An article on the original 'The Omen' film. What went on behind the cameras was just as scary as what we eventually saw on screen.

The Omen: Stranger Than Fiction

All comments appreciated,
Ste

I recall a similar list of incidents being reported when Iron Maiden recorded The Number of the Beast.

Part of the problem with this kind of thing is that most people aren't able to read the Book of Revelation in its original language. Consequently it's often misquoted and widely misunderstood. It is an extremely difficult text to decipher. As a piece of apocalyptic literature (like the Book of Daniel and some of the Apocryphal texts) it needs a key to unravel the images. As for the number, 666, most Biblical scholars believe this refers to the Emperor Nero, just as the whore of Babylon refers to the Roman Empire.

Revelation is simply a description of God's judgement upon humanity. There is nothing 'supernatural' about it.

What I find most curious about those who focus on the demonic apsects of the book, is that this is a Christian text which makes it clear that those who follow the Devil are damned and those who follow Christ are saved. I always find it amusing that this 'minor' detail is ignored.

Yes, the original meanings are pretty much lost - many scholars believe, judging by John the Revelator's letters to the relevent churches of Asia, is that the events described already occured long ago. The Roman Empire and Babylon both fell centuries ago, though it is an easy thing to relate the texts to this day and age.

And yes, it does end with salvation - a New Heaven and a New Earth - for a lucky few. The Tribulation leading up to that is very nasty, however, and full of demonic inspiration - that is why writers focus so much on that material. But as I state in my novel based around these themes, and one, I may add, that is correctly researched, is that the ending is a foregone conclusion anyway. That's why I wanted to do something different with it, and not in a po-faced horror kind of way.

JB

Gulliver, thanks for the fascinating insight.

Most appreciated,
Ste