Revelation 13:16-18 English Standard Version

16 Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave,[a] to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.[b]

Footnotes

[a] For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, 

[b] Some manuscripts 616

Doulos (Ancient Greek: δοῦλος, Greek: δούλος, Linear B: do-e-ro) is a Greek masculine noun meaning “slave”. Doulos may refer to: A slave (δοῦλος) in ancient Greece; see also Slavery in the New Testament and Slavery in antiquity. MV Doulos, a passenger ship. Doulos SIL, a Unicode font produced by the SIL International.

A literal translation of doulos would contain the translations of all languages used in the original manuscripts into a font in which readers might understand a language that is not their first language. There is a literal translation that might indicate spiritual slavery.

As for 666 vs 616 it is symbolic. The number of a man is symbolic and the symbolic figure which is being presented is the Second Beast according to the doulos translation contained in the references of the ESV.

If that sounds confusing, it might be because we tend to mix the literal with the symbolic.

To clarify that comment we need to look at those that allow a literal translation of 666 to create fear of the number to the point of exclusion of the number in its entirety. That is superstition not unlike elevators in America that do not have a 13th floor button. In Japan it is a 4.

Now as to the literal control implicated by the mark of the first beast, please take this seriously.

The second beast is seen after the forty-two month reign of the first beast. That has been seen to be the first Tribulation of the Great Tribulation period, some three and a half years. Does the prophecy have any spiritual implications, literal or otherwise?

In many translations we find the words “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” where as in Revelation 13:18 it is “the one who has understanding”. There is only One who has understanding and will speak to those who have ears to hear, and He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.

Do not allow fear to cloud judgment or hinder our hearing.

Ephesians 5:25-27 English Standard Version

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

In these passages we are asked to do only one thing, to love our spouse. Yes Paul is speaking to the husbands but in truth the advice goes out to both partners.

Everything else in these passages is done by our Lord. Husband and wife are both betrothed to Christ and members of the bride, His church.

While Christ sacrificed Himself on the Cross we cannot have that same effect on each other’s lives because we do not hold each other’s eternal salvation in our sacrifice to one another. When we place the needs of our spouse in front of our own we do fulfill His command, to love one another.

As for sanctification, we cannot separate our spouses from sin but we can hold our relationship as sacred and therefore keep sin from coming between us. We hold our spouses separate in the sense of protecting the relationship.

As for being cleansed by the washing of the word, studying the Word together we will both grow together, closer in relationship with Christ and with each other.

As for being presented spotless, well our part in that is repentance, confession, forgiveness and obedience of faith. All these things we do for each other and for Christ allowing Him to perform His will in our lives.

Just one more tiny thing before we go.

Give praise and honor and glory to God because without Him what we do would count for nothing.