Historicist interpretations of the Book of Revelation using only the calculation of papal names for the number 666: Notable and influential commentaries by Protestant scholars having historicist views of the Book of Revelation were: Historicist interpretations of the Book of Revelation Historicism, a method of interpretation in Christian eschatology which associates biblical prophecies with actual historical events and identifies symbolic beings with historical persons or societies, has been applied to the Book of Revelation by many writers. The Historicist view follows a straight line of continuous fulfillment of prophecy which starts in Daniel's time and goes through John's writing of the Book of Revelation all the way
The Beast (Revelation) the revived Roman empire, noting that the reference to Rome's seven hills and the connection to the beasts in Daniel seven indicate that the beast represents a kingdom. Futurism interprets the beast from the earth, or false prophet, as the future head of the apostate church or as a future expression of false religion in general. Interpretation of the mark or number of the beast is similar to the idealist view suggesting that the number six refers to imperfection, falling short of the divine number seven. The Beast (Revelation) The Beast (, "Thērion") may refer to one of two beasts