THE WISDOM OF 666: DANIEL 5
“For as much as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding interpreting dreams and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar; now let Daniel be called; and he will shew the interpretation.” Daniel 5:12
Note, in Daniel 5:25, God “MENE” the beast of Daniel 7:4. “MENE” was the first part of a four part message to Belshazzar, king of Babylon. The first term was repeated twice. The message read, “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, U-PHARSIN.” This message was written as the king and his wives, and his concubines, and a thousand of his lords drank wine from the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God by king Nebuchadnezzar in the overthrow of Judah (Daniel 1:1-2).
In brief, the night God delivered this message: “Belshazzar (had) made a great feast to a thousand of his lords…” And while he drank wine, he commanded that “the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem (be brought forth); that the king and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink” from them. Daniel 5:1-2
And when the golden vessels were brought forth, they all drank in them, and “praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.” Daniel 5:4 And in that same hour came forth the fingers of a man (v.5). God’s judgment had just fallen upon Babylon; because Belshazzar had not humbled himself before God. But he had exalted himself, although he knew what happened to his father (Daniel 5:18-21 & 4:30-31).
Daniel said, “Though thou knewest. Thou hast not humbled thine heart,…but hast lifted up thyself against” God and have brought the vessels of God and drunk wine in them; “and hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know.” But the God who had given him life, he did not glorify (Daniel 5:22-23). And at this sight, God numbered the kingdom (beast) (Daniel 7:4), and finished it.
Daniel said, “This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.” Daniel 5:26 This is the understanding of Rev.13:18. The number of the beast is the age at which the last great nation will fall in ruin.
Therefore, to count the number of the beast/ the 7th great nation, one must first find the date of its birth, and then count the number of years of this nation’s existence. In other words, from the time of its birth until its ultimate demise (Rev.19:20) shall be 666 years. Hence, let him who has understanding count the number of the beast (kingdom). For it is the number of man and his number is 666.