You guys are all reading much more into this than necessary.

A beast is an animal. It has no/little high level cognitive function.

A beast does not plan, it reacts. A beast does as its genetic memory (instinct) directs.

This is the only real potential difference betwixt a human and a beast.

It is the mark of the beast.


couldn't a 'beast' be a machine ??

imagine if John the Divine was seeing modern machinery when he penned revelations....


I believe he said it is the number of a MAN.


so the beast is man then ??