How come conservative Christians don't recognize 666 when they see it?

[Cyrano]

Let me say right up front that I'm a devout agnostic.

Nonetheless, I know that many Christians believe that 666 is the sign of the anti-Christ. Especially, Republican right-wing Christians who are waiting with baited breath for Him to show up.

Well, if I believed the way they do, I think the past four years have shown us where those three sixes probably reside. They're either on the ass of George Bush, Dick Cheney, or Karl Rove.

If these people win the upcoming election, is there much doubt in your mind what this planet will become in the next four years?

Blasphemy? Anti-Christian? Overwrought? Nuts? Okay, show me where I'm wrong. (And then we'll have the same discussion four years from now, assuming any of us are around.)

[candy]

1. A lot of people are just plain superstitious.

The numbers 666 are a telephone exchange in my area and a lot of folks just won't take a number from that exchange.

[louis-t]

2. They were in my area years ago

people got it changed I think. Haven't seen that exchange for a while even though I don't live in that area anymore.

[candy]

7. Somerville,Salem,and Orleans all have 666 for an exchange in Eastern Mass

Different area codes,of course.

[Cyrano]

4. See? Proof positive that Massachusetts is an evil place. But then

everyone always knew that. You guys had witches in Salem a few hundred years ago. And now you have John Kerry, the most liberal senator in the history of western civilization. Evil, evil, evil.

[madrchsod]

3. 666?

666-which are also greek letters that stands for three cities that is /was in the area of present day middle east/turkey. if i remember correctly it was jesus mom and her other son that admonished the people in these towns not to turn away from the teachings of christ.

[Cyrano]

5. Ahah, an apostate. We all know what those three cities were.

San Francisco, New York and Lake Wobegon. Stop trying to mislead us. We all know who you are. Boy, did that dog love you in "The Omen."

[IChing]

6. No child left behind

They don't recognise it because they are either home schooled or are getting that education smiky talks about:

We want results in every single classroom so that one single child is left behind.
-- Who's the lucky kid? Little Rock, Arkansas, Nov. 10, 2003

And guess who would get shuffled through? Children whose parents wouldn't speak English as a first language just move through.
Oct. 13 debate --- parents refusing to speak english.

666 - is hard to read backwords.

[demwing]

17. Home school blah blah

get a new gig.

At least my homeschooled kids know the correct spelling of the word "backwards."

[Pathwalker]

8. Of course they do, and that's WHY they support *.

They want Jesus to return, and anything that helps that cause is fine by them. They are blackmailing God into making Jesus return, by setting up the 'prophecies" that must be "fulfilled" so God will rapture them all up to heaven. My fundie family says it is God's mission for * to be the Anti-Christ, and is proof that he is "The Chosen One".
Defies logic, I know, but that has never been their strong suit.

"Whatever brings Jesus back is fine with me" (My own cousin's response when I told her * acts like the Anti-Christ)

[enki23]

9. while i think it's damned funny to imagine fundies with "baited" breath

i'm thinking their breath is bated, as well as baited.

Sally, having swallowed cheese,
Directs down holes the scented breeze,
Enticing thus with baited breath
Nice mice to an untimely death.

Geoffrey Taylor, Clever Cat

[Mizmoon]

10. They are up in arms about this medical chip

The one the FDA approved to be implanted in the skin for medical records, similar to the ID ones that pets get now. Already someone has suggested that all Americans get one so that illegals can be tracked more easily and for border control. This fits in perfectly with "the mark of the beast" without which a person cannot bank, shop, etc.

Boy oh boy ... this should be fun to watch as it plays out.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Oh, yeah. Now, what verse was it that warned about implanted

computer chips?

[Mizmoon]

12. Here's a little something I found online about it

What is the mark of the beast?

Question: “Where in the Bible does it talk about the mark of the beast? And what’s your opinion?”

Answer: The main passage in the Bible that mentions the "mark of the beast" is Revelation 13:15-18. Other references can be found in Revelation 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4. The number associated with the beast (antichrist) and his mark is said to be that of "a man" (666). This mark acts as a "seal" for the followers of antichrist and the false prophet (spokesperson for the antichrist) is the one who causes people to take this mark, just as the Holy Spirit is the "Spokesperson" within the Godhead (John 15:26), and seals believers in Christ (Ephesians 1:13;4:30). Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet then make up some sort of perverse parody of the Trinity (a "satanic trinity" if you will). I believe the mark is literally placed in the hand or forehead, and is not simply a card someone carries. We shouldn't spend a lot of time speculating on the details past that, since that is as far as the Bible goes.

Many good expositors of Revelation have differed widely as to what exactly the mark of the beast is. Besides the "ID card" view, others have speculated that it is a microchip, a barcode that is tattooed into the skin, or simply a mark that identifies someone as being faithful to the antichrist's kingdom. This last view requires the least speculation, since it does not add any more information than what the Bible gives us, but we must remember that John is foreseeing the future (Revelation 1:9-10); he is not simply having a dream, so he is describing something real. Imagine trying to describe a barcode or some kind of chip that slightly shows through the skin if you only have a 1st-century vocabulary. In other words, any of these things are possible, but at the same time they are all speculations, so we will just have to see how it turns out.

Recommended Resource: Understand Bible Prophecy for Yourself by Tim Lahaye.

[Mizmoon]

13. HA - smilies were automatically placed in my previous message

IT MUST BE SATAN AT WORK!!!!

[AntiCoup2K4]

16. Logically, it would be the best way for the system to work

Revelation chapter 13 says that no man will be able to buy or sell unless he has the "Mark of the Beast". So it's not much of a leap to say that all financial transactions will be conducted through the "mark". A microchip such as the one just approved could be programmed to function as a "debit card" just as easily as it could for identification purposes.

[CO Liberal]

14. I Worked With a Guy Once...

...who was convinced that Ronald Reagan was the Anti-Christ.

Ronald - 6 letters
Wilson - 6 letters
Reagan - 6 letters

6 letters x 3 = 666

You can't argue with "logic" like that....

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. 666 refers to QSR NRN or "Caesar Nero" so says Gematria

It has no relevence anymore. Of course if it did have to have relevence I sure wish the fundies would jump on the boat of "Bush is the anti-christ"