In the bible it says that a Man shall come with the number of the beast 666. What does this mean? In the bible it says that Satan will produce a counterfiet to everything God creates. In the bible it says that 7 is the holy number and 6 is the unholy number. 777 represents the holy trinity composed of The Father The Son and The Holy Ghost. I believe that 666 represents the Unholy trinity composed of The Dragon (Satan) The Beast (Antichrist) and The False Prophet. I also believe that Antichrist isn't the literal form of Satan or the literal form of the Son of Satan. I believe Antichrist will be another Hitler that has control of nuclear weapons.

What a tired, old subject.

Great post Nick! Never thought about what 666 could actually mean. What you say makes perfect sense. I think not only will the coming antichrist be in a human form but will process several powers to fool the public. The Bible mentions men being killed and their bodies laid in the streets only to come back to life.

just found out, huh?

where ya been son? this topic has been discussed since the 1300's at least.

And, if you do a smidgen of research, you'll find that most scholars now know the actual # is 6-1-6, and that it refers to emperor Nero.

a search of threads using either '666' or '616' or 'number of the beast' will turn up one or two (hundred) threads......

I'd have to disagree just a little with the 616/666 thing. What we know is that the oldest known manuscript we have says 616. However, the oldest does not necessarily equate to the most reliable (not saying that this is the case here, just bringing up a point). WHo knows what the number originally was. More to the point, since we don't know what the number really means, does it really matter whether we know what the number is?

I'd disagree with the Unholy Trinity of Beast/anti-CHrist/false prophet. No one refers to the Trinity as 777, do they (well, I guess some would, but you know what I mean ).

I've thought that there's probably a connection between the number 6 though. The number 6 is never an unholy number, and the number 7 is never a holy number. The number 7 is representative of perfection/completion. There were six days of creation with a seventh for rest, thus completing/perfecting God's plan. To use the number six is to ignore that plan and only look at the six days of creation.

So a better use than holy/unholy would be to say that 6 and 7 represent completion/incompletion, or perhaps perfection/imperfection.

Whether the number be 616 or 666, the fact is we have no idea what it reall means. For all we know an even earlier manuscript might turn up with the number of the beast being 007 (sean Connery being the exception, he was the perfect Bond).

Since we don't know what the number means or can mean, it's good to discuss and argue and debate, but it really has no impact in our lives as Christians (assuming you are a Christian), so I try not to lock myself into a black-and-white stance on the issue.

Regards, PA

It is my understanding 666 stands for completion. In numeroligy 6+6+6 = 18 and 1+8=9. The 9 represents completion. We are in the end times for a human cycle only.

In the year 2012 we will start a new cycle with an energy that is different than the energy from the last cycle. The end times were forseen as being the end of everything. Some still believe this yet some recognize we have changed our future. We are in a process to create peace and harmomy on earth.

John

First off the number is actually 616 and all it is is Hebrew numerology for a name. God's own number is 644, so 6 isn't bad at all.

The bible clearly states "six hundred 3 score and six" That is 666

one thing for sure
it is a human number

somehow its representation is having to do with mankind itself re-read it


rev 13:18

note how it starts here is wisdom

so it must be knowledge of wisdom in the bible

find wisdom instead of the number then the number will define its meaning behind the whole " 666" thing.

thought id throw it out there

any thoughts ?

The beast with the number 666 (which is the number of A man [or man]), is the SECOND beast. Rev. 13 starts of talking abt a beast coming out of the sea, then goes on to talk abt a beast of the earth, which has that number. There's not alot to identify the first beast, but I have always reckoned that these beasts come together, one after the other, and therefore the first beast ought not to be ignored. I would gather that when the first beast does arrive, then we can/should be prepared for the second. From what I have learned, 6 is supposed to represent gross imperfection and the number 666 is supposed to mean gross imperfection threefold. It's also stated that the number represents man, or a man, possibly someone who will be leading our race into further degradation? I dunno, but either way, 666 is definitely not the number of the devil, or Satan - but that's not to say that Satan isn't behind all the evil influences of the world (according to the bible); after all, he wants man for himself, and will use him in any capacity he can to further his own agenda. SO I suppose the 666 beast sign means that someone is going to come along and really mess things up more than it already is. Hmmm wonder who that could be.........

Why does the "beast" have to be a person, it could be something natural. like a hurricane ,tidal wave, earthquake, or even a ideal, a way of thinking or belief.

Antichrist has been mentioned.

Who says the "antichrist" is a person, it could be something! like a bomb, disease, or religion. also.

Well, the reason why it is thought to be man, or a man, is because that is what is quoted in the same verse and the number of the beast. There is only one instance (from what I know anyways) of this beast and the number actually being mentioned and that's in the bible.

The quote from one of my bibles says, "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." I can't seem to find my King James version of the bible, which is the most widely accepted version of most religions and/or people who want to research what it says. So if someone wants to post from that particular version, it might be more helpful or clearer. Also, it is always good to see more than only a verse from one version of the bible, especially when researching it's meaning.

666 or 616 doesnt matter, they both point to Nero.

This I will have to remember.......

AMEN! And Bush is the second Nero, which is being unveiled even as we speak.
All prophecy must occur twice in history, Passover, etc. 666 stands for Neron Caesar, as Revelation was likely written during his reign.

Bush is bad news for everyone on the earth, because he knows that his time is short. With a democratic congress in place, he's going to feel even more pressured to do something.
I believe because of war with Iran, his term will be extended, or the tribulation actually begins before he leaves office in '08. One thing is certain to me, Bush is the real thing, and he isn't going anywhere. REMEMBER, Nero wasn't the brightest guy either.

Go for it. The statement is quite accurate. And it's a practice used extensively in reconstructing ancient texts (both religious and secular).

Numbers were highly symbolic in Roman culture. The number 666 is a Roman numerical value and represents a name. What name? Nero Caesar! Written in Hebrew letters, it adds up to 666; Jesus, in Greek letters, makes 888 and so forth. Scholars refer to this as "Number Symbolism." The number 666 has absolutely nothing to do with the myth of the antichrist--a term that only appears 4-5 times (1 and 2 John) in the NT, and is in response to Doceticism (those who were denying Jesus' humanity--the Gnostics et al).

Sean

Running the danger of bein labelled retarded, how do you arrive at 666 with the above definition? six hundred threescore, wouldn't that be 1'800? and six = 1'806?

six hundred = 600 3 score = 60 and six = 6 (666)

Bush is not antichrist. If he was antichrist, where is Rapture?

Antichrist is a human being. To be Anti, you have to appose. To appose, you must think. To think, you must be an Animal. To be an Animal you are a Human.

Aaaahh...I see. English is not my mother tongue, so I didn't know the expression three score (=60). Thanks for enlightening me, NiCkC818

The "AntiChrist" is a spirit. The Man of Lawlessness, the Prince of the Power of the Air, and the Son of Perdition imply real human figures.

Revelation was written for Christians 1900 years ago, not today. The writer says the event would all take place "very soon", and other NT scriptures say the same thing, that Christ would return in the generation of his aspostles.


Ancient Christians were terrified that Nero would rise from the dead just as they believed Jesus had, and resume his terrible persecutions.

The dragon has seven heads to represent the seven hills of Rome.
the dragon represented the Govrnment of Rome.

When Jesus did not return by 100 AD that book should have been thrown out, like so many other early Christian scriptures not believed to be "inspired". Even more so, becasue the fate of Satan in Revelation is copied verbatim from much older Zoroastrian mythology. In this legend, the evil dragon Ahriman, is bound up by the good angel, and cast into a deep abyss. He finally escapes, forments rebellion again, and it put into a lake of fire/molten metal. All John did was change the names of the angel and dragon. And for those who think maybe the Zoroastrian myth was "inspired" as well, these same Zorosatrians also claimed that the God of the Bible was an evil dragon too!

And riedscr

Personally I think the antichrist may not be just a human being. I think it could possibly be some movement against Christianity. Something that happens that knocks christianity back or influences people away from it. Perhaps a group of people that rebel against Christianity? Perhaps some force that drives people to turn away from it? After-all antichrist means to be opposed to Christ & therefore his teachings, so I think it could be possible that it is merely something that causes a quantity of people to turn away from it. That's just a theory I have, I'm not saying that's definitely what it is, I'm just speculating.

True you may be right Raptor. But the bible says that there are many names of Antichrist. The Man of Sin, The Son of Perdition. The Man Of Lawlessness. The Wicked The false Horn I could go on and on. Maybe Antichrist could be a movement against Christianty led by the False Prophet. No one knows. If they did, they would be telling people who could stop this person from getting power.

Hey Queen, lol never feel dumb for asking a question. You never know the answers without first asking a question.

What if The False Prophet Pretends to be Christ to lead people away from Him and into the arms of a Political figure the Antichrist.
Ive always looked at Antichrist as a President or an Emperor or Chancellor or King or Prime Minster. I have always looked at him as a Political figure. Maybe his right hand man the False Prophet is the one that will turn people against Christ.

Is'nt that how tthe Mayans saw it as well, going by their 'Tzolkin'. I had read a little about that. It made the 'Gregorian' calender look like a pencil sketch by comparsion.

Look for a modern day Nero. His Bisexuality will be generally unknown and/or hidden from view. Look for someone who rises to office with the aid of an aristocratic family. Look for some who failed to respond to a natural disaster. Finally, look for the son of a former head of state, who is a pilot, and who had an overbearing Mother. Look for someone familiar with dark sentences, AND the occult. Look for someone with family Nazi connections.
I could go on and on, but that's just a handful.

Why are you all so scared of satan? He's a pussycat, it's God's anger that should be worrying, because my does Godhave a temper.

7 = a full week

6 days you work one day you rest

6000 years of man governing 1000 years of God governing with a rod of Iron is the hidden meaning of the seventh day sabbath .

trinity is a false doctrine and this 777 is nowhere near true .

the beast is a dictator he will be the final great world leader before Christ returns to take over Goverment of Earth . you see this in the book of daniel when the king of babalon had the dream . The statue he dreamed about was the Goverments of Man .

The rock that strikes the Statue and Makes it Fall Down is Christ returning to the earth to take control , you see this predicted in rev 11 .

the beast will be a leader of 10 nations or families of the earth . The beast will be helped by a False prophet or a great religous leader that will actually perform miricles to persuade peoples he is from God but his power will actually be from Satan .

Alot beleave this false prophet will be the end time pope and he will help this beast come to power so the 10 nations will be catholic countries . United Europe most suspect as being the beast power . The Beast alot beleave will be a German or Austrian type person . Hitler type . A german pope makes alot nervous if he starts doing miricles id say time is up .If he starts promoteing a German leader whatch out as time is getting close .

The king of the South is suspected to be a muslim leader such as irans leader .the king of the North North (beast )Will be a European Leader . England had to break off from Europe and stay sided with the jews and the rest the english speaking countries as Enngland is the Tribe of Joseph . Josheph carrys Isreals name . Ephrium is the Brittish Commanwealth . America is Mannasah . 2 brothers that carry Isreals name and who got blessed the greatest of any tribe of the earth .Also the 2 brothers that get the haircut of Ezekiel 5 in the last days .

The haircut Starts by loseing our men of honour , our wise and prudent judges .every man is oppresed by a other . I think thats the times we are in . I just read Internet news about a american Goverment offical chaseing young Boys . To me hes a fool with no honour and he made it to goverment .

Is every man Being oppressed by a Other ? Yes in the fishery the only people that make money now are the Men that set home and don't work . This can't go On ! we will have a break down of our society . We are headed for a Haircut .

The reason for this Coming Haircut is Our Churches , They are not really from God they are from the mother of Harlots setting in the Seven hills (catholic Church) the protestants are the daughters .

We are Due for 2 Witnesses (should be alive some where now) they will be real men of God but hated by most men. Most men will be praiseing up the beast and the false religous systems .

Confuseing times ahead . So bad that Amoes called the times ahead Famine of Truth .He said men would go from the North to the South from the East to the West seeking truth and not find it .

The Bible is hitting this World right on . Its just that Confusssion of Churches Satan set up in front of Us is a stumbling block to keep people from knowing it .

Antichrist will be an American President.
BTW Raptor if you think hes Nero reincarnated who will be worse? Old Nero or New Nero?

i don't know what the 666 means . some churches claim its the numeric expression of the statement the vicar of Christ (pope)

but i don't think thats really it .

man has 7 energy centers inside onself that makes man who he really is.

and like the 7 demons that jesus expeld from mary he awokin thees 7 energy centers.

the 6th is when you don't exsept the father as god in truth for he is on the 7th level the crown.

satan holds that triad 6es with that all seeing eye of oneself.

i would look at china only because of the way the country is ,its of a pagan order ,and of being mother east is a good location form which something so evil would be born form.

666 ... Number Symbolism. Means Nero Ceasor. Absolutely nothing to do with any demonic individual who is to come.

Book of Revelations ... is a book written to reflect the period of its authorship and has nothing to do with future events.

The word rapture ... is not even found in the scriptures.

And the term "antichrist" ... is used in two of the most obscure books--1/2 John--in the Bible, and was a term used by its author to deflect attacks by those who were denying Jesus' humanity (Gnostics) at the time--Doceticism. It has nothing to do with future events.

Unfortunately all these things are a contorted mixture of Christian eschatology and the Dispensationalism movement of the mid 19th Century. It is past and present theology that has no basis in fact.

Even C.S. Lewis, one of the most respected Christian apologist and authors, was embarrassed by the whole notion of apocalyptic beliefs. He said in 1960:

"Say what you like, we shall be told, the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be false. It is clear from the New Testament that they all expected the Second Coming in their own lifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very embarrassing. Their Master had told them so. He shared, and indeed created, their delusion. He said in so many words, ‘this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And He was wrong. He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else. It is certainly the most embarrassing verse in the Bible."--Essay "The World’s Last Night" (1960), found in The Essential C.S. Lewis, p-385.

Respectfully,

Sean

Reason #3 why I like the Orthodox Church, no dispensationalists.

Ha-ha!

It's hard to say, because Jesus stops him at some point. What point that is, I have no idea, but we do have a clue. "Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened." Matt. 24:22 Which is interesting, because it suggests that believers will not all be raptured away, perhaps, increasing the RESPONSIBILITY of the church NOW.

The term "rapture" does not even appear in the scriptures--anywhere! Why? Because it was not part of early Christian eschatology. This term found a home in the 19th century Dispensationalist movement.

Why do people believe in an event not even mentioned in the Bible?! Nobody is going to be raptured anywhere! Jesus, if alive today, would not have the slightest clue as to what you were talking about.

The belief that true believers in Christ will be taken bodily into heaven just prior to or during the Tribulation period, and thus be spared the horrible fate awaiting those left behind on earth. The rapture is an integral part of the premillennial dispensationalist systems which have dominated Christian prophecy belief in the second half of the 20th century, as it proposes faith in Christ as the only route to salvation.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/

Sean

St. Jerome was a brilliant Bible scholar and translated the Vulgate version of the Bible for the early Roman Empire so all the people could read the Bible. He explained in his famous Letter 22 on Christian virginity that the five wise virgin Christians of Mattew 25 would be with Jesus in Paradice during the Tribulation while the foolish virgin Christians who were lukewarm about seriuosly obeying the teachings of Jesus would be cast out to face the Tribulation on the earth.

Bishop Hippolytus around 200 years after Christ as considered to be one of the three or four greatest defenders of Apostolic Christianity since the Apostles. In his writing "A Treatise On Christ And Anti-christ", he teaches why Mathew 24 and Luke 17 are Rapture prophecies of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Irenaeus 150 years later, one of the three or four most famous denfenders of Apostolic Christianity in the early day, wote in "Against Heresies" the following: " And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up (Raptured) for this, it is said, "There shall be tribulation such as not been since the beginning, neither shall be." He also wrote how bodies would suddenly disappear on the earth.

Seromon by Bishop Melito around 140 years after Christ: "....but the jsut shall be preserved from the wrath, like as were their fellows of the ark form the waters of the deluge." He preaches the just of Christianity are hidden somewhere by God so they excape the Tribulation in the Last Days.

Satan likes to counterfiet the things of God......that's why he will try to counterfiet the coming of the Messiah by signs and wonders! That's why the Jewish people will fall for him....and the Christians looking for Jesus will find Him in the Rapture....

As a Christian I do not want any to perish or go through the Tribulation......but they will just the same.....it is not my will but God's. God warns us all the time.....He always warns His people.

When Titus came to destroy Jerusalem....the Christians were warned to flee.....they did.
God will let us know before He take us home.....we just need to be watching for the signs. There are no signs to watch for the Rapture......but watch Israel that is our "key" to things to come.

Take Care God Bless

I'd like for yall to look at this website

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt...6lr%3D%26sa%3DN

I'd be curious what you'd have to say to the book "Revelation of John the Theologian" in the Apocrypha. Even if it's not genuinely from John, it's still old enough to show that people were believing in the Revelation far before the 19th century.

There's some truth to this, as I'm also looking for someone who achieves supernatural power at some point.

Here are some links about the Antichrist

Please take a look.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mbxw2csFyc8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dv9IdjJ2BjI&...ted&search=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qJ2aKB0l5SE&...ted&search=

I'd like to point out here that all arguing for an anti-Christ as an actual person is based on a premillenialist interpretation of Revelation. Outside of Revelation, the Bible also warns of anti-Christs (yes, plural). THose opposed to the teaching of Christ, anti-CHrist. Simple.

To sit down and say all these things about Revelation, the Beast, the anti-Chrsit, the thousand year reign, etc, is to make a lot of assumptions about a piece of literature that by its very nature has spawned countless individual interpretations.

I myself am an a-millenialist. I don't subscribe to a necessarily literal view of such a symbolic piece of writing. That the Bible warns against many anti-Christs seems to be fairly clear that there wont' be a specfic person (Pope, President, whatever). Whatever the case, as Revelation is so symbolic, I personally find it more useful to look on the book of Revelation as an intellectual discussion. There are certain theological truths to be gleaned (especially from the early chapters), but on the whole it plays little in the way of life-changing applications.

Discuss it, argue it, but ultimately don't base your doctrine around it. Know what I mean.

Well said, PA.



Rg, the idea of the end of the world is an ancient one. The Romans, themselves, were obsessed with it. Why--particularly in the first century--was the Jesus movement obsessed with such an idea? The reasons are legion.

The Apocolypse!

*The Views of Historians and Biblical Scholars
They describe the book and what's in it (plus a few surprising things that aren't). They also discuss Revelation's structure and atmosphere of violence and suffering; the malleability and meanings of its images; the apocalyptic prophet Montanus who was the first literal interpreter of Revelation; and, Augustine's reinterpetation.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh...revelation.html

THE BOOK OF REVELATION: Of all the books in the Bible, none has fired the Western imagination more than this mysterious last one - John's Apocalypse
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh...tion/white.html

Video Excerpts
In this clip, historians and biblical scholars introduce the story of Revelation and its powerful visions, figures and language of the end time. (approximately 4 minutes)

*The Book of Revelation
In this excerpt, historians and biblical scholars introduce the story of Revelation and its powerful visions, figures and images of the end time.

*The Antichrist
These video clips show some of the many portrayals of the Antichrist over the ages: one of its earliest images during the time of the Crusades; its depiction in the Middle Ages; and King George as the Antichrist during the American Revolution.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh.../etc/video.html



Please read both the above and the following, RT. Just the other side of the coin ...

Christian Millennial Expectation Through the Centuries
An overview of the various interpretations of the millennium--that 1,000-year period in which God' s Kingdom will be triumphant over Satan and the forces of evil.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sh...ings/white.html

How Evangelicals Became Israel's Best Friend
Why do evangelicals care so much about Israel? This article examines the prophetic beliefs, history and growing political involvement in the evangelical-Israel relationship.
http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1998/october5/8tb038.html

Sean

The link requires a subscription to get the full article, but i know what you are talking about. Christian zionism strikes me as a very sad irony. Israel is not one of the nicest places in the middle east for Christians to live, but Syria, a place most of those 3000 people in the article wouldnt mind seeing reduced to smoldering ruins, is.

Israel is my Brother, I love Israel.

Hello NiCkC818

I love Israel too.....we were there in 1988. Beautiful country.....the Jewish people were great. Traveled all through Israel......a beautiful place we visited was Eilat it is a port and gateway to Africa and the far East on the Gulf of Aqabah. People from all over Europe go there on spring break....we met a police officer from Germany there....he wanted to see for himself why his people killed the Jewish people so he toured Israel.....he fell in love with Israel and her people and comes every year to visit some elderly Jewish people he had made friends with there. He was a cool guy.

Anti Christ just means against Christ , Or not really Christ

like a evil spirit claiming to be holy ,which is something that has been on earth sence the church began .

the false prophet and the beast are 2 men whom Christ will burn at his return .

this antichrist coming in the sky doctrine is something Satan teaches so most will Fight Christ at his Return .


Beast and False Prophet 2 Men!! but the beast is also the countries the beast leads it has 2 meanings

Thanks Rabbit, Yes, I love Israel and the people of Israel. I hope someday they get the justice they so much deserve.

I do too.......my heart breaks for them I pray for them everyday. I knew several people that survived the consentration camps.....in Europe.....so sad. I couldn't get over how loving and happy they were.....they said they were able to when they got to know their Messiah... Jesus Christ. They were so cool.....I really admire them so much.

Some one said, to hate is like taking posion hoping the other person will die!

I also met a French lady who was taken as a political prisioner at 16 because they wanted her brother....she was at Ravensbrook. And it was a Jewish girl who helped her escape when they were moving from the camp to go deep inland when the Americans were coming for them at Ravensbrook. Interesting story. Nothing like hearing history right from the horses mouth.

According to the whole "end time scenario" your god is going to kill all but a 144,000 Jews. Some justice.



Their messiah is not Jesus Christ. This is slap in the face to the Jewish people. They believe the TRUE messiah has yet to come.

Messiah : The Criteria
http://keyword.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.j...rjudaism.org%2F

The Real Messiah
http://keyword.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.j...rjudaism.org%2F

As for Israel ... Do you see the terrible consequences of combining fact with fiction, interpreting the OT literally? Those who took it as fact, along with the Joshua invasion (never occurred), started a Zionist movement (19th cent.) that later drove the UN to kick out the Palestinians from their homeland--a homeland that existed long before Israel, while the Jews were still of Canannite ancestry (Even the Hebrew alphabet has its origins in a branch of North Semitic Canannite writing)--and created a Jewish state. What was the terrible result of historicizing mostly mythical characters and events?

Just turn on the television ... and see all this violence and killing between a group of people who are all related!!!!!!!!!! Brother killing brother! It's unbearably sad.

Israel emerged peacefully and gradually from within Canaanite society--A History of Jerusalem, Armstrong, Karen, p. 23

Forgive me for reposting this ...

... Hebrews were not a separate nation - they were merely peasant Canaanites who were left homeless. They made their residence in the Judean desert, which was part of the Egyptian empire at the time. "Joshua and the Hebrews were not conquerors of Canaanites. They were Canaanites," according to "Ancient Evidence: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho." What separated Hebrews from Canaanites was theology, not genetics: the peasant Canaanite caravan people did not eat pork, they believed in a single God, etc. Other than theology and poverty, Hebrews did not differ from any other Canaanite people. Originally, Hebrews referred to their God by the word "Baal" - which has come to mean "Lord" in the Hebrew language . Baal was the name of one of the Canaanite Gods...

SOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal

Ancient Evidence: Joshua and the Walls of Jericho (Discovery Channel, 11/13/2003 at 1 a.m. Also available on DVD and VHS)
http://shopping.discovery.com

World Book Encyclopedia:

Canaanites, pronounced KAY nuh nyts, were a people mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. Most of their land, called Canaan, later became known as Palestine. The Canaanites may have settled in the region about 2000 B.C. They were its chief inhabitants until about 1200 B.C. The Bible says that the Israelites conquered Canaan at that time. However, archaeology and some Biblical passages indicate that the Israelites only gradually became the area's dominant people. Archaeology also indicates that many Canaanite cities were destroyed by the Sea Peoples in the 1100's B.C. The Sea Peoples may have migrated to Canaan from the area around the Aegean Sea.

The Canaanites were a Semitic people related to the Arabs, Assyrians, and Israelites. The Canaanites had an advanced civilization. Their main political unit was the city-state, which consisted of a city or town and the surrounding villages and land. The chief Canaanite gods were El (a creator god) and Baal (a storm god). The main goddesses were Anat, Asherah, and Astarte.--Carole R. Fontaine, Ph.D., Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, Andover Newton Theological School

Sean