What does 'the number of the beast' refer to?
The number of the beast refers to the number of man, which Scripture signifies as six, yielding 666. It represents the beast's power—the political system, the religious system, and the whole bit. It is connected to the mark of the beast during the tribulation, which believers will not face.
Les explains that counting or reckoning the number of the beast points to the beast's power—the political system, the religious system, the whole bit. He says it is the number of man, and in Scripture man's number is six, so his number is 600, three score and six, which is where 666 comes from. He clarifies that believers need not worry about receiving the mark of the beast, because this is a tribulation event and believers will not be here. He also notes that many people will drag their feet about taking the mark, just as people are slow to accept direct deposit, so it will not instantaneously take over.