He That Hath Understanding, Let Him Calculate the Number of the Beast" (continued)
"Let Him that Hath Understanding Calculate At Once ..."
Now, the only sure way to calculate the number of the name of the beast is to follow the Holy Spirit's calculations through the Word of God as He reveals that which is not according to Christ. 666 is the number of the name of the beast, and as we have found out, his name is "blasphemy." So rather than trying to find a name which in some way might add up to 666, let us find out what lies behind this blasphemous trinity of sixes. Let us see how the Holy Spirit uses, and interprets, the number 666. Let us see how the Holy Spirit calculates its sums, its multiples, its combinations, and its results throughout the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that 666 is the number of the name of a man, or it is the number of man; and this takes us right back to the sixth day of creation, for it was on the sixth day that God created man (Genesis 1:26). Then we are told, "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He has rested from all His work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3). So here we have a Divine principle set down by God: man was to begin his life, and live his life, in the FINISHED WORK of God. Man, which speaks of both male and female, was to live a life totally dependent upon God, for He had blessed them with all things that would sustain their life in spirit, soul and body. And all of this, of course, points to all that Christ is, and all the Christ accomplished, for He is the Finished Work of God.
So man began his life being totally dependent upon God for all things. But through the treacherous work of the serpent, called the devil, and satan, something happened: man fell. Man chose to live his life independently of God. Therefore, the number six has come to represent the human number, the number of fallen man. It is the number of imperfection, the number of fallen man destitute of God and without Christ. The number six is also the number of man's independence of God: six is the number of man's attempt to reach perfection independent of God. Therefore, six is the number of the natural man, of the carnal human nature. In the book "Numbers in Scripture", by E. W. Bullinger, we find the definition of the number six and its evil sums and multiples:
"If 6 is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of it: 666 is therefore the trinity of human perfection; the perfection of imperfection; the culmination of human pride in the independence of God and opposition to His Christ."
So man fell, and he became independent of God, and under the dominion of satan. But God, Who is rich in mercy, hath provided redemption through His Son: "That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Nevertheless, the works of the enemy have caused much havoc among the people of God; therefore as we search out this evil trinity of 666, we shall learn more of what it means to gain victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over he number of his name.
Now we are not saying that every time the number six, and its sums or multiples, is mentioned in the Bible that it is speaking of the number of the name of the beast. But we are saying that when the number 6, or its sums or multiples, results in that which blasphemes all that Christ is, then we know that the antichrist spirit of satan is at work. For instance, the number six is the mark of the giant Goliath, the Holy Spirit brands him with this evil number in order that we may not miss the evil significance of this uncircumcised giant: he was 6 cubits in height; he had 6 pieces of armor; his spearhead weighted 600 shekels of iron; which, by the Holy Spirit's calculations, equals 666. I say this about Goliath and the Philistines:
"What is Goliath: Who is he? He is a gigantic figure behind whom all the Philistines hide. He is a comprehensive one, an inclusive one; in effect, the whole Philistine force: ... Typically what are the Philistines? They represent that which is very near to what is of God, always in close proximity always seeking to impinge upon the things of God; to get a grip, to look into, to pry, to discover the secret things of God.You will recall their attitude toward the ark when it came into their hands. They were ever seeking to pry into the secrets of God, but always in a natural way. We know from Paul's interpretation that typically that means this uncrucifed natural life, this natural life which is always seeking to get a grip on the things of God apart from the work of the Cross; ... which ignores the fact that there is no way into the things of the Spirit of God except through the Cross as an experienced things, as a power breaking down the natural life and opening a way for the Spirit. The uncircumcised Philistine simple speaks of natural life which comes alongside the things of God, and is always interfering with them, touching them, looking into them, wanting to get hold of them; a menace to all that is spiritual. Goliath embodies all that."
Beloved, this represents one of the greatest, if not the greatest, threats to the Church; for this Goliath, this giant 666, has crippled and paralyzed the churches throughout the centuries - men and women insinuating themselves into the place of Christ in His Church. This giant has reached mammoth proportions in the churches today, for the natural man, the uncircumcised heart of the natural man, rules and controls most of what is called the Church: this accumulative force of the natural man, this 666 in all its sums and multiples, is "standing where it ought not" (Mark 13:14).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 35)
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