They are mocking God by using a "fake 17" composed of 8+9. I suspect "8" is "infinite" and "9" is evil as 9 or as an inverted 6 which is a "reduced Godly man" as 7-1=6. So the "fake 17" represents "infinite evil" with "reduced man" as its instrument. REAL 17 is 10+7=17, imo, which represent man in God's image working to benefit humanity.
They are mocking God by using a "fake 17" composed of 8+9. I suspect "8" is "infinite" and "9" is evil as 9 or as an inverted 6 which is a "reduced Godly man" as 7-1=6. So the "fake 17" represents "infinite evil" with "reduced man" as its instrument. REAL 17 is 10+7=17, imo, which represent man in God's image working to benefit humanity.