The Two Witnesses Moses and Elijah appear at the beginning of the end time seven-year, prophesying for 42 months until slain by Adonikam the Beast (Rev. 11:3, 7).

Some dispute Moses will be one of the two witnesses interpreting “it is appointed unto men once to die” ruling that out (Deut. 34:5-7). However, that general statement about life shows this in correspondence with Christ being offered once for sins (Heb. 9:25-26). Its clearly not meant to contradict common knowledge everyone raised from the dead in the Bible (except Christ) died again (1 Ki. 17:22; 2 Ki. 13:21; Mark 5:41; John 12:17; Ac. 9:40) died more than once.

They are modeled after Moses and Elijah in Revelation 11:6. Like Moses they turn water into blood and strike the earth with plagues (Ex. 7:14:25), like Elijah they can cause drought during their prophesying (1 Ki. 17:1-7; 18:1; 41-46). Perhaps the redeemed singing the son of Moses is relevant here (Rev. 15:3). Satan may have wanted to prevent the resurrection of Moses precisely to prevent this appearance in the end time (Jude 1:9). The identity of Elijah is confirmed by direct prophecy (Mal. 4:5-6; Mt. 17:10, 11) and calling down fire from heaven (1 Ki. 18:36). The appearance of Moses and Elijah at Christ’s transfiguration seems pertinent here, these are clearly a “power duo” (Mt. 17:3-4; Mk. 9:4-5; Lk. 9:30-33). Collaborating Moses and Elijah were physically present on the Mount of Transfiguration is Peter’s desire to build tents for them (Mk. 9:4-5).

Moses and Elijah are the perfect fit for calling the Elect of God both Jew and Gentile to repentance. Sackcloth symbolizing a call for all to repent will be a major theme of their prophesy.

It is likely the fallen away church would resent the appearance of the two witnesses and declare them frauds seeking to silence them. But all who receive their testimony and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ will be filled by the Holy Spirit as symbolized by their having an inexhaustible supply of oil as the two olive trees of the LORD (Rev. 11:4; Zech. 4:1-14)

At the end of their witnessing they are slain by Emperor Adonikam whose ascension out of the Abyss symbolizes his claim to be an Extraterrestrial hybrid of the “creators” (Rev. 11: 7; 9:1-3) superior to them all, especially “YHWH one of the creators”, that strong delusion buttressed by lying signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9-12; Rev. 16:13).

The command to kill Christ originated in Jerusalem (Mt. 23:34-39; 27:24-25; Ac. 2:23) so it could be said Jesus was crucified in the city of Jerusalem. John says the city “spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt” which fits perfectly what Jerusalem had become, a city in league with the Beast. No longer a “holy city”, it now fit the description of that “great city Babylon” filled will all sorts of idolatry and perversion.

The Interpretation of Matthew 24:1-31
The Third Temple: Does scripture anticipate a future Jewish Temple?
Revelation 12:6b The woman fled into the wilderness
The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed

If the greatest trick of the Devil was “to convince the world he does not exist” perhaps the second was “angels are immaterial spirits”. But what of the equation “angels are spirits” in Heb. 1:13-14, is this not the locus classicus for the biblical definition of their nature?

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Heb. 1:13-14) KJV

 

The fact that it is here an ἅπαξ λεγόμενον* ought to restrain us. The context does not give us any compelling reason for calling angels πνεύματα… The essential determination of πνεύματα is not the fact that they are πνεύματα, but the fact that they are λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα, i.e., incomprehensible beings which have a sacred office. And as the bearers of this office they are εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα, i.e., despatched to fulfil this office.”-Barth, K., Bromiley, G. W., & Torrance, T. F. (2004). Church dogmatics: The doctrine of creation, Part 3 (3rd ed., Vol. 3, p. 453). London; New York: T&T Clark. *hapax legomenon: occurring only once.

Let’s be “Devil’s advocate” and presume the equation “angels are spirits” proves their inferiority to the Son, His immortal Spirit superior to their “mortal spirit?”

Is this what Christians believe?

There was a belief in some rabbinic schools that “every day God creates a new company of angels who utter a song before him and are gone.” “The angels are renewed every morning and after they have praised God they return to the stream of fire from whence they came.” 4 Esdras 8:21 speaks of the God “before whom the heavenly host stand in terror and at thy word change to wind and fire.” A rabbinic homily makes one of the angels say: “God changes us every hour. … Sometimes he makes us fire, at other times wind.” That is what the writer to the Hebrews means when he talks of God making his angels wind and fire.- Barclay, W. (Ed.). (1975). The Letter To The Hebrews (p. 19). Philadelphia: The Westminster John Knox Press.

Of the angels he says, “He makes (4160 ποιέω) his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.” (Heb. 1:7) NRS

God makes angels what they weren’t before, winds and “flames of fire”. But they don’t appear in scripture as “flames of fire” nor does it seem possible one can be both “winds” and “flames of fire” simultaneously. AND if God made them winds and fire, what were they before this event?

Preferring the KJV/LXX reading “maketh his angels spirits” doesn’t help, we must still wonder how they are literally both at the same time. Better still, how can they be “spirits and flames of fire” while enjoying a burger with Abraham (Gen. 18:5-8)?

Is it not “comparing apples and oranges” to compare infinite spirit (1 Ki. 8:27; John 4:24) with finite spirits ignoring the implicit premise that comparison is not possible: “to whom will ye liken God” (Isa. 40:18) ” and compare me, that we may be like?” (Isa. 46:5).

Therefore, the equation “angels are ministering spirits” is metonymy for ministering in quick and willing spirit, and not reference to their nature at all. Being servants of God its obvious they cannot be God the Son’s equal.

What of the theory angels materialize physical forms to appear physical on earth? That is the grossest violation of Occam’s Razor possible, scripture never remotely teaches it. Moreover, Godlike creative ability necessary to create living bodies is a creative ability God declares He alone has (Deut. 32:39 cp. 2 Ki. 5:7).

Why do I bring this up?

After years of studying first hand evidence of UFO phenomena secular scientist Jacques Vallee concluded the evidence “suggests an underlying plan for the deception of mankind”
–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Vallée

The apostasy scripture describes in the end time isn’t a localized event, restricted to one or two denominations. Its earth wide, all called God or worshiped are rebelled against (2 Thess. 2:3-4) therefore includes all the world’s religions, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, all of them.

What event could convince the world to cast off their religion? A UFO invasion, the landing of extraterrestrial preachers claiming they are mankind’s designers, that Jesus, the Father and all others called God or venerated also of an extraterrestrial race. Some friendly, some not.

Not only will creationist arguments for intelligent design become apologetic for “the extraterrestrial Designers”~, every religious holy book has accounts that can be interpreted to describe extra-terrestrial visitation. In the face of a UFO arrival could anyone successfully argue its eisegesis? When fallen angels (called “Nephilim” in Genesis 6:1-4) appear among mankind claiming they are extraterrestrial benefactors returning to “ascend mankind” to the next level, wouldn’t new age euphoria sweep the planet? Without a doubt. Moreover, there will be a corresponding disdain and desire for “revenge” against those who exploited them in the name of “false religion.”

Christians will be blindsided, their Teachers didn’t warn them Satan could do that~*. Scripture did, but few paid heed. God is sending a strong delusion, its not something easy to refute, its a Satanic inworking “energy of error” that will be impossible to withstand if experience is the criteria for truth, and not Holy Scripture. And belief in the reliability of scripture is precisely what has been undermined by Christendom’s own scholars these last few hundred years. “Except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved…take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” (Mk. 13:20, 23) KJV

First the Man of Sin appears as the false Christ prophesied to come, but at mid-week he morphs into the Beast Son of Destruction Antichrist, denying the Father and the Son and all called God or worshiped as such. But he honors the extraterrestrial forces that enabled his ascension:

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. (Dan. 11:36-39) KJV

END NOTES
~ Those vehemently rejecting Creationist intelligent design arguments for the existence of God, will be enthusiastic proponents once extra-terrestrials replace God as “The Designers.”

~*

The Fourth Lateran Council separates angelic from corporeal natures, and Petavius rightly characterises the contrary opinion as “proximate to heresy.” At the same time, angels are capable of assuming bodies; to which they are for the time intimately united; which they move and which they use to represent either their own invisible nature or the attributes of God. Passages of Scripture, which imply this, will readily occur to the reader.-Addis, W. E., & Arnold, T. (1887). In A Catholic Dictionary (Sixth Edition, With Additions, p. 25). New York: The Catholic Publication Society Co.

Most Protestants would agree with the above although the last claim is false, not one scripture implies a creative act occurs whenever angels enter our realm. Rather, Scripture implies an “opening” connects the realms (Gen. 28:12-13, 17; Mat. 3:16; Lk. 3:21; Ac. 7:56; 10:11; Jn. 1:51; Rev. 4:1; 19:11). Jesus did not materialize physical forms to prove He had risen from the dead (Lk 24:39). He did not walk through locked doors or a wall, He suddenly “stood in their midst” (Lk. 24:36; Jn. 20:26). At Jesus’ ascension a cloud received him out of their sight (Ac. 1:9).

At the transfiguration the “kingdom of God come with power” (Mk. 9:1) implying a point of connection was made linking the heaven and earthly realms, an opening into heavenly TELEIOS (“complete”) and the earthly MEROS (“incomplete”) 1 Cor. 13:10. This point of connection is where Elijah, Moses and Jesus stand and converse in radiant light. That all three were physically standing together and not spirits is confirmed by Peter’s reaction, he wanted to build tents for them (Mk. 9:23-5).

Enoch was translated (3331 μετάθεσις), a transfer not a dematerialization (Gen. 5:22; Heb. 11:5). Paul did not know if he went to third heaven in the body or out (2 Cor. 12:3) which could not be the case if he couldn’t enter heaven physically. Elijah was taken up into heaven in a chariot ascending into heaven through a vortex opening described as a “whirlwind”.

New Jerusalem descends from heaven, it does not materialize on earth and its clear mankind will physically walk its streets (Rev. 21:2-3).

A study of 1 Cor. 13:10 indicates within the meta-universe two parallel universes consist. The more substantial reality is the TELEIOS “kingdom of God”, not our MEROS “that which is in part” because it lacks the dimension of the revelation of God (1 Cor. 13:10-12). In the infinite mind of Christ the Multiverse (meta-universe) consists and has its being (Col. 1:17), in Him both human and angel live and move and have their being (Ac. 17:28). When God appears to the inhabitants of heaven, He does so in the “form of God” (Phil 2:6) just as in our Verse (Ex. 33:23). It is in the Person of the Son Infinite God in two natures can be concretely with either. A theophany is something less concrete. This follows from “in Him all things consist” (Col. 1:17). The Meta-Universe is a thought in the infinite Mind of God the Eternal Son, Jesus Christ.  Therefore,  the mass of the Higgs Boson (125 GeV ) at best is a visible manifestation mass—as massive as a thought in infinite Mind can be.

This does not deny spirits (whatever their nature) exist in heaven (1 Ki. 22:21), only the hasty generalization immaterial spirit is the only nature existing in heaven. Evil spirits and demons wandering the earth longing for the corporeality they lost in the flood (Gen. 7:21-23; Lk. 8:26-33) cannot be confused with Satan and the rest of his angels who retain their physical form (Dan. 10:13; Rev. 12:7-8; 16;13). Only God’s restraining decree (2 Thess. 2:7; Rev. 9:1, 14-16) prevents these from appearing physically now on the planet. Any time after God lifts that restraint is when they can appear, no doubt they will disguised as an extraterrestrial race, as least in the beginning.

In Him All Things Hold Together: The TELEIOS MEROS Multiverse
Who are the spirits in prison? Why are they in prison? What did Christ preach to them?
Nephilim Fallen Angels and the Sons of God
Angels are cast out of Heaven Twice?
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed

Throughout this blog “Spiritism” is expansively defined as any contact with demonic spirits or Satan in any manner, whether by dreams visions voices or other telepathic means. Included are all paranormal new age and occult phenomena. As it is impossible for the living to speak to the dead, demon spirits disguise themselves as such, it is expressly condemned in scripture. All contact with evil spirits is an abomination and renders one liable to the fires of Gehenna, name blotted out from the record of the Israel of God.

“My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD. (Ezek. 13:9 NKJ)

Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”-Wikipedia

Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

The coming change in Times and Law

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time. (Dan. 7:25 NKJ)

“Times and laws” are the foundations and main conditions, emanating from God, of the life and actions of men in the world.-Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 9, p. 650). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

Times and law are the basic predicates of human society, belief in God its foundation. For example, the Declaration of Independence declares all “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Destroy the definition of God, then these rights no longer exist. The little horn in Daniel will attempt to change the definition of God, change the Holy One who is Infinite and completely unlike His creation to a finite Elohim like the angels. See Scientific Atheism.

Predestination unto Salvation: Was Divine Election Conditional or Unconditional?
The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

Raëlism teaches that an extraterrestrial species known as the Elohim created humanity using their advanced technology. An atheistic religion, it believes that the Elohim have historically been mistaken for gods. It holds that throughout history the Elohim have created forty Elohim/human hybrids who have served as prophets preparing humanity for news about their ultimate origins. Among those listed as prophets are The Buddha, Jesus of Nazareth, and Muhammad, with Raël himself being the fortieth and final prophet. Raëlists believe that since the Hiroshima bomb of 1945, humanity has entered an Age of Apocalypse in which it is threatening itself with nuclear annihilation. It argues that humanity must find a way of harnessing new scientific and technological development for peaceful ends, and that once this has been achieved the Elohim shall return to Earth to share their technology with humanity and usher in a utopia.- Wikipedia

In the context of “Scientific Atheism” Satan’s seed (Gen. 3:15) could claim his hybrid human-Elohim nature is more exalted than Elohim nature alone. This clarifies how the Man of Sin can oppose and exalt himself in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, which otherwise is a self contradiction.

ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος ἐπὶ πάντα λεγόμενον θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα (2 Thess. 2:4 BYZ)

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:4 NKJ)

Commentarions disagree how this is to be translated, one cannot oppose and exalt himself simultaneously. But it “follows from the single insertion of the article … the two statements, ἀντικεῖσθαι and ὑπεραίρεσθαι, must contain something related to each other, which is summed up in a common general idea.”-Lünemann, G. (1884). Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Epistles Of St. Paul to The Thessalonians. (P. J. Gloag, Trans.) (p. 210). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

What “general idea” is common to all that is called God? The definition of God, what He is. By opposing the definition of God, the Son of Destruction can exalt himself above all mankind called God so that he sits as God in the Temple the Church showing [by powerful miracles] he is God.

Just as the words in Daniel’s prophecy are unsealed by end time events (Dan. 12:8-9), so also this “new definition of God” is being preached worldwide by UFO cults. It springs naturally from “Ancient Alien Theory” where all men called God or worshiped resulted from the visit of “Extraterrestrial being” who are called Elohim in the Bible.

The Seed of Satan (Gen. 3:15) will claim to be the greatest hybrid “human-Elohim” every designed by “the Designers”, even above all called Elohim, even Yahweh God Himself.

This is confirmed in the book of Revelation. The pompous words of this mouth apply to God and all the inhabitants of heaven, all called Elohim:

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (Rev. 13:6 NKJ)

The hybrid human-Elohim Son of Destruction exalts himself above all called Elohim, alone worthy to be called God.

In “Scientific Atheism” or “Ancient Alien theory” God, Jesus, the angels are all extraterrestrial beings called “the Elohim”. Yahweh is an ET, a leader of some extraterrestrials.

This new definition of God changes the predicate of human governance, what is God. The Assyrian pompous mouth is attempting to change the “times and laws” upon which human governance rests. In one fell swoop our inalienable rights will vanish with our God, and the tyranny of the Beast will take its place.

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. (Dan. 7:25 NKJ)

“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods,  (Dan. 11:36 NKJ)

Satan has been seeding this “strong delusion” among UFO cults for decades. A good example are the Raelians who speak of the coming “Elohim Designers” of mankind in their “Message from the Designers”.

The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

8 Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.
10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. (Dan. 8:8-11 NKJ)

The “little horn” is from the Seleucid Empire, the Grecian “leopard” (Dan. 7:6) body of the beast in Rev. 13:2. The Antichrist is called “the Assyrian” in some texts:

The Seleucid Empire … was a Hellenistic state ruled by the Seleucid dynasty which existed from 312 BC to 63 BC; Seleucus I Nicator founded it following the division of the Macedonian Empire vastly expanded by Alexander the Great. Seleucus received Babylonia (321 BC) and from there expanded his dominions to include much of Alexander’s near-eastern territories. At the height of its power, the Empire included central Anatolia, Persia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and what is now Kuwait, Afghanistan, and parts of Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
…
The Seleucid empire’s geographical span, from the Aegean Sea to what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan, created a melting pot of various peoples, such as Greeks, Armenians, Georgians, Persians, Medes, Assyrians and Jews.-Wikipedia

This prophecy is against both Satan (Isa. 14:12) and his seed the Assyrian who will be the “king of Babylon” when it is rebuilt by the Nephilim (Isa. 14:4, 25)

4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing.
8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying,`Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.’
9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations.
10 They all shall speak and say to you:`Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us?
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:`I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying:`Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house;
19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers, Lest they rise up and possess the land, And fill the face of the world with cities.”
22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the LORD of hosts, “And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity,” says the LORD.
23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the LORD of hosts.
24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand:
25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?”
(Isa. 14:4-27 NKJ)

30 And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and tempest and hailstones.
31 The Assyrian will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod.
32 And every stroke of the staff of punishment that the LORD lays upon him will be to the sound of timbrels and lyres; battling with brandished arm he will fight with him.
33 For his burning place has long been prepared; truly it is made ready for the king, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it. (Isa. 30:30-33 NRS)

7 For on that day all of you shall throw away your idols of silver and idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.
8 “Then the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of mortals; and a sword, not of humans, shall devour him; he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put to forced labor.
9 His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem. (Isa. 31:7-9 NRS)

“Seven shepherds and eight princely men” = idiom for an adequate number of Christ’s army who respond to Israel’s prayers. Christ sends them when “He shall deliver us from the Assyrian.”
5 And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princely men.
6 They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, And the land of Nimrod at its entrances; Thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian, When he comes into our land And when he treads within our borders.
(Mic. 5:5-6 NKJ)

17 Your commanders are like swarming locusts, And your generals like great grasshoppers, Which camp in the hedges on a cold day; When the sun rises they flee away, And the place where they are is not known.
18 Your shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; Your nobles rest in the dust. Your people are scattered on the mountains, And no one gathers them.
19 Your injury has no healing, Your wound is severe. All who hear news of you Will clap their hands over you, For upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually? (Nah. 3:17-19 NKJ)

13 And he shall stretch forth his hand against the north and destroy the Assyrian, and make Nineve a dry wilderness, even as a desert.
14 And flocks, and all the wild beasts of the land, and chameleons shall feed in the midst thereof: and hedgehogs shall lodge in the ceilings thereof; and wild beasts shall cry in the breaches thereof, and ravens in her porches, whereas her loftiness was as as cedar.
15 This is the scornful city that dwells securely, that says in her heart, I am, and there is no longer any to be after me: how is she become desolate, a habitation of wild beasts! every one that passes through her shall hiss, and shake his hands. (Zeph. 2:13-15 LXE)

Predestination unto Salvation: Was Divine Election Conditional or Unconditional?
The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

Janus Parallelism. This type of parallelism hinges on the use of a single word with two different meanings, one of which forms a parallel with what precedes and the other with what follows. Thus, by virtue of a double entendre, the parallelism faces in both directions. Berlin, A. (1992). Parallelism. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 5, p. 157). New York: Doubleday.

Awareness of Janus Parallelism was lost until Hebrew expert Cyrus Gordon rediscovered them in 1978 (New Directions, BASP 15, pp. 59-60). The apostles Matthew and John, experts in Hebrew Scripture would be very familiar with them.

Predestination unto Salvation: Was Divine Election Conditional or Unconditional?
The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?

Before the invention of chapter and verse ancient writers alluded to scriptures they had in mind by citing something in or taught by it. 666 is found pointing TWICE to one particular name, with a little “counting” and by the gentitive in the text:

the sons of Adonikam, 666 (Ezr. 2:13 NAS)
the sons of Adonikam, 667 (Neh. 7:18 NAS)

John wasn’t like modern textual critics, he would believe every word of inspired Scripture is correct. Therefore, John would conclude this anomaly was divinely intended, the difference in number for the very purpose of his riddle, to point to the name of the Antichrist using two lines of evidence. This would establish the matter as it is written from the mouth of two witnesses a thing is established:

Adonikam had 666 or 667 sons. Therefore, when we “count” (5585 ψηφίζω psephizo) “as with pebbles” we have 667-1=666, arriving at the same name Adonikam. 666 is also “the number of a man” because firstborn Adonikam had “666 sons”, they are “OF” him.