Page 59 - The Mark of the Beast

ruling and reigning with His Son Yahshua, but only those who rule over the beast nature
will be chosen to continue in positions of honor in the kingdom. The kingdom of God will
be taken away from those who fail to subdue and rule over the beasts and given to those
who do so.

I Samuel 15:28
So Samuel said to [Saul], “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today
and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.”

As we look at the event that precipitated these words of Samuel to Saul, this matter
of his failure to rule over the beast nature can be seen even more plainly. God had charged
Saul with destroying the Amalekites, and God gave Saul explicit instructions in this matter.

I Samuel 15:3
Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him;
but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel
and donkey.

It is interesting to once more note the mention of donkeys in this list. The animal that
Saul had failed to subdue and rule over earlier, he is commanded to slay and to not spare.
Saul was also commanded to destroy the other beasts of the Amalekites as well, their ox and
sheep and camels. Yet Saul found an excuse to let the more attractive of the beasts live.

I Samuel 15:7-9
So Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is east of
Egypt. He captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all
the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the
best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were
not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they
utterly destroyed.

What tragedy is in these words, “but they were not willing to destroy them utterly.”
How many saints shrink back from the cross when God would command them to crucify the
flesh entirely? Perhaps they hold onto some area of covetousness, or some secret sin, some
lust, or pride. They say, “God, I will destroy that which is unattractive to me, but I will hold
onto that which I value and cannot bear to put to death.”
Saints, this is why those who are called of God must count the cost of discipleship. God
is not satisfied with those who shrink back from allowing Him to do a thorough work of
transformation in their lives. He is not willing that man should leave any area of the beast
nature un-crucified. The saints are called to present themselves a living sacrifice that all
their flesh might be consumed on the altar.
Observe now Saul’s deceit, for it is found everywhere in the church today.

I Samuel 15:13-15
Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of Yahweh! I have
carried out the command of Yahweh." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating
of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" Saul said, "They