# So didja get the memo on the \*new\* EVIL number?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 6, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653 "2005-05-06T05:21:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aurelian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurelian)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/1 "2005-05-06T05:21:02Z")
From [here](http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=702d14ee-4847-4c3d-90ce-46e933232df0).
Turns out, thanks to the fancy new imaging equipment at Oxford that the whole 666= mark of the beast, devil, bar codes, etc…was a bit off; the real number is 616.
Wow, so many revisions! Imagine all the Chick tracts that will have to be changed, the tattoos on aging heavy metal singers that will have to be altered…
From the same site:
> [@](#):
>
> Dr. Aitken said, however, that scholars now believe the number in question has very little to do the devil. It was actually a complicated numerical riddle in Greek, meant to represent someone’s name, she said.
>
> “It’s a number puzzle – the majority opinion seems to be that it refers to [the Roman emperor] Nero.”
Wow. Learn something new everyday.
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### Author:  [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/2 "2005-05-06T05:42:16Z")
It’s been done. Earlier this week, in fact. I’d look for the thread, but it’s thirsty thursday here.
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### Author:  [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/3 "2005-05-06T06:00:47Z")
> [@aurelian](#):
>
> From [here](http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=702d14ee-4847-4c3d-90ce-46e933232df0).
> Turns out, thanks to the fancy new imaging equipment at Oxford that the whole 666= mark of the beast, devil, bar codes, etc…was a bit off; the real number is 616.
>
> Wow, so many revisions! Imagine all the Chick tracts that will have to be changed, the tattoos on aging heavy metal singers that will have to be altered…
>
> From the same site:
>
> Wow. Learn something new everyday.
This is kind of old news.
In the book _Asimov’s Guide To The Bible_ Vol. II, New Testament (1969) there is the following:
"In the Greek and Hebrew languages … every letter was assigned a numerical value. Naturally, then. all words in Greek or Hebrew would have a numerical value.
…
The “number of the beast” is an example. … Comentators have considered virtually every possible candidate for the beast and the one most frequently mentioned is Nero. If his name is written in the Greek form-Neron-and if his title, Caesar, is added … and is written in Hebrew letters, then the total numerical value is indeed 666. If the final “n” is left out, the total is 616, and some old manuscripts of Revelation have 616 rather than 666 as the number of the beast."
And, of course, Asimov who wasn’t a great Biblical scholar got this information from sources that were older than his 1969 book.
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### Author:  [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/4 "2005-05-06T06:18:54Z")
Man, **6 6 6** is goint to be TOTALLY bummed out.
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### Author:  [@6\_6\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6_6_6)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/5 "2005-05-06T06:56:20Z")
> [@Spatial Rift 47](#):
>
> Man, **6 6 6** is goint to be TOTALLY bummed out.
Who? Moi? :mad:
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### Author:  [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/6 "2005-05-06T07:32:20Z")
Hmm. This [other](http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/story.jsp?story=634679) report says that the reference is to Caligula, not Nero. So which is it?
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### Author:  [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/7 "2005-05-06T07:39:05Z")
See earlier thread [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=314677&highlight=catholicism+fundamentalism)
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/8 "2005-05-06T10:15:32Z")
In other news, I have today designed a “circular transport-facilitation device”. Y’see, every point on a circle is equidistant from the centre, so if you place your point of support at the centre of the circle, you have neutral equilibrium, and…
What?
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### Author:  [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/9 "2005-05-06T11:40:16Z")
Hmmmm, 616 is my area code. I wonder if I should be concerned.
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### Author:  [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-didja-get-the-memo-on-the-new-evil-number/302653/10 "2005-05-06T13:50:33Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#):
>
> Hmmmm, 616 is my area code. I wonder if I should be concerned.
[Conspiracy Theorist]Let’s see…
616 is the area code for west MI.
The city of Ada falls in the 616 area code.
Ada is the home of Amway/Quixtar, the most vile and evil company on the planet.
It makes logical sense that the beas mentioned in Revelations lives in Ada, MI and that he works for Amway/Quixtar. Since James VanAndel died last year, we know he can’t be the beast. Therefore the beast must be Richard DeVos.
Where is my tinfoil hat when I need it?
[/Conspiracy Theorist]