Orthodox in Greece Concerned about 666

“Orthodox” 16th Century Representation of the “Apocalypse”

Some of the Greek Orthodox are concerned about their government:

ID cards;

allege they contain ‘number of the beast’

Associated Press – March 27, 2011

ATHENS, Greece — Several thousand Orthodox Christian fundamentalists have marched through central Athens to protest a government plan to issue new electronic ID cards they say would include the number 666, or the “number of the beast,” hidden in a design.

The protesters claim the state aims for tighter control over its citizens and many believe that the design of the cards includes the number described in the Book of Revelation. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5htXCVv1K7oPIJLiZkOpAIi91THhg?docId=6380922

Greek Christians battle over new ID cards

VOR – March 28, 2011

Thousands of Orthodox citizens of Greece hit the streets of Athens on Sunday to protest against the introduction of new identity cards.

They perceive the plastic cards with microchip as the fulfilling prophecy of the Apocalypse. The trouble revolves around the proposal to strip all references to religion from new National ID card…

Presently, Greece uses the traditional paper identity certificates. http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/03/28/48057329.html

666

The Bible teaches the following:

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 have been found that suggests that a Roman 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] (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. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

The late LCG evangelist John Ogwyn wrote this about its meaning and origins:

Scarcely any prophetic subject has elicited more conjecture and speculation than the “mark of the Beast.” In addition to a “mark,” Revelation 13 also mentions an “image” of the Beast as well as the mysterious “number of his name”—666…

Since the Roman Empire is the Beast described by John in Revelation 13 and Revelation 17, the “mark” is a brand or mark of the Roman Empire. The “image” of the Beast must be something modeled or patterned after the Roman Empire.

Before going further, notice that Revelation 13 mentions a second “beast” with an earthly, not heavenly, origin (v. 11). It outwardly masquerades as Christian, seeking to be identified with Christ, the Lamb of God (cf. John 1:29) but receives its power from the devil, that old dragon (Revelation 12:9). In prophecy, horns are used to represent rulership or authority, and this creature is pictured with two horns. Revelation 13:12 reveals that this second beast insists that all give their allegiance and loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire, the beast whose deadly wound was healed (v. 12). This second beast is described as performing great miracles, which will deceive humanity (vv. 13–14). In Matthew 24:24, Christ prophesied of “false Christs” who will deceive all but the very elect…

The earliest proposed solution to the meaning of 666 is a tradition attributed to Polycarp, the disciple of the same Apostle John who wrote Revelation. This tradition is preserved in the second century writings of Irenaeus. The number 666 is “…contained in the Greek letters of Lateinos (L=30; A=1; T=300; E,=5; I=10; N=50; O=70; S=200)” (Commentary on the Whole Bible, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown). Lateinos is a Greek term referring to the Romans. Interestingly, the Greek expression meaning “the Latin kingdom” (h Latine Basileia) also has a numeric value of 666. Greek writers commonly referred to the Roman Empire in this way. The book of Revelation was originally written in Greek, as it was written to Greek-speaking churches in ancient Asia Minor…

The founder of ancient Rome was Romulus, from whose name Rome and Roman are derived. The Latin name Romvlvs is written in Hebrew as Romiith. In the Hebrew language this also adds up to 666 (resh=200, vau=6, mem=40, yod=10, yod=10, tau=400). Thus, in both Greek and Hebrew, the two languages of the Bible, the number 666 is stamped upon the kingdom that derived from Rome (Ogwyn J. The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?).

Hence, LCG teaches that 666 represents a civil Roman leader/kingdom (scripturally referred to as “the beast”) who will maintain a religious alliance and that is that 666 represents those that follow forms of false Christianity–but also symbolizes the beast–the final leader of the Holy Roman Empire who will be ultimately influenced by a changed one in the Vatican (by way of a demon-influenced individual who the Bible calls the false prophet, Revelation 16:13, and who is probably an “antipope” in the sense that even Roman Catholics would consider a demon-influenced pontiff an antipope).

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. (More information on who he may be can be found in the detailed article Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North?)

Perhaps I should add emphasize that the two-horned beast (also known as the false prophet or the final Antichrist) is mainly a religious, not a military leader. This differs from the ten-horned beast who the Bible confirms is mainly a military and political leader (even though he practices a false religion), hence the first beast is not the papacy (as Ellen White’s writings tend to state).

My experience with the Greek and Eastern Orthodox is that they have a variety of opinions and are not as uniform as many outsiders think that they are. And while I do not believe that the currently proposed i.d. cards are 666, it appears that those in Europe are being prepared (through the new European Union that formed on December 1, 2009) to accept the Beast leader, and hence 666, in due time.

But ultimately, Jesus will come to establish His kingdom and 666 will be no more.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:

Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
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?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
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?