Subj : Big fat warning, oh my!
To   : Curtis Johnson
From : Frank Masingill
Date : Sun Oct 22 2000 09:57 am

 -=> Quoting TODD HENSON to CONSTANCE RAWLEY <=-

 > I recall reading that there was a variation on 666 but don't
 > remember where or what the number was. What manuscripts are you
 > referring to? Please tell me you know. :-) I think a link
 > between the two numbers is interesting, but...  but...

 TH> I believe that the variant number is 616, not 613. I couldn't
 TH> tell you which texts that appears in  though.

 CJ> Some Old Latin (i.e, pre-Vulgate) MSS.  Irenaeus also makes
 CJ> mention of seeing MSS with that number (616). That the
 CJ> numerology works for both Latin (616) and Greek (666) versions
 CJ> of Nero's name and title is one important piece of evidence
 CJ> that "John" was indicating Nero.  (Quotes around John because
 CJ> it is very evident that the same person could not have written
 CJ> the gospel and Rev.) Other important pieces of evidence: 1) It
 CJ> was under Nero that the war which devestated Jerusalem began.
 CJ> 2) Nero did have pretensions that his reign would inaugurate a
 CJ> new era in history.  (Are you paying attention, Frank?)

        Yes, it reminds me of the assembly of preachers gathered on
a Sunday afternoon at the Baptist church of my childhood (affiliated
with the Convention Jimmy Carter has just deserted) to examine a
candidate for the ministry.  They were there to examine the
candidate for his orthodoxy but even more important they were there
to reveal to a gullible audience how much THEY knew about the book
of _Revelation_ and its meaning.  It still is a favorite sport among
such people as far as I know.  Oddly enough, no one ever thought
about mentioning the image of the Christ riding in blood up to his
horse's bridal against his enemies.  I sit ENTHRALLED by theories
regarding the background of apocalyptic books.  We don't have to be
TOO much in the dark about _Daniel_ - at least I don't THINK so.
But then there is ALSO Lindsay (sigh).  

        What continues to get my high interest is the importance
atheists give to religious literature.  I find that fascinating.

Frank

--- PPoint 2.07
 * Origin: Maybe in 5000 years (1:396/45.12)

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