In my recent post, I answered some questions about what the “Mark of the Beast” is: Reader Questions: Could the Mark of the Beast Be Transmitted Through a COVID-19 Vaccine?
This past Sunday I taught through 1 Kings 9-10 in our Desiring the Kingdom series. You can watch or listen to that message here.
In that study, we read 1 Kings 10:14, which says:
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold…
1 Kings 10:14
This is the only time this number, 666, appears in the Bible other than in Revelation 13:18, where we read about the beast who rises from the earth and it says:
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.
Revelation 13:18
Is this just a coincidence or is there some significance to this number having been used to describe Solomon’s annual income?
Pastor Mike and I discuss that question in this week’s Sermon Extra video:
Theology for the People 
Futurist readings of Revelation also frequently connect the Antichrist/Beast figure with a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and Solomon was the famous builder of the first temple.
Good point! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Sure thing! You know, actually this could also be a tantalizing connection with a futurist reading of Daniel 9:27 that I’ve seen argued by J. Paul Tanner (EEC commentary on Daniel). He reads Dan 9:27 as saying that Antichrist will enforce the Mosaic Covenant in Israel before breaking it, abolishing sacrifices, and exalting himself as God. Jewish expectations of a future Messiah who would rebuild the temple and enforce the Mosaic Covenant would play right into such a scenario. (Again, this is all only appealing if you hold to the futurist perspective.)