Revelation: Jezebel

 Revelation: Justification by Faith

Jezebel

Revelation 2:18
"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass:
19. I know your works, love, service, faith, and your perseverance; and that your latter works are greater than the first.
20. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.’”

Thyatira was home to individuals who displayed love, service, faith, and perseverance. There was even evidence of growth in these virtues. These commendable believers were addressed by God, but a dark shadow loomed over the visible church.

The name Jezebel, tolerated even by the virtuous, cast a stain on Thyatira. She led people into spiritual immorality—forsaking God to follow other gods. Jezebel was left unchecked, allowed to mislead God’s people. Unrepentant herself, she turned others away from repentance. Moreover, adultery was committed with her.

Claiming to be a prophetess, Jezebel brought an air of authority, much like Balaam, the prophet of Pergamum. Here, Jezebel is a symbolic name, drawing from the Old Testament account during the time of Elijah. Jezebel was the queen of Israel and wife of King Ahab, but she was not of Israelite origin—she was a Sidonian.

1 Kings 16:31
"And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, as wife; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him."

Through Jezebel, Israel was drawn into idolatry, including the king himself. Yet, as Revelation suggests, she still bore the title of prophetess and seemingly retained some respect within the church, as though she were an Israelite or Christian. But she was not.

Her actions further obscured the true faith upheld by Elijah and replaced it with her own religious practices. What happened to the true prophets who condemned her actions?

1 Kings 18:4
"For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water."

Many were killed, and Elijah himself believed he was the only one left. This illustrates the extent of Satan’s dominion during this time. Yet, even then, the truth was not completely extinguished.

Faithful individuals like Elijah remained. Though God’s people, with their works of love, faith, and perseverance, tolerated Jezebel, there were still those who opposed her.

During her reign, Israel experienced 3.5 years without rain. Under her influence, the prophets were slain, and Israel plunged deeper into idolatry. The spirit of Jezebel was alive in the church at Thyatira.

But how can one stand firm in such times? When the state itself aligns with religious agendas against God’s people, using deceit and idolatry to infiltrate, how can believers remain steadfast?

The answer lies in faith alone. By looking in faith to the binding declarations of God’s law as revealed at the cross, Satan’s power is broken. The sinner becomes aware of the immense guilt placed upon Christ because of their compromise. Their heart is purified through faith, filled with love for Christ, and no earthly authority can bind them any longer.

As long as such a person looks in faith to the cross and holds God’s Word as their infallible standard, so-called prophetesses like Jezebel can only harm their body. Their conscience is free, their life transformed, and their faith anchored solely in Christ. They have learned, like the prophets who perished in Jezebel’s time, directly from God.

Though intolerance toward Jezebel may provoke hatred, God will not forget His people, even in death.

Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

1 John 5:3-4
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."

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