recurring imperfection

Today is my 666th blip. Not quite a blip birthday I know... There was a day when this number fascinated me in the context of being a Thrash Metal fan. However today it interests me in quite a different way. At church we continue to work through the New Testament book of Revelation.

My understanding of the number is as follows: In chapter 12, there is a dragon who sybolises Satan whose primary aim over the centuries was to prevent Christ from being born, and subsequently to bring an end to the community of Christ. In chapter 13 there are two beasts who sybolise world governments who, although are good being created by God - Romans 13:1, and to whom we as believrs should submit to - 1 Peter 2:13-17, are often corrupted by Satan for his aim of destroying the church.

The second beast symbolises false religion and ideologies that deny Christ and His Gospel. This is another tool in the hands of Satan. The interesting thing about the second beast is that he has looks like a "lamb", a title for Christ, but has the voice that resembles the dragon. What a picture of false religion and ideologies! The number 666 summarises what these belief systems are like in substance. Where in Revelation 7 is a number that represents completeness and God's perfection, the number 6 represents imperfection and a falling short of God's perfect standards. The three sixes together then represent recurring imperfection...

So rather than being an obscure irrelevant number that's rightful place is in the lyrics of heavy metal songs, it is a number that is deeply relevant as so many places in the world are structured with oppressive regimes that deny Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and where it is often so tough to live for Christ...