In the Book of Revelation, the infamous number of the Beast, 666, has been the subject of much debate and speculation throughout Christian history. A widely accepted interpretation, particularly in early Christian writings, identifies this number with the Roman Emperor Nero Caesar. This argument is supported by both historical evidence and scriptural symbolism, showing that Nero’s reign fits the profile of the Beast described in Revelation.
Revelation 13 describes a Beast rising from the sea, with seven heads and ten horns, and a blasphemous mouth. It is often assumed that the sea represents the Roman Empire in the time of John, but more broadly, the sea is traditionally interpreted as symbolizing the world—particularly a chaotic, pagan, and hostile world system. The sea in apocalyptic literature typically symbolizes nations and peoples who are opposed to God’s kingdom. For example, in Revelation 17:15, the angel explains, “The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” This is a key point, for it aligns the Beast from the sea with a global power system, hostile to God’s people, which can be linked to Nero's influence over the Roman world.
In Revelation 13:18, the famous number is given: "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." Traditionally, many interpreters have looked at this number as symbolizing a specific historical figure, and the most compelling historical candidate is Nero Caesar.
The connection between Nero and the number 666 comes from the practice of gematria (numerical values assigned to letters), particularly in Hebrew and Greek. The Latin name "Nero Caesar" can be transliterated into Hebrew as "Neron Kesar" (נרון קסר), omitting the final "n" (the Hebrew letter nun, which has a numerical value of 50). When this omission is made, the sum of the letters equates to 616, which is found in some early manuscripts of Revelation, such as the Oxyrhynchus Papyrus P115, dated to the third century.
However, the standard number in later texts is 666. The early scribal omission of the "n" might have been due to the awareness that 616 did not fit the prophetic 666, and so the scribes might have intentionally altered the text to conform to the traditional 666 number.
Thus, the number 666 serves as a symbol of Nero's oppressive reign and points to his ultimate role as a persecutor of Christians, symbolizing the wickedness of the world system during his rule.
One of the earliest and most influential church fathers, Irenaeus, wrote extensively about the Beast in his work Against Heresies (c. 180 AD). Irenaeus understood the number 666 to symbolize a specific historical figure, and he explicitly identified the Beast as Nero Caesar. In Book V, Chapter 30, Irenaeus states:
"The number 666 is the number of a man, and the name of this man is Nero Caesar... This is the view of all who have an understanding of these things. I do not know how it is that some have been deceived, and have altered the middle number, so that instead of six, they made it one."
Irenaeus draws attention to Nero's role in persecuting Christians, explaining that the number 666 encapsulates the totality of evil and rebellion against God, which Nero personified in his violent opposition to the early Christian church.
Irenaeus adds a further layer to this interpretation by connecting the number to Nero’s sixth emperor status. He writes:
“Nero was the sixth of the emperors, and in his day the number 666 is the one that symbolizes him."
Nero's persecution of Christians, along with the widespread fear that he would return after his death (known as Nero Redivivus), adds another layer of significance to this interpretation. The wounded head of the Beast, mentioned in Revelation 13:3, could be understood to symbolize Nero’s death and apparent resurrection—as it was believed that Nero would return to lead a final persecution of Christians.
In Irenaeus’s thinking, Nero is not merely an historical figure but also the prototype of the Antichrist, the final opposer of Christ. The use of 666 in Revelation thus functions not only as a reference to Nero's reign but also as a symbol of ultimate evil and persecution that would be fulfilled in the end times. Irenaeus’s view is supported by other early Christian writers, including Eusebius, who corroborated the idea of Nero's return in the final days.
While the term Antichrist does not appear explicitly in Revelation, it is used in 1 John and 2 John to describe anyone who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22) or denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh (1 John 4:3). Nero’s blasphemy against God, his deification of himself, and his violent persecution of Christians fit this mold. Therefore, even though the title "Antichrist" is not used in Revelation, Nero's actions and legacy mark him as a precursor to the final Antichrist figure in eschatological thought.
The identification of the Beast with Nero Caesar remains one of the most compelling interpretations of Revelation 13:18. The number 666 refers not only to Nero’s historical reign but also to the cosmic symbolism of the Beast—a world system hostile to God and his people. Through the gematria of his name, the connection to Nero Caesar becomes clear, while early Christian writers, especially Irenaeus, provide strong evidence linking Nero to the Beast and the Antichrist.