Number of the Beast Maometis in Greek numerals totals 666: In the 1923 book "The Number And Names Of The Apocalyptic Beasts", David Thom rejects "Maometis" as a valid translation, observing that "of the seven different ways in which Muhammad’s name is written in Euthymius and the Byzantine historians, not one is the orthography in question". None of the given spellings add up to 666 under Greek gematria. The Classical Greek word "charagma" (), translated as "mark" (of the beast) in Revelation 13:16 can also mean "any mark engraved", "imprinted", or "branded"; "stamped money", "document", or "coin". A common preterist view of the Mark
The Beast (Revelation) out: "And their death was aggravated with mockeries, insomuch that, wrapped in the hides of wild beasts, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or fastened to crosses to be set on fire, that when the darkness fell they might be burned to illuminate the night." Revelation 13:5 says the beast would continue for 42 months. The Neronic persecution was instituted in 64 AD and lasted until his death in June 68 AD, which is three and a half years, or 42 months. Nero was even called the beast. Apollonius of Tyana specifically states that Nero was called a beast: