R.C. Sproul, in his book "The Last Days According to Jesus", quotes Bruce Metzger as saying "Perhaps the change was intentional, seeing that the Greek form Neron Caesar written in Hebrew characters (nrwm qsr) is equivalent to 666, whereas the Latin form Nero Caesar (nrw qsr) is equivalent to 616." (pg 18.
Jim | 09.04.03 - 11:44 am | #

Although not conclusive, the fact that both variant readings (616 and 666) fit Nero's name in two of the dominant languages of the time, would suggest -- not prove, of course -- that that's whom St John of Patmos was referring to in the Apocalypse, rather than to "Nicolae Carpathia" in the near future ...
Tom Round | 09.12.03 - 8:40 am | #