616, 666 and other Bible math

May 10, 2005 11:50 AM

That, as previously reported, a newly deciphered fragment of the Book of Revelations shows 616 is the true Number of the Beast, rather than the popular 666, is nothing new in the world of those obsessed with codes in the Bible. However, one Bible code in particular -- Theomatics -- has sparked debate among believers and non-believers alike.
posted by me3dia (25 comments total)

Just wondering... I'm I the only one who still finds humor in "664: The Neighbor of The Beast", or what?
posted by ImJustRick at 12:22 PM on May 10, 2005

Insert obligatory floating-point error joke here.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:28 PM on May 10, 2005

just wait till you find out about order 66
posted by muckster at 12:30 PM on May 10, 2005

616 is also the area code of Michigan, which clearly proves Theomatics
posted by poppo at 12:31 PM on May 10, 2005

"The phenomenon only works in the Bible and nowhere else. No other work of literature ever written, never has, and probably never will, be able to consistenly demonstrate anything like theomatics."

--Why would someone devote so much time to something so stupid?

"Price $55.00 postpaid"
--Oh yeah, never mind.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:46 PM on May 10, 2005

It's the Book of Revelation, damnit. Revelations is the TV show.
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:08 PM on May 10, 2005

Yeah -- Theomatics -- I'm about to fall to my knees. Woohoo.

If I took the Greek translation of the Bible and selected particular words and assigned arbitary numerical values to those letters and pieced them together and with various elisions and separations and carefully counted up the values and held my breath for a long time until the lack of oxygen made my brain cells die off -- yeah, then I'd come up with exactly this same "revelation".

Jesus wept.
posted by mooncrow at 1:17 PM on May 10, 2005

Hmm. MrMoonPie, then mooncrow, now raincrow. Clearly there's a code.

And I live in unit #616 in my building.

Black Mass at my place on Friday, folks.
posted by raincrow at 1:33 PM on May 10, 2005

um... 616 is only the area code of PART of Michigan! Hello? Some of us grew up in the good old 313 which, if you believe Rabbit from the immortal film 8 Mile, ain't nothing to F@#$ with.

(and no, imjustrick, you're not the only one. I lived in 660 on my block for years, but we always called 664 the neighbor of the beast. The beast lived on the corner, actually)
posted by indiebass at 2:12 PM on May 10, 2005

Black Mass at my place on Friday, folks.

Actually, Black Mass is now Neutral Gray Mass.
posted by eatitlive at 2:21 PM on May 10, 2005

616 is also the area code of Michigan

616 is only the area code of PART of Michigan! Hello? Some of us grew up in the good old 313

517 ain't no slouch either.

and metro detroit sports several of its own these days.
posted by quonsar at 2:37 PM on May 10, 2005

I hate math.
posted by hojoki at 3:57 PM on May 10, 2005

Don't hate math, you'll make my mathematician boyfriend cry. bedsides, I've seen math, and this is not it.
posted by Specklet at 4:25 PM on May 10, 2005

I know. Just funnin'.
posted by hojoki at 4:41 PM on May 10, 2005

You want to find the number 616 in the world, you will be able to find it everywhere. 616 steps from a mere street corner to your front door. 616 seconds you spend riding on the elevator. When your mind becomes obsessed with anything, you will filter everything else out and find that thing everywhere.

As soon as you discard scientific rigor, you're no longer a mathematician, you're a numerologist.

Now how about a nice game of Go?
posted by dreamsign at 4:43 PM on May 10, 2005

apologies to michiganites with area codes other than 616...that's the one my wife is from, hence the one i associate with michigan
posted by poppo at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2005

Dave Thomas searched Genesis: "I also found MONICA crossed with CLINTON, near the phrase "thou shalt not go down."
posted by rdone at 5:01 PM on May 10, 2005

Sure dreamsign, but now I have to take longer steps than I used to. At least I get out of the elevator faster. (Seriously...11 minutes in the elevator? Rush hour or something?)
posted by graventy at 5:34 PM on May 10, 2005

I grew up in the 616, and now I live in the 269, and let me tell you something:

269 is the bastard offspring of 616. Used to be, whole west side of the state was 616. Now kzoo is getting all uppity, goes and makes up their own area code.

Nevertheless, it is important to point out that the 616 area of Michigan was settled by, and remains heavily populated by members of the Dutch Christian Reformed Church.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 7:22 PM on May 10, 2005

666 is more striking of a number. If I were the Beast, I think I would go with 666 over 616. 999 is pretty impressive, but then all these British people would be constantly calling me for help, like a hellbeast is going to send you an ambulance or anything.
posted by jb at 8:30 PM on May 10, 2005

11:15, restate my assumptions
posted by dreamsign at 10:30 PM on May 10, 2005

"The phenomenon only works in the Bible and nowhere else. No other work of literature ever written, never has, and probably never will, be able to consistenly demonstrate anything like theomatics."

Obviously you have yet to encounter the revelations in The Microsoft License-Agreement Code.
posted by soyjoy at 7:30 AM on May 11, 2005

What a relief! My birthday is on 6/6/06 next year. Guess I'm safe now.
posted by DakotaPaul at 10:37 AM on May 11, 2005

Nevertheless, it is important to point out that the 616 area of Michigan was settled by, and remains heavily populated by members of the Dutch Christian Reformed Church.

It was settled by members of the Dutch Reformed Church. The poorer members, specifcally. Those who could afford it went to Iowa. Don't ask me why. The Christian Reformed Church, however, is an offshoot of this church, which started when the Dutch Reformed Church (now the Reformed Church in America) went down the road to hell by introducing hymns. The main lesson to remember is that the original church is pretty sane, but every split was reactionary.

Also, 269 is nothin compared to those wannabes in 231.
posted by dagnyscott at 11:10 AM on May 11, 2005

Some of us grew up in the good old 313

And are only half as evil, yes, yes, we've all heard it before.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:38 AM on May 11, 2005