A small, highly religious town in southwest Louisiana has finally gained the right to change their 666 area code, which they consider a stigma.
For 40 years the town of Reeves, La., has battled to change the phone prefix, but has failed at least four times, Mayor Scott Walker told The Associated Press. But beginning this month, residents and businesses can apply to change their area code from 666 to 749.
“This boils down to, this is a very, very religious community,” Walker said, according to AP.
The town has three churches, two Bible and one Baptist, in a community with less than 450 homes.
In the Bible, the number 666 is marked on the beast which some interpret to be the antichrist or a Satan-possessed human. Moreover, those associating with the numbers 666 are considered to be aligning themselves with Satan.
Walker said he was contacted by residents earlier this year about changing the area code, and said a citizen poll found overwhelming support for the change. He worked with the phone company and the state Public Service Commission among others to secure the change.
“It’s been a black eye for our town, a stigma,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything bad on us, just an image.”
He said whenever he gives people his phone number, they pause and then warn him that he needs to change the prefix.
“That’s what we’re trying to get rid of,” he said. “This is a good town …We’re good Christian people.”
Walker said the change is set to be official for City Hall on Jan. 2 and noted that some 20 people contacted him Friday morning about making the change.
Comments
Oh sorry its "oh thank heaven for 711"...I'll take a big bite and a big gulp.....ha ha ha ha ha ha lol (bigtime)
So what is 711 the number for heaven then (oh thank god for 711)slurpees anyone?
Wow I would have kept it. Just for sheer shock value telling people my phone number was 666-ect.
"666 may be the number of the beast, but its kinda worthless without the area code to hell."-something I saw on another message board.
GMG,
True. But that's the difference between someone who is spiritually minded and someone who is carnally minded. One who is spiritually minded isn't caught up in that kind of garbage. I would not be bothered by the number 666 until it came time to be...and an area code is not the time to be.
Jester? Ummmm, no, having 666 as an area code isn't going to send them to hell, of course. But, like I said before, it IS a creepy number. Wouldn't like the unpleasantness of having to be constantly reminded of the anti-christ and the ugliness, depravity and outright evil that brings to mind. Can't really blame them for wanting to have it changed.
Now, you did eat your black-eyed peas on New Year Day, didn't you? :-)
So, if they have 666 as there area code, they are marked by the anti-christ? they're goin to hell?
jester...happy new year!
I agree with some of the things you say about superstition. But these folks are not being superstitious, they just refuse to have anything to do with the number 666 that is associated with the identity of the Anti-Christ in the Bible. What, pray, is superstitious about that?
Superstition is laughable, yes. Looking for conspiracies and anti-christs around every corner is grossly inane. A couple years ago, I went to the courthouse to renew my tags on my car. They had one of those number ticket dispensers that you take a number and wait. I had number 701. There was a guy there who had pulled number 666! And he was trying to get rid of it! I can't figure out why he didn't have the intelligence to begin with to just grab the next ticket and throw that one away. But anyway, no one would take it! So I traded him. I didn't die. I'm not going to hell. And I got through the line a lot faster than he did.
Superstition is a bondage. It breeds fear and lack of faith. It says that God is not big enough to take care of me. I've walked under ladders, had black cats cross my path, spilled salt, broken a mirror or two, and probably a myriad of other things that can be considered superstitious. But I'm still here, still kicking, and still being blessed by God.
Superstition is of the devil. Grow up. Be a man/woman of God, not a child of the devil. Use the authority that God has given you, and stop acting like a bunch of kids.
Good folks - before you berate your fellow countrymen any further, let me remind you that their right to indulge their religious beliefs is guaranteed in the US. Constitution, just as that same Constitution guarantees your right to belittle them on this website.
Let me also remind you that "walking under ladders and black cats crossing your paths" are your superstitious beliefs, not theirs. Their wish to change their area code is based on their desire not to be associated with the number 666 that the Bible says will help to unravel the identity of the Anti-Christ. What, may I ask, is laughable about that?
WOW, superstition at its best. Interesting stuff.
I don't know that the area code had anything to do with the Anti-Christ, but I sure am glad it's not my area code. :-)
We are blessed that God would reveal this sign of 666 in His Word.
For those who are able to understand how to apply the sign, this tells us who the Anti-Christ is, and how close we are to this time.
Do not overlook that there is also a "mark" associated with this sign that will be required by all to have. True Christians must deny this mark. This is reality. It's just a matter of time.
kc....
what am i sure about?
HampsteadPete,jester_in_the_Kings_court,GMG,Online4Him,
Hummmm, You seem pretty sure of yourselves.
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight" (Isaiah 5:20,21)
Yeah i have. just the other day as a matter of fact. but i did it because a black cat crossed my path, and that is a bad sign. i think...is that right?
But, yeah, 666 does have a stigma attached to it. but i believe with hamsterpete...that its just a representation of the anit-christ...not an actual number.