Page 77 - The Mark of the Beast

was such a low and detestable act that Esau is used by the apostles as an example of one
who embodies all that is evil.

Hebrews 12:15-16
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God..., that there be no immoral or
godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

Pictured in the life of Esau are all those of the race of mankind who live for temporary
pleasure while despising the true riches of God. Esau represents men and women whose
eyes are on things of the earth, and whose god is their belly. Interestingly, Esau is even
described as smelling of the earth (Genesis 27:27). In the same way, those who mind earthly
things, and who live to enjoy the pleasures of the earth, take upon them the scent of the
world that they love so much. The saints of God are admonished to have a much different
focus.

I John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the
world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides
forever.

Both Cain and Esau responded with murderous hatred when they observed their
brothers obtaining favor and a blessing while they did not. Esau swore to kill Jacob after
their father had died. Yet the favor of God, the blessing and the birthright, cannot be
obtained through such bestial actions. Only by subduing and ruling over the beast nature
can man find favor with God and receive the birthright and the blessing that belong to the
sons of God. Those who live as children of the devil will receive wrath and judgment along
with him.
Let us look now at one final man who was clearly given in Scripture as a type of those
who have hearts of beasts. This is the great king Nebuchadnezzar who ruled over the
Babylonian Empire from 604 BC until 561 BC. He is spoken of in Scripture more than any
other pagan king, and he ruled over the empire whose name has become synonymous with
confusion and mixture and the works of man. In the book of Revelation we find Babylon
being spoken of as representing all that is evil, bestial and worldly, and the voice of God is
crying out for His people to come out of Babylon lest they participate in her sins and
partake of her plagues (Revelation 18:4).
Ancient Babylon is noted for her splendor. She was located in what is now Iraq, and
there was once an inland sea that came close to her location, but now it is all barren desert.
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was the hanging gardens of Babylon.
Babylon was an exceedingly rich and luxurious place, filled with all of the wealth and
splendor of the world. Over this empire King Nebuchadnezzar ruled for 43 years. It was this
same King who laid siege to Jerusalem and who burned the city with fire and carried off the
treasure of the Temple.
Babylon’s triumph over the people of God is a symbol of the many men and women
who have been called of God, but who have been taken captive by the allure of the world.
These have been removed from a place of worship to Yahweh to be taken as slaves to a far