Page 78 - The Mark of the Beast

away place that is focused upon trafficking in the goods of the world. Some who have found
themselves as slaves in Babylon have mourned over the destruction of the Temple, which
is a symbol of mankind who was created to be a temple of God, and they have grieved over
the slavery and bondage of the people of God. Yet many more have become comfortable in
Babylon, and even when they have been given the opportunity to leave, they have chosen
to remain.
Babylon is a picture of all things that appeal to the natural man, and we should not be
surprised that her greatest ruler was a beast man. God gave a dream to Nebuchadnezzar
revealing that he was going to be given over fully to the beast nature because he would not
honor and glorify God, but chose instead to glory in self. We read of the fulfillment of this
dream in the book of Daniel.

Daniel 4:29-33
Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The
king reflected and said, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as
a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” While
the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, “King
Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and
you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the
beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time
will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of
mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.” Immediately the word concerning
Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began
eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his
hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

King Nebuchadnezzar manifested one of the most pronounced attributes of the beast
nature, which is pride. Instead of walking humbly before God and acknowledging Yahweh’s
role in granting him sovereignty and bestowing upon him majesty and splendor, King
Nebuchadnezzar brazenly attributed all of these things to his own power.
There are few men or women who have ever possessed authority and splendor to the
extent of King Nebuchadnezzar, but even in lesser things there is a great temptation to
manifest a similar attitude. Many men have boasted of being “self-made men.” Many
business leaders have boasted of their prowess in building a successful company, or of
rescuing a faltering company and making it profitable. Many artisans boast of their skill in
crafting some masterpiece, of writing a best seller, or authoring some work that is a critical
success. An actor may be proud of his attainments on the stage or on film. In every venue
of life those who attain some measure of success are tempted to credit themselves.
The saints may admit the error of such conceit, but even in the church this boasting
is present. Churches vie with one another to build the biggest, or most ornate, sanctuaries.
They strive to demonstrate the most growth as they count nickels and noses. Some boast
of having the oldest church in the area, or having the most illustrious ministers to preach
in their pulpits. Others seek to top their building with the highest steeple in town. The
ministers and attendants then walk around and boast of that which they have built through
their own power and might.
Is it any wonder that so many of those who have once stood as proud examples of
spiritual attainment have suddenly been brought low by some unrestrained lust for sex or