Page 79 - The Mark of the Beast

money? God still abases the proud and is determined to have all men walk in humility and
meekness before Him.
In each of the three men we have looked at we have seen a different manifestation of
the beast nature prove to be the occasion for their downfall. In Cain it was his envy and
jealousy. In Esau it was his unbridled appetites. In Nebuchadnezzar it was his pride. In each
instance the flesh rose up, resulting in God bringing them low. It is no coincidence that we
see Nebuchadnezzar on the roof of his palace when he is speaking such prideful thoughts.
Esau and his descendants also settled in high places, even in Mount Seir, which is in some
places called “the mount of Esau” (Obadiah 21).
The beast nature crouches within every man awaiting an opportunity to rise up and
take control. Yet those who allow it to do so are brought low, even as this once mighty king
began to go on all fours and to eat grass like the cattle. God is able to make men into kings,
yet when they do not submit to Him or walk humbly before Him, He will give them over to
the heart of a beast.
As we look at the society around us, we see many men who have been given over to the
heart of a beast. When we capture a wild animal we often place them in a cage to keep them
from injuring people. Likewise men place those men and women who act beastly in cells
with iron bars. The prisons of the world are filled with rapists and murderers and thieves
and embezzlers and extortioners and kidnapers and pedophiles and liars and all manner of
violent and lustful and covetous men and women. Yet, the simple fact of living outside of
these prisons is no proof that men and women are subduing and ruling over the beast
within.
Perhaps in Nebuchadnezzar more than any other man we see the end of those who fail
to subdue and rule over the beasts within. God has revealed through him an incredible
picture of a man going from kingly glory to beastly depravity. Even the highest can be
brought low, and all who do not humble themselves before God will be abased.
As those who are called of God, we should all recognize that within us are the seeds
of our own destruction. It is by the grace of God that we are not overcome by the raging
appetites of the fallen flesh, and the sin that dwells in our members. Let no man think more
highly of himself than he ought, for we are all prone to temptation, and we have laid upon
us the necessity of exercising dominion over our fleshly passions. Let us encourage one
another in these things. Let us not condemn others for their failures, but rather let us seek
to restore them to a reflection of God.

Galatians 6:1-4
Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are
spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right
and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all
gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in
this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete
what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks himself to be
somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is
nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and
cheats himself. But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his
own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy
of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful