Note 37 — Chapter V · DISCOVERY OF NEW MUNDANE CYCLES.

Dr. Hales, in his “Analysis,” vol. ii. p. 1354, gives the following explanation of the “enigmatical number of the name of the second Beast, in its second stage, after the image was made,” from Fuardentius, an early Romish writer, followed by Walmsley. The number 666 is the numeral amount of [Mahomet] the False Prophet’s name, written Μοαμετις or Μαομετις, by the Greek Historians Zonaras and Cedrenus:—

Μ, Α, Ο, Μ, Ε, Τ, Ι, Σ.

40 + 1 + 70 + 40 + 5 + 300 + 10 + 200 = 666.

This is very curious, and indicates the strong likeness between Popery and Islamism, in some grand point, namely, the Spirit of Persecution!! John xiii. 35. The following explanation of the number of the Beast, is taken from Mr. Cuninghame’s “Supplement to the Scientific Chronology of the year 1839,” pp. 28, 29. “In my Dissertation on the Seals, I have adopted the usual Protestant Solution and application of this number, as being found [first by Irenæus] in the name of Latinus, the founder of the Latin Kingdom, written with the epsilon, Λατείνος, according to the ancient Greek orthography; or, if it be written without the ε, according to the later usage, then we owe to Mr. Clarke the important discovery, that is found in the name of the Latin Kingdom,—Ἡ Λατίνη Βασίλεία.

Λ = 30 Ἡ = 8 Β = 2

α = 1 α = 1

τ = 300 Λ = 30 σ = 200

ε = 5 α = 1 ι = 10

ι = 10 τ = 300 λ = 30

ν = 50 ι = 10 ε = 5

ο = 70 ν = 50 ι = 10

ς = 200 η = 8 α = 1

666 = 407 + 259

Now, without in the least departing from this interpretation, I remark, that while it correctly ascertains the PERSON or POWER to whom this number belongs, namely, The Latin Empire, both Secular and Spiritual; yet it does not COUNT or COMPUTE the number itself, or discover to us its ROOT in arithmetic. The expression, Let him that hath understanding COUNT, “Ψηφισατω”, the number of the Beast, cannot mean to find the number itself, for this is given; nor does it merely signify to find out the name which expresses that number; but it also means that the root of the number must be found, and the number computed from it; and further, it signifies, I apprehend, that we must apply the number to the chronology of the Beast himself, in connection with that of the World, in which he exercises his dominion.”