PRACTICES OF THE WOMAN CALLED ‘JEZEBEL’

Sir,

Rev. 2: 18-20 says; “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” How tragic. The root of the problem in Thyatira was wrapped up in symbolic terms by the person and practices of this woman called ‘Jezebel’. She was a real person in the OT, but the name is used here in a symbolic sense. The name ‘Jezebel’ had, in fact, become proverbial for wickedness. Thus, what is meant is that this so-called ‘prophetess’ was as wicked and dangerous an influence in Thyatira as ‘Jezebel’ had been to Israel in the OT.

Collective

Therefore, in this passage of scripture, ‘Jezebel’ is not a single person but a collective reference to a group of false prophets and prophetesses in Thyatira. These had such a corrosive and corrupting influence in the church. The complaint of the Lord lies in the unhealthy degree of toleration granted to this woman by the church. So in Thyatira there was a group of God’s people full of good works and charity. But with all that is good and commendable, there is something very dangerous going on, something so seductive that Christ warned He would send judgment and make them an example to all the churches. These Christians were allowing false doctrines to be taught in the church. They allowed false teachings that came disguised as the true Word of God. It is very possible that a church can come to this very dangerous condition Christ warned about. In these last days the sons and daughters of Jezebel have an assignment. That is to deceive God’s servants by their false doctrines.

Enslaved

We are approaching the end of this earth’s history and the enemy is working as never before. Multitudes of surface readers in churches will be enslaved by false doctrines. Thousands will be under teachers who are pouring out doctrines of demons – and they come away saying, ‘Wasn’t that wonderful?’ Dear reader, I want to say, in no uncertain terms, that it is dangerous to be under wrong teachings. It is serious where you go to church, what you read and it is very serious who you are listening to. Avoid giving yourselves to the hands of false teachers and pushers of false doctrines. False teachings are being taught in churches nowadays, in gospel meetings, conventions and in great teaching seminars. The Bible warns, in Hebrews 13: 9, that ‘we are not supposed to be carried about with different and strange doctrines’. Do not be driven here and there and taken from place to place. It’s high time we stop running from place to place, seminar to convention, miracle meetings after healing meetings.

Ears

Let’s make it a point that our ears are not always itching to hear something sensational, something entertaining and something pleasing to your flesh. Paul warned Timothy that in the end times ‘people will not endure sound doctrine; but after their lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears’ (2 Timothy 4:3). Dear reader, the mark of a mature believer is a refusal to be ‘tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine’ (Ephesians 4:14). A mature believer cannot be manipulated by any teacher. A mature Christian will discern all doctrines that are false, and is repulsed by all the strange and new teachings. A mature Christian will not be held by friends, personalities or miracles, but by a hunger for the pure Word. Therefore, it’s high time we wake up from our slumber and as 2 Corinthians 7: 1 says; “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

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