WND posted improper claims related to 666
CCOG portrayal of the Beast of Revelation 13:1-10
In 2022, World net Daily reported:
WND EXCLUSIVE
Finally emerging: The beast, mark and number of the beast revealed
September 18, 2022
For thousands of years, millions of Christians have been intrigued by mysterious Scriptures discussing the beast, the number of the beast, and mark of the beast.
But what do these cryptic terms really mean? …
Joe … Kovacs said at the outset, “A lot of people tense up in anxiety when they hear the term ‘beast.’ There’s no reason to fear. … The beasts are [in metaphoric fashion] mankind. It says it outright, a man is like the beasts … Because human beings, even though we’re in the image of God and look like God and have eyes and hands and all that, we’re in the form of a beast, in the body of a beast. We have flesh and blood, just like the beast. It’s especially referring to mankind in rebellion against God. If we’re in in rebellion against God, we’re gonna stay in the flesh, in this burning place, in this Sodom and Egypt that we’re in.
“So WE are the beast. It’s that simple. It’s just not in the Bible, it’s in regular conversation. People are called beasts all the time,” he noted, such as when parents call their children ‘kids,’ which are young beasts. “Our sports teams are called Lions and Tigers and Bears.” …
“If anyone [is] in rebellion against God, whether it’s a government, which is made up of mankind, or an individual person, that is the beast. We can see more proof when we talk abut the NUMBER of the beast, which is found in Revelation 13:18.
“Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the BEAST, for it is the number of a MAN. His number is 666” (Revelation 13:18 NLT). …
“Why is the number 666? That’s a fascinating question,” he said. “Well, what day of the week was mankind made on?”
“He was on the sixth day,” Laird responded.
“And we were told to do our work in how many days?” Kovacs asked.
“Six days,” Laird correctly answered.
“Six days,” Kovacs confirmed. “This is not hard for people to understand. Everybody knows that mankind was made on the sixth day. Our work was to be done in six days. It’s repeated, though, three times: six and six and six. Why is it repeated? Because it’s what I mentioned early on about Hebrews 13:8. ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’ There’s three days involved here. Three times. If you’re in rebellion against God in the past, the present or in the future, you have the number of the beast, because six is the number of man in rebellion against God. It’s as simple as that. …
“Some people think there’s gonna be a mark on on our bodies, and there might be in the physical sense. But we’re talking here on the higher, spiritual, parable level of God speed.”
“Let’s look at Revelation 14, verses 9 and 10. It says: ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his FOREHEAD or on his HAND, he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath’ (Revelation 14:9–10 CSB). https://www.wnd.com/2022/09/finally-emerging-beast-mark-number-beast-revealed/
Several of above positions by Joe Kovacs are wrong in so many ways.
Let’s start with 666.
In the Greek it is NOT three sixes like Joe Kovacs is pushing, it is 600, 60, and 6.
Regarding 666, the Bible teaches the following, which I will repeat here:
18 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 (Revelation 13:18).
The first writing that had been found suggesting that a Roman or Roman empire is 666 was by Irenaeus, who claimed to have listened to Polycarp when he (Irenaeus) was a young man. Irenaeus wrote:
Then also Lateinos (LATEINOS) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: (Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book V, Chapter 30, Verse 3. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885).
The New Testament was written in Greek, and John penned the Book of Revelation on the Greek speaking island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). They still speak Greek there. Anyway, adding up the values of the Greek letters for the word Lateinos brings you to 666:
L = 30 lambda A = 1 alpha T = 300 tau E = 5 epsilon I = 10 iota N = 50 nu O = 70 omicron S = 200 sigma ——– 666
This is consistent with what the old WCG taught:
In the 2nd century A.D., Irenaeus, disciple of Polycarp, the Apostle John’s disciple, explained that in Greek the word Lateinos — meaning “Latin man” or Roman — adds up to 666. (L = 30; A = 1; T = 300; E = 5; I = 10; N = 50; 0 = 70; S = 200) This, he stated, was the, intent of the scripture.
The number 666 is thus anciently branded on the old Roman Empire and its revivals. (Stump KW. Just What Do You Mean… ANTICHRIST? Plain Truth, September 1981)
Specifically, 666 is the number of the first beast in Revelation 13 as distinguished from the Antichrist, who is the second, the two-horned beast in the same chapter. And as Revelation 13 shows, the two-horned beast works with and promotes the seven-headed (and ten-horned) first beast in that chapter.
Please understand that the leader of the ten-horned Beast of Revelation 13:1-10 (see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation) and the one called 666 in Revelation 13:10 is also the one who is the final King of the North. He is also called the ‘man of sin’ in 2 Thessalonians 2 (see also Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2?).
Now, what about Joe Kovacs’ claim that the Beast simply represents all humankind?
That is also absurd.
Notice what Revelation 13 says about the Beast:
1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:1-10)
The Beast represents various world empires, and in the end time, will be led by a specific man.
Consider the bolded passages above. They are clearly referring to an individual, not all of humankind.
Notice also the following:
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)
Again, this proves the Beast to come is an individual man.
Joe Kovacs is wrong.
Sadly, WND has a history of promoting those who misunderstand and falsely teach about prophecy.
Like the Greco-Roman Catholics who teach against the millennium, Protestants also often improperly allegorize scripture.
Those who do so will not understand biblical prophecies and will not take the steps that the Bible says that they should.
Do not be misled by Joe Kovacs, WND, or others who will not teach what the Bible teaches.
Some items of related interest may include:
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection. A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
What is the Appropriate Form of Biblical Interpretation? Should the Bible be literally understood? What do the writings of the Bible, Origen, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Augustine show?
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Three related sermons are available Let’s Talk About the Earthly Millennium, Millennial Utopia, and The Millennium.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2031 or ? There is also a video titled 6000 Years: When will God’s Kingdom Come? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
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