Chapter Ten/Abhorring the "Deep Things of Satan"

"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  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-worshipping wife of King Ahab of Israel, had become notorious for her murderous, adulterous, and dominating ways.  Jehu, as Jehovah's anointed one, had her executed.  (1 Kings 16:31; 18:4; 21:1-16; 2 Kings 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 prophetesses in Israel.  (Exodus 15:20, 21; Judges 4:4; 5:1-31)  And Jehovah's spirit did not move her to prophesy as it moved 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 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 shameles corrupting influence in the congregation.  Some associated women have been involving  congregation members in immorality, while brazenly justifying their self-willed  course by misapply scriptures, False prophesying indeed!  They would influence  others to fall into their own ways of "fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and coveteousness, 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 n ow 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 husband and elders. It seems that the elders in Thyatira are tolerating this immodest Jezebel influence.  Jesus here sounds a  strong warning  for them,a s 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 give the saying:   "The women telling the good news are a large army."  Husbands may be influence for good by the mild, respectful conduct of their wives, which "is of great value in the eyes of God."  (1 Peter 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; 1 Corinthians 11:3.

Referring to  "that woman Jezebel," Jesus continues:  "And her children I will kill with a deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am he who searches the kidneys and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds."  (Revelation 2:23)  Jesus has allowed Jezebel and her children time to repent, but they persist in their immoral ways and hence must receive judgment.  There is a powerful message here for Christians today.  Those who imitate Jezebel, whether men or women, and thus become her children by violating Bible principles on headship and morality or by being headstrong so as to ignore theocratic  order, are spiritually in a dangerously sick condition.  True, if such a one calls upon the elders  in the congregation to pray over him, "the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah  will raise him up" -provided he humbly  acts in harmony with those prayers.  But let no one think that he (or she)  can fool God or Christ by attempting  to conceal immoral acts or by putting on an outward show of zealous service. -James 5:14, 15. 

Next time: Chapter Ten/Abhorring the "Deep Things of Satan"

From the book of Revelation