Mark of the Beast vs. 666 ( Nero's number )
Here is Wisdom/Copyright2006
"And he (false prophet) causes all to be given a mark in their right hand or forehead; & he provides that no one be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark; either the name of the beast (false prophet's own name) or the number (his own number) of his name." [Rev.13:16,17]
A serious misunderstanding is common today within the body of Christ. Most of today's End Time authors & preachers erroneously promote that "666" is the actual "mark of the beast". However, 666 has absolutely nothing to do with the mark of the beast as the book of Revelation defines. John the Revelator himself understood this.
Scriptures show that the "mark" ("scratching" in Greek, like a tattoo) will be placed on the right hand or forehead for the purpose of buying or selling during the great Tribu-lation period. (Rev.13:16,17). The mark's other purpose is to identify & link all persons worldwide who will submit to the End Time False Prophet from Rome. This is why scriptures specify that the actual physical "mark" itself will be the End Time False Prophet's own personal identification: "either the name of the beast (false prophet's own name) or the number (his own number) of his name". [Rev.13:17].
Again, neither of these will be "666" which strictly represents Nero's "number" & identi- fies the End Time False Prophet as being from Rome, just like Nero was.
With this current erroneous teaching from today's authors & Bible teachers then many un- suspecting persons (even believers) could inadvertantly accept the actual mark of the beast during the coming Great Tribulation while wrongfully believing it to be harmless.
