Buy the Numbers?

Poker is a game where numbers can matter.  For instance, having two Aces before the flop is good.  A hand with three Aces is better.  And four Aces are awfully hard to beat.

But "trip 6's" come with a bit of a notorious reputation.  We asked in a recent post for your thoughts about 6-6-6.  Revelation 13 calls it "the number of the beast."  And at the end of this age, beasts will be dangerous characters.

Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth.  He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon.... Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.  He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. - Revelation 13:11, 14

First of all, did you realize the Bible talks about two beasts - not merely one?  The first beast is described in the first part of the chapter.  Many religious groups believe this refers to an end-time superpower on Earth, especially in Europe.  The second one will order everyone to pay tribute to the first one....

He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. - Revelation 13:15

The link speculates the second beast is the United States -- but really now.  When has a President ordered U.S. citizens to worship statues of the Pope, or some other European leader?  That certainly didn't happen in World War II.  And the current U.S. Presidential campaign seems to be boiling down to a non-denominational Christian against an L.D.S. member (what some call a Mormon).

We think it's better to look at 6-6-6 in terms of yet another European government.  And we agree that the number's meaning isn't as clear as some "prophetic experts" make it out to be.  We don't know who has the winning numbers in poker until the end of a hand -- and so we have to wait until the end of man's reign on Earth to know what "trip 6's" means.

So what should we do in the meantime?  We recommend the guidance given elsewhere in the New Testament:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. - James 1:5

That applies to wisdom about playing poker well, or living life in general.  Ask God, and trust Him to provide.