*** Watchtower January/February 1882 pp.9,10 ***
'THE NAME OF THE BEAST, OR THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME.'
Q. Have you been able
to decipher the name and number? I have heard of many who have
tried all sorts of names and applications, but
none of them ever seemed reasonable to me.
A. The same has been my difficulty. A little over a year ago I spoke on
the subject of this same chapter to the
name-less little company of 'this way,' in Lynn,
Mass. , and concluded my remarks by telling them that I had never
seen a satisfactory explanation of the 666. And, though I thought I
had given a correct analysis of the symbols of
the chapter, yet I could not claim it to be
wisdom, since I could not interpret the number. I suggested,
however, that if ours be the correct understanding of the time in
which we are living-the 'harvest' of the age-and
if our general application of these symbols be
correct, the number should soon be understood. I urged
examination on the subject by all, for the Lord is sometimes
pleased to give wisdom through the weakest of
his children. 'Out of the mouths of babes and
sucklings thou hast ordained praise. '
About three months after, I received a long letter from one of the
thinking brethren of that place, saying that he
thought he had the key; and I think he has; it
certainly fits the lock in every particular. I
will give it to you very much as he suggested it.
His process of reasoning was as follows:
Jesus, who gave this revelation to us (Rev. 1:1),
well knew that this symbol could not be understood until about the
present time, for the reason that the Image was
only made in 1846. Jesus also knew,
of course, that English would be the language used by probably
four-fifths of his earnest truth-seeking
children, in the 'time of the end. He
knew, also, that not many wise, not many great, not many learned in all
languages would be of the chosen 'little flock. ' Moreover, it was
his custom to adapt his teachings to the 'common
people,' and of this sort his Jewels have been
from, the twelve disciples and since. Therefore
it would appear that the number 666, should be open to the
comprehension of us all — we being the ones told to count — as much so
as were the other symbolic numbers of Danl. and Rev. Let
us try, then, to apply these figures in English.*(This is the first
application in English, known
to the writer, but the reasonableness of
it is obvious.)
First, then, the number is that of the
(first) BEAST. Let us see whether it will apply to
some of its names, That system which Paul calls the man of sin is
the
Roman Catholic power = 666.
12345 61234561 23456
He is in Revelation called a BEAST
Roman Catholic 'Beast' = 666.
The system is also called the 'woman' (Rev. 17:18)
Roman Catholic 'woman' = 666.
She calls herself the
'Holy Catholic Church' = 666.
She is really and truly (Rev. 17:5) 'The Mother of Harlots' = 666.
Thus we see that the number fits the BEAST well.
The second BEAST was anxious to have exactly the same name, and in fact
it claimed to have the pre-eminent right to the name— 'Holy Catholic church,' = 666.
Other names by which it is often known, are —
'English State Church,' = 666.
'The Episcopal Church,' = 666.
'Episcopalian Church,' = 666.
'The Church of England,' = 666.
This application of the number, will doubtless appear to some too
simple to be accepted, but thus God ever deals
with us—hiding truth under the vail of its own
simplicity, so that it may appear to the Greek (worldly wise)
foolishness, but unto them which believe (not to those who believe
without evidence, but who believe on the strongest kind of evidence —the harmony
of His Word) the power of God, and the wisdom of
God. (1 Cor. 1:23.)
The Image causes all who claim relationship,
or whom it recognizes, as having a right to buy
or sell - teach - to have as a creed, that which shall mark them as
having either 'the name' of the BEAST, or the 'number' of his name
- 666.
Many take the name and in their creeds recite, 'I believe in the 'Holy
Catholic Church' = 666.
Among those who thus openly mark themselves in their forehead (by their
creeds) are Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians and others.
But others give a seeming support (mark in their
hand) to the general principal by organizing under various sectarian names. After
these are blended in the IMAGE, (and no one would be admitted to
membership in the Evangelical Alliance, unless he be a member of some such
sect), they all are collectively known as the
'Protestant Churches,' = 666. Which we
see contains the Beast's number.
If we for instance were to organize, though
we protest more than all others against the
errors of Rome, and also against the errors of the Image and
second BEAST, yet we would not be reckoned one of the 'Protestant
churches,' because we would not be recognized as orthodox—They
would not count our organization a church.
Should you inquire for our meetings and ask — Is that a protestant
church which meets here? the answer would come —
Oh, no; they are not Evangelical. They have no
creed to mark them, so that the Alliance can decide whether
they are an Evangelical Protestant Church or not.
[Emphasis Added]
[Editors Note: Using this same 6+6+6 formula:
Charles Taze Russell
1234561 2345 6123456 = 666]
