Historical Origins of 666 - The Number of the Beast


	Most first century historians agree that the "number of the Beast" 
mentioned in Revelation 13:16-18 is the numerical equivalent of a Latin
title given to the Pope: Vicarivs Filii Dei. At the time the book of
Revelation was written some letters of the alphabet were also used as
numbers [Roman numerals]. Thus you could take a name and sum the numerals
corresponding to the letters in the name. The total would be the number
corresponding to that name. John, as the argument goes, was telling us
that the Antichrist would be known by a name whose "number"  would be 666. 
This they argue is precisely the numerical equivalent of the title
Vicarivs Filii Dei, as we can see next: 

Letter  Numeral         Letter  Numeral         Letter  Numeral
V     =     5           F     =     0           D     =   500
I     =     1           I     =     1           E     =     0
C     =   100           L     =    50           I     =     1
A     =     0           I     =     1           -------------
R     =     0           I     =     1                     501
I     =     1           -------------
V     =     5                      53
S     =     0
-------------                            112 + 53 + 501 = 666
          112
   
	One way or another, there is a historical connection between the
concept and person of the Antichrist and the city of Rome. Both were
forces who tried to destroy the Apostolic Church. The Antichrist
philosophy sought to deny the existence of christ, while Rome sought to
eliminate his spiritual offspring (the apostolic church). John as the last
surviving apostle had to deal with both of them. Thus, in his great book
about the final conflict between the forces of good and evil, John the
Apostle condemns them both. The central theme of Revelation is a curse
that John [using the authority God had given him] placed upon Rome,
reserving her for destruction [see Revelation, chapters 16 through 19];
and making her the inhabitation of wild animals and unclean spirits. In
the fourth century, Rome fell to the invading Barbarians from the North.
They, not knowing it, were ready to fulfill the will of the Apostle. Yet
the Pope of Rome beg them not to destroy the city. Instead, the city was
preserved, becoming the center of the Papal Power. Since then Rome has
continue to be one of the main center of political, economic and religious
power in the christian World. 
   
	Thus, if the number of the beast is indeed a number corresponding
to a name or title given to the Beast, and if that beast is closely
related to Rome, then it would be logical to think that such a name should
also be a Latin title. Vicarivs Filii Dei is indeed a Latin title, given
to the leader who has done the most to preserve Rome, the cursed city, as
the main political, economic and religious center in the world. The title
Vicarius Filii Dei should indeed be considered the name of the Beast. 
   
	Now, this does not means that the Catholic Church itself is cursed
or that every Catholic or every Pope will burn in hell. Far from it. As
far as the bible states, the only person who died for the christians at
Calvary is jesus. He is proported to be the only one who could condemn
anyone to hell. He is also said to be a very nice fellow, indeed. He wants
to send no one to hell. Only those who refuse to follow his advice will go
there; and not because he send them there, but because of the unavoidable
consequences of their acts. Hell is a gravitational reality; those who
stick to a materialistic self-centered viewpoint will end up there
according to the bible.
   
	Indeed, there are many Catholics, including nuns, cardinals and
Popes who have been good, god fearing individuals who loved truth, justice
and peace. These, I am certain, would go to "heaven". However, history
tells us that many Popes have been ungodly men that committed all kinds of
evil actions and never showed any kind of repentance. Those by their own
actions condemned themselves.