Page 13 - The Mark of the Beast

nature, for the One who restrains is shortly to be removed and then the beast nature will
rise up uncontested in those who have failed to crucify the flesh. Many will be given over
by God to an unrestrained slavery to the sinful flesh, and only those who have crucified the
flesh with its affections and lusts will be spared.

II Thessalonians 2:7-12
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do
so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the
Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance
of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan,
with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness
for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be
saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will
believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the
truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Many are the saints who have been walking in sin. Many have been careless in their
walk in this world, toying with temptation, and at times even fully embracing it. Few have
labored to buffet their bodies and crucify the flesh, and as a judgment God will suddenly
remove the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and give them over wholly
to their depravity, their sinful fantasies, and their selfish nature. The still, small voice that
has been urging the children of God to repentance will suddenly be removed, while at the
same time the beast nature will rise up in all its power, and multitudes of those who once
professed Christ will fall away and no longer make any pretense of seeking to please God.
They will live only to satisfy the carnal desires of a depraved world.
The hour is close at hand, and the Spirit is making a final appeal. It is time to take a
decisive stand:

Revelation 18:4
“Come out of (the great harlot), my people, so that you will not participate in her sins
and receive of her plagues...”

Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom ye will
serve...”

I Peter 4:1-3
Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live
the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the
will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the
desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness,
carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

One group of people live for the lusts of men, while another live for the will of God.
One group are marked by the beast nature, the other with the divine nature. There is a vast
group of people today who have sought out a middle ground. They pay lip service to God,