“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”
(Rev 2:20, NKJV)
When we started with this sub-theme of “there is no longer male nor female” we pointed out that perspectives on women were often either an undervaluation or an overvaluation. Both ways of thinking are wrong. We have now mainly focused on the undervaluation of the woman in the Jewish and Christian faith, but it is important to also briefly look at the other side.
(It is to important to set the record straight from the get-go – the aim of this teaching is not to extensively discuss the spirit of Jezebel. We are currently examining how the blood of Jesus removed the wall of division between man and woman, and a discussion of the spirit of Jezebel can create the impression that it is a specific spirit which only manifests through women. This is not the case. There are often more men than women who function in this spirit of manipulation and control, often pairing it with a religious spirit. Herod was a very good example of a man who had been controlled by the spirit of Jezebel.)
The figure of Jezebel which we become acquainted with in the two books of Kings is obviously a historical figure that manifested the spirit of control and manipulation through her actions – it did not necessarily originate from her. The person referred to in Rev 2:20 is also named Jezebel, and although it also probably refers to a particular historical figure, both the Old Testament shadow figure and the New Testament symbolic equivalent, can be considered as a type of person with a particular agenda.
There is much that can be said about the figure of Jezebel, but what is important for our current purposes is that she elevates herself, obtains false positions of authority (often through the subtle use of sensuality), and often makes unholy alliances. She slowly, quietly becomes the centre, the untouchable god in a position of power. Very few people can discern that her so-called prophetic word merely affirms her false position. Leonard Cohen identified her modus operandi in his song Hallelujah, where he sings, “She ties you to a kitchen chair, she breaks your throne and she cuts your hair, and from your lips she draws the hallelujahs.”
How great is Jezebel’s influence? Ten million Israelites turned from Yahweh through her influence, to worship the idols Baal and Astarte. Only seven thousand people, including Elijah, saw through her facade. It is her life’s purpose to, in very subtle ways, hunt prophets down and destroy them, thus countering the “testimony of Jesus” (Rev 19:10).
Why is it important to discuss this within our current theme? We will try to summarise it in a few points:
The origin of the spirit of Jezebel lies in her identity, her name, which means “unhusbanded”. The unwillingness to submit is the foundation of this spirit of rebellion. And we know – all rebellion is witchcraft – “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry …” (1 Sam 15:23, Webster).
Jezebel’s greatest enemy is spiritual authority. It is then very clear that the entire process in theology of trying to counter the prophetic voice and functioning of women is directed by this spirit. This spirit knows what the power of this true authority will be if it was unleashed through men and women being loosened from this deception, and thus it is so vehemently opposed. [With the writing of this teaching, in early July 2009, the synod of the Reformed churches finally decided that a woman could not function in any position of leadership (as either elder or deacon), and could likewise not be ordained as a reverend. They believe that they received this wisdom in humble submission before God, whom they had asked for guidance. But God cannot contradict his Word. This has one seriously doubting whether it was truly the Spirit of God which had led the synod. Ps 18:25-26 is possibly relevant in this case.]
Jezebel works with self-appointed authority – she calls herself a “prophet”. The contemporary fashion of pinning your spiritual calling to your name, Apostle So and So, Prophet This or That, Evangelist Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, is in fact an attempt to get recognition with a particular name. True authority does not need the fanfare of spiritual titles, because it is recognized and acknowledged by true believers. True authority is discovered by believers who are led by the Spirit.
It is important to remember the Gnostic-link with Jezebel – she reigns through so-called knowledge, what is often “prophetic” insight, or a “word of knowledge”, or a “deep revelation”. Through this she controls the uninformed. If you have a relationship with God He will obviously speak directly to you, not through spiritual mediators. Many of the wrong paths that contemporary and especially Charismatic churches head into are often the result of the workings of the spirit of Jezebel. Jezebel uses any manner of behaviour to get her own way. If she threatens or blackmails and it still does not work, she’ll feel sorry for herself and paint herself as the victim (Martyr instead of Master.) Through this she tries to gain sympathy and thus does eventually succeed in her goals, as she again manipulates the outcome through her actions. Women who are attacked by this spirit in church can themselves easily fall prey to this spirit when they, under silent protest, have to submit. The spirit of Jezebel often works alongside the spirit of Ahab, where people with authority function as lap dogs that carry out her agenda. This often happens because they cannot discern the spirit of Jezebel.
The greatest problem Jezebel causes, is that she causes those who are called to loose their spiritual vision, causing them to want to abandon everything on account of a demonic depression, that they become fearful or feel isolated, as had happened with Elijah.
Jezebel tries to keep the church within particular parameters – we do as our fathers had done.
Jehu had to kill Jezebel. His name means Jehovah is Him, which thus makes him a type of Jesus, the true Authority. He “drives furiously” (2 Kings 9:20) to counter her, and is unforbidding, without compromise “How can there be peace as long as the harlotries and witchcrafts of Jezebel are many?” (2 Kings 9:22).
This is our battle too.
- Sela: Ask Yahweh if the spirit of Jezebel possibly works through you.
- Read: Jos 6-11
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: Jos 7 (Tip: Acts 5:1-13)
