666 and Solomon

It is commonly believed that the mark of the beast would be 666 and there is much disputeover just what this is. (Revelation 13:18)The number 6 is something worth looking into but here we will look at a twist on itssignificance.For me it is as we are told it is a mark; it is an identifier.On the sixth day both man and beast were created. If we consider that often times the warwithin us is depicted as the war between our man traits and our animal or beast traits it is nofar stretch to look at the four empires that are depicted once as an image of a man (Dan2)andonce as beasts (Dan 7)in another vision of Daniel. Also of importance is to remember thatNebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) was turned into a beast at the culmination of his sin state(Dan 4:28-33). Also as a side note, Nebuchadnezzar's graven image is sixty cubits tall and sixcubits across (Daniel 3:1). Now notice that the number 666 is mentioned only twice elsewhere in reference to the sameevent in Solomon's life in 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13. Solomon collected 666 talents of gold in revenue for the year. The text does not say much else.Let’s compare the facts of the text:1) the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon and is impressed (1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12);2) 666 talents, and a description of the rest of his wealth and glory (1 Kings 10:14-22; 2Chronicles 9:13-21); 3) mention of greatness and monies he collected (1 Kings 10:23-25; 2Chronicles 9:22-24); 4) Solomon collects horses and chariots (1 Kings 10:26-29; 2 Chronicles9:25-28) this is a sin according to Deut 17:16-17 kings are not to do this.5) Second Chronicles 9 ends with Solomon's death and the next chapter shows the kingdomripped apart.6) In 1 King's, however, the chapter ends with Solomon's sins regarding horses and chariots. Thenext chapter shows him collecting foreign wives (Deut. 17:17) and worshipping false gods.Both accounts show God's Anointed falling into sin. The kingdom eventually split becauseRehoboam refused to lighten the load in taxes and forced labor that his father had put on thepeople. Solomon's latter days were as a beast.So now notice that in telling us of Solomon’s days, both texts mentioned that Solomon broughtin 666 talents of gold in one year. Then he slid into sin.Solomon had been judged by God for his idolatry and was told that the kingdom would betaken. The northern tribes quickly fell into the same idolatry as which Solomon was judged.Jeroboam made two golden calves and set one in Beth-El, a city of Ephraim, and the other inDan, the principle city of the tribe of Dan. Jeroboam had reason to create his own system of worship.All the men of Israel were required to appear in Jerusalem for the feasts each year. Becausethis would cause the reunification of the northern and southern kingdoms, (Jerusalem was inthe southern kingdom of Judah) Jeroboam stopped the practice and filled the void of the true