FREEMASONS AND THE ILLUMINATI
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
www.shimbatheological.org
INTRODUCTION
This is a book containing profound secrets concerning the Freemasons and the Illuminati.
Introduction
From the beginning, Satan has pursued a plan to destroy the Law of God. Satan has continually waged war against the Ten Commandments of God, which constitute the only standard of obedience to God. In this conflict, Satan has employed various kinds of agents and has succeeded in deceiving millions of people throughout the world, causing them to abandon God's Law and follow teachings that are merely the commandments of human beings.
Satan has established his own church and introduced eleven commandments in opposition to the Ten Commandments of God. In the chapters that follow, we shall examine how Satan's followers within the religions of Freemasonry and the Illuminati use numbers and symbols in their activities throughout the world, thereby blinding people spiritually. These people believe that they are worshipping the God of heaven, when, in reality, they are worshipping Satan himself.
We are living in perilous times. Disasters are occurring everywhere, and various forms of turmoil have spread throughout the world. Rape, earthquakes, uncontrollable fires, floods during dry seasons, workers' strikes, landslides, economic instability, volcanic eruptions, and many other calamities continue to occur day after day. These events are taking place even in powerful, developed nations commonly described as First World countries.
The increasing occurrence of these natural and political upheavals is causing human beings to become fearful about their future. It appears as though we are standing at the edge of a precipice, with a great abyss before us into which we are about to fall. To those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, all these events are signs of the end of the age, indicating that the world cannot continue for much longer in its present condition.
The hearts of people are filled with fear because of the things taking place (Luke 21:26). People are asking questions: “Why are these things happening?” and “Has Satan gained complete control?”
No, God has not abandoned His faithful people. Nevertheless, these questions indicate that there is something behind these events that many people cannot fully understand.
A fierce conflict is taking place between the forces of light and the forces of darkness—a great spiritual war between Jesus Christ and Satan. According to this interpretation, the events we are witnessing in the world are manifestations of that conflict.
However, the God of heaven has told His people that “the time is short.” His Word also declares:
“Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
—1 Corinthians 7:29; Romans 13:11–13 (KJV, as cited in the original manuscript)
Paul instructs us to put on the whole armour of God so that we may stand against the deceptions of the Evil One (Ephesians 6:11).
When I was studying the prophecies of Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and other biblical books, I did not understand how these prophecies would be fulfilled. I did not realize that a group operating in great secrecy was, according to my interpretation, fulfilling these prophecies to a significant degree.
Many people are unaware of Satan's deceptions. Yet God has instructed us not to remain ignorant of Satan's schemes, lest “Satan should get an advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Satan has achieved great success in deception by making people ignorant of the methods he employs in his work. When we are ignorant or confused, Satan gains the advantage over us. He has therefore succeeded in deceiving many men and women throughout the world.
Consequently, we must not sleep spiritually or fail to recognize what is happening in the realm of darkness. Why? Because “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8; see also Revelation 12:12).
The Evil One knows that his time is short. Therefore, he continues working tirelessly to lead the world toward its ultimate destruction. God's people will soon face severe trials. Those who do not overcome through the blood of the Lamb will be overwhelmed by fear during these trials and will consequently fall.
But how does Satan carry out his work? Through which agents does he operate?
God provides the answer. In His great love, He reveals to us the principal participants in the final conflict between Christ and Satan. According to the interpretation presented in this book, these are the agents responsible for the conditions and events we observe throughout the world.
In the Book of Revelation, God reveals five principal agents:
The great red dragon of Revelation 12 — Satan himself.
The leopard-like beast of Revelation 13 — Religious Rome.
The lamb-like beast of Revelation 13:11 — The United States of America.
The image of the beast in Revelation 13 — The union of churches, identified in the manuscript with the World Council of Churches (WCC).
The scarlet-coloured beast and the woman of Revelation 17 — The Illuminati and Freemasons, allegedly united with the Church of Rome.
Many people have failed to distinguish between these beasts. However, through a more detailed study, the author argues that the scarlet-coloured beast of Revelation 17, with ten horns and seven heads and carrying a woman, represents a union involving the Illuminati, allegedly organized into ten global divisions, together with the Church of Rome and its seven successive rulers since it began operating after receiving a deadly wound.
In biblical prophecy, the word woman symbolizes a church (Revelation 21:2). The word head, according to the interpretation presented here, symbolizes a church's leader. In the Church of God, Christ is the Head (Colossians 1:18). In the false church, however, the author argues that a human being has taken the place of Jesus on earth (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
The Bible, according to this argument, does not use the word head to mean a political ruler but uses the terms rulers or kings. Therefore, the seven heads are interpreted as seven successive periods of church leadership.
Revelation 17:8 states that the beast is about to ascend from the bottomless pit. Revelation 9:11 also declares:
“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit…”
The author connects these passages with spiritualism, which he identifies as a belief associated with the Illuminati. According to this interpretation, spiritualism leads its adherents to believe that death does not truly exist and that, when a person dies, the person merely changes location, leaving the earth for another place while continuing to live. That place is understood to be the person's heaven. The author argues that this belief rejects the resurrection.
The manuscript identifies the origin of this teaching in Satan's words to Eve:
“Ye shall not surely die.”
—Genesis 3:4 (KJV)
The author therefore proposes to examine the alleged relationship between the Illuminati and churches, including the claim that some people join churches to advance Illuminati objectives.
Does a group or organization known as the Illuminati actually exist? Could it exist in our generation?
Some people have ridiculed the entire subject of the Illuminati. Nevertheless, this book claims to provide an in-depth understanding of the Illuminati and Freemasonry within the society in which we live.
Are the words Illuminati and Freemason unfamiliar to you? That is possible, because many people, including highly educated individuals, are unfamiliar with these terms. The author attributes this lack of awareness to the alleged secrecy surrounding the activities of those associated with these movements, which has prevented millions of people from understanding what is taking place.
“The great strength of our order lies in its concealment.”
In other words, the great strength of the organization lies in keeping its activities hidden and secret. These words are attributed in the manuscript to Adam Weishaupt, the founder of the Illuminati in 1776.
The manuscript further attributes the following statement to him:
“Let it never appear in any place in its own name, but always covered by another name and another occupation.”
The cited source is Robin's Proofs of a Conspiracy, page 195.
According to the author, the activities of the Illuminati have continued throughout the world for centuries, to the extent that many people are unaware of the existence of such groups. The author suggests that these alleged secret conspiracies may have originated as far back as the time of Nimrod, whom he describes as an evil man who began a work of rebellion in Mesopotamia.
Although religious teachers commonly know about the Tower of Babel, the author argues that relatively few understand that the principles underlying that ancient project continue to operate today in the political and religious spheres.
This book, entitled The Illuminati and Freemasons in the Beast of Number 666, claims to reveal astonishing contemporary information. Apart from the Bible, the author maintains that few books can provide information of comparable importance for the salvation of one's life.
The author's stated purpose is not to promote a particular religion or establish a church to gain followers, as he claims many others do. Rather, his purpose is to present what he believes to be the truth revealed by God, without fear or partiality.
Therefore, if you encounter information that conflicts with your beliefs, the author advises you to remain calm rather than become angry, because “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).
Instead, he encourages readers to approach God humbly and ask Him to confirm whether the information comes from Him, remaining willing to receive whatever answer God provides. God is faithful and, according to the author's appeal, will answer those who sincerely seek to follow His truth.
The author's stated objective is to lead readers to God Himself, rather than to the author.
Before examining these matters in detail, let us consider the sources of the information presented in this book.
I express my sincere gratitude for the various books consulted, including those whose views we may not accept, because they enable us to understand the ideas of other writers.
Many books were used in preparing this manuscript. Among them are:
The Illuminati 666 by Roy Allan Anderson.
The Broken Cross by Father Peirs Compton of the Catholic Church.
The Two Babylonians by Alexander Hislop.
Freemasonry Encyclopedia.
Morals and Dogma by Dr. Albert Pike.
To Be God of One World by Robert Sessler.
The Keys of This Blood by Father Malachi Martin of the Catholic Church.
The Secrets of the Illuminati by Mac Marquis, described in the manuscript as a former Freemason who left the organization.
Wikipedia and various other websites.
Sources described by the author as reliable materials obtained from the Illuminati and Freemasons themselves.
Other books are cited throughout the manuscript, and their references are provided alongside the quotations in which they appear.
Nevertheless, the book on which we have relied most heavily is the Book of Books—the Bible. The author describes it as a book unlike all others in the world, written by more than thirty people who lived in different places and periods separated by thousands of years. Many of these writers never met or knew one another, yet the author maintains that they did not contradict one another in even a single word, because God Himself was its ultimate Author.
Although quotations from other books have been used, the author maintains that the Word of God contained in the Bible remains the final standard of light and truth. It has therefore also been used to evaluate the writings of other books.
For more than twelve years, since beginning my investigation into secret societies, I have never taught about these organizations without examining their teachings in the light of the Bible. I have continually evaluated the plans and activities attributed to the Illuminati against biblical prophecy to determine whether they correspond with the prophecies God revealed in Scripture.
We read in Revelation 17:17, where the apostle John declares:
“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”
The author interprets this passage to mean that God has placed His purpose in the hearts of the Illuminati, causing them to formulate plans that will ultimately transfer their kingdom to the beast associated with the number 666, so that God's Word—His prophetic declarations—may be fulfilled.
From this perspective, the author argues that the plans attributed to the Illuminati correspond with biblical prophecy.
This book claims to provide detailed information about how the Illuminati have allegedly developed plans to transfer their authority and power to the beast associated with the number 666, enabling it to rule the world as revealed in biblical prophecy.
According to the manuscript, these plans include a secret timetable for three major world wars. The author asserts that two world wars have already taken place and predicts that a third world war will occur in the near future.
The Old and New Testaments provide, according to the author's approach, the interpretive framework for explaining the alleged secrets of the Illuminati and Freemasonry. The purpose of this book is to help people understand what the author believes to be the truth and thereby become free from Satan's bondage.
In his letters to the churches, the apostle Paul explains what he calls the mystery of God. In the manuscript, this mystery is described as “God manifest in the flesh” and “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:26–27).
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul also discusses the mystery of iniquity, which the author associates with the “man of sin”—interpreted here as the beast connected with the number 666, who exalts himself as God and demands to be worshipped as God (2 Thessalonians 2:7–4, as referenced in the manuscript).
The apostle teaches that this mystery was already at work in his own time but would become more powerful in the last days through signs and wonders.
Thus, the author distinguishes between two mysteries: the mystery of God and the mystery of iniquity.
According to this interpretation, the mystery of iniquity originates in Satan's rebellion and continues its operations in great secrecy, concealing what is happening in politics, economics, education, and religion. The author alleges that many people consequently become enslaved to Freemasonry without realizing that they are enslaved.
Why have I connected the beast associated with the number 666, the Illuminati, Freemasonry, worship, and religious faith?
The author argues that these subjects concern religion, worship, and government. In support of this assertion, he quotes a statement attributed to Albert Pike, described in the manuscript as a thirty-third-degree Freemason:
“Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion, and its teachings are instruction in religion.”
—Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma, p. 213.
The meaning given in the manuscript is that every Masonic lodge is a temple of religion and that its teachings constitute religious instruction.
Albert Pike is further quoted as saying:
“Freemasonry is a search for Light. That search leads us directly back, as you see, to the Kabalah.”
—Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma, p. 741.
The author interprets this quotation to mean that Freemasonry seeks light and that this search leads toward the Kabbalah.
However, the author argues that if Freemasons are seeking light that is not the true light, then those seeking salvation must pursue the true Light.
Jesus declared:
“Ye are the light of the world.”
—Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Consequently, this book proposes to investigate matters of religious belief, worship, and government, which the author considers more important than anything else in human life, because they determine each person's ultimate destiny: eternal life or eternal destruction.
One blessing of studying the Word of God is that when certain signs appear, they need not alarm or terrify us. Instead, these signs should encourage us to continue doing what God has commanded and to share the blessings of truth with as many people as have ears to hear.
Sharing these blessings is not intended to frighten people but to prepare them for what may come upon the world as history unfolds. Such instruction should continually encourage listeners and readers to walk more closely with God so that they may be ready to do whatever He calls them to do in these last days.
The Bible declares:
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
—Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV)
The study of prophecy can be an important and beneficial means of awakening the human spirit to seek God. As a person learns God's truth for the present day, that person may increasingly recognize what he or she believes to be the fulfilment of prophecy.
While many people fail to recognize the dangers confronting them, the student of God's Word receives the blessing of understanding biblical warnings and can prepare both personally and as a member of a household for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
This is why, according to the author's interpretation, Jesus will not come as a thief to those who believe and remain spiritually watchful: they can study prophecy and prepare themselves for His coming.
Paul therefore declares:
“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:4 (KJV)
The author observes that preachers frequently teach the two verses that follow Paul's statement and then stop there. He suggests that if they also preached the verse quoted above, their congregations would ask how some Christians could be found unprepared or in darkness when Jesus returns.
According to the author, some preachers avoid addressing such questions because they do not study prophecy sufficiently and therefore feel unable to help their listeners understand it.
Many prophetic events, the author argues, have already been fulfilled in our time, and their significance is apparent to those who observe the condition of the world.
One particularly important prophecy for the last days concerns the beast associated with the number six hundred and sixty-six.
Some prophetic events do not appear to people to be prophecies at all. Many regard them as ordinary occurrences in nature or human society.
Although Christians believe that Jesus promised to return and gather His people to Himself, some people mock that promise. The apostle Peter described such attitudes:
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
—2 Peter 3:3–4 (KJV)
The manuscript also cites Paul's warning:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
—2 Timothy 4:3–4 (KJV)
The author considers these attitudes to be a fulfilment of prophecy.
For example, when someone is told that another person will return shortly, that person may ask mockingly, “Have you become Jesus?” The implication is that Jesus promised to return but has not yet returned and will not return soon.
The author considers it unfortunate that many who express such mockery are also people who claim to believe in the supreme authority of the Bible. They profess belief in the Second Coming of Jesus but believe that it will not occur until hundreds of years into the future.
The author then directs attention to God's prophecy concerning a mysterious beast identified by a human number.
Just as God uses human beings as His agents to bring light into the world, Satan, according to the author's theological argument, uses human beings as agents to spread Satan's religion.
God calls His agents pastors, evangelists, apostles, prophets, and individual believers who participate in His work.
The author alleges that Satan's agents include people associated with the Illuminati and Freemasonry who disguise themselves by adopting titles such as pastors, evangelists, apostles, and prophets, while concealing what the author regards as their true identity as ravenous wolves.
How, then, can we recognize Freemasons and members of the Illuminati, even when they identify themselves by titles associated with God's servants?
The author promises that this book will provide answers to many of these questions.
I would also like to apologize in advance for leaving some English expressions untranslated in the original-language edition. This was done because the wording of certain expressions was considered important and because of the need to keep the book from becoming excessively long. I believe that readers who do not know English will be able to find someone to help them understand these important expressions.
After studying the contents of this book, the author says that readers will be able to understand the following:
The objectives and events associated with the New World Order.
The consequences of this alleged plan for every person in the world.
How this plan allegedly affects every individual, every family, and every religion even before its final fulfilment.
Having gained this knowledge and understanding, readers will be better equipped to:
Protect themselves against this alleged plan and protect their children, families, and loved ones.
Live the Christian life victoriously amid what the author describes as a world of profound spiritual darkness, because the truth will set them free.
In Chapter One, we shall begin examining how Satan allegedly operates in great secrecy under the identity represented by the number 666.
In the subsequent chapters, we shall examine the foundations of the great rebellion and its consequences. We shall also consider selected social, economic, cultural, and religious developments that the author associates with the Illuminati.
Finally, the book presents what it describes as a heavenly call to return to the apostolic church as it existed before apostasy. The author expresses the hope that, when Jesus returns soon, those who respond to this call will be ready to meet Him in the clouds.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE BEAST ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER 666?
The United Nations and the Number 666
In the image referred to above, the author invites readers to consider the alleged significance of the number 666 and why, according to his claim, the number is used by senior leaders of the United Nations.
The author describes an image showing six people presiding over a United Nations meeting, with a banner behind them bearing the words “United Nations 666.” He interprets this image as indicating that the United Nations is preparing the way for the rule of the beast associated with the number 666.
What is the origin of the number 666? Where does it come from?
Many people read the Bible or hear others mention the number 666, yet very few, according to the author, understand its alleged origin or why the Book of Revelation discusses this number in opposition to God.
What does the number 666 mean? Many people believe that it is Satan's number. Is this true? Let us briefly examine the history of this number and the origin attributed to it in this manuscript.
The author traces the number 666 to the religious practices of the people of Babylon during the periods associated with the prophets Abraham and Daniel.
Babylon was a city where Nimrod constructed a tower after the Flood, allegedly with two principal objectives.
The first objective was to protect the people of Babylon from another flood by constructing a tower intended to reach heaven, where the gods of the sky were believed to dwell.
The second objective was to gather all people in one place under one government and one religion, contrary to God's purpose that the earth should be populated.
God intervened and brought the construction of the Tower of Babel to a halt. Nevertheless, the author claims that Nimrod succeeded in reaching heaven intellectually, as it were, and identifying thirty-six gods represented by planets and stars.
According to the author, these two objectives have continued to operate up to the present day. He predicts that the entire world will eventually witness the emergence of one government and one religion worshipping the sun god, whom he describes as the father god of the Babylonians.
The people of Babylon worshipped deities associated with their observations of the stars—in other words, astrology. Their gods included the sun, the moon, the visible planets, and the stars they identified through astronomical observation.
The author describes the Babylonians as the originators of astrology, noting that astrologers continue to make predictions using the stars today. He also states that the Babylonians used mathematics in their daily activities, including their religious ceremonies.
According to the manuscript, there were thirty-six gods, and the sun god was considered the chief deity because he was regarded as the father of all the gods.
The pagan Babylonians worshipped these deities for various reasons, including divination, seeking protection, and predicting the future. The author explains that they feared their gods because they believed the gods were evil.
The Babylonians believed that numbers possessed power associated with the gods they worshipped. Each of the thirty-six gods was assigned a number that represented the deity and its position. The author refers readers to Murl Vance's Trail of the Serpent, pages 26, 27, and 72.
The number assigned to each god supposedly represented that god's power. Consequently, the author argues that a deity assigned an earlier number was considered more powerful than one assigned a later number.
Why were there thirty-six gods? Where did the number thirty-six originate?
The author explains that the Babylonians arrived at the number thirty-six because each god was supposedly assigned a ten-degree portion of a yearly cycle. Since the year was understood to contain 360 days, dividing 360 by ten produced thirty-six.
The manuscript also claims that astrologers, or observers of planets and stars, identified thirty-six celestial bodies and subsequently worshipped them as gods.
According to the author, the Babylonians used these thirty-six gods to derive the number 666, which he interprets as representing the authority, power, and supremacy of all thirty-six deities.
The Babylonians allegedly numbered their gods from one to thirty-six and then added the numbers together. The first god received the number one, the second received the number two, and the sequence continued accordingly.
In this account, the god numbered one was the sun god, while the god numbered two was the moon god. The gods numbered three through thirty-six were regarded as children of the sun god and were associated with planets and stars identified by Babylonian astrologers.
The numbers from one through thirty-six were then added together to obtain 666:
[
1+2+3+\cdots+36=666
]
The author therefore presents this calculation as the origin of the number 666.
The significance of the number thirty-six for the Babylonians is further connected in the manuscript to the twelve signs of the zodiac, corresponding to the twelve months of the year. The author states that the thirty-six deities were divided into three groups associated with the twelve zodiac signs:
[
12\times3=36
]
The Babylonians supposedly believed that when a person died, that person went to his or her god.
The thirty-six gods were collectively called Decans, according to the account presented here, because each was assigned ten degrees of the zodiacal cycle, corresponding to ten days within a 360-day year.
Each person was assigned to a group among the twelve zodiac signs according to the month of birth. The author identifies this system as the beginning of predicting an individual's life through the stars, using three groups of twelve months associated with the thirty-six gods.
The seven planets, or the seven-headed dragon as described in the manuscript, allegedly ruled over all thirty-six deities known as Decans. The sun god was considered their supreme ruler.
The sum of the numbers one through thirty-six, which equals 666, was called The Grand Number of the Sun, meaning the grand total associated with the sun.
Each god was represented by a symbol. During worship, every adherent was allegedly required to wear an amulet representing his or her particular god among the thirty-six deities.
Thus, the author states that there were thirty-six types of amulets, corresponding to the thirty-six gods. These amulets were constructed according to a mathematical arrangement known as the 6 × 6 Matrix.
According to the manuscript, anyone who refused to wear the appropriate amulet was believed to face calamities such as sickness, famine, suffering, and eventually death.
The author then argues that Babylonian pagans were required to wear an amulet bearing the number and symbol of their particular god.
He alleges that Christians have continued this practice by wearing crosses around their necks, which he associates with the symbol of the goddess Ishtar.
The author refers to an image of a woman wearing a lion's headpiece, which he interprets as representing Babylonian rule symbolized by the lion (Daniel 7:4). He also describes an amulet around her neck bearing a number and a circular symbol containing an eye on her chest, which he interprets as representing the sun god who sees everywhere.
Amulets and the Symbols of Particular Gods
According to the manuscript, these amulets were constructed using the mathematical system known as the 6 × 6 Matrix. The author refers readers to a table of Illuminati calculations.
The manuscript repeats the claim that anyone who refused to wear the amulet and symbol of his or her god was believed to face sickness, famine, suffering, and death.
How did a person determine which god was assigned to him or her?
The author claims that all people were divided into three groups according to the twelve zodiac signs and the month in which each person was born.
The first group consisted of people born during the first four months of the year. The second consisted of those born during months five through eight. The third consisted of those born during months nine through twelve.
Each group contained four months. The author then uses the following calculation:
[
1+2+3=6
]
He states that the three groups were combined to produce 666, which he interprets as a number associated with all people according to their birth within the twelve months of the year.
The author encourages readers to examine the symbols used in astrological predictions, claiming that they represent animals such as cattle, scorpions, fish, and others. He attributes this system to Babylonian gods represented through symbols and numbers.
The seven planets, or the seven-headed dragon, are again described as ruling over the thirty-six Decans, with the sun god as their supreme ruler.
For example, the author states that someone wearing an amulet bearing the number two would be associated with the moon god and would therefore wear the moon god's symbol around the neck alongside the amulet.
Someone wearing amulet number one would supposedly wear a circular symbol representing the sun god, while someone wearing amulet number six would wear a cross symbol representing the goddess Ishtar.
Using mathematics, the Babylonians allegedly constructed a table containing the numbers one through thirty-six. The author claims that the numbers in each row added up to 111 and that, because the table contained six rows, the total was obtained by multiplying 111 by six:
[
111\times6=666
]
According to the manuscript, the number inscribed on an amulet gave its wearer power derived from the god associated with that number.
The power of a god could supposedly be increased by adding that god's number to the other numbers in its row to obtain 111. The author then claims that multiplying 111 by six further increased this power.
The number 666 is consequently presented as a symbol of the authority of all the gods and, therefore, as possessing power associated with all of them.
Below is the table that the manuscript identifies as containing the numbers of the thirty-six Babylonian gods.
The author reminds readers that the Babylonians were idol worshippers who did not worship the true God. He further claims that many forms of worship practiced today originate in Babylonian idolatry.
Table: The Thirty-Six Babylonian Gods
| 6 | 32 | 3 | 34 | 35 | 1 |
| 7 | 11 | 27 | 28 | 8 | 30 |
| 19 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 23 | 24 |
| 18 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 13 |
| 25 | 29 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 12 |
| 36 | 5 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 31 |
The author emphasizes that, in his proposed explanation, the number 666 cannot stand alone without counting the gods, because the total of 666 is obtained by adding their assigned numbers.
Therefore, he argues that explaining the number 666 requires performing a calculation whose result is 666.
He acknowledges that other methods could also be used to arrive at the total of 666, but insists that the important consideration is understanding the origin he attributes to the number: the addition of the numbers assigned to the Babylonian gods.
For this reason, the author claims that the God of heaven associates the number 666 with Babylon because, in his interpretation, its origin is Babylonian.
According to the account presented, the Babylonian god whose number completed the calculation and brought the total to 666 would have been considered more powerful than the sun god, who was regarded as the father of all the gods.
When the Bible speaks of the beast having the number 666, the author interprets this as referring to a number obtained by counting and adding the gods rather than to a number that stands independently.
He further argues that, without gods to count, it would not have been possible to obtain the total of 666. In his explanation, the counting begins with the first god and proceeds through the subsequent gods. The god whose number completes the calculation to 666 is then understood to possess the power associated with all the gods.
The Seven Planets and the Seven Babylonian Gods
The Babylonians are also said to have had seven principal gods associated with seven planets. According to the manuscript, these deities were prominent and were connected with the names assigned to the days of the week.
Table: The Seven Planets and the Seven Babylonian Gods
| Planet | Babylonian deity and number | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Shamash — Number 1 | Sunday |
| Moon | Sin — Number 2 | Monday |
| Mars | Nergal — Number 3 | Tuesday |
| Mercury | Nabu — Number 4 | Wednesday |
| Jupiter | Marduk — Number 5 | Thursday |
| Venus | Ishtar — Number 6 | Friday |
| Saturn | Ninib — Number 7 | Saturday |
The author argues that these Babylonian gods continued to be worshipped even during the Christian era.
He refers to the occasion when the apostles Paul and Barnabas visited Lystra and performed a miracle by healing a man who had been lame.
The people of that city worshipped pagan gods. After witnessing the miracle, they raised their voices in the Lycaonian language and declared that the gods had come down to them in human form. They called Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes because Paul was the principal speaker.
—Acts 14:12.
The author states that, in the King James Bible, Zeus corresponds to Jupiter and Hermes corresponds to Mercury.
He further associates the name Mercury with communication and argues that the people called Paul Hermes because he was the speaker.
From this, the author concludes that the worship of Babylonian gods continues to influence many religions today, often without worshippers realizing what they are worshipping.
He compares this situation with Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman concerning worship that people do not fully understand (John 4:19–24).
Having considered this claim, the author urges readers to respond to God's call:
“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…”
And:
“Come out of her, my people.”
—Revelation 18:4 (KJV; wording presented in the manuscript)
The author also invites readers to consider the Babylonian belief in a seven-headed dragon representing seven gods, which he compares with Revelation 13 and Revelation 17.
The Babylonians allegedly continued their numerical calculations by adding the numbers one through three:
[
1+2+3=6
]
The author interprets this as representing the power of the father god (the sun), the mother god (the moon), and the son god (the planet Mars).
They then supposedly added the numbers one through eleven:
[
1+2+3+\cdots+11=66
]
The author interprets 66 as representing the power of eleven gods numbered one through eleven.
Finally, he states that adding the numbers one through thirty-six produced 666, which he interprets as the authority and power of all the gods.
Thus, according to this explanation, the numbers three, eleven, and thirty-six were especially important.
The Bible records that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made a golden image whose height was sixty cubits and whose breadth was six cubits (Daniel 3:1).
The author interprets these measurements through the numerical system he has described. He argues that Nebuchadnezzar used the numbers associated with Babylonian gods, taking the first three gods and adding their numbers to obtain six for the image's width.
He then multiplies six by ten, the number of degrees supposedly assigned to each god in the zodiacal cycle, to obtain sixty for the image's height:
[
6\times10=60
]
In summary, the author presents the origin of 666 as the sum of the numbers one through thirty-six, which he associates with thirty-six Babylonian gods.
The next task, according to the author, is to apply this proposed Babylonian numerical system to identify the beast represented by the number 666 in the present age. He predicts that the entire world will eventually worship this beast instead of worshipping God.
To investigate this claim, the author proposes to study the Books of Revelation and Daniel and examine the characteristics by which the beast might be identified.
The Beast, the Book of Life, and the Worship of the Lamb
We read:
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear.”
“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
—Revelation 13:8–9, 18 (KJV; passages cited in the original manuscript)
The author emphasizes that the number of the beast is to be counted, beginning with one, two, three, and continuing through the relevant sequence.
He also emphasizes that the beast will be worshipped. According to the passage, those who worship the beast are identified as those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life. The author interprets this to mean people who will not enter heaven because they have not accepted the sacrifice of the Lamb.
Many people today, the author observes, are satisfied to have their names written in their church membership registers rather than making the effort to ensure that their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Therefore, the author considers it essential for every person who desires to have his or her name written in the Lamb's Book of Life to recognize the condition he associates with that privilege: refusing to worship the beast represented by the number 666.
We must ask ourselves an important question: How can I refuse to worship this beast if I do not know what it looks like, how it operates, or even where it is found?
The author's answer is that we must identify the beast and understand its activities. Only then, he argues, will we be able to avoid worshipping it and thereby have our names written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
The manuscript further quotes the following warning:
“If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”
—Revelation 14:9–10 (KJV)
Is it important for us to study so that we may identify the beast associated with the number 666?
The author argues that those who desire to have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life will recognize the importance of such study.
Satan's Use of the Number Six
The author maintains that Satan has used the number six to represent his dominion.
He argues that, among the creatures created by God on earth, Adam was the one who transgressed God's law and that Adam was created on the sixth day. The author consequently connects the sixth day of creation with Satan's alleged acquisition of dominion over the world through humanity (Genesis 1:26–31, as cited in the manuscript).
Since being expelled from heaven, Satan is described as having used human beings as agents to corrupt God's work.
During the period of Babylonian rule, the author argues, Satan used the king of Babylon as his agent and instructed him to construct an image whose dimensions incorporated the number six.
The Bible records:
“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”
—Daniel 3:1 (KJV)
After constructing the image, the king commanded everyone to bow down and worship it. Anyone who refused was to be put to death.
Nevertheless, three young men chose death rather than bowing before the image. The author interprets their refusal as evidence that their names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
He predicts that the same principle will apply in the future: those whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will worship the beast associated with the number 666.
The author further claims that many people already worship this beast, some knowingly and others unknowingly. According to his interpretation, whether a person recognizes this worship or not, those who worship the beast are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
The author therefore presents Satan's purpose as the destruction of the world through the beast associated with the number 666.
He argues that identifying the beast is essential because, without such knowledge, people risk destruction through Satan's deception.
He cites God's warning:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
—Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
The author maintains that the knowledge required here is not just general knowledge but specifically the understanding needed to count and identify the number of the beast.
He again refers to Revelation 13:18:
“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast…”
The author wants readers to understand that studying the beast also involves examining the difference between true worship and false worship, because the beast itself is described as receiving worship.
He therefore proposes to allow the Bible to provide further information about the beast.
The next step is to examine the characteristics associated with it and then determine whether the proposed identification is consistent with the biblical description.
The Biblical Description of the Beast
The manuscript quotes Revelation 13:1–8:
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
—Revelation 13:1–8 (KJV)
A. These Descriptions Contain Symbols and Mysteries. How Can We Understand Them?
The author argues that we must allow the Bible itself to interpret the symbols and mysteries it presents.
He reasons that God, for our benefit, has revealed the meanings of these symbols within Scripture. What we need, therefore, is careful study so that we may discover the interpretations provided in the Bible itself.
This approach, according to the author, prevents human speculation and guesswork.
The manuscript cites 2 Peter 1:20 to support the principle that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.
The author further asserts that the Bible interprets itself. He states that the Book of Revelation contains 404 verses, of which 278 are found word for word in other biblical books, where their meaning is supposedly explained more clearly.
Readers are therefore encouraged to follow the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:10–11, who received the Word with readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to determine whether the things they were taught were true.
Every teaching should be tested against Scripture.
The author also cites Jesus' words:
“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
—John 7:17 (KJV)
According to this appeal, those who study the Bible prayerfully, sincerely desire to understand the truth, and are willing to obey it will come to understand the Scriptures.
B. Which Symbols and Mysteries Must We Interpret?
The author acknowledges that Revelation contains many symbols associated with the beast. Nevertheless, he proposes to concentrate on those he considers especially important for identifying the beast, the image of the beast, and the mark of the beast.
These symbols are:
The beast.
The dragon.
The sea.
The forty-two months.
Blasphemy.
1. The Beast
In biblical prophecy, the author explains, a beast symbolizes a king or a kingdom.
He cites Daniel 7:17 and 7:23, which explain that the four great beasts represent four kings and that the fourth beast represents a fourth kingdom.
The author argues that the beast in Revelation 13 is distinctive because it represents not merely a political power but also a religious power, since people worship it (Revelation 13:4).
2. The Dragon
In biblical prophecy, the dragon is identified as another symbol for Satan, whom the author describes as the father of lies and disorder.
The manuscript cites Revelation 12:9, which identifies the great dragon as the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world.
The author reasons that when Satan gives the beast his power, throne, and great authority, the beast should be expected to display characteristics associated with Satan, particularly deception.
Accordingly, the author expects deception to be a prominent characteristic of the beast (Revelation 12:9; 13:2).
3. The Sea
In biblical prophecy, the author interprets the sea as a symbol of large populations consisting of different peoples and nations.
He cites Revelation 17:15:
“The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”
The author therefore argues that the beast rising from the sea represents a kingdom emerging from a part of the world inhabited by many different peoples and nations.
4. The Forty-Two Months
The manuscript explains that forty-two months equal three and a half years:
[
42\div12=3.5
]
It further states that biblical prophecy uses a Jewish calendar in which each year contains 360 days, with thirty days assigned to each month.
According to this calculation, three and a half years, or forty-two months, equal 1,260 days.
The author explains that prophetic days are sometimes interpreted as representing years. He cites the following passages:
“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years…”
—Numbers 14:34 (KJV)
“I have appointed thee each day for a year.”
—Ezekiel 4:6 (KJV)
Accordingly, the author interprets the forty-two prophetic months as representing 1,260 years.
During this period, the beast is said to have received authority to speak great and blasphemous words and to wage war against the saints and overcome them. It is also described as receiving authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation (Revelation 13:5, 7).
The author therefore interprets this period as one in which the beast blasphemes against God, persecutes Christians, and exercises extensive authority.
5. Blasphemy
The author explains that the Bible describes blasphemy in two principal ways.
The first is when a person claims to be God or to occupy a position belonging to God.
The manuscript quotes the response of Jesus' opponents:
“For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
—John 10:33 (KJV)
The author argues that the beast, as a power possessing both political and religious authority, blasphemes by placing itself in God's position on earth.
He also explains that Jesus' opponents did not recognize Him as the Messiah, the Son of God, and equal with God. The author maintains that Jesus is God and is therefore different from ordinary human beings who are not equal with God. On this basis, he argues that Jesus was not guilty of blasphemy.
The second form of blasphemy described in the manuscript is the claim to possess the authority to forgive people's sins.
It cites the words spoken by the scribes concerning Jesus:
“Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?”
—Mark 2:7 (KJV)
The author argues that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins because He is God.
By contrast, the beast, which the author interprets as a power possessing both political and religious authority, is accused of blasphemy because it allegedly takes God's place on earth and claims the authority to forgive sins.
The author therefore considers it unsurprising that the beast is described as having “names of blasphemy” and speaking blasphemies against God and His name (Revelation 13:1, 6).
The underlying argument is that the beast claims powers and rights that belong exclusively to God.
Nine Identifying Characteristics of the Beast
Having presented his proposed biblical interpretations of the symbols, the author introduces nine characteristics that he believes can help identify the beast.
He acknowledges that these are not the only identifying characteristics found in Scripture and expresses the hope that readers will continue studying the Bible to discover additional evidence.
The nine characteristics are as follows:
The beast exercises both political and religious authority. People worship the beast (Revelation 13:4).
The beast emerges from a region containing many different peoples and nations. John sees the beast rising from the sea (Revelation 13:1).
The beast receives its power and authority from Satan. The dragon gives the beast his power, throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:2).
The beast exercises oppressive authority for 1,260 years. The author interprets the forty-two months as representing this period (Revelation 13:5).
The beast persecutes the saints during the 1,260-year period and overcomes them. The author cites Revelation 13:7.
The beast recovers from a deadly wound. One of its heads appears to have been wounded to death, but its deadly wound is healed (Revelation 13:3).
The beast is associated with the human number 666, which the author interprets as identifying its office. The relevant passage commands the reader to calculate the number of the beast (Revelation 13:18).
The beast commits blasphemy by claiming the authority to forgive sins and by taking God's place on earth.
The beast commits other acts of blasphemy against God. It is given a mouth speaking great and blasphemous things (Revelation 13:5).
The author concludes that these characteristics describe the mysterious beast associated with the number 666.
He then argues that the beast can be identified as a nation or power exercising both political and religious authority.
The manuscript observes that various countries are represented by animals. It gives the following examples: Tanzania is represented by the giraffe, the United States by the eagle, Russia by the bear, China by the dragon, and Kenya by the rooster.
Why Are Nations Represented by Animals?
The author asks what it means for nations to be represented by animals.
He cites Daniel's vision:
“I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion…”
The passage continues by describing a bear, a leopard, and a fourth terrifying beast.
—Daniel 7:2–7 (KJV; passage summarized in the manuscript)
The author also cites Revelation 13:2, which describes the beast as resembling a leopard, with feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion.
He explains that the two passages are important because Daniel describes four distinct beasts, whereas Revelation presents one beast bearing characteristics of several animals described in Daniel.
The author interprets the beast in Revelation as corresponding to Daniel's fourth beast, which he describes as terrifying because it combines characteristics of the three beasts that preceded it.
The author then identifies the four kingdoms represented by the beasts of Daniel 7 as Babylon, Greece, Medo-Persia, and Rome.
