Why Is 666 Considered the Mark of the Devil?

The Bible mentions the number 666.

The New King James Bible, Revelation Chapter 13, Verse 18, refers to the number 666 as "the number of the beast." Over centuries, both individuals and institutions have been linked to the number 666, but the most common assumption is that the number represents the devil.

People Associated with 666

The Roman emperor Nero was the first person associated with the number 666. The number is also linked to the early 20th century self-proclaimed "wickedest man in the world" Aleister Crowley, a practitioner of black magic.

Groups Associated with 666

For early Christians, the number 666 was identified with Rome due to the Roman persecutions. Other bodies associated with the beast's number over the centuries include the Holy Roman Empire, the Middle East during Turkish rule and even Nazi Germany.

The Number of the Beast

The Book of Revelation identifies the number 666 as the number of the beast. The beast, however, is not the devil himself, but a tool of the devil, sent to earth by the devil to destroy humanity. By extension, the number 666 eventually became associated with the devil as well as the beast.

References

• Bible Gateway: Passage Lookup - Revelation 13:18
• Religious Studies: "Why 2K? The Biblical Roots of Millenialism"
• Esoteric: "Unleashing the Beast"
• New Advent: Catholic Encyclopedia - "Apocalypse"