"...and that nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of  the wild beast or the number of its name. Here is where wisdom comes in: Let the one that has intelligence calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is a man's number; and its number is six hundred and sixty-six."  (Rev 13:17,18).

THE "MARK", "NAME", AND
"NUMBER" OF THE "WILD BEAST".

THE "MARK" was the name originally given to an area owned and cultivated by a community of free men (its boundaries marked). Scholars hold that both Roman and Teutonic influences helped in the development of the medieval manorial system. A 'manor' was applied to any area that was a unit for taxation. A very large number of manors belonged to the church, their lords being bishops or abbots. The  extent of their lands increased. The king himself possessed many more of these estates. The  earliest developments of those with the "mark" were the forerunner of the political "image of the wild beast" today.  (Rev 13:14,15).

THE "NAME" is that of merchant gilds, consisting of non-productive members (Burgesses) who enjoyed a monopoly of trade within boroughs. They alone were entitled to "buy or sell". (13:17).  No one was permitted to trade with non-gildsmen. (Ref: 'English Economic History' by J. M. Dent. pg.23). Merchant gilds were analogous to the Chamber of Commerce of the present day. They were closely connected with the borough administration. The  prosperity of the one was the prosperity of the other. This collaborative commercial/political system has been adopted internationally. The "name" was the forerunner of named traders today with the "mark" of the "wild beast" permitted to "buy or sell" in the stock market.

THE "NUMBER" of the "image of the wild beast" is 666 years. They are the number of years since its inception in 1316CE until the realization of its full demoncratic authority over the world in 1982CE.  (See Pages 666T and 666U).

At 9am on Monday 27th October 1986, the 'big bang' of deregulation of the London Stock Exchange began. With the introduction of computers, stocks and shares may now be bought and sold directly, without the intervention of brokers or jobbers (modern-day gilds). This lack of political regulation and control over those with the "mark" who "buy or sell" will lead to the downfall of the "wild beast" and the "false prophet"     misled, caught and abyssed "while still alive" (active). (19:20). Economic reversals will bring an end to the power of sectarian and commercial "Babylon". (18:15-17). All forms of profiteering in the industry of others through stock market trading will cease. But such demonic devices used by satan to wield power through those with the "mark" may be let loose again at the end of the coming millennium. (20:7,8). Advanced knowledge and countermeasures must be made known among people of God, so that when Gog and Magog surround the camp of the holy ones, their attacks will be doomed to failure.  (20:9,10).

(Cont. on Page 30/10/86).

27/10/86.