THE

JEWISH MISSIONARY.

No. 2.

"THE NAME OF THE BEAST, AND THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME."

The generality of Protestant writers having applied the thirteenth chapter of the book of Revelation to the church of Rome, they of course endeavour to explain all the parts of the chapter in accordance with that supposition. To the present writer this interpretation appears unsound: he conceives that the key to the understanding of the book of Revelation is to be found in the customs of the modern rabbinical Jews; and, that the events, foretold in this book, have yet to receive their literal accomplishment, at the restoration of Israel to their own land. The first number of the Jewish Missionary

offered a conjecture, with regard to the mark on the forehead and on the hand, imposed upon his worshippers by the beast, the Idol Messiah the present number will proceed to the two other badges of submission to his authority, his name, and the number of his name.

The name of the beast, and the number of his name, have been explained in several different ways: that is, either by adding together the numerical values of the letters which compose the name; or by contrasting it with the number of those who are sealed; (144,000,) or by supposing it to be an intimation of the time, when the beast was to arise.

The first interpretation is thus given by Bishop Newton. "It was a method practised among the ancients to denote names by numbers. Since, then, this art and mystery of numbers was so much used among the ancients, it is less wonderful that the beast also should have his number, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.' Here only the number is specified; and from the number we must, as well as we can, collect the name. No name appears more proper and suitable than that famous one