Counting Sheep: In the Name of the Beast: Revelation Chapter 13 Revisited

NO ONE COULD BUY OR SELL

While chapter 13 of Revelation is famous for the number 666 to symbolize a beast with ten horns, it also prophesies about a time when no one can buy or sell without receiving this beast's mark. Christians now consider that technologies behind consumer markets are evolving to the point where buying or selling might be controlled by a keystroke. We are talking about digital technology. Chapter 13 makes other predictions explainable by digital technology, such as images which seem to be alive and which are able to speak. What about Y2K? Chapter 13 of Revelation predicts that people will be convinced that one of the beast's heads has a fatal wound, after which they will be astonished and follow after the beast once it becomes apparent that the wound wasn't really fatal. What about Revelation 13's directive to count the beast's number? The word 'digital' simply means 'pertains to counting.' Revelation 13 introduces a second beast with two horns. Horns on a beast can represent power, and the two most important counting systems used today are based on the power of ten (decimal) and the power of two (binary), coinciding with the number of horns on the first and second beasts, respectively. In the Name of the Beast explores beyond the name to include the number, mark, wound and image, and also considers the second beast, fire from heaven, buying and selling. In light of the call to reject the beast's mark and obey God's commandments, the final chapter examines righteousness by faith and law observance.