None could buy or sell without the contamination of pagan worship. [1] In the days of Antichrist the false prophet will adopt similar tactics to accomplish the down fall of the faithful. No one will be able to buy or sell the necessities of life without implicating himself in the worship of Antichrist.
18. For the name of Antichrist, St. John gives a cryptogram that will enable the faithful to recognize him as soon as he makes his appearance in the world. This cryptogram consists of the numerical value of the letters in his name. St. John says that it is the number of a man. This may mean that the cryptogram is to be solved by methods in common use among men. It may also mean that the name is that of a definite individual, thus showing that Antichrist is not to be identified with the Roman Empire nor with the wicked in general as some maintain. [2]
In computing the number of Antichrist authors are divided in their opinions as to whether the Latin, Greek, or Hebrew letters should be used. The prevailing opinion today regards the use of Hebrew as the most probable. In the new Jewish kingdom of Jerusalem the use of Hebrew will certainly be encouraged if not made obligatory. Even today Hebrew is one of the recognized languages of Palestine, and is widely used by the Jews living there.
