I really have to laugh every time I hear the interpretations some have put forth for the number "666." It has been portrayed in everything from Anton LaVey's Satanic bible, to the latest Christian movie, as some literal number or symbol that will one day be tattooed or burned into the forehead or hands of the world's inhabitants. Some even believe it could be a microchip that will be placed under one's skin. Nevertheless, if you want to be biblically correct on this matter—and I believe we all do—then we must use God's interpretation for what is called in the Bible "...the number of a man." So let us turn to GOD'S Word for the correct answer to what most have just been guessing at.
In Genesis chapter one and verse 31, we see that God had just finished making the sixth day, the day in which man and the beasts were created. Simply put, this would then assign the number six as it pertains to the Bible, to both man and the beast through one of the most basic precepts of biblical typology involving relational association. This is what is meant in Revelation 13:18 when it talks about the "number of a man," or people in general, being associated with the number or name of the (a) beast. Yet, before we go any further explaining the number six, let us have a little typology 101 on the number three as well. We find that the number three is used all throughout the Bible to represent something or someone in its fullness. A good example of this would be God Himself. God is described in the Bible as a three part triune Godhead. Thus, we have God the "Father," God the "Son," and God the "Holy Spirit." We can even understand the Trinity a little better by looking at ourselves; for we are created in God's image, and will someday hopefully be "changed" as the Bible says into His likeness as well. Thus, we are body, soul, and spirit, which makes up the fullness of a human. There is the "Outer court," the "Holy place," and the "Holy of holies" in the Tabernacle. There are "30," "60," and "100-fold" producers in the Church. There are "little children," "young men," and "father" levels of Christian maturity that are spoken of in the Bible. Now I could go on and on showing how the number "three" is typed-out in the Bible to represent the fullness of a thing (see link), but I think you get the point so let us move on.
Now that you have gained somewhat of a basic understanding regarding the numbers six and three as found in the Bible (6+6+6 = the fullness of (a) man: i.e., total carnality; the beast nature; fleshly), we can now begin to apply this knowledge to some other pertinent biblical truths. Hopefully you already understand some of the Bible's allegoric references and parabolic types, because it's God Himself who ordained these substitutionary metaphors and communication methods to teach us of His hidden ways. Although, it still amazes me how a Christian can read the Bible and ascertain that the taking of "the mark," means a literal set of sixes (666) are going to be forced upon people, and that this will in some way damn their souls to Hell. Like God will damn someone to Hell because they were forced under pain of death to get a tattoo, mark, or chip; it's the heart and the mind that gets marked brethren, not the skin! Still, some will say, "Nope! The Bible plainly states 'forehead,' 'hand!'" Isn't it strange though when it comes to cutting off one's own hands or feet, or gouging out one's eyes—like the Bible states—then all of a sudden they say, "Oh come on now brother, this must be symbolism!" The fact remains that the Bible must be interpreted using the same precepts throughout or anything and everything can, will, and has come forth. It is not for us to invent biblical interpretations (2-Pet 1:20). It is the Spirit's job to "lead" us and "guide" us into "all truth," as confirmed by God's written Word, the Bible (KJV).
Before we go any further in this teaching, I feel I must address a critical problem with the many different Bible versions that are out there. You probably know by now this site only uses the King James Version of the Bible for proof texting, and there is a reason for that. The King James Version of the Bible is one of the only versions that you will be able to use if you want to do an accurate study in biblical symbology. Why? because most if not all of the other versions have had to "substantially change the text" that was taken from the Textus Receptus and Hebrew manuscripts (because of copyright laws); this is where the KJV first came from. We won't even talk about the Codex Vaticanus. Furthermore, bibles like the NIV for example, have felt the need to change things like cubits into feet along with many other ancient references that can still be found in the KJV of the Bible in the original text. These changes obviously destroy the typology the original numbers and words carried along with the hidden message within them. They say they have done this "to make it easier to read," but true scholars like Gail Riplinger and her New Age Bible Versions book will show you there is actually something more insidious to the changes these other versions have made and continue to make with each new reprint that they do.
For example just one of the changes they (Rupert Murdoch's NIV: Zondervan Publishing) have made is to remove the deity of "Jesus the Christ" many times over in their translation. Or how about trying to find Jesus' rebuke to Satan in "Luke 4:8" in the NIV? Here the KJV says: "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" Luke 4:8. So what does the NIV have to say to Satan? It says: "Jesus answered, [omit...] It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'" Luke 4:8. Wow! I guess the Devil doesn't like to rebuke himself. Now to be fair, here is an omission of "Jesus Christ" from the NSAB version from Ephesians 3:14: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father [omit...]." The KJV says: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," Ephesians 3:14. There are literally hundreds of omissions like these all thought the NIV and the other translations. Another obvious reason all the other versions had to be altered is because they must "substantially change" their text from the original manuscript because the KJV followed the original almost to a Tee. The KJV is still protected (even though its been in public domain) by royal prerogative in England, rather than its once 1611 copyrighted status. This recent "protected" status came about because of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
I will tell you what I have learned from seeking God's truth for myself with prayer and fasting, and sitting under some of His appointed "five fold ministries" for many years. The "mark [of the beast]," "the name of the beast," and or the "number of his name" (Rev 13:17) that are said to be imprinted on not just one man or beast, but the people of the world including apostate Christians (2-Thess 2:3) all mean the same thing. It means most humans will be totally void of the consciousness that God put in every human to know right from wrong (Rom 1:18-25) by the time Yeshua returns at Armageddon. They will have the NATURE of "the beast" (Satan's), and not GOD'S nature.
"And he [the 2nd beast/the Pope/the False Prophet; Rev 13:11, 16:13 (see link)] causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 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." Revelation 13:16-18
So, these people will think (i. e., the mark on the "forehead" or the mind) like a man, act like a man, and ultimately worship one man as God. We are talking about people who are and will be completely given over to the adamic nature. They have as it were a beast nature and their works (the mark on the "hand") will show it. In other words, they are not in the least bit concerned with sin or God's true will for their lives, unlike the Christians described below in Ezekiel 9. Regrettably, many end-time apostate Christians have been and will be marked with the 666 nature and never even know it. Actually, all the people with this mark will not know that they have acquired it; they are dead men walking; lost for eternity. Some of the brethren who "have tasted of the heavenly gift," seem to be well on their way to receiving the third and final "six" as their hearts continue to drift further away from the LORD and slide back into the old nature:
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" Matthew 24:12
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [Strong's: apostasia] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" 2- Thessalonians 2:3
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" Hebrews 6:4-6
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." Jude 1:12-13
We are told in the Bible that there will be some Christians in the end-time who the Bible says will be able to press into the "high calling" and receive a mark on their foreheads too. However, this mark is to be no more literally applied to the skin than the one we have just read about:
"And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof [of their own souls]." Ezekiel 9:4
There you go! Now what have you been told about "the mark" in Ezekiel 9 that the angels apply to the foreheads of those that desire a closer walk with God? It says these "sigh and cry" because they can see the midst's of their Jerusalem's are not so pure. Does this mean there is going to be a group of believers running around with three sevens on their foreheads? For "seven" is the number the Bible gives for individual perfection or completeness. I mean come on now, if these marks are meant to be a literal thing then, I'm going to get into the tattoo business and make some big money! Seriously though, are you seeing the balance in the Word that shows us what both of these marks actually represent; it's a persons nature, not their number!
Then what about not being able to "buy or sell" without the mark? This denial of basic human needs is really nothing new for any true believer that finds themselves in the midst of a God hating generation. We know that all throughout history Christians have been denied basic human rights, hunted down like animals, and killed (martyred) for nothing more than their Christian testimony and righteous lifestyle. Even so, there will be a people in Mark 13 that God must protect during the time of the great tribulation.
"For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days." Mark 13:19-18
"Then [the time of Jacob's Trouble] shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matthew 24:9
This is the reason why some will not be able to buy or sell: they will not submit to the religion of "political correctness," or what more recently is referred to as "Wokeness." They will not agree with the way the Babylonish world is moving as one. Furthermore, many backslidden Christians will have to wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb during the great tribulation if they ever hope to return onto their first love and receive eternal life (Dan 11:33-35; Rev 7:14).
In closing I would just like to reiterate that this "number" is not some mark that anyone with the right tools could counterfeit. It's not some electronic chip placed under the skin that will keep you out of the Kingdom of God. Now will Satan have a counterfeit interpretation to GOD'S truth, I imagine so; he's invested a lot into this doctrine of devils through movies and false teaching from the pulpit. Will Satan have a counterfeit to God's Word at that time in the miracles, lying signs, and wonders that the "False Prophet"/the Pope will be doing, I'm sure he will (see link). Surely there will be some sort of a system for marking or chipping individuals to control their movement; I'm sure that will happen to some extent to keep this ruse going. Since this is what the people have been trained to look for (the outward and not the inward) Satan will continue to milk that baby out for all it's worth. Sadly, it's mainly the Christians that are out there promoting his lie with their rapture movies and books. Nevertheless, it will simply be the beast nature within that will "mark" many for destruction. On the other hand, the Christians with the "mark" found in Ezekiel 9:4, will once again be able to bring conviction upon the world for all their unrighteous deeds that they are and will be committing. Still, this may cost many of these brethren their earthly lives. They will be a light on a hill and the darkness will hate them for it. This is why the Bible says if you "take the mark of the beast" you're going to Hell. That's because you would have already forsaken the truth in your heart if you have that mark. Keep in mind what Jesus told the people in Matthew 10:32-33 below:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
As always, it will be up to you to seek the LORD about what you have just read. The carnal interpretation that many a preacher has put forth for the number 666, is just more evidence of the Churches dire condition and its need to return to at least its "first love."