Number of the Beast Rescriptus" have led some scholars to regard 616 as the original Number of the Beast. According to Paul Louis, "The number 666 has been substituted for 616 either by analogy with 888, the [Greek] number of Jesus (Gustav Adolf Deissmann), or because it is a triangular number, the sum of the first 36 numbers (1+2+3+4+5+6+...+36 = 666)" Interpreting the identity and the number of the beast usually falls into three categories: In Greek isopsephy and Hebrew gematria, every letter has a corresponding numeric value. Summing these numbers gives a numeric value to a word or name. The use of isopsephy
The Beast (Revelation) The Beast (Revelation) The Beast (, "Thērion") may refer to one of two beasts described in the Book of Revelation. The first beast comes "out of the sea" and is given authority and power by the dragon. This first beast is initially mentioned in as coming out of the abyss. His appearance is described in detail in , and some of the mystery behind his appearance is revealed in . The second beast comes "out of the earth" and directs all peoples of the earth to worship the first beast. The second beast is described in and is also referred