Jezebel - who made a pet of the Wolves?
No discussion of Baal worship would be complete without a discussion of Jezebel. Biblically speaking Jezebel was the biggest proponent of Baal worship.
According to Smith's Bible Dictionary (1962) the following is a description of Jezebel.
In modern church vernacular a Jezebel is someone with a spirit of control due to her control over Ahab and therefore the Kingdom of Israel. I believe that this use of this term obscures the full impact of who and what Jezebel was and what the spirit of Jezebel truly may be in our modern day churches.
What can be surmised from the description found in Smith's Bible Dicitionary and from scripture itself? The first thing was the establishment of a false religious system, Baal worship. Second, she provided considerable support for the false prophets of Baal and Astarte. Third, she attacked and killed the true prophets of The Lord God Jehovah. Fourth, she caused the leadership of the nation, namely Ahab, to become a pouting child who pandered to her wishes and joined her in the worship of Baal.
Is that happening in the body of Christ? According to my own summation, I was a Jezebel. I brought a false religious system into my life and my home. I supported the false prophets of the various ministries I was following. I did not kill people, however; I was not very open to any criticism of my new found religious activities. My husband did not turn into a pouting child but he was pandering to my wishes in these matters. He joined in the pursuit of these things largely at my insistance. Men will do a lot to keep their wives happy. It's been going on since Adam.
Is this happening in the churches and ministries at large? Turn your TV to Christian Networks. The owners of these networks allow anyone that can buy air time and claims Christ to broadcast on their stations. It doesn't matter what absurd things they say about Jesus Christ, His Blood, the basic tenets of the faith, as long as they pay the air time, they are welcome. In turn these false prophets, false teachers and false christs fleece the flock with their constant pleas for money. Therefore, a large portion of the body of Christ is supporting these false prophets. The body of Christ is bringing these false religions and teachings into their homes and families via the air waves. Many of these false prophets and teachers bring down curses and attack anyone who stands against them. How many Christian husbands are pandering to their wives desires to be involved with these ministries? How many are joining in these practices with their wives?
Finally, Jezebel usurped the King's authority. Isn't that what is happening in the modern day churches? Everywhere it seems the authority of our King, Jesus Christ, is being challenged. The authority of His written word, the Holy Bible, is being twisted and denigrated. Many of today's churches barely use the Bible in their sermons. Often bringing your bible is touted as unnecessary because they project the bible verses of their text onto a screen. Some churches have the lights so low you can't read your bible. There is no longer a purpose in bringing your bible to church.
Bringing your bible to church was a time honored tradition in Christianity. You were often asked to raise your bible to show you had indeed brought it with you. There was a time in history when the common man having a bible was unheard of -- it seems we are headed back to the dark ages.
According to Smith's Bible Dictionary (1962) the following is a description of Jezebel.
Jezebel (chaste), wife of Ahab king of Israel. (B.C. 883.) She was a Phoenician princess, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians. In her hands her husband became a mere puppet. 1 Kings 21:25. The first effect of her influence was the immediate establishment of the Phoenician worship on a grand scale in the court of Ahab. At her table were supported no less than 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Astarte. 1 Kings 16:31, 32; 18:19. The prophets of Jehovah were attacked by her orders and put to the sword. 1 Kings 18:13; 2 Kings 9:7. At last the people, at the instigation of Elijah, rose against her ministers and slaughtered them at the foot of Carmel. When she found her husband cast down by his disappointment at being thwarted by Naboth, 1 Kings 21:7, she wrote a warrant in Ahab's name, and sealed it with his seal. To her, and not to Ahab, was sent the announcement that the royal wishes were accomplished, 1 Kings 21:14, and on her accordingly fell the prophet's curse, as well as on her husband, 1 Kings 21:23; a curse fulfilled so literally by Jehu, whose chariot-horses trampled out her life. The body was left in that open space called in modern eastern language "the mounds," where offal is thrown from the city walls. 2 Kings 9:30-37.
In modern church vernacular a Jezebel is someone with a spirit of control due to her control over Ahab and therefore the Kingdom of Israel. I believe that this use of this term obscures the full impact of who and what Jezebel was and what the spirit of Jezebel truly may be in our modern day churches.
What can be surmised from the description found in Smith's Bible Dicitionary and from scripture itself? The first thing was the establishment of a false religious system, Baal worship. Second, she provided considerable support for the false prophets of Baal and Astarte. Third, she attacked and killed the true prophets of The Lord God Jehovah. Fourth, she caused the leadership of the nation, namely Ahab, to become a pouting child who pandered to her wishes and joined her in the worship of Baal.
Is that happening in the body of Christ? According to my own summation, I was a Jezebel. I brought a false religious system into my life and my home. I supported the false prophets of the various ministries I was following. I did not kill people, however; I was not very open to any criticism of my new found religious activities. My husband did not turn into a pouting child but he was pandering to my wishes in these matters. He joined in the pursuit of these things largely at my insistance. Men will do a lot to keep their wives happy. It's been going on since Adam.
Is this happening in the churches and ministries at large? Turn your TV to Christian Networks. The owners of these networks allow anyone that can buy air time and claims Christ to broadcast on their stations. It doesn't matter what absurd things they say about Jesus Christ, His Blood, the basic tenets of the faith, as long as they pay the air time, they are welcome. In turn these false prophets, false teachers and false christs fleece the flock with their constant pleas for money. Therefore, a large portion of the body of Christ is supporting these false prophets. The body of Christ is bringing these false religions and teachings into their homes and families via the air waves. Many of these false prophets and teachers bring down curses and attack anyone who stands against them. How many Christian husbands are pandering to their wives desires to be involved with these ministries? How many are joining in these practices with their wives?
Finally, Jezebel usurped the King's authority. Isn't that what is happening in the modern day churches? Everywhere it seems the authority of our King, Jesus Christ, is being challenged. The authority of His written word, the Holy Bible, is being twisted and denigrated. Many of today's churches barely use the Bible in their sermons. Often bringing your bible is touted as unnecessary because they project the bible verses of their text onto a screen. Some churches have the lights so low you can't read your bible. There is no longer a purpose in bringing your bible to church.
Bringing your bible to church was a time honored tradition in Christianity. You were often asked to raise your bible to show you had indeed brought it with you. There was a time in history when the common man having a bible was unheard of -- it seems we are headed back to the dark ages.
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