That is very insightful, and I agree. But Revelation 13:18 says it is the number of a man.
Yes it is the number of natural man influenced by the god of this world Satan, the serpent or father of lies working in the affairs of men working through his lies to make the gospel without effect.
He has no form but uses form, as idol images in the likeness of men to deceive the nations. In that way if a person does believe he has form they have already been deceived.
I offer that it is why it is one of the most important things that we do not offend Christ, the anointing Holy Spirit of God by assuming the things of God who has no form are no different than the things of men. Scripture informs us we must walk by faith, the unseen, as the eternal things of God,and not the temporal things seen of men.
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
It is the same motive of operation the serpent used in the garden. When he who has no form (Satan) used that form as the form that Adam and Eve were deceived by, as they walked by sight .
It made the faith of God without effect who also has no form . Adam and Eve only heard the voice of God. God desired they walk by faith according to the hearing of faith and not by sight as they did when they followed after the serpent.
God did not desire they lean by experience ,walking by sight which caused the fall. He departed and left an angel to guard the way back to Him
In 1 John 2 he is identified as the antichrist(another anointing spirit) who works rob the faith of Christ by insisting men need an outward form in respect to a man to teach us as the anointing teacher..
He warns us of that motive of operation in that chapter that defines the antichrist and those he influences, antichrists, as other christs, again other than our one Christ, the anointing Holy Spirit of God. He therefore informs us it is by the faith that comes from hearing him through the scriptures as
it is written that we do abide in him and not man seen. The little word
it in as it is written points to the faith of God, as the things of God .
These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and “ye need not that any man teach you”: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it (the faith of Christ)
hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.1Jo 2:26
He simply will not share his glory as the anointing teacher with men.
It is as we are informed in 1 John 2. He the antichrist was already there at that time period working to try and make the gospel without effect. This shows us we are in the lasts days on this side of the first century reformation where we no longer have an outward representation. The veil was rent, the types and shadows with the use of the outward Jews had come to a end. Prophets were now recognized as coming from any nation .
There was much tribulation as to who to trust( put their faith in) or where to go. Again there were rumors he would come but he spoke plainly ; they are here. This was to take away all doubt as to the nature of the beast. .
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
I what I believe is good example of him trying to make the gospel without effect that clearly keeps the same warning to distinguish the things of men seen, from those of God not seen is below.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.But he turned, and said unto Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan": thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourestnot "the things that be of God", but "those that be of men". Mat 16:22
Does it mean that Peter was not a believer ...no . What it does show is we are not to have the faith of Christ as our anointed teacher the Holy Spirit of God in respect to any man, as an outward form.
The refomation has come he has restored the gospel to its proper order.