Well, I'd see it more conceptual. I don't think a real beast will show up. I think it's mostly allegories about crowd psychology, and as with all prophecies, if they are vague enough, it is inevitable that at least some part of it can be interpreted in a light that makes it true.

"The beast" may be mankind's tendencies towards totalitarianism.
The current hype about AI in general and generative LLMs in particular definitely qualifies for the "image of the beast". Just don't forget that salvation is meant for those who withstand¹.

And any decent PBX admin should assign 666 as phone number for

¹ or better: damnation is waiting for those who don't - see Revelation 16:2