"That Woman Jezebel"

Jesus' fiery eyes have pierced further. He notes something that needs immediate attention. "Nevertheless," He tells the Christians in Thyatira, "I do not hold this against you that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols." (Revelation 2:20) In the tenth century B.C.E., Queen Jezebel, the Baal-worshiping wife of King Ahab of Israel, had become notorious for her murderous adulterous dominating ways. Jehu, as Jehovah's anointed one, had her executed. (1Kings 16:31; 18:4; 21:1-16; 2Kings 9:1-7, 22, 30, 33) The idolatrous Jezebel had no claim to being a prophetess. She was not like Miriam and Deborah, who served as faithful prophetess in Israel. (Exodus 15:20, 21; Judges 4:4; 5:1-31) And Jehovah's spirit did not move her to prophesy as it move the aged Anna and the four daughters of Philip the evangelizer.- Luke 2:36-38; Acts 21:9.

Plainly, then, "that woman Jezebel" who claims to be a prophetess in Thyatira is a sham. She has no backing of God's spirit. Who is she? Likely, she is a woman or group of women acting as a shameless corrupting influence in the congregation. some associated women may have been involving congregation members in immorality, while brazenly justifying their self-willed course by misapplying scriptures. False prophesying indeed! They would influence others to fall into their own ways of "fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5) They would have those in the congregation indulge in an immoral, self-seeking life-style of the kind that is now countenanced, or winked at, in most of Christendom's religions.

Jesus goes on to tell the elders in Thyatira: "And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her fornication. Look! I am about to throw her into a sickbed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds." ( Revelation 2:21, 22) Just as the original Jezebel apparently dominated Ahab and then defiled God's executioner, Jehu, so this female influence may be trying to manipulate husbands and elders. It seems that the elders in Thyatira are tolerating this immodest Jezebel influence, Jesus here sounds a strong warning for them, as well as for the global congregation of Jehovah's people today. In modern times, some such strong-willed women have induced their husbands to become apostates and have even instigated court action against Jehovah's faithful servants.-Compare Jude 5-8.

This in no way reflects unfavorably on faithful women in the Christian Congregation. Nowadays, a great part of the witness work is being accomplished by faithful sisters; through the home Bible studies that they conduct, they are bringing throngs of new ones into the congregation. God himself blesses this arrangement, as is indicated by Psalm 68:11: "Jehovah himself gives the saying; women telling the good news are a large army." Husbands may be influenced for the good by the mild, respectful conduct of their wives, which "is of great value in the eyes of God." (1Peter 3:1-4) The capable, industrious wife is praised by King Lemuel. (Proverbs 31:10-31) It is only when women step out of line by seducing men or by challenging or ignoring headship that a Jezebel influence arises.- Ephesians 5:22, 23; 1Corinthians 11:3.

Next time: Continue with the above subject.