Passion tickets bear 'mark of the beast'
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Jim Caviezel, portraying Jesus Christ, carries a cross on the set of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
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ROME, Georgia (AP) -- Tickets at one movie theater screening Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" are being deemed decidedly unholy.
The number 666, which many Christians recognize as the "mark of the beast," is appearing on movie tickets for Gibson's film at a Georgia theater, drawing complaints from some moviegoers.
The machine that prints tickets assigned the number 666 as a prefix on all the tickets for the film, said Gary Smith, owner of the Movies at Berry Square in northwest Georgia. The 666 begins a series of numbers that are listed below the name of the movie, the date, time and price.
"It's from our computer and it's absolutely a coincidence," Smith said. "It has nothing to do with the film company or any vendor. It's completely in our computer."
In the Bible, the book of Revelation says 666 is the "number of the beast," usually interpreted as Satan or the Antichrist.
Several patrons have made comments about the numbers, and one person who was uncomfortable having 666 on her ticket asked for a pass to be substituted for a ticket.
"A lot of people have asked what the numbers mean, some said it seemed odd, some said it was inappropriate," said theater employee Erica Diaz.
The movie, which opened Wednesday, is a bloody depiction of Christ's final hours and crucifixion.
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