I would like to present what has in our day become a novel approach to determining what this number signifies. How about we forget debit cards, the Pope's address, the numeric equivalents of Greek letters, a new one world government, computer chips under the skin, forehead magnetic scans, Hebrew Numerology, etc., and get our interpretation from,
..the Bible Alone!

What is The Number of the Beast
This brings us to the topic of, what does the number of the beast mean? His number of six hundred threescore and six has long been thought to be the key to the mystery of the beast.

But in truth, it is the other way around. This beast that brings extreme false prophecy and apostasy in the Churches, is the key to understanding it's number. Bearing in mind all the things we've already learned, we have three very pertinent clues as to what the number of the beast represents. We can conclude from what we have gleaned from the scripture thus far, that those who are marked of the beast are:

1. The unsaved
2. Those receiving his Name characteristic
3. Those who come under rule of their king Satan
4. Those who are the Buyers and Sellers
5. Those with the same mind or way of thinking as the beast They are the unsaved who have the name characteristic of their father, the devil, who rules over them. Their thinking is as a beast, namely, carnal, fleshly, and they are the buyers and sellers (more on this later).

Revelation 13 :18
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

God tells us that it is wisdom and understanding rather than mathematical skills that is required to discover what the number of the beast signifies. And comparing scripture with scripture, we know that wisdom and understanding (Biblically speaking) is in the fear of the Lord to take His divine word very seriously and studiously.

The unfaithful have no real fear of God or reverence for His word, and thus their allegiance and faithfulness to it becomes lukewarm. In looking superficially at the word, they lack the real spiritual insight and guidance of the Spirit instructing in the word.

Biblical wisdom and understanding is given by the Spirit of God alone, and is evidenced by forsaking evil, repentance and humbly ''receiving'' God's correction.
Job 28 :28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

He who has wisdom and understanding that will count the number of the beast is he that has a fear of the Lord that he will want to depart from evil. By contrast, the wicked will not depart from evil because they have no fear of the Lord.

They will not depart from evil because they don't have this spiritual understanding that the true saints of God have. i.e., they won't have this wisdom and understanding that would allow them to count the number of the beast as the number signification of carnal man.

Psalms 111 :10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom : a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 2 :6
For the LORD giveth wisdom : out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding .
Out of God's mouth (God's word) comes understanding, and fear of God again is seen as the starting point of being wise.

Do we get the impression that wisdom and understanding is in reverential fear and faithfully following what proceeds out of the mouth of the lord? Only those indwelled by the Holy Spirit of God have this earnest desire to be lawful and faithfully follow what the scriptures actually teach.

The rest will depart from the faith at the first sign of trouble or trial. They are ripe to be deceived by carnal lusts and vain imaginations of man's heart. How can we avoid such a fall? God declares that He who hath wisdom and understanding (true Believers) should Count the number of the beast.

In other words, exegete, calculate, evaluate, so that you know the character of the beast. No, it's not a mathematical equation, because God gives us but one number. How do you count one number? Well, the answer to this mystery is hidden in plain sight.

God tells us exactly what the number is. He states very succinctly, ..it is the Number of MAN!
Take note that your translation may read, the number of 'A' Man, but rest assured the a is not really (never was, never will be) in any m cripts.

It is not in any of the m cripts or copies of the original. We should understand that there are no indefinite articles in the Greek, as there are in English. The word is anarthrous or [anth'-ro-pos], and is a genitive case, which specifically defines. So be forewarned that in the Greek, it is the exact same declarative phrase as found in Romans:
Romans 2 :9
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of Man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Or again, as we see demonstrated in Corinthians:
1 st Corinthians 2 :9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart Of Man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
There is no article 'a' there, just as there is none in Revelation chapter 13. Or again, as seen in such contexts as Revelation chapter one:
Revelation 1 :13
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, one like unto the Son Of Man ...

This is the exact same Greek application as in Revelation chapter 13 . There is no article 'a' there, nor in Revelation chapter 13 , and there shouldn't be. The 'a' in Revelation chapter 13 was put there erroneously in some translations (presumably) because they thought that it might make it better understood. In reality of course, it has had the opposite effect.