616 -- The Number of the Beast?

A newly discovered fragment of the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament indicates that, as far as the Antichrist goes, theologians, scholars, heavy metal groups, and television evangelists have got the wrong number. Instead of 666, it's actually the far less ominous 616.

The new fragment from the Book of Revelation, written in ancient Greek and dating from the late third century, is part of a hoard of previously unintelligible manuscripts discovered in historic dumps outside Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. Now a team of expert classicists, using new photographic techniques, are finally deciphering the original writing.

Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original. He said: "This is an example of gematria, where numbers are based on the numerical values of letters in people's names. Early Christians would use numbers to hide the identity of people who they were attacking: 616 refers to the Emperor Caligula."

The Book of Revelation is traditionally considered to be written by John, a disciple of Jesus; it identifies 666 as the mark of the Antichrist. In America, the fundamentalist Christian right often use the number in sermons about the coming Apocalypse.

They and satanists responded coolly to the new "Revelation". Peter Gilmore, High Priest of the Church of Satan, based in New York, said: "By using 666 we're using something that the Christians fear. Mind you, if they do switch to 616 being the number of the beast then we'll start using that."

Also, 'coz 18 is generally one of the most negative numbers in numerous traditions, including the Tarot, where it's symbolized by the most malefic representation of the Moon in occult semiotics. Adding up to 18 = no good, and as it reduces down to the 9 of Mars in its most destructive aspect, 666 is more capable of destructive energy than a 7-# ever could. Even though 7 is ruled by Ketu / the Southern Node in the eastern hemisphere instead of gentle Neptune, it's still largely benign. Even when it is negative in some of its permutations; such as 43 (indicating handicapped individuals, or those with many obstacles so as to feel "handicapped,"), and the tumultuous, turbulent 52.

If you're looking for a rotten number symbolizing war and revolution, but with things not going the way as planned, 52 would be your number,

Regardless of all that, Seven is pretty irrefutably still the number of the Divine: the 7 churches, chakras, candles etc. Nine is the Opposition, but paradoxically also the number of Electricity which = Life down here. The necessary Duality to keep the world spinning / maintain the illusion, that whole thing.

x-post

As in the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

i was going to ask something like "how many people nowadays literally believe in a real physical being of Satan / 'The Devil' anymore in the first place ?" ...but then.. remembered that are teaching all kinds of things in Southern Baptist churches, right ?

but at least people aren't prejudiced against goats any longer.

I love this description, as though the number was inherently less ominous.

with 6 twos:

http://dancingokra.com/Earlywork/Art/Armageddon.jpg

after that it's apocalyptic gravy.

http://www.nanpa.com/area_code_maps/usmaps/mi.gif HEIGHT=250 WIDTH=250>

my day: permanently made

It won't work.

thousands of james joyce scholars are now feverishly preparing papers.

I was taught in Catholic School that since 7 represents the divine, 6 represents man/humanity, which is just short of divine. And 666 represents Evil because anytime you get 3 men together, someone's getting a wedgie.

I was taught in Catholic School that since 7 represents the divine, 6 represents man/humanity, which is just short of divine. And 666 represents Evil because anytime you get 3 men together, someone's getting a wedgie.

-- Huk-L (handsomishbo...), May 5th, 2005.

Wait, I thought man was 5 and the devil is 6! Goddamn indie-rockers.

-- J (McChum...), May 5th, 2005.

yes but 5+5+5=15.

1+5=(DRUMROLL)...6!

http://www.ordotempliorientalis.com/files/english/liberzionenglish.htm

"18. The Gods have died by their slavery. Take the trumpet and exclaim: death to the cults of slaves, because Zión has arrived! Zión, Zión, Zión, Zión, Zión, Zión, until the infinite. The key is Zión and its numbers the 616 and the 666. "