“I saw all that “would not receive the mark of the Beast, and of his Image, in their foreheads or in their hands,” could not buy or sell. [Revelation 13:15-17.] I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up; [Revelation 13:18.] and that it was the Beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope’s, and not God’s Sabbath. And all we were required to do, was to give up God’s Sabbath, and keep the Pope’s, and then we should have the mark of the Beast, and of his image.”{WLF 19.1}

The light that we have upon the third angel’s message is the true light. The mark of the beast is exactly what it has been proclaimed to be. Not all in regard to this matter is yet understood, and will not be understood until the unrolling of the scroll; but a most solemn work is to be accomplished in our world. . . . I have been instructed that the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation should be printed in small books, with the necessary explanations, and should be sent all over the world. {8T 159.3}

The grand judgment is taking place and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshippers thereof. [Revelation 11:1.] Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties, when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you. Remember that your words and actions are being daguerreotyped [photographed] in the books of heaven, as the face is reproduced by the artist on the polished plate. {Ms4-1888.21}

Those who humble their hearts and confess their sins will be pardoned. Their transgressions will be forgiven. But the man who thinks that should he confess his sins he would show weakness, will not find pardon, will not see Christ as his Redeemer, but will go on and on in transgression, making blunder after blunder and adding sin to sin. What will such a one do in the day that the books are opened and every man is judged according to the things written in the books? {9T 266.2}
The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to be closely studied. It is of great importance to those who shall act a part in the work of God for these last days. There are some who are deceived. They do not realize what is coming on the earth. . . Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive according to their works. {9T 267.1}

Ellen White and 666

There is only one reference to the number 666 in Ellen White's writings and the number is believed to have been inserted by the editor of the tract, Joseph Bates. In A Word to the Little Flock, she states:


What does she mean by the number being “made up”? The context suggests that 666 stands for the “made up” tradition of Sunday sacredness. Human laws that do not harmonize with the law of God are “made up” by human enactments and traditions. She is clear in other statements that the mark of the beast, which bears the number 666, is the same blasphemous reverence for human tradition that supplants a clear command of God. But she also tells us that there is more to learn about 666 because, referring to the mark of the beast, she states:



The above statement is fascinating not only for the fact that Ellen White clearly says there is more to learn about the mark or 666, but also because she tells us exactly when it will be learned – at the unrolling of the scroll. When is that? The phrase “unrolling of the scroll” refers to the time pictured in Revelation 5 when the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, takes the mysterious seven-sealed book that no one in heaven or earth is worthy to open or read, and, one by one, breaks its seals, unrolling its hidden contents.

But you may be wondering; “Don't Adventists teach that the scroll was unsealed centuries ago?” Yes, it is true; that is what we as Adventists have believed and taught for decades and what William Miller taught before us. But in the above quote God through the prophet would like to expand our view. He tells us that this book is still sealed, concealing a knowledge of its contents including the full meaning of 666, the mark of the beast, and likely other things as well. However He is also forewarning us that this will change in the future.

God through the Apostle has told us that “Judgment begins with the household of God” and speaking to Adventists, Ellen White tells us that God is measuring us.


I take these inspired statements to mean that the judgment of the living within spiritual Israel, the church, is an ongoing reality. But at a certain divinely appointed time that process expands to include the world and like the cross, this transition marks a new era. And just as the events surrounding the crucifixion were plainly foretold by the prophets, we should expect that an event of this magnitude - all the world being arraigned before the bar of God - will be clearly delineated in prophecy as well. Ellen White implies that Revelation 5 is a vivid description of that event:



When the Lamb takes the book, which I believe He is about to do, and the judgment of the living turns to the world, then those who are spiritually awake will soon understand things that they don't currently understand; God will remove His hand from the concealed portions of the book and the issues relating to the mark will be made plain by the Holy Spirit to them. Then those with the oil of the Spirit in their lamps will witness to the riches of Christ and His Truth contrasting it with the spurious falsehood of the Anti-Christ, the beast and his mark which is “made up” - 666. Satan and his deceptive, politically correct kingdom will be fully exposed and he will fall forever like lightening from heaven.

In Revelation 10, 11 and 14 we have a picture of what the final testimony of the church will be including its testimony against the beast and his number. John, a symbol of the end-time church is given in chapter 10 a little book of prophecy, a book that was formerly sealed, and directed to eat it. This prophecy is something he has never digested before. He does eat it and it is sweet in his mouth but his stomach is made bitter. Why is this prophetic word bitter? Because he is then told to rise and give the final prophetic message, the measuring message of the Two Witnesses to the world. The message is bitter in proportion to its unpopularity. While it is a message of good news that gives hope and life to the humble, the same message condemns the pride, skepticism, sensuality, vice and lawlessness of spiritual Sodom and Egypt.

Notice carefully and study the content of that message, the measuring/judgment message in Revelation 11 comparing it with the judgment hour message of Revelation 14: this final message of the three angels and of the Two Witnesses is not merely a call to Sabbath and health reform. The Sabbath and health are central to the message but the message itself is the entire everlasting gospel - the offer of complete moral renewal, complete freedom and restoration into the image of Christ through a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The fact that the majority of affluent Adventists have, like the wealthy citizens of Sodom, adopted to an alarming degree the world's moral standard in the face of this message and the fact that many of them are well down the path of slaying the influence of these Two Witnesses by a false gospel is strong evidence that the true gospel, in answer to the prayers of the saints, is about to go to the world in power.

On the eve of Sodom's destruction two heavenly witnesses came to Lot as well with a message of the impending doom of Sodom and the cities of the plain. This history is being repeated today but who among Adventists is taking it seriously?

Trying times are on us now that will test our resolve. But Christ says that the hairs of our heads are numbered. If God knows the number of our hairs, how much more does God keep accurate account of those who love and fear him and those who reject his love and mercy. When probation closes for us individually and for all of humanity we will be numbered by God and his angels either with the righteous or the unrighteous, the 153 or the 666. The issue confronting us now is the same as in Eden; obedience to the commands of God and the faith of Jesus or unbelief and disobedience. This final issue will confront all of humanity. All must choose and in this case, not to decide is to decide. There is no neutral, lukewarm ground. Whoever is not wholeheartedly for Christ is against him. Let's gratefully respond from our hearts to the fathomless love of God and make our unwavering choice for Him today.

153 and 666, both found in scripture, are two of the most interesting and “symmetrical” numbers in mathematics. Their properties are summarized below but first the scriptural context.

In Revelation 13 there is a warning for us living in the end-times that a powerful beast that was once mortally wounded (by the Protestant Reformation) will revive. When it revives it will form an alliance with a second beast, one that has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. These two set up an image of the first beast forcing everyone to worship it under the threat of death. This beast is identified with the number 666 and the scripture invites us to study and understand it but says that understanding it will require the wisdom of God: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Rev. 13:18. Other versions render the phrase “number of a man” as “a human number” or “the number of man”, suggesting that the number stands for those who in their fallen human nature worship the beast and his image. These remain unrenewed by the grace of God and unsaved. Which begs the question: What does it mean to worship the beast?
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