17. And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18. Here is wisdom. He that hath an understanding let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty- six.
11. The beast arising from the earth is a false prophet the prophet of Antichrist. [1] Our divine Saviour has a representative on earth in the person of the Pope upon whom He has conferred full powers to teach and govern. Likewise Antichrist will have his representative in the false prophet who will be endowed with the plenitude of satanic powers to deceive the nations.
If Antichrist be of Jewish extraction, as he probably will, the sea from which he arises signifies Judaism. Then the earth whence comes the second beast is a symbol of the Gentile nations in revolt against the Church. The two horns denote a twofold authority spiritual and temporal. As indicated by the resemblance to a lamb, the prophet will probably set himself up in Kome as a sort of antipope during the vacancy of the papal throne mentioned above. [2] But the elect will not allow them selves to be deceived; they will recall the words of our Lord: "Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him." [3]
