Christ in His twofold character in this book is Lamb and Lion. The Beast in his

composite character is a combination of Leopard, Bear, and Lion. The Lion in both

represents kingship, and this is common to both (see quotation from Dan. 2: above).

The Lamb is the Redeemer, the Leopard and the Bear the Destroyer. Some are marked

with the name of the Redeemer, others are numbered among those that destroy the earth;

the former in harmony with that name are "redeemed" from among men (14: 4), the

latter in harmony with their mark are "destroyed" (11: 18).

We now look at the "number of his name". As we have received help by placing

Christ in contrast with the Beast, we will continue to do so as we examine this number.

The reader is probably aware that both the Hebrew and the Greek alphabets serve for

both letters and numbers. The name "Jesus" in Greek characters is written IESOUS. The

numerical value of each letter in order is 10, 8, 200, 70, 400, 200, which added together

give the great contrast to the number of the beast, 888. In the same way Lord (Kurios) =

800. We have already had occasion to refer to the typical character of Daniel and his

three friends. It is highly significant that their Hebrew names give the very same number

as the name Jesus!

Without pursuing this feature further we feel that in this recognition of the lordship of

"Jesus", and the absolute refusal to bow down and worship the image of the beast, the

contrast with the number of the name of the beast is manifested, and by the contrast the

character of the beast is brought to light.

Before proceeding further we pause to observe that Irenaeus tells us that some ancient

copies of the Apocalypse in his day read 616 instead of 666. While there is no doubt that

666 is the true reading, the fact that such a number as 616 found advocates suggests that

there was a reason for the alteration, and that it must not be attributed to carelessness on

the part of the scribe.  It will be remembered that when the Apostle wrote to the

Thessalonians concerning the advent of the beast in II Thess. 2: he uses rather cryptic

language, referring to something he had told them which he would not commit to writing.

Again, when Jeremiah wished to refer to the King of Babylon he refers to him as

Sheshach (Jer. 25: 26). The Massõrah explains that this word stands for Babel. The

system upon which this is worked is the reversal of the Alphabet; thus, since "b" is the

second letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, and "sh", the second from the end, "sh" stands for

"b"; so with the place of "l" and "ch", respectively. Jeremiah, Paul, and John use cryptic

methods when speaking of the beast.