What do you think?

[Momo-P]

I know this is a strange question guys, but lately something has seriously been bothering me.

I'm a huge fan of Marvel comics, but as most comic fans know, the main universe for marvel is numbered 616. Although many still treat 666 as the number of the beast, old information seems to reveal that 616 is the real one.

Ya, I know, real silly for me to worry, but I can't help it. I wonder if it means something, like God wants me to stop reading them or what. I mean...my all-time favorite character Deadpool may be a screw up a lot, but he does try (and desire) to do what's right. It's not like I'm obsessed with villians or something rather worrysome.

What do you guys think? I mean...on one hand I doubt the marvel guys purposely picked it for satan. Back then we all thought 666 was still the number after all. On the other I keep having that voice telling me "oh, but it might've just happened for a reason!" *sighs* Ya, I need to stop worrying...and probably thinking for that matter.

[ADXC]

Oh my. Me thinks you be thinking too much about this. But really I don't think God would want you to stop reading something you enjoy that is unless it keeps you away from God or destracts you from God. I don't think you'll have to worry about this.

[Momo-P]

Well I definitely still think about God...otherwise I wouldn't have even gave thought to this. XD

Sadly I'm just a really big thinker in general. And worrier. Not a good combination. ^^;

[Slater]

616 and 666 are kinda separated by 50...

Original translation is "six hundred three score and six"

[Nia-chan]

If God wants you to stop reading the comic he'll have it burst into flames while you're holding it

[[GMOD]Vedicardi]

If God wants you to stop reading the comic he'll have it burst into flames while you're holding it

Quoted for truth.

[Debitt]

It's good to keep an open ear to what God wants you to hear, so to speak, but not to the point where we're looking for details constantly and saying things like "well THAT shop's address is 666, obviously he doesn't want me to go in there!"

If there was a real, content-based reason for you to stop reading comics, then by all means I encourage you to go with your convictions. But dropping something simply based on a number seems like it's more superstition rather than conviction. Why fear numbers?

EDIT: Also, I'm a huuuuge fan of Deadpool, too. 8D <3

[termyt]

I'm not sure things have to burst into flames, but I still don't think any number should stop you from reading anything.

If that was intentional, then shame on Marvel, but content is far more important. If there was some evidence that Marvel was doing "bad things" with its profits, then that would be worthy of consideration as well. I'm not aware of any such "bad things" and if the story entertains and uplifts you, then read it.

[AsianBlossom]

It's good to keep an open ear to what God wants you to hear, so to speak, but not to the point where we're looking for details constantly and saying things like "well THAT shop's address is 666, obviously he doesn't want me to go in there!"

Whoa, that reminds me of what happened recently. My mom and I got haircuts at this one salon, and when we got home my mom looked at the receipt and she's like, "Oh, goodness; take a look at the store's address." I know it's not really too much in relation to this topic, but I just felt like saying it.

Anyways, I don't really think you have much to worry about. I've heard that the trouble comes when you analyize something so much you can't enjoy it anymore...you pretty much turn into a nervous wreck. (I know what it's like being that way; I'm an overly-analytical worrier too )

[Slater]

Yeah... 666 is the number of the Beast, but in the end it's just a number... Nothing magical about it. Like for example, I was born on Friday the 13th, but that doesn't make me the son of Jason or anything.

In the end, if God doesn't want you to read the comics, He'll just put the conviction on your heart not to. If you feel that way, then you should stop... it's not like someone's making you read them.

[rocklobster]

Yeah... 666 is the number of the Beast, but in the end it's just a number... Nothing magical about it. Like for example, I was born on Friday the 13th, but that doesn't make me the son of Jason or anything.

In the end, if God doesn't want you to read the comics, He'll just put the conviction on your heart not to. If you feel that way, then you should stop... it's not like someone's making you read them.

I doubt seriously Marvel is the mark of the beast. They're not THAT bad of a company!

[Raiden no Kishi]

I doubt seriously Marvel is the mark of the beast. They're not THAT bad of a company!

I concur; don't worry about it. The number is 666, not 616. Marvel isn't the Beast. However, the people responsible for the second Fantastic Four movie . . .

.rai//

[Sheol777]

Well the whole 616=666 thing is ridiculous...its just a number.

The 616 thing started in Captain Britain Comics when Alan Moore was doing the writing for it and is quoted to pick it "at random". His point was to show that the earth we know in Marvel Comics is not the "prime" earth...or majorly significant (thus not number 1). So 616 seemed random to him. Marvel has taken this idea and ran with it...check out this link:

Marvel Multiverse

[termyt]

That would indicate it may be a farcical reference to DC Comic’s labeling their primary Earths Earth-1 and Earth-2. Not wishing to be so vain, or perhaps to point out how vain DC was, they chose Earth 616. In the Wiki article, I did not see a reference to any number claimed by a DC Earth. Coincidence?

[EricTheFred]

616 and 666 are kinda separated by 50...

Original translation is "six hundred three score and six"

This is just how it was originally translated to English. I don't believe Greeks counted in "scores". They used a base ten system derived from their alphabet (such that 666 was written "theta-theta-theta".)

The original poster is referencing farther back, to early Latin translations from the original Greek. Current Biblical scholarship says that somewhere along the way, the number got mangled from theta-alpha-theta to theta-theta-theta (the script characters can look a little alike in some hands). I don't remember what the basis for this belief is, but if you're curious, anything involving the Beast or the Number or anything else in Revelations generally has a ton of info you can search out on the web.

Something about this number just keeps attracting the world of fiction. I don't know if the writer chose to do it on purpose, but in one scene of "Galaxy Express 999", you see the characters walking across the numbers 999 painted on the concourse... from behind, so that the numbers are inverted to "666". Does this mean God doesn't want you watching classic Anime either? Doubt it, but that's just my opinion.

[RedMage]

The last three digits of my youth pastor's phone number are 666.

[That Dude]

I had a youth pastor with a license plate that had 666 in it. He said it was actually a great evangelism tool. Random people that would never talk to him would approach him about it. And he was a satanist before he became a christian so he new what they were talking about and how to desciple them.

Anyway back to your point Momo... I honestly don't think it's a big deal, what you got to watch out for is the content. If it's unworthy of Godly contemplation than you don't need to bother with it. But if it is worthy of contemplation than go for it. And as far as the whole 616 666 deal goes, well honestly if it bothers you so much than just stop reading them.

[primetech]

Just the fact that somebody is believed to be the future Antichrist, almost puts them out of the realm. The person will be beloved by all, not thought to be Satan beforehand. Marvel Comics has too many fanatic (myself included) anime fans for enemies to be the Corporation of the Beast. But the thought is an interesting one...

[mitsuki lover]

Actually that would explain why they killed off Captain America,now wouldn't it?
To be serious though,666 amd 616 are just numbers nothing more and nothing less.Yes,in the book of Revelation one or the other is used as
the Mark of the Beast,but if you go and study both Revelation and the
Greco-Roman culture that it came out of you will see that John is using
it as a code to encyrpt the name of the Emperor who he considered the
Beast.
Many scholars consider this to be a reference to Nero.

[That Dude]

ML I'd caution you against quoting that the 666 is code for Nero in such a way as you just did. By putting it as you just did you just opened up a can of endtime worms that probably shouldn't be opened at the moment. There are way to many people who believe that the tribulation hasn't happened (myself included) who might take up your quote in arms. I don't mean to be a jerk but you seriously should consider editing your post.