the entire host of heaven worshipped in place of the Creator, and the idea of human kingship elevated to divine status. To fully grasp that last point, we must explore how ancient cosmology and kingship were entwined with numbers – especially the number 8.

“The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth.”

Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, “Cities Petrus Bertanous”.”…the Pope is as it were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ, chief of kings, having plenitude of power.”

Lucius Ferraris, in “Prompta Bibliotheca Canonica, Juridica, Moralis, Theologica, Ascetica, Polemica, Rubristica, Historica”, Volume V, article on “Papa, Article II”, titled “Concerning the extent of Papal dignity, authority, or dominion and infallibility”, (#1, 5, 13-15, 18, published in Petit-Montrouge (Paris) by J. P. Migne, 1858 edition.)

For any true follower of Christ, the above quote is deeply offensive—an affront to the very foundation of biblical Christianity. The papacy is a man-made institution, entirely without sanction or authority from Jesus Christ. According to Scripture, apostles were those who had personally witnessed Christ’s life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection. No Roman bishop meets this criterion—none ever walked with Jesus, none ever heard Him teach, nor saw Him rise from the dead. This fact exposes why early figures with genuine apostolic ties; such as the Desposyni (the relatives of Jesus) and Mary Magdalene (the apostle of the apostles) were systematically erased from Church history or slandered, as in Mary’s case, as a prostitute. They posed a threat to the fabricated claims of Roman ecclesiastical supremacy because they alone bore authentic apostolic succession—a lineage the papal office could never truthfully claim.

Babylonian Cosmology: The Seven Spheres and the “Divine 8”

The people of Babylon (and many other ancient cultures) viewed the cosmos as a series of concentric heavens or spheres above the flat earth. They could observe seven moving lights in the sky: the Sun, the Moon, and five visible planets. These were often called the “seven planets” or seven heavens. What lay beyond the seventh heaven? The Babylonians envisioned an eighth realm – the sphere of the fixed stars, a glittering firmament encircling all creation. This highest heaven, studded with the zodiac constellations, was seen as the dwelling of the gods. According to Britannica: “In Babylonian myth there were seven spheres plus an eighth realm, the fixed stars, where the gods lived. As a result, 8 is often associated with paradise.” In other words, the number 8 came to symbolize the sphere of ultimate divinity and totality – the abode of deity, beyond the reach of the seven earthly spheres.

In Babylonian and ancient thought, this highest zone of the fixed stars was “paradise” – the realm of the gods beyond the seven skies. The number 8 thus signified going beyond the created order into the divine realm. By contrast, biblical truth asserts that even “heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain” the true God (1 Kings 8:27); no matter how high the sphere, the Lord is higher. The God of the Bible is not confined within a cosmic number or sphere – He transcends all.

The Babylonians were enthralled by the heavens. They connected the movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets with their gods, believing celestial events reflected the gods’ will. The zodiac, with its twelve signs, was basically a calendar of deity – each sign corresponding to divine figures and influencing human fate. This worldview naturally exalted kings who could claim connection to the heavens. If a king was the representative (or incarnation) of a god, then he partook in that divine realm. For example, many ancient kings styled themselves the Son of the Sun or the son of the sky-god. In Egypt, Pharaoh was called the “Son of Ra” (the sun-god) and seen as the living embodiment of Horus. In Rome, emperors like Augustus were depicted with a radiant solar crown, aligning themselves with Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun). All these notions tie astral worship to human deification.

Now consider the number 7 vs. 8 from a biblical perspective. Scripture often uses 7 to signify completeness or perfection in God’s created order (seven days of Creation, etc.). 8, by contrast, can imply a new beginning or going beyond – but in Babylonian terms, 8 meant transcending the mundane to reach divinity. The Bible acknowledges that there is a realm of God beyond our physical universe (Paul spoke of being caught up to the “third heaven,” 2 Cor 12:2, referring to God’s dwelling beyond visible heaven). However, the Bible never glorifies any number as “divine” in itself. In fact, aspiring to reach the realm of God by human means is portrayed negatively (recall the Tower of Babel reaching for heaven). The stage is set for a conflict: pagan cosmology says man can climb to godhood (symbolically, “8”), whereas biblical truth says only God is God, and man’s attempts to become a god are rebellion.

This contrast comes to a head in Revelation’s depiction of world empires. John’s vision in Revelation 17 gives us a beast with seven heads symbolizing seven kings or kingdoms, and then introduces an eighth – with profound implications.

Revelation 17 and the Beast as the “Eighth” King

In Revelation 17, the angel interprets the vision of a scarlet beast ridden by a harlot (mystery “Babylon”). The beast’s heads represent a sequence of kings or kingdoms. John is told:

This is a dense prophecy, but notice the mathematical riddle: the Beast is an eighth king, yet he “belongs to the seven” in some way, and he is headed for destruction. The image is of a lineage of worldly empires; seven major pagan powers; and then an eighth manifestation, which is in fact the Beast itself. Many interpreters see the seven heads as seven historical empires that opposed God’s people. A common historic view identifies them as: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and a seventh to come (often thought of as a revived Roman-like power or a final global empire). The Beast, as the eighth, will be the final evil world ruler, embodying and surpassing all the previous ones.

What’s fascinating is how this lines up with the idea of “the realm of 8” = claiming divinity. The angel says the Beast “was, and is not, and yet is” (Rev 17:8); a twisted mimicry of God’s eternal nature. The Beast as the eighth suggests he goes beyond a mere earthly king. He will claim to be more than an ordinary successor of the seven empires—he will claim totality, godhood, and eternal authority, stepping into the paradise realm that the number 8 symbolized in Babylonian myth.

But how does this mere man rise to such a god-like status? Revelation 13 provides the missing key:

Here lies the spiritual engine behind the Beast’s ascendancy: he is energized and enthroned by the Dragon—Lucifer himself. The Beast does not possess divine power from God; rather, he attains a counterfeit divinity through satanic empowerment. His rise is fueled by the very serpent of Eden, the ancient adversary, who grants him a throne of deception. The Beast reaches for divinity apart from God, ascending through solar and cosmic imagery, aligning with the archetype of the ancient sun-king, yet his light is not of heaven; it is the counterfeit radiance of Lucifer, the “light-bearer” turned rebel. Just as ancient pagan kings claimed divine right through sun worship, so the final Beast will claim godhood through a false illumination, a corrupted spiritual force masked in cosmic grandeur.

Indeed, Revelation 13:4 confirms the world’s response:

Worship of the Beast is worship of the Dragon. This is the ultimate blasphemy: a man elevated to divine status by Satan himself, and the world adores him for it. The Beast is not merely a political figure; he is the final culmination of Luciferian ambition, a man who embodies the full rejection of God while pretending to be god. His rule will be one of counterfeit glory, counterfeit miracles, counterfeit resurrection (Rev 13:3), and counterfeit light. He is the eighth king, but his power does not come from above; it rises from the abyss and is anointed by hell.

Revelation 17 is portraying the final Antichrist; the Beast; as the satanically empowered culmination of all previous pagan empires, an amalgam of their power, their blasphemy, and their idolatry. He sets himself up as God on earth, ascending through false light, cloaked in cosmic imitation, while being animated by the spirit of the Dragon. He is the “eighth”; not because he is divine, but because he pretends to occupy that highest realm, the domain of the gods. It is a direct and calculated counterfeit of Christ: where Christ ascends to the right hand of the Father, the Beast ascends from the pit to sit in God’s temple proclaiming himself to be God (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:4).

To the original readers under Roman rule, this prophecy also carried an immediate resonance. The Roman emperors were already starting to demand divine honors. By the end of the 1st century, Emperor Domitian became notorious for styling himself in documents as “Dominus et Deus”; “Our Lord and God”—and requiring subjects to address him as such. Domitian effectively made himself an earthly “eighth,” claiming a divine title beyond any previous emperor. Many scholars think John had Domitian in view as a forerunner of the final Antichrist. Indeed, Revelation 17:11 says the Beast “goeth into perdition”; a chilling prophecy that though he claims godhood, his end is destruction.

Thus, Revelation gives us a prophetic template: the Antichrist is a man who rises in the spirit of the seven corrupt empires before him, claims divinity by mimicking God’s eternal nature, draws power from the Dragon (Lucifer), and ascends through a counterfeit solar theology that exalts man in the place of God. This is the beast of 666—the man of sin who dares to be god through the power of hell.

The Sun-King Archetype: Pagan Rulers Claiming Godhood

Throughout history, powerful leaders have often conflated kingship with divinity. This tendency can be traced back to the very dawn of post-Flood civilization, in the shadowy figure of Nimrod of Babylon. Ancient tradition (preserved in various historical and religious sources) portrays Nimrod as the first monarch who deified himself. He was a tyrant, a hunter of men, and the builder of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 10:8–10, 11:4-5). According to legend, after Nimrod’s death his followers revered him as a sun-god. Some researchers claim that “Nimrod, the head of the pagan sun-serpent worship… was falsely represented as the very son of God, [and] bore the number 666”. In other words, Nimrod became the prototype of Antichrist – a man asserting god-status, instituting an idolatrous religion (Babylon’s mysteries), and thus being marked with a “666” in a spiritual sense. Whether or not one accepts all details of these traditions, Nimrod undeniably stands as an archetype of the Sun-King: a ruler seeking world dominion and divine honors, in defiance of the true God.

Throughout history, rulers across various civilizations have elevated themselves as divine or semi-divine figures, embodying the spirit of 666 long before the final Beast rises. In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs were not merely kings but gods in the eyes of their people. Often called the “Son of Ra,” with Ra being the sun-god, these rulers were believed to be incarnations of Horus during life and Osiris after death. Pharaoh Amenhotep III, for instance, described himself in inscriptions as “the dazzling sun,” aligning his rule with solar divinity. When Moses confronted Pharaoh, it was not merely a political struggle but a direct theological confrontation—Yahweh versus a man who claimed godhood. Each of the plagues sent by God attacked specific Egyptian deities, culminating in the ninth plague, where the sun itself was darkened, exposing the impotence of Egypt’s supposed divine ruler. In humiliating Pharaoh, God declared that no man, however deified by earthly systems, can stand against His sovereign will.

This same pattern of blasphemous exaltation was seen in the Babylonian and Persian empires. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, erected a massive golden statue; sixty cubits high and six cubits wide; and commanded all nations to worship it under penalty of death (Daniel 3:1–7), an ominous foreshadowing of the image of the Beast in Revelation 13:15. In his pride, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “Is not this great Babylon that I have built... for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). God’s response was swift and just: the king was struck with madness until he confessed that “the Most High rules” over the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:34–37). Later, King Darius of Persia was manipulated into signing a decree that banned prayer to any god or man except himself for thirty days (Daniel 6:7–9). This kind of state-enforced worship, a "worship the state or die" law, directly mirrors the system of the Beast. These Near Eastern kings, through self-exaltation or political scheming, sought the kind of devotion that belongs only to God, revealing the enduring presence of the antichrist spirit across time.

The Greco-Roman world continued this trend of divine kingship with chilling boldness. Alexander the Great accepted worship as the son of Zeus-Ammon after his conquest of Egypt. His Hellenistic successors followed suit, most notoriously Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who took the title “Epiphanes,” meaning “God Manifest.” His desecration of the Jewish Temple made him a historical prototype of Antichrist. The Roman emperors expanded these claims even further. By the New Testament era, it had become common to deify emperors after death, and increasingly, they claimed divine status while still alive.

Domitian (AD 81–96), as mentioned earlier, demanded to be called Dominus et Deus “Lord and God”; and his subjects were required to address him with such titles. Historian Suetonius records how his decrees were issued under the formula: “Our Lord and God commands this to be done.” Earlier, Caligula attempted to place a statue of himself in the Jewish Temple, and Augustus was hailed as filius deus, “the son of the deified Julius Caesar.” These Caesars were often portrayed with solar rays on coins, aligning themselves with the sun-god (Lucifer) thereby stepping into the ancient role of the divine sun-king. The Roman Imperial Cult was not a minor religious custom; it was a direct and hostile rival to the Christian gospel. Refusing to worship the emperor as a god was among the most common reasons Christians were persecuted. The system was unmistakably saturated with the 666 spirit: human authority raised to divine status, enforced by state power, and adorned in cosmic symbolism.

Even after pagan empires faded, the lust for divine rule did not disappear. In the Byzantine era, emperors often blurred the line between temporal and spiritual power, claiming to be “equal to the apostles.” This fusion of church and state authority came to be known as Caesaropapism. Medieval Orthodox emperors bore this label when they exercised dominance over both crown and altar. Yet the most enduring and troubling legacy of the god-king archetype did not remain in the East. It found its most potent and enduring expression in the heart of Western Christianity: the Papacy. The pope, claiming the titles “Vicar of Christ” (in place of Christ, or AntiChrist) and even “Holy Father,” stands at the center of a system that embodies the ancient ambition to merge religious reverence with unchallengeable authority. Here, in the office of the Roman pontiff, the echo of Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, and Caesar still resounds—man lifting himself to divine heights, enthroned not only in political dominion but also spiritual supremacy. It is the spirit of 666 dressed in religious robes.

The Papal Antichrist: “Another God on Earth”

Of all historical offices, the Roman Papacy has most consistently been identified by Protestant interpreters as fulfilling the role of the prophetic Antichrist or Beast system. This is not out of personal animus, but out of documented claims and actions by the popes that match the Bible’s warnings about a man arrogating divine honours. The Reformers (Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, etc.) unanimously saw the papal office as the “Man of Sin” who exalts himself in the Church. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) even codified that belief, stating the pope is “that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ” (referencing 2 Thess 2:3-4).

Why would they say this? Consider the evidence:

1. Titles and Claims of Divinity: The pope takes the title “Vicar of Christ” (Vicarius Christi) – meaning In place of Christ on earth. An even more audacious title used historically is “Vicarius Filii Dei,” meaning “Vicar of the Son of God.” This title implies standing in place of Jesus Himself. Remarkably (and ominously), Vicarius Filii Dei in Latin has a numerical value of 666 when adding up the letters (U and V counted as 5, etc.). For example: V(5)+I(1)+C(100)+A(0)+R(0)+I(1)+V(5)+S(0) + F(0)+I(1)+L(50)+I(1)+I(1) + D(500)+E(0)+I(1) = 666. Many Protestant analysts have noted this startling “coincidence.” It’s important to clarify that not every pope used this exact title in official capacity (it appears in some Catholic documents and inscriptions), but the concept is embraced: the pope is the stand-in for the Son of God on earth. In effect, the office makes a counterfeit Christ of the man who holds it.

Moreover, multiple popes and Catholic sources have explicitly claimed a form of divine authority that no mere man should. Pope Leo XIII famously wrote in an 1894 encyclical: “We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” Likewise, Pope Benedict XIV (1740) stated, “Though unworthy, We take the place of God on earth.” Such statements are staggering in light of 2 Thessalonians 2:4, which foretells of the “man of sin” who “exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” The papacy fulfills this by literally sitting in the Church and presenting himself as God’s presence or as an infallible voice of God. At the First Vatican Council (AD 1870), the Catholic bishops declared the pope “has the same full power of jurisdiction that Christ Himself has” and that “the pope is Christ in office, Christ in jurisdiction and power... We bow down before thy voice, O Holy Father, as we would before Christ Himself.” This is not merely giving honour to a fellow Christian leader – this is worship in all but name. The pope is addressed by titles such as “Holy Father” (a title Jesus used of God in John 17:11) and even “Our Lord God the pope” in certain historical documents (though modern Catholics shy from that phrase). Such blasphemous epithets led the Reformers to conclude: this is exactly what Antichrist would look like – an office cloaked in religion, sitting in God’s temple (the Church), and claiming prerogatives of God.

2. Blending of Temporal and Spiritual Power: The Papacy during the Middle Ages wielded not only spiritual headship but also secular authority as rulers of the Papal States. Popes wore a triple tiara, symbolizing dominion over heaven, earth, and purgatory – an almost trinitarian kingship. They have sat on thrones, been carried in gestatorial chairs, received the obeisance (kissing of feet or ring) of rulers and masses. In 1302 pope Boniface VIII stated in Unam Sanctam, “It is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” That is an unabashed claim of universal supremacy – essentially putting the pope in the position of Christ as the one through whom all must go to be saved. This totalizing of power (both swords: spiritual and temporal) is very much in the spirit of the Beast of Revelation 13, who has authority over “every tribe, tongue, and nation” and compels both religious and economic submission (Rev 13:7, 16-17).

3. Continued Pagan Syncretism (Mystery Babylon): Revelation 17 portrays the harlot named Babylon riding the Beast – a corrupt religious system intertwined with imperial power. The Papal system, as argued by many, is essentially “Babylonian” in its ritual and structure: it absorbed numerous pagan elements from the old Roman Empire (sun-symbols, mother-and-child worship in the form of Mary and baby, saints taking roles of old gods, etc.). For instance, sun worship artifacts are prevalent: the monstrance that holds the Eucharist is often a sunburst; St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican is an obelisk (sun pillar) with a surrounding circle and even markers like a giant sundial, and the plaza features the zodiac signs around the obelisk base. Historian Alexander Hislop (in The Two Babylons) and others have documented how the papal religion parallels ancient Babylon’s fertility cults and sun worship. The very day of Christian worship was changed to Sun-day, a move the Church of Rome boasts as her mark of authority. All these links strengthen the identification of Papal Rome with the symbolic “Babylon” drunk with saints’ blood (Rev 17:5-6). In effect, the Pope inherits the mantle of the Sun-Kings of old – but in Christian dress. The number 666, linked with sun worship and Babylonian idolatries, thus finds a fitting home in the papal institution.

4. Persecution of Saints: The Beast in Revelation makes war with the saints (Rev 13:7). The medieval papacy certainly did this, instituting the Inquisition and persecuting those who resisted its dogmas. By some estimates, millions perished in religious wars and inquisitions (e.g. Albigensian crusade, suppression of Waldenses, Hus, the martyrs under Queen Mary, etc.). While this is a vast historical topic, it’s noteworthy that “drunk with the blood of saints” (Rev 17:6) is how John saw the harlot Babylon. Many Protestant commentators did not hesitate to apply this to Rome’s long history of persecuting dissenters.

When we piece together these factors – blasphemous claims, universal authority, pagan syncretism, and persecution – there is an overwhelming case that the office of the papacy fulfills the profile of the Antichrist “Beast system.” The Reformers saw the “mark of the beast” not necessarily as a literal tattoo, but as the mark of obedience and affiliation. To accept the pope’s authority, in their view, was to receive the mark on one’s hand or forehead (figuratively, action or belief). Indeed, in the Middle Ages, those who did not submit to Rome’s religious edicts could be economically boycotted or worse – a scenario echoing Revelation 13:17.

It is sobering to realize that Antichrist is not necessarily a crude, "openly" evil tyrant from outside the Church. Rather, Scripture warns he comes from within, appearing as an “angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14-15). The papacy, draped in pomp and piety, performing signs (think of Eucharistic miracles or the spectacle of the Mass), and claiming Christ’s very title, is a deception much more subtle than a blatant Satanist cult. It is counterfeit Christianity – “having a form of godliness” but denying the true power (2 Tim 3:5). This is 666 in its essence: man’s religion posing as God’s religion. It presents a false path to salvation (through indulgences, sacraments controlled by a human priesthood that claims to dispense grace, etc.) instead of the true path (direct faith in Christ and His perfect sacrifice).

None of this is said to attack individuals in the Roman Catholic Church – many sincere believers worship God within that system, often ignorant of these issues. Rather, we speak of the office and system that through history has exalted itself. As the angel in Revelation 18:4 calls, “Come out of her, my people,” so we likewise call people to come out of Babylon – to disentangle themselves from any man-made system that puts itself in God’s place.

Recognize the Beast System: A Prophetic Call to Action

The exploration above has been detailed and deeply symbolic. But it has a very practical upshot: we must be spiritually vigilant. The number 666 and all the imagery surrounding it is ultimately a warning from God against trusting in man in place of God. It is a call to discern the difference between true divine authority and counterfeit authority.

What does this mean for us today? Firstly, we should not obsess over literal “666” sightings (on barcodes or microchips, etc.) to the neglect of the bigger issue. The mark of 666 is fundamentally about worship and allegiance. Revelation 13 makes clear that those who receive the Beast’s mark are those who worship the Beast and its image. It is a matter of the heart and will. Do we give our devotion to human powers, human ideologies, human leaders or institutions as if they were infallible? Or do we reserve our worship for God alone?

The Beast system is already at work whenever any man or government claims divine rights over conscience. Whenever an authority says, “You must obey us rather than God,” the spirit of the Beast is present. This could be in overt forms – like a cult leader claiming to be the Messiah, or a totalitarian regime demanding ultimate loyalty – or in subtle forms, such as a church elevating tradition and leader’s words to equal status with Scripture. As believers, we are called to “fear God and give glory to Him” (Rev 14:7) rather than fearing and glorifying the Beast.

We have specifically identified the papacy as a fulfillment of this Beast system. This is not a new interpretation; it is rooted in centuries of scholarship and the witness of martyrs. Even today, the pope claims to be the supreme earthly authority over Christianity, able to speak ex cathedra with infallibility. The pope is revered by millions as the holy father of all. Bible prophecy urges us to open our eyes: no matter how admired or beloved, any office that asserts it holds “the place of God on earth” is, by definition, antichristus (against and in place of Christ). I implore my readers, especially any from Catholic backgrounds: measure these claims by the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23), the only Mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). No priest, bishop, or pope can take His place. Salvation is found in direct relationship with Jesus, not in submission to an earthly throne. Recognizing this is to refuse the mark of the Beast and to receive the seal of God instead.

Lastly, note how Revelation 14 contrasts the fate of two groups: those who follow the Lamb (Christ) and those who follow the Beast. One group keeps “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev 14:12), while the other follows traditions of men enforced by the Beast. This dichotomy may become increasingly stark as we approach the end. Already we see a push for global authority in various forms – some even talk about a single world leader or unifying figure for peace (a role the pope often seeks in religious matters). We must be careful: the more power is centralized in one man or office, the more we edge toward the Beast’s final manifestation.

My call to you, dear reader, is to ground yourself in biblical truth so thoroughly that you can discern the false from the true. Do not be enamored by miracles, pageantry, or the prestige of an institution – the second Beast “deceives by means of those miracles” (Rev 13:14). Instead, test everything against Scripture. Worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Recognize that any man or office that claims divinity, infallibility, or supreme lordship on earth is part of the Beast system. This applies not only to popes, but to would-be “saviours” in politics or culture who promise heaven on earth if only you give them total trust. Do not give any human that trust which belongs to Christ.

The number 666 is a profound biblical symbol that shines light on the nature of satanic deception. It represents the fullness of human power united with false religion – a counterfeit kingdom masquerading as God’s kingdom. Against it stands the true Kingdom of God symbolized by numbers like 7 (perfection) and 12 (God’s people). The choice is stark: Babylon or New Jerusalem, Beast or Lamb, 666 or 777. The Book of Revelation, though filled with woe for Babylon, ends with a hopeful vision: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev 11:15). No matter how dominant the Beast system may seem, its reign is brief – destined to go into perdition.

Let us therefore not fear, but heed the warning. Come out of Babylon. Reject the lies of man-made divinity. Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ, the true Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2 – note, He is the Sun in a metaphorical, righteous sense, not in a pagan sense!). Cling to the Holy Trinity (777) and renounce the unholy trinity (666). In doing so, we prepare ourselves to stand firm in the days ahead, and to “overcome the beast” by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11).

This is a prophetic call to faithfulness. The Beast can be unmasked as any man, office, or system that exalts itself as God. Today that finger points squarely at the papal throne – and any other throne of human pride. May we have the wisdom to discern it and the courage to oppose it. The hour is late; the stakes are eternal. Choose this day whom you will serve – the false god of earthly power, or the Lord of lords who alone deserves your worship. As Revelation 14:7 summons: “Fear God, and give glory to Him... Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Amen.

Could this be why pope Gregory XIII removed 10 days from the calendar; an attempt to realign time itself with the solar order? Was his supposed divine authority threatened by falling out of sync with the sun god; Lucifer, the false light-bearer? And what of the dragon featured in his coat of arms—mere coincidence, or a revealing symbol of the power behind the throne? Could this be what Revelation means when it says they deceive the nations through their sorceries and traffic in the souls of men? These aren’t just historical curiosities; they may be signs of a deeper spiritual manipulation at work.

I repeat: no office that tramples upon God’s ordained Holy Day—His eternal covenant with His people—and disregards His divinely appointed calendar can rightfully claim any authority to represent Christ.

Sources:

• Holy Bible, King James Version – Revelation 13, 17; Daniel; 2 Thessalonians; etc.

• Historical and numerical insights on 666 and the Sun: Magic Square of the Sun symbolism; occult numerology of 6-36-111-666.

• Babylonian cosmology and number symbolism: Britannica on seven spheres and the eighth realm.

• Explanation of 666 as counterfeit perfection: Kevin DeYoung, The Gospel Coalition.

• Solomon’s gold and 666 as worldly opulence: Commentary noting 1 Kings 10:14.

• Historical claims of divinity by rulers: Roman Emperor Domitian’s title “Lord and God”.

• The Papacy as Antichrist: Statements by Pope Leo XIII; Vatican I proclamation; analysis by H. Grattan Guinness and other Protestant historians.

• General references: Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons (on sun worship and papal parallels); Merle D’Aubigné’s History of the Reformation; LeRoy Froom’s Prophetic Faith of our Fathers; Britannica and other sources on ancient sun worship and astrology.