Today we have a bonus episode for you on the Paul Trip podcast. As you'll notice, this episode number

is 666. So we pose this question from a listener, should we be afraid of, or avoid using

altogether the number 666? Before Paul answers, I want to read from Revelation chapter 13, starting with verse 11 until

verse 18.

Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth.

It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.

It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence and makes the earth

and its inhabitants worship the first beast whose mortal wound was healed.

It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people,

and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell

on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast might even speak and

might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also, it causes all,

both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

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. This calls for wisdom. Let the one who is understanding calculate the number

of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. Pretty scary stuff, Paul, at least in terms of the number of a man and his number is 666.

Pretty scary stuff, Paul, at least in terms of the description of the second beast.

So should we be afraid of this number?

So again, I love this question because it has a lot to do with the nature of the Word of God.

The Bible is not a magic book. It's not a book of magic formulas.

It's not like a number in the Bible has some kind of magical power. That's just not how the

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