I have survived several events that were touted as threatening to life on the planet. One day was humorous to me, before it came, and after. The computer was about to become the beast. Because millions of computers were not programmed to introduce the new millennium from 1999 to 2000, there were all kinds of horrors about to happen. The nation would come to a screeching halt because of the time factor. Articles were published, insurance was purchased, some persons stayed home, accounts were expected to be lost, and the list seems endless for tragedy. A massive fortune was spent to evade it. Nothing happened, except that futility for mankind was again exposed. More recently, but less noted in the world was the small storm over June 6, 2006, or 06/06/06. Six, seen by many as the number of man, was obvious in the date. A woman had her unborn induced to birth on the day before so as not to have an 06/06/06 baby. The fear of 666 is known to a few lexicon followers as: hexakosiosihexekontahexaphobia. I prefer, as a word, supercalifragilisticexpealidocious – which has nothing to do with prophecy. It is singable. Stories of the mark of the beast can be multiplied, told through the centuries. I have been told by friends that they dislike the number 6 and will not accept it for themselves on a license plate, a house address, or whatever. All this makes the serious observation to a number lose life context.
What will we ever do in human society where superstition becomes as great distraction as it does for many? Nothing is found to stop the astrologers, fortune tellers, palm readers, those who fear hats on beds, or the thirteenth floor of a building, and the like. One night in New York City I had difficulty in finding my room at the Salisbury Hotel on 57th Street. There was no thirteenth floor, and it took some going up and coming down until I discovered that the floor above the 12th was the 14th. It was explained to me the next morning that too many guests would not stay on the thirteenth floor so they did away with it. (As I recall the hotel was owned by the church on ground floor, where I spoke.) The adaptation was simply made to accommodate superstitious guests.
Many persons are like the old priest who rode backward on his donkey. He did not know where he was going, but he remembered where he had been. Mankind has become a fair (not great) historian, but a poor prophet. God sometimes shrouds the prophecies of Scripture in puzzling ways. He suggests we stop the speculation when we are reminded that some things, even in Jesus’ earthly experience, were reserved to the Father. Why not take the broad strokes, and avoid the speculations? However, even the genius, Francis Bacon, dedicated himself to study of the end times, especially as noted in The Revelation. (Bacon’s preoccupation has been felt to be a scandal for some naturalists.) We do not need prophecy as mankind would like to have it. We have what we need, to accomplish God’s directives. Israel was invited to look for the Messiah, and many in Israel continue to do so. Speculations piled up to shroud the Messiah when he came. The church is informed that life and systems as we know them will fade, and that God will recover his creation in fact. Creation will be restored to what it was meant to be. Persons of faith ought to leave it there, avoiding the fanciful, and dwelling upon what it all really means for currency. Revelation relates to concealed truth – note Revelation 22:11 for normalcy. I do accept the identity of 666 from The Revelation, but not for superstition or threat. I believe I am clear about the prophecies that are clear for me – if I am a student of Scripture. The application of a number to some sinister person or situation does not make that number evil in other contexts. Prophetic statements are difficult enough for our limited outlook. Why add superstition to them? *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020