666 and 888
'This is wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666'
Revelation 13:18.
Wisdom
Most people know that 666 is the number of the beast. Who or what the beast is, or why he should have a number is less certain ground.
Not many people will have heard of 888. Surprisingly 888 occurs in the Bible verse immediately following the one containing 666, quoted above. However it is hidden in the verse rather than clearly stated, as I will be explaining later.
The Scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit, and without the help of the Holy Spirit we can only understand them at the superficial level of the natural mind. We can understand their moral teaching and enjoy their stories and poetry, but we are in darkness as to their spiritual meaning.
Some things in Scripture are specifically described as mysteries. In various places in the New Testament we find such statements as 'He that has ears let him hear,' or 'Let him that reads understand' or 'Behold, I show you a mystery.'
Revelation 13:18 (quoted above) begins with the words 'This is wisdom.' Such phrases indicate something hidden, which we must search out by prayerful study in dependence on the Holy Spirit. Our topic of 666 and 888 is in that category.
To understand Revelation 13:18, we will need to study the preceding verses. Most people would do this naturally here, as they are dramatic, and obviously part of the same topic. We will also need to study the verses following.
Many people would not do this here, because they are in the next chapter, and at first sight don't appear to have any special connection. It is the verses following in chapter 14 that hold the key to understanding the number of the beast.
We will also need some knowledge of the subject of Bible numeric's, without which it is impossible to understand the significance of 666 or 888.