The Beast (Revelation) or governmental powers. This was first expressed in the imperial cult of Rome, but finds expression at all times of history. In his commentary, Michael Wilcock says "Religion, indeed is too narrow an identification of the second beast. He is, in modern parlance, the ideology-whether religious, philosophical, or political-which 'gives breath to' any human social structure organized independently of God." The idealist perspective on the number of the beast rejects gematria, envisioning the number not as a code to be broken, but a symbol to be understood. Because there are so many names that can come to 666 and that
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