Probably the most infamous satanic symbol found in the Bible is 666, the gematria of the “number of the beast.” I remember listening to a talk on the description of this number. It was claimed that in Latin the title of the Pope, “Vicar of the Son of God” or Vicarius Filii Dei, added up to six hundred sixty-six. This can be done because many alphabets, especially those of ancient origins, have a numerical value associated with each letter. However, upon a quick Google search, I found that there were many claims to its interpretation. Some identified the Roman Emperor Nero, while others seemed to be developing apophenia. From barcodes to dollar bills, secret societies to Sherlock Holmes, 666 was seemingly integrated into everything. I have no problem believing that Satan is “the god of this age,” but it’s best to observe this Babylon without being confused by it (2 Cor 4:4; cf. Eph 2:2; 6:12; Jhn 12:31; 1 Jhn 5:19; Rev 12:9).
This study mattered to me because it would testify to the true hermeneutics of Bible interpretation. But how could I really be sure of something swarming with so much speculation? The obvious answer was inductive Bible study! The Holy Spirit, throughout the ages, has inspired the thoughts of men, through dreams and visions, compelling the creation of the record of divine revelation (2 Pet 1:19-21). The compilation of these writings is what makes up the Bible. While there are differences in style, coherency and interconnectivity are established by this divine inspiration. What I believe to only be a fraction of the connections found in the Bible, Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild used a digital database of 63,779 cross-references found in the KJV Bible creating a stunning illustration of this.1Christ Harrison, “Bible Cross-References,” christharrison.net, Christ Harrison, accessed on 12 January 2026, https://www.chrisharrison.net/index.php/visualizations/BibleViz?utm_source Below is the image they created.
Since 666 is found in the book of Revelation, then the meaning should be decoded with equally inspired sources. In other words, this gematria should be studied using the Bible. At this point I know it would be sin to lazily ask a pastor for his speculation to only watch Netflix later that day, satisfied with a feeling of accomplishment as if I’ve actually learned something.
In all honesty my mentor David Leone pointed these connections out to me. Nevertheless, it is my responsibility to be a Berean and compare scripture with scripture that I might yield answers in which my confidence can be placed.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Act 17:11 NIV)
There are only 3 references in the Bible, outside of Revelation 13, that use the number 666. Here they are:
The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six [666] talents of gold. (1 Kings 10:14 NKJV)
The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six [666] talents of gold. (2 Chronicles 9:13 NKJV)
The people of Adonikam, six hundred and sixty-six [666]. (Ezra 2:13 NKJV)
The first two verses, 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13, represent the yearly gold that came to king Solomon during his reign. The second reference, in Ezra 2:13, is from a list of captives who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon; the people of Adonikam being numbered at 666. However the total from Adonikam as recorded in Nehemiah was 667 (Neh 7:18).
Like the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13, the context in which we find the gematria 666, Solomon possessed a prophetic kingdom that epitomized greatness. He was a king famous for his genius and wisdom (1 King 10:1). Shiploads of lustrous gold flooded his ports to then be spent in the bustling economy he had built. It was an economy so strong, full of activity and life, that silver was pretty much worthless (1 King 10:21, 27). Apes and peacocks, exotic animals that created an edenic vibe, were imported signaling a dominion of paradise (2 Chr 9:21). Under an organized military all were safe and had peace (2 Chr 9:4, 8, 25).
Even his name was a typological revelation. The name Solomon is derived from the Hebrew word Shelomo (שלמה)—rooted in shalom (שלום), meaning “peace,” “welfare,” “completeness,” or “soundness.” The purpose, given to him by God, was to be a living parable of the Prince of Peace Himself!
So King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. Kings from every nation came to consult him and to hear the wisdom God had given him. 2 Chronicles 9:22-23 NLT.
Unfortunately, as the story goes, he listened to his penis. God had instructed His people to never marry foreign women for the reason that they would lead them to worship foreign gods. The infatuation and intimate bonding of a marriage is a powerful process. Since the beginning many have been lost by marrying “the daughters of men” (Gen 6:1-4). a core-level impulse was imparted to humanity in Adam’s choosing of Eve over obeying the word of God. Through the worship of his many wives Solomon chose the voice of the serpent ignoring the One who had bestowed upon him the wisdom for his greatness.
Thus, this lamb-like edenic empire began to speak like a dragon. He became a king of heavy yokes, ruling as a hard master (1 Kin 12:4). The once peaceful prosperity faded into dynamics full of strife and conflict.
The age of decadence became evident in the character of the next king. In Rehoboam’s choice to disregard the council of the elders who had served his father Solomon, and instead obey the voice of his knucklehead friends, he spoke harshly to the people (1 King 12:13). The curse then manifested. The kingdom divided into the 10 Northern tribes of Israel and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the South.
The story arc of Solomon’s rule parallels that of the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13. Solomon’s taxation of gold is the context in which 666 references. This reference is vital for right comprehension on this matter. It is communicating a prophetic story arc of the lamb-like beast, which I believe identifies the United State of America. That Bible study, however, will be for another blog post. Nonetheless, by overlapping Solomon’s kingdom with the lamb-like beast nation boosts the clarity on this prophetic end-times storyboard.
Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666. (Revelation 13:18 NLT)
Now we can break down this verse.
“Wisdom is needed.” It was Solomon’s wisdom that the Queen of Sheba sought after. Even today the wisdom of Solomon is coveted by both Christians and the Occult.
“With understanding solve the meaning.” Solomon was a problem solving fool: “When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice” (1 Kin 3:28).
As far as measuring empires goes, Solomon’s kingdom was the epitome of worldly glory. Six hundred sixty-six is “the number of a man.” God created Man on the sixth day. Repeated 3 times, 666 makes an unholy trinity of man’s glory. In his book Number in Scripture, E. W. Bullinger observed the following concerning 3 in the Bible:
Three, therefore, stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number three. God’s attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. There are three great divisions completing time—past, present, and future. Three persons, in grammar, express and include all the relationships of mankind. Thought, word, and deed, complete the sum of human capability. Three degrees of comparison complete our knowledge of qualities. The simplest proposition requires three things to complete it; viz., the subject, the predicate, and the copula. Three propositions are necessary to complete the simplest form of argument—the major premiss, the minor, and the conclusion. Three kingdoms embrace our ideas of matter—mineral, vegetable, and animal.
When we turn to the Scriptures, this completion becomes Divine, and marks Divine completeness or perfection. Three is the first of four perfect numbers (see p. 23). Three denotes divine perfection; Seven denotes spiritual perfection; Ten denotes ordinal perfection; and Twelve denotes governmental perfection.
Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine. There is nothing real in man or of man. Everything “under the sun” and apart from God is “vanity.” “Every man at his best estate is altogether vanity” (Psa 139:5,11, 62:9, 144:4; Eccl 1:2,4, 2:11,17,26, 3:19, 4:4, 11:8, 12:8; Rom 8:20). Three is the number associated with the Godhead, for there are “three persons in one God.” Three times the Seraphim cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy”—one for each of the three persons in the Trinity (Isa 6:3). The living creatures also in Revelation 4:8. Three times is the blessing given in Numbers 6:23, 24:—”The LORD bless thee and keep thee (the Father); The LORD make His face shine upon thee; and be gracious unto thee (the Son); The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace” (the Holy Spirit).
Each of these three blessings is two-fold, so that there are two members in each, while the name Jehovah occurs three times. This marks the blessing as Divine in its source. No merit drew it forth; grace was its origin and peace was its result.2Ethelbert Bullinger. Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance (pp. 130-131). (Function). Kindle Edition.
It makes way more sense for 666 to be a comment on the apostasy of man’s glory rather than a puzzle for mathematicians. However, the pattern of 666 showing up in titles and names, such as “Vicar of the Son of God” or “Nero Caesar,” can be seen as legit enough as long as we establish the meaning from the Bible. Nevertheless, as the history of man continues, this gematria will continue to its final fulfillment in the antitypical Day of Atonement.