Why does 666 scare us so much? If you read the passage in revelation, it just says that's the "number of the beast" and if you're discerning you can understand that it's the name of a person.
But nowadays we treat 666 with ridiculous superstition. What power does that number actually wield- if any? Isn't that number just a secret code that John of Patmos tried to use to clue in Christians to some Roman leader that hated Christians? Why do we get scared on June 6th, 2006, or change license plates that include those numbers, or refuse to buy house number 666 or to sing hymn number 666 ?????? (if your hymnal even HAS that many - lol baptists)
To me it's just silly.
By the way, this is post 1666 for me--- ooooooooooooooooo!!! whatever.
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
I remember when I bought something it came out to $6.66 and the cashier said oh no, you have to buy something else so it won't be 666!
Or the number 13. I don't know if it's in all hospitals, but the ones down here none of the hospitals have a room number 13. It goes from patient room 12 to 14 because they think 13 is such an unlucky number.
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Lamentation 3:24 The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.
When the REAL Antichrist comes to take over the world, I believe that he actually will tattoo the number "666" on everyone that worships him, and the ones that do will gladly do it. Why?
Because so much superstitous GARBAGE about the number is out there (like how some people thought that the world was going to end on 6-6-06), that people will be taking the number just to spite those superstitous idiots!
TaterHead wrote: When the REAL Antichrist comes to take over the world, I believe that he actually will tattoo the number "666" on everyone that worships him
But see... to me it really seems obvious that the whole antichrist/left behind/end of the world business is just a hyped-up misinterpretation of Revelation. Whenever I actually read Revelation and take in the context, it seems like all that antichrist business is superimposed on the text. Ah, who knows...
My point is just that 666 really doesn't have any power over us. What it is is a number. Somehow it related to an anti-Christian leader in the ancient Roman world, but its meaning (like so much of Revelation) is now lost to us. There's nothing to be afraid of. Sure, I'd avoid tatooing the number on myself, but I really doubt that will ever become a part of a world government's scheme to label its followers.
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
Sure, it sounds something that is very unlikely to happen...
But then you see some of these people who have their whole BODIES covered in tattoos because they want to "express what they feel like their spirits are" and you have to wonder like, if the people during the great tribulation are going to be really evil and curse God, even when their covered with boils and sores, then their choice of a tattoo symbolizing total allegiance to Satan is just a LITTLE thing to have done to your head and hand.
That is, if the "great tribulation" mentioned in Revelation hasn't already happened. What I mean is, I believe the tribulation refers to the persecution of Christians in Roman times, not some future world anti-christian holocaust.
-- Edited by Chris at 11:22, 2006-06-28
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
I remember having to learn ALL of the viewpoints to Revelation because I had to teach about it for THREE MONTHS in our Sunday school learner! OI! I was SO glad when it was over! I felt like even I could take on Tim LaHaye after the last lesson!
Chris wrote: Why does 666 scare us so much? If you read the passage in revelation, it just says that's the "number of the beast" and if you're discerning you can understand that it's the name of a person.
Well, you are right, the number 666 should not scare us, but I belive that we as Christians should be cautious of it. And actually scripture does say the number of the beast is 666. Modern scholars feel like this may be a barcode of some kind. Maybe a world banking organization where you have to have this barcode to purchase goods and services. Revelation 13:16-18 is the passage stating that the number of the beast is 666. It also says in verse 17 that it is the "name of the beast or the number of his name" So I think the mark of the beast could be a name or a number. The point being....should we buy more merchandise because our total at the store is $6.66...no....should we as Christians be deligent in our watch? Might be a good idea.
could be true, but it's also important to keep a cool head. I know people who are uncomfortable with credit/debit cards and atms because it's using a NUMBER to buy and sell things. Yes, maybe it's the word of what's stated in Revelation, but it's certainly not the spirit of what Revelation says.
...and I'm skeptical when anyone claims "scholarship" concerning Revelation. Yeah, there are a lot of scholars who study Revelation, but there are hundreds of possible interpretations, and each one is equally likely- and impossible to prove or disprove.
I lean more towards one of two interpretations: one being that Revelation applies to the persecution of Christians in ancient Rome, the other being that Revelation applies to events that happened in Heaven at or around the time of the events of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ were happening on Earth.
There are many reasons for my position on this, and if people are interested we can talk about them. But my take is that 666 doesn't have to scare us today, or ever. It has no power in and of itself, and right now there are too many people in the world who are clued-in to 666 being some evil number, to allow it to be used in any world-controlling way.
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
Growing up and watching those 'Left Behind' movies I always got the impression that eventually everyone would be somehow forced to literally tattoo the numbers 666 on their forehead. As an adult living in today's world THAT idea seems ridiculous to me however I have to admit that every time I hear rumors of ideas that eventually everyone will have some kind of ID chip implanted in them to stop identity theft etc it makes me think about this. But at the same time if people are doing this to somehow 'pledge their allegiance' to Satan or spite God it doesn't make sense because there is nothing evil about wanting to perserve your identity or keep your money safe.
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Going cold turkey isn't nearly as delicious as it sounds - Homer Simpson.
whatever.
could be true, but it's also important to keep a cool head. I know people who are uncomfortable with credit/debit cards and atms because it's using a NUMBER to buy and sell things. Yes, maybe it's the word of what's stated in Revelation, but it's certainly not the spirit of what Revelation says.
