DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM - HE IS DOOMED TO DESTRUCTION!
I heard something last week which made me think about the number 666, (Revelations 13:18), and I wondered if the number represented a man’s name, so I looked it up.
As I understand it, the Hebrew numbers are connected to their alphabet, and the alphabet also has various meanings, plus pictorial representations to each letter, so I thought it would be interesting to look into.
It took some research, but as far as I can see, the number 6 is also the letter vav (w in English). This has made some believe that www represents the name of the lawless one, which is why some believe that the internet is demonic. However, the number, as I read it is, 6 hundred and sixty-six, which is different to 6+6+6.
The number 600 as far as I can find out is Anaph, which means; to be angry/displeased/to breathe hard, and is connected to the letter A, which is represented by the picture of an ox head/face
The number 60 may be Samekh which means; Grab/hate/protect and is represented by a shield.
The number 6 is vav which means; Add/secure/hook, and is represented by a tent peg.
So, if it represents a man’s name and I have understood correctly, the name would read Asv or Asw if you just used the initial sounds, or Anaph Samekh Vav if using the whole names of the numbers.
Would that be a name?? I don’t know. I may not have it right at all, but it was interesting to research. In any case, we do not need to worry about him because he is doomed to destruction, (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and we are saved through Christ to a glorious future!
Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians not to be alarmed by reports that Jesus had already returned because that day will not come until the Rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed. This person will oppose everything religious and worshipped or called god, and he will then exalt himself up as god and take his seat in the *temple. The people are alarmed and confused but Paul says Not yet! Although lawlessness is already at work, the time is not yet because the Rebellion needs to happen first, (verse 3), then the lawless one will be revealed, then Jesus will return.
Verses 9&10 tells us that the lawless one will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, which means, the signs will seem to prove his case – but only to those who are lost.
As for us, Paul says we will go on giving thanks to God because he chose us from the beginning, and we are already saved through the Spirit and belief in the truth. (Something which I find very comforting). He exhorts us to stand firm in the faith we were taught from the beginning and ends this chapter with a prayer for all of us to be comforted by his grace and for us to be grounded in good works.
Although tough times may come, the future our Heavenly Father has planned for us far outweighs the difficulties these times will bring. How we behave in these times matters. We need to trust in the hope Jesus bought for us on the cross, and continue in good works up to the end.
This is how we stand up for Jesus and this is how we not only demonstrate his love, but also how we show the world up for what it has become.
As Paul says, may our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good deed and word through his Holy spirit in us.
This is the love of God - Jesus for us, in us, and with us always.
This is how I understand my God.
Read for yourself, see what you think.
*I think this means the temple on the mount in Jerusalem, which has yet to be restored – but there are talks going on about restoring the temple, so we must be alert!