Could the Mark of the Beast be Something Other than 666?

We’ve all read Revelation 13 where it gives us a clue about the mark of the beast.  It tells that it will be necessary to have this mark to buy and see:

Rev 13:17  …no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

The next verse tells what that “number” is:

Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Only early English Bibles translate the three Greek letters “chi, xi, and sigma ” individually as six hundred threescore and six.  (1568 Bishops, 1587 Geneva,  1611 King James, 1883 Webster, 1889 Darby, 1899 Douay Rheims).

Modern-day English translations have turned “six hundred three score and six” into “six hundred and sixty-six” (NASB) and even “666” (NKJV, NIV, ESV, et al.).  From this, 666 has become known as the “mark of the Beast.”

Considering Another Possible Meaning

Many years ago, Walid Shoebat gave another consideration of a possible meaning of what the mark of the beast might be.  Before watching his thoughts on this, remember that this is all future prophecy and therefore to the best of our ability, we can only speculate on the real meaning.  666 might be correct, but perhaps it’s not and there might be merit to Shoebat’s perceived understanding.

Also consider before watching the video, that the greek word for “number” in Revelation 13 is “arithmos”  and is defined as, a fixed  number, indefinite number, sum, or total.  Even broader is that the word connotates a meaning of “to reason,” or “to count.”

With that in mind, consider this:

Rev 13:17 …no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number  [sum/total/reasoning] of his name.  Rev 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count [compute] the number [sum/total/reasoning] of the beast: for it is the number [sum/total/reasoning] of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Please Don’t Misunderstand Me

Watch the video. And please understand that I’m not suggesting this reasoning is the answer to what is meant in Revelation 13:18.  It could be. But it also might not be.  We could be correct in the translation of 666, but perhaps there is some merit to Shoebat’s reasoning.  What we do know is that we do NOT know with any certainty.  Prophecy yet to be fulfilled can only be understood by reasoning because it must be fulfilled for us to have the facts!  So I share this with you as an interesting perspective for your consideration.