June 11, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Hear the uproar from the city; listen to the voice from the temple! It is the voice of the LORD, repaying His enemies what they deserve!” (Isaiah 66.6)

“He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him.” (Psalm 66.6)

“Now, I pray, let the Power of my Lord be great.” (Numbers 14.17)

“This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.” (Revelation 13.18)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

How many of you do a double-take when you come across the number 666 in some transaction you are conducting. It could be the ordering of food, the total of a purchase, a license plate number, an address or a myriad of other examples. Regardless of when and where, the number 666 certainly captures our attention because of its connection to the Anti-Christ as mentioned in Revelation 13.18. Of course, John the Elder is told by the Glorified and Risen Christ who authors Revelation that to understand the meaning of it requires great wisdom. There are plenty of attempts to interpret the identity of the man, 666, and all have fallen short. What is significantly true is that whoever bears the identity is a person of this world. The caveat in translating “the man” is that it more genuinely points to “humanity as a collective” or “a singular person.” That we get wrapped up in the attempt to be gender-specific and say “it is a man,” demonstrates the bias of male-orientation when it comes to interpreting scripture. As in Revelation 13, “let the reader beware.” By that, it is meant that we cannot live and serve and move forward by assumption. When the Letter of Revelation scribed by John the Elder to be delivered to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor who were under his purview as presbyter, it was meant to be read and read out loud. It was not a simple matter of literacy. It was the power of the spoken word being heard and listened to by believers, non-believers, unbelievers and those who were searching for the truth. The same is true for all epistles, including those included in the New Testament. We are to not just read and be familiar with the Word of God. We are to engage and become immersed in the Word. We are to digest it as the “bread of life” and ingest it as the “cup of the New Covenant.” So, when I see Isaiah 66.6 or Psalm 66.6 or Revelation 13.18 or know that Numbers 14.17 is an actual literary numerical representation of “666,” I pay attention to what is in those passages and their contexts.

From Isaiah: God’s justice is voiced with confirmation and execution of God’s perfect will against those who would not be moved from their decision to stand on their own and against the promises of God.

From Numbers: There is no power, force or being greater than God and our reliance upon Him is the only means by which we shall survive living in this world to gain the next.

From Psalms: God is the deliverer of the captive from their captivity. His control of nature and all creation to effect His will is a testimony to us of His “awe and wonder.”

From Revelation: Only by authentic wisdom can one discern who the true enemy of God is and defend the gospel of truth against the gospel of lies. (Yes gospel simply means “news.” When it is about God and God’s Son and the move of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct the believer…it is “good news.” When it is about self, selfishness and denial of God’s sovereignty over us, then it is “bad news.”)

Mighty ones of God, let us be wise and seek the truth not only with our eyes, ears and mind but let us demonstrate it with our mouths, intellect and actions of service and worship. God will not be denied, dissuaded nor defeated. His Word shall stand yesterday, today and forever.

It is far too easy, and dangerous to assign the “negative” connotation and interpretation to “666” and allow it to exist as the means of identifying who (singular or plural) is the Anti-Christ. We know, of course, who the enemy of God and Humanity is. As a singular individual it would be Satan, the Devil, the cast out of Heaven and fallen to Earth Lucifer. In the plural, it would be all those who would cast their lot and put their trust in Satan and take their stand against God. Even if they didn’t consider the ramification of standing against God and merely desired to feast on the lies of Satan concerning their freedom without penalty, as if there could ever be such a thing, it is a dangerous decision to even consider. Who can stand against God and overcome His goodness with their own willful intention? So, taking a look at the four examples of “666” mentioned above what do we see?

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works leading others to call Jesus Lord in faith, hope and love. AMEN.