END OF THE AGES 4

The number 666

“It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” (Rev 13:16-17)

In the last blog, we discussed the Beast from the earth that arose from humanity and the characteristics of that beast. It has a name that swings in the number 666, which is also identified as the number of humanity in Material Creation. Human beings who are not yet spiritually dead and who retain a longing for God within them sense the relevance of this prophecy for their salvation in the end-time judgment that surrounds us. This is the reason for the preoccupation with this number and the perception that we must free ourselves from anything to do with this beast. But what exactly does the mark 666 mean and how can we recognize it?

We know that the seal or mark of the Son of Man, placed on the forehead of the faithful, is the sign of belonging to His Father (Rev 14:1) and is in the form of the symbol of the Living Truth, the cross. The mark of the beast is correspondingly a sign of belonging to its master, Satan, and is placed on the forehead or the right hand. But what is its form? This has been widely studied and debated in the past, and speculations are still rife today.

As the Revelation emphasizes, an understanding of the number and thus of the nature of the beast is possible.  ‘This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is humanity’s number. That number is 666’ (Rev 13:18). This number is the number of the beast’s name, and so it should be possible for those who have the understanding to work out the name of the beast. Some translations suggest wrongly that it is the number of a man. The beast cannot, however, be a man or a single human being because it is a fine material form arising from collective human activity as shown earlier.

The name of an entity in the Laws of Creation always vibrates in the personality and activity of the entity. Thus, the name completely describes the beast, its origin, activity, and affiliations. In the epoch of the end of the ages in which the events are unfolding, the number 666 also represents the number of man or humanity’s number. The beast thus is a representation of humanity’s standing in this epoch. The fact that the number of the beast’s name is also man’s (humanity’s) number suggests that either this beast represents humanity or it is a form arising from human activity.

As discussed in the last blog, Revelation 13:11 describes the beast from the earth as a lamb which suggests that it has the same spiritual essence as humanity, since the lamb represents spirituality in Creation but that it spoke like the dragon (i.e., follows after or behaves like the dragon, Satan). Thus it arose from human spiritual failure in dalliance with Satan and cannot be a single man or an ideology. It is a form arising in ethereal and fine gross matter from human imperfection. It represents our deepest weaknesses and as is well known, weaknesses produce very strong bonds that are difficult to overcome. Having taken on form, it retroactively influences humanity.

Extensive literature and interest regarding the significance of the number 666 exists and those who have made a study of gematria have much to say. The beast is the form human spiritual failure has assumed, which now, in the end, controls all human activity. The number 666, the name of the beast, symbolizes human unfaithfulness and imperfections and our deepest weakness. It is the name for the form which our collective failure has taken in the World of Matter. Individual human beings in Creation receive this mark, as evidence of attachment to the beast, without necessarily being aware of the choice they have made when they no longer strive spiritually but give in to the failure that binds to Matter and prevents spiritual progress.

This beast, although arising from and a part of humanity is not a gross material or physical form. It arose in the finer, invisible planes of Matter, from the misused abilities of human spirits at large over various epochs of development. As already mentioned, the human spirit can give rise to forms with independent mobility because they can connect to the life-giving Principal Neutral Power from God. Since such forms remain connected to their origin, we cannot easily detach from them. We are all tainted with the consequences of the wrong use of the power of God in Creation and will remain connected to this beast until we consciously, with our free will decide to return to the path ordained in the Will of God.

The failure lies partly in the misuse of our spiritual abilities (the intuitive volition) which is capable of drawing from the Principal Neutral power of God to bring forms into existence. Partly also it lies in the wrong use of the material tool, the intellect, granted to us with which to connect with, and influence Matter. The intellect was appropriated when the human spirit took on the physical body and is not part of its real being.

To function in the Material Spheres, the spirit, the breath from God as the Bible calls it, had to take on a body molded out of the substance of Matter. This body, at that time during the initial wave of spiritual advent into Subsequent Creation, was the most highly evolved animal body, the primeval man. On taking up this body with its complement of intellect, the presence of the spirit brought further unprecedented development.

Under the guidance of the spirit’s volition, the intellect was supposed to translate all spiritual outputs into material deeds. The presence of the spirit sharpened and formed the intellect into a formidable tool and over epochs of development, into the highest and most versatile of material essences. The subsequent misuse of the intellect and the loss of control by the spirit resulted from spiritual indolence and the influence of Lucifer. This resulted in spiritual outputs that are contrary to the Will of God, caricatures of the replica of living activity in luminous spheres, which we were supposed to bring into Matter.

And this failure of humanity took on form. Appropriately, the form represents our attachment to the uncontrolled intellect, a tool originally granted to us and meant to co-operate with the Spiritual intuition but which, out of spiritual indolence humanity had allowed to become a satellite of Satan, the Anti-Christ. The fact that the beast is also called the false prophet reinforces its origin from man and attachment to the darkness.

Today we glory in the excellence of human works produced mostly under the guidance of the intellect, the so-called miracles, and marvels humanity has produced through its corporate intellectual volition, without realizing that we could have done better. In this end time, the Will of God enforces a purification and only those that awaken to spirituality and can align with the Will of God will emerge. Then the perfect and pure will arise and pure humanity will manifest the masterpieces intrinsic in their abilities.

The description of the beast from the earth as the false prophet i.e., the false guide, and its miraculous signs that read like the material achievements of human intellectual leading, both suggest that this does not refer to a single individual. The misguided intellect has been the bane of humanity on earth, the major mark of our failure. Under the leading of Lucifer humanity through intellectual sophistry, had indeed achieved miracles and marvels deeply rooted in Matter but these are but caricatures of the perfection Willed by God. Intellect unguided by the spirit is from Matter and connects only to Matter.

In the last confrontation, in these end times, human spirits must choose to either serve God by receiving His seal or serve the beast, humanity’s corporate volition that connects them directly to Satan, by receiving its mark. It is irrelevant whether, as advocated by many Christians, those who choose to serve the beast will receive the mark of the beast on their gross material body, either by etching, implanting, or merely by outlining the number on the skin. This has been a topic for much speculation recently. From crude branding suggested in the past to micro-chip inoculation with advancing technology; from the name representing a Roman emperor or the Pope in the past to new world-order theories, the fear of being marked by the name or number of the beast has exercised many Christians. And rightly so!

In whatever form it may appear, however, it is important to understand that this represents a willing acceptance and subjection to materialism, which now leads the earth in opposition to the Will of God in the Millennium. The Son of God, Jesus, through John in the revelation, seeks to prepare us for the end time activity of the Son of Man, the Judge from God, who brings the end time purification of the Worlds of Matter. The use of symbolism of the beasts, as with the parables referring to the Son of Man in the Gospels, are thinly veiled Truth that forces us to make the necessary spiritual effort. For unless we awaken spiritually and remain awake and alert, we cannot see the Kingdom of God.

While it is important to recognize the real nature of the beast by understanding the symbolism of the mark, what is critical for salvation is for the individual not to follow the lead of the beast. This is only possible if we recognize and align with the Will of God now anchored palpably in Creation by the Son of Man. It may be easy to recognize when you are being coerced to receive a physical mark, but it may not be as easy to recognize when circumstances or your weaknesses and ego lead you to compromise on the demands of God’s Will.

The conceit that because we have the Bible or some other scripture, we know the mind of God and have the protection of His Son or His prophets is the greatest challenge of the present epoch. We forget the teaching that we must submit to the Will of God and that Christ had warned that calling Him Lord, Lord, or even performing miracles in His name will not serve. We must learn to recognize and adjust to the Will of God! The support for this, given for the end time, is available in the Word brought by the Spirit of Truth, the Message, or Gospel of the Kingdom that Christ admonished us to wait for.

It is relevant that the mark of the beast may be received in the guise of the name or the number of the name. This may indicate two categories of followers; those that receive the name of the beast and those that receive the number of its name. This mark may also be received either on the right hand or the forehead. If we put the mark and its point of placement together, it seems that those who follow the beast by a conscious decision receive the name of the beast, marked as their volition on their forehead. Those individuals who, out of indolence, are coerced or misled into serving the beast are marked by their activity on their right hand with the number of the beast.

The indolent include all who have not awakened spiritually as demanded by the Envoys of God but also many who fanatically believe in God without living in the Will of God. They demand from Creation but give nothing in return, only hoping to reap where they did not sow. They are happy to leave all spiritual striving and effort in the hands of so-called priests, pastors, ministers, Imans, Rabbis, and leaders of the various sects. They contribute their tithes and little offerings to satisfy their need to obey the Will of God and the call of the Light from God. Holding onto the letter of the word from God through His Son and His messengers, they forget the essence. They expect rewards and prosperity for their condescension to believe in God. However, as James stated in his gospel, the demons also believe in God and even tremble at the name of God and His Son.

As with all human spirits, those actively inclined towards Satan and the indolent herd of the various religions also act based on personal decisions. Whether consciously in full awareness or indolently, the individual has to accept to be branded with the name of the beast (open worship of Satan or materiality) or the number of his name (reluctant worshippers, subtle coercion from the minority who bear his name). While it is possible that only those marked with the name of the beast, are aware or consciously receive the mark, and that the majority, those marked with the number are not fully aware of the process of being marked and so are not necessarily conscious of the mark, yet it is from a personal choice that both follow the beast. No one can blame Satan or other human spirits for his or her failure.

We need to draw a parallel here with those who willingly adhere (i.e., from choice) to the Truth, who become sealed on their forehead (i.e., as evidence of willing subjection of the intellect to spiritual leading), but not their right hand (their activity remains entirely free at all times and all stages). This also is a personal decision to serve God, and the mark, the seal, is placed by the Son of Man or one called to do so. The meaning of this sealing is clearly indicated in the Revelation as representing the mark of the Almighty Father on the forehead of the faithful; as a mark of belonging to Him. Not so the mark of the beast, 666, which is hidden in layers of symbolism.

It is also relevant that the acquisition of this mark is necessary only for material achievements, as exemplified by buying and selling. Without subjecting oneself to the beast, material comforts (wealth/ fame/ notoriety/ celebrity status, etc.), are difficult or impossible, forcing almost all to do so. In our world today we are faced with an apparently insurmountable need for material things, pleasures, and wellbeing.

The beast from the earth, arising from unfaithful humanity, which therefore has the number of ‘imperfect humanity’, leads humanity in this end time, in all facets of our existence and our achievements; but it has no single physical or corporate identity with which we can easily recognize it because it is ethereal imagery. Any human being that has not awakened to the consciousness of God remains entrenched in the failure of humanity and already bears the mark. Even those that have a longing for God but fail to rise to the challenge of the Millennium will out of indolence be ensnared into the path and activities that bind to the beast.

Any human being, who willingly subjects to any form of the beast is lost, whether by receiving its mark, i.e., its name or number, or by just following its lead. Because the beast arose from us and because it has no definite face we can recognize, it is often not easy to recognize when we are being misled by it or its satellites. There will always be an intellectually logical reason why we glory in materialism, which in effect means accepting the mark of the beast.

One apparently logical argument that we use to assuage our indolence is that the mark may be acquired without our participation in the decision process. The more recent preoccupation with conspiracy theories suggesting that the mark will be surreptitiously inoculated, perhaps in the form of a vaccine distracts even more from spiritual alertness amongst believers. But this is not based on fact because the human spirit is always capable of a free choice. If it remains pure, the spirit is connected to higher guidance and will always intuitively sense any coercion.

If we are to continue to exist, we must use the grace of the Millennium to free ourselves from material pre-occupation, the direct link to the beast. Attempting to confront or suppress the intellect is however fruitless. The only thing that can control the intellect is an awakened spirit and that was why Christ called earlier for spiritual awakening (the new birth). You must be born again! The grace granted to striving humanity for the Millennium in the Word from out of the Holy Grail once more, and for the last time, provides the opportunity for the spirit to free itself completely from intellectual domination.

The key to this grace is to remain spiritually alert and to strengthen the intuitive movement of the spirit by keeping the hearth of our thoughts pure at all times. Like the wise five of the ten virgins, our spiritual lamp must be burning and well-oiled to recognize the Son of Man, the Bridegroom, and this is the only path to redemption ordained by God for the end times (Matt 24:1-13).

As the Son of God once admonished – Only the Truth can set you free! And as the Son of Man now admonishes – ‘Only the man who lives in the Laws of God is free!’