Page 65 - The Mark of the Beast
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of the song declare, “Some through the fire, Some through the flood, Some through great
               sorrow, But all through the blood.” There is only one way in which to attain to the will of
               God that man should be formed in his image and after His likeness. The flesh must be
               crucified that the beast nature might give way to the divine. In the book of Revelation we
               read of the birth of these full stature sons of God.


                       Revelation 12:1-5
                       A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under
                       her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she
                       cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. Then another sign appeared in
                       heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on
                       his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven
                       and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about
                       to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. And she gave
                       birth to a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her
                       child was caught up to God and to His throne.

                     The woman, who is the church, is depicted as in labor and in pain to give birth. This
               birth is that which she was chosen by Christ to accomplish. This birth will be the great
               fulfillment and highest attainment of her life. What joy it will be when the church, who has
               so  long  been  barren,  finally  produces  children  in  the  very  image  and  likeness  of  her
               Husband who is the Lord Yahshua the Messiah.
                     The next line of this verse from Genesis states that the woman’s desire will be for her
               husband. The husband that is spiritually signified here is Christ. Even though her desire for
               her husband will lead her to experience pain, there have been, and continue to be, those
               who still desire Him. Even the pain of bringing forth children after His image will not turn
               these ones away.
                     The last line states, “And he will rule over you.” What glorious things this points to.
               What is in view here is not some domination by a tyrant, but the advent of the kingdom of
               God. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” should be the desire and passion of all the
               saints. Yes, gladly do we choose for Christ to rule over us! May the beast be cast down and
               may Christ arise as Lord over all areas of our lives.
                     We may look at the church today and see her barrenness. We may behold all those
               who name the name of Christ who are far from manifesting the image of the divine. But the
               seed of Christ has been sown, and it has been taking shape in hidden places out of sight
               from the eyes of mankind. One day soon a birth will take place and the world will be amazed
               to witness the revealing of this overcoming company who have attained to the image and
               likeness of God.
                     Christ suffered many things in His life, and through His sufferings He was perfected.
               As the saints join in the suffering of Christ they too will be perfected and be brought to the
               image of God. This message is revealed in numerous Scriptures.

                       Hebrews 2:10
                       For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things,
                       in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through
                       sufferings.
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