The Jezebel Spirit

[Stephen63]

Continuing.........

The situation becomes doubly deadly if ‘Ahab’ becomes infected with a fully fledged Jezebel spirit themselves. Jackson describes how contagious this seductive spirit can be. The Jezebel spirit always appears ultra spiritual, but, beneath the spiritual mask lies an overwhelming desire to be number one. It loves being noticed and receiving adulation. ‘Wanting others to become dependent on them, they rarely find things going well in a church, because they must prove that their spiritual maturity surpasses that of the pastor.’ They often dredge up prophecies or dreams from the depths of their soul, or ‘borrow’ them from other prophets in order to make the best possible spiritual impression. Such people are normally full of jealousy for those more gifted than themselves, or who receive greater honour and acceptance.

As Solomon warned, ‘Anger is cruel, and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?’ (Pvbs. 27:4)

Another characteristic of the Jezebel spirit is an underlying bitterness. This often takes hold of people’s lives when they feel they are being overlooked for recognition or honour. Self-pity sets in and makes a person begin to seek ways of getting the gift they believe they have noticed by others. Since bitterness is often a reaction to a perceived, but possibly illusory, injustice, it will provoke a person to react against all authority, whether just or unjust. Bitterness brings despair. It is truly sinful and leads to lawlessness. In men, it is often characterised by a deep-seated bitterness towards women, or towards authority figures. It is a bitterness that drives them still harder to display their gift. In women it is often associated with jealousy

 

[notuptome]

Since the prophetic office is involved here and covered many times, we need to understand that we cannot interpret Scripture correctly by only using a traditional view of a prophet. This idea leads to much misinterpretation because not everyone knows what a prophet really is. To say a prophet is a person who gives prophecies is a definition that's next to worthless.


This is the word used in Revelation:


Prophetess - feminine of <G4396> (prophetes); a female foreteller or an inspired woman :- prophetess.

Prophetes - from a compound of <G4253> (pro) and <G5346> (phemi); a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet :- prophet.
.
From Easton's Illustrated Dictionary:
(Heb. nabi, from a root meaning "to bubble forth, as from a fountain," hence "to utter", comp. (Ps 45:1)). This Hebrew word is the first and the most generally used for a prophet. In the time of Samuel another word, ro'eh, "seer", began to be used (1Sa 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel. Afterwards another word, hozeh, "seer" (2Sa 24:11), was employed. In 1Ch 29:29 all these three words are used: "Samuel the seer (ro'eh), Nathan the prophet (nabi'), Gad the seer" (hozeh). In Jos 13:22 Balaam is called (Heb.) a kosem "diviner," a word used only of a false prophet.

The "prophet" proclaimed the message given to him, as the "seer" beheld the vision of God. (See (Num 12:6, 8)) Thus a prophet was a spokesman for God; he spake in God's name and by his authority (Ex 7:1). He is the mouth by which God speaks to men (Jer 1:9; Isa 51:16), and hence what the prophet says is not of man but of God (2Pe 1:20, 21; Compare Heb 3:7; Acts 4:25; Acts 28:25). Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of his mind and will to men (Deut 18:18, 19). The whole Word of God may in this general sense be spoken of as prophetic, inasmuch as it was written by men who received the revelation they communicated from God, no matter what its nature might be. The foretelling of future events was not a necessary but only an incidental part of the prophetic office. The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was "to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government."

Any one being a spokesman for God to man might thus be called a prophet. Thus Enoch, Abraham, and the patriarchs, as bearers of God's message (Gen 20:7; Ex 7:1; Ps 105:15), as also Moses (Deut 18:15; Deut 34:10; Hos 12:13), are ranked among the prophets. The seventy elders of Israel (Num 11:16-29), "when the spirit rested upon them, prophesied;" Asaph and Jeduthun "prophesied with a harp" (1Ch 25:3). Miriam and Deborah were prophetesses (Ex 15:20; Jdg 4:4). The title thus has a general application to all who have messages from God to men.

But while the prophetic gift was thus exercised from the beginning, the prophetical order as such began with Samuel. Colleges, "schools of the prophets", were instituted for the training of prophets, who were constituted, a distinct order (1Sa 19:18-24; 2Ki 2:3, 15; 2Ki 4:38), which continued to the close of the Old Testament. Such "schools" were established at Ramah, Bethel, Gilgal, Gibeah, and Jericho. The "sons" or "disciples" of the prophets were young men (2Ki 5:22; 2Ki 9:1, 4) who lived together at these different "schools" (2Ki 4:38-41). These young men were taught not only the rudiments of secular knowledge, but they were brought up to exercise the office of prophet, "to preach pure morality and the heart-felt worship of Jehovah, and to act along and co-ordinately with the priesthood and monarchy in guiding the state aright and checking all attempts at illegality and tyranny."

In New Testament times the prophetical office was continued. Our Lord is frequently spoken of as a prophet (Luke 13:33; Luke 24:19). He was and is the great Prophet of the Church. There was also in the Church a distinct order of prophets (1Co 12:28; Eph 2:20; Eph 3:5), who made new revelations from God. They differed from the "teacher," whose office it was to impart truths already revealed.

Due to the fact that anyone that speaks for God, such as a minister, or someone who seems to be multitalented and multifaceted when it comes to the Bible whom people believed to be inspired, can be considered a prophet. This is not a far-reaching assumption. Anyone who continually declares God's word, exhorts, & rebukes with the air of authority can be considered a prophet. The original Jezebel of the Old Testament was not a prophet as we think of the prophetic office, but she constantly added to Scripture in teaching false doctrine to the people of Israel, causing them to sin. She did it as if she had the authority to do so. Therefore the Old Testament Jezebel is indeed an example of false prophet, according to the true definition of of what a prophet is.

The context is important. The prophets are subject to the prophets. There is no new prophecy. Prophecy in the NT is the forth telling of Gods word. A pastor would, if he is worth his salt, exercise this office in the local church. Those who mysticize this are operating in a spirit other than the Holy Spirit.
There are false prophecies in abundance today. Many do not believe the bible is Gods word. Many do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Many do not believe in the sufficiency of Christ's blood. And many of these are standing in the pulpits of America this very day.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[1still_waters]

Continuing.........

The Jezebel spirit always appears ultra spiritual, but, beneath the spiritual mask lies an overwhelming desire to be number one.

Wow this really does match John's template from Rev 2. It certainly will be someone who comes off as spiritual, ie has direct pipeline revelation from God minus any interpretive work. People who don't claim that direct pipeline of word for word revelation, minus interpretive work, barely come off as "spiritual".

They often dredge up prophecies or dreams from the depths of their soul, or ‘borrow’ them from other prophets in order to make the best possible spiritual impression.

Again matches John's template. Someone claiming this direct pipeline of revelation through dreams, referencing other so called "prophets" all as a way to make an impression.

Certainly can't be someone who doesn't claim a direct pipeline of personal revelation.

 

[Stephen63]

Me thinks someone is trying to blur some lines.

So anyone who declares God's word= prophet?

The scripture draws distinctions between prophets, and teachers for a reason.

If a teacher or someone who declared the word as a teacher, was the same as a prophet, then all those functions would be tossed into the title of prophet.

Why is there a distinction between prophet and teacher/declarers of God's word?

Because there is a substantive difference.

Teachers/declarers of God's word involves an interpretive process.

Prophets on the other hand spoke verbatim word for word what came from God.

Inspired writers of scripture draw a distinction, because there is a distinction. If there weren't a distinction, and all this could simply fall under the title prophet, then there would only be the title prophet.



John referred to her as a prophetess for a reason.

That word means something in scripture. It's a distinct definible thing that can't be tossed into other definitions.

Teacher=teacher
Prophet=prophet

Me can't help what others think.
From the New Ungers Bible Dictionary:

PROPHET.One who is divinely inspired to communicate God’s will to His people and to disclose the future to them.
Names. The general Heb. word for prophet is nabî’, from the verb naba’; cf. Akkad. nabu, “to announce, call a declarer, announcer.” The primary idea of a prophet, therefore, is a declarer, announcer, one who utters a communication. The great majority of biblical critics prefer the active sense of announcing, pouring forth the declarations of God. Two other Heb. words, ro’eh and hozeh, are used to designate the prophet, both meaning “one who sees,” and sometimes rendered “seer.” The three words occur in 1 Chron. 29:29, where they seem to be contrasted with each other: “Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer [ro’eh], in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet [nabî’], and in the chronicles of Gad the seer [hozeh].” Ro’eh occurs twelve times (1 Samuel 9:11, 18-19; 2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Chron. 9:22; 1 Chron. 26:28; 1 Chron. 29:29; 2 Chron. 16:7, 10; Isaiah 30:10), and in seven of these it is applied to Samuel. It was superseded in general use by the word nabî, by which Samuel was designated as well as by ro’eh (1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Chron. 35:18), and which seems to have been revived after a period of disuse (1 Samuel 10:5, 10-12; 1 Samuel 19:20, 24). Hazôn is the word consistently used for the prophetical vision and is found in Samuel, Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, and in most of the Prophets. Whether there is any difference in the usage of these words and, if any, what that difference is, has been much debated. On the whole, it would seem that the same persons are designated by the three words. Sometimes the prophets are called watchmen, Heb. sopîm (Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:2, 6-7); shomer, a watchman (Isaiah 21:11; Isaiah 62:6); and ro‘eh, “pastoral,” a shepherd (Zech. 11:5, 16). The word is uniformly translated in the LXX by prophetes and in the NASB and NIV by “prophet.” In classical Gk. prophetes signifies “one who speaks for another,” especially “one who speaks for a god” and so interprets his will to man. Hence its essential meaning is “an interpreter.” The use of the word prophetes in its modern sense is postclassical, and is derived from the LXX. From the medieval use of the word propheteia (“prophecy”) passed into the English language in the sense of prediction, and this sense it has retained as its popular meaning. The larger sense of interpretation has not, however, been lost. In fact the English word prophet, like the word inspiration, has always been used in a larger and in a closer sense.

So someone who spends a lot of time interpreting Scriptures is known as a prophet. Therefore, Jezebel was a false prophet, because she reinterpreted Scripture. I believe that's why the New Testament says more about false prophets than it does about false teachers. It makes sense now. Those that spend their time announcing improper interpretation, then declaring their own interpretation, with authority, is using the office of a prophet.

 

[Stephen63]

The context is important. The prophets are subject to the prophets. There is no new prophecy. Prophecy in the NT is the forth telling of Gods word. A pastor would, if he is worth his salt, exercise this office in the local church. Those who mysticize this are operating in a spirit other than the Holy Spirit.
There are false prophecies in abundance today. Many do not believe the bible is Gods word. Many do not believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Many do not believe in the sufficiency of Christ's blood. And many of these are standing in the pulpits of America this very day.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

I agree with a lot of that.

Would you agree that those that undermine pastoral authority with their own would be considered a false prophet? When you read the epistles, this is happening all the time, especially to Paul.

 

[1still_waters]

Me can't help what others think.
From the New Ungers Bible Dictionary:

PROPHET.One who is divinely inspired to communicate God’s will to His people and to disclose the future to them.
Names. The general Heb. word for prophet is nabî’, from the verb naba’; cf. Akkad. nabu, “to announce, call a declarer, announcer.” The primary idea of a prophet, therefore, is a declarer, announcer, one who utters a communication. The great majority of biblical critics prefer the active sense of announcing, pouring forth the declarations of God. Two other Heb. words, ro’eh and hozeh, are used to designate the prophet, both meaning “one who sees,” and sometimes rendered “seer.” The three words occur in 1 Chron. 29:29, where they seem to be contrasted with each other: “Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer [ro’eh], in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet [nabî’], and in the chronicles of Gad the seer [hozeh].” Ro’eh occurs twelve times (1 Samuel 9:11, 18-19; 2 Samuel 15:27; 1 Chron. 9:22; 1 Chron. 26:28; 1 Chron. 29:29; 2 Chron. 16:7, 10; Isaiah 30:10), and in seven of these it is applied to Samuel. It was superseded in general use by the word nabî, by which Samuel was designated as well as by ro’eh (1 Samuel 3:20; 2 Chron. 35:18), and which seems to have been revived after a period of disuse (1 Samuel 10:5, 10-12; 1 Samuel 19:20, 24). Hazôn is the word consistently used for the prophetical vision and is found in Samuel, Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, and in most of the Prophets. Whether there is any difference in the usage of these words and, if any, what that difference is, has been much debated. On the whole, it would seem that the same persons are designated by the three words. Sometimes the prophets are called watchmen, Heb. sopîm (Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:2, 6-7); shomer, a watchman (Isaiah 21:11; Isaiah 62:6); and ro‘eh, “pastoral,” a shepherd (Zech. 11:5, 16). The word is uniformly translated in the LXX by prophetes and in the NASB and NIV by “prophet.” In classical Gk. prophetes signifies “one who speaks for another,” especially “one who speaks for a god” and so interprets his will to man. Hence its essential meaning is “an interpreter.” The use of the word prophetes in its modern sense is postclassical, and is derived from the LXX. From the medieval use of the word propheteia (“prophecy”) passed into the English language in the sense of prediction, and this sense it has retained as its popular meaning. The larger sense of interpretation has not, however, been lost. In fact the English word prophet, like the word inspiration, has always been used in a larger and in a closer sense.

So someone who spends a lot of time interpreting Scriptures is known as a prophet. Therefore, Jezebel was a false prophet, because she reinterpreted Scripture. I believe that's why the New Testament says more about false prophets than it does about false teachers. It makes sense now. Those that spend their time announcing improper interpretation, then declaring their own interpretation, with authority, is using the office of a prophet.

All I know is the Bible draws a distinction between the two.

Someone who reads God's word, interprets it, and declares is, is not a prophet. That is a teacher. If that were a prophet, then there would be no distinction between those offices.

If all of this got blended into one homogenous defined ball of wax, then we'd just have ONE word to describe many things.


We don't have ONE word to describe the many things.

We have prophet used to describe those claiming to hear from God, then proclaim it verbatim, minus any interpretive work. Prophet is a MORE direct way of declaring the things of God.

Yes to an extent a preacher/teacher reading the Bible, interpreting it, then declaring it, is declaring for God, but that is certainly substantively different than the prophet, thus the reason there is a distinction made between the titles/offices.

 

[Stephen63]

So someone who spends a lot of time interpreting Scriptures is known as a prophet. Therefore, Jezebel was a false prophet, because she reinterpreted Scripture. I believe that's why the New Testament says more about false prophets than it does about false teachers. It makes sense now. Those that spend their time announcing improper interpretation, then declaring their own interpretation, with authority, is using the office of a prophet.

Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP]Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[HR][/HR]Matthew 24:11 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[HR][/HR]Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP]For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
[HR][/HR]Luke 6:26 (KJV)
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
[HR][/HR]2 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP]But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
[HR][/HR]1 John 4:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP]Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

All of which claim to speak for God and interpret what he has already said.

 

[Stephen63]

For instance, there are some on TV that are constantly misinterpreting prophecies in the Bible, and declaring what they believe to be a proper interpretation. We know them as prophecy teachers. Those that teach prophecy are a prophet themselves just as Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha was heading the school of the prophets. Some prophecy interpreters claimed the office; others do not.

 

[1still_waters]

Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
[SUP]15 [/SUP]Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[HR][/HR]Matthew 24:11 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[HR][/HR]Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
[SUP]24 [/SUP]For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
[HR][/HR]Luke 6:26 (KJV)
[SUP]26 [/SUP]Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
[HR][/HR]2 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP]But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
[HR][/HR]1 John 4:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP]Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

All of which claim to speak for God and interpret what he has already said.

When Jesus intends to use teacher, he uses the word teacher.
When he intends to say prophet, he uses the word prophet.

These words are not interchangeable.

Someone who reads God's word, interprets it, then declares it, is not the office of prophet.
You're trying to blur lines by saying well both are declaring the things of God.

Well if all declarers of the things of God were prophets, then they'd all be called prophets.
But there is clearly a substantive difference in how people declare his word.
Thus the different names for offices/titles/etc.

 

[1still_waters]

For instance, there are some on TV that are constantly misinterpreting prophecies in the Bible, and declaring what they believe to be a proper interpretation. We know them as prophecy teachers. Those that teach prophecy are a prophet themselves just as Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha was heading the school of the prophets

Yes they're "teachers" because they take what's revealed, interpret, then teach.

 

[1still_waters]

So when John uses the term prophetess in Rev 2, he's referring to a very specific thing.
He's not referring to just anyone who is declaring some aspect of God's word/revelation.

He's referring to someone who declares it in a very specific way.
That way being as one of prophet, one who claims to hear from God, then declares it minus any interpretive work.

 

[RickShafer]

K. I'm tuckin this one away for future point of reference

Ahh.....Amilliennialism.
You may well be right. (I just don't see heaven and hell as having concurrent dominions over the earth. - But you may be right Still)
But to me, the Jezebel in Rev.2 is obviously a spiritual whore, causing the church under her to commit spiritual whoredoms.
And the truth is it might not have even been a physical woman.
I mean look, Paul said eating actual meat that was offered to idols was not an offense to God, but it was to those who were offended by it. So, to me,......(again I can only say what I see), the whole committing whoredoms and eating meat offered to idols is totally and completely spiritual.

 

[Stephen63]

So when John uses the term prophetess in Rev 2, he's referring to a very specific thing.
He's not referring to just anyone who is declaring some aspect of God's word/revelation.

He's referring to someone who declares it in a very specific way.
That way being as one of prophet, one who claims to hear from God, then declares it minus any interpretive work.

We can get so caught up in definitions we can miss what the Bible is actually saying. Stilly, you're the one who brought the Scripture in Revelation to the forefront repeatedly. Did you miss what it said?

Revelation 2:20 (KJV)
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, whichcalleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Greek Word: διδάσκω
Transliteration: didaskō
Phonetic Pronunciation:

did-as'-ko
Root: a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn)
Cross Reference: TDNT - 2:135,161
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: Teach

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:
teach 93
taught + <G2258> 4
[Total Count: 97]

a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application) :- teach.

If John said she taught the people, then she taught the people! All context has to be used. Refusing one point of context could twist the entire meaning here. Jezebel taught the people, PERIOD.

 

[Stephen63]

Ahh.....Amilliennialism.
You may well be right. (I just don't see heaven and hell as having concurrent dominions over the earth. - But you may be right Still)
But to me, the Jezebel in Rev.2 is obviously a spiritual whore, causing the church under her to commit spiritual whoredoms.
And the truth is it might not have even been a physical woman.
I mean look, Paul said eating actual meat that was offered to idols was not an offense to God, but it was to those who were offended by it. So, to me,......(again I can only say what I see), the whole committing whoredoms and eating meat offered to idols is totally and completely spiritual.

That is definitely something worth looking into!
The original Jezebel led the children of Israel into spiritual whoredom. This is true. I'm glad you noticed that.

 

[1still_waters]

We can get so caught up in definitions we can miss what the Bible is actually saying. Stilly, you're the one who brought the Scripture in Revelation to the forefront repeatedly. Did you miss what it said?

Revelation 2:20 (KJV)
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, whichcalleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Greek Word: διδάσκω
Transliteration: didaskō
Phonetic Pronunciation:

did-as'-ko
Root: a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn)
Cross Reference: TDNT - 2:135,161
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: Teach

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:
teach 93
taught + <G2258> 4
[Total Count: 97]

a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application) :- teach.

If John said she taught the people, then she taught the people! All context has to be used. Refusing one point of context could twist the entire meaning here. Jezebel taught the people, PERIOD.

Yes prophets do teach.
But all who teach are not prophets.

John used that distinct word for a distinct reason.
Because prophetecess claim that direct pipeline of hearing from God then declare what they claim to directly hear.

You're trying to say teacher=prophet.
Or anyone who declares the things of God= prophet.

If that were the case then it would read...

11 So Christ himself gave the prophets, the prophets, the prophets, the prophets and prophets

It wouldn't read as

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ,

We can get so caught up in definitions we can miss what the Bible is actually saying.

No I know what John is saying. He's using that word prophet for a reason.
He means to describe someone operating in that gifting, which is a distinct gifting from others who declare the things of God.

Again it doesn't say

11 So Christ himself gave the prophets, the prophets, the prophets, the prophets and prophets

It says..
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ,

And John uses that word for a reason.

 

[Stephen63]

Yes prophets do teach.
But all who teach are not prophets.

John used that distinct word for a distinct reason.
Because prophetecess claim that direct pipeline of hearing from God then declare what they claim to directly hear.

You're trying to say teacher=prophet.
Or anyone who declares the things of God= prophet.

If that were the case then it would read...

11 So Christ himself gave the prophets, the prophets, the prophets, the prophets and prophets

It wouldn't read as

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ,



No I know what John is saying. He's using that word prophet for a reason.
He means to describe someone operating in that gifting, which is a distinct gifting from others who declare the things of God.

Again it doesn't say

11 So Christ himself gave the prophets, the prophets, the prophets, the prophets and prophets

It says..
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ,

And John uses that word for a reason.

What matters most is what John said. After all, you wrote that last night and this morning.

I'm a pastor. I preach. That makes me a preacher. I teach. That makes me a teacher. Whether or not I'm great at it is beside the point. I am what I do. If John declares this Jezebel is teaching the people, then she's teaching. You can't get any plainer than that.
BTW, this was Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords telling John that. That pretty much nails it.

 

[damombomb]

Simiramis, Nimrod's wife and king Ahab's wife Jezebel seem to both have the same spirit. To seduce and worship idols.

 

[1still_waters]

What matters most is what John said. After all, you wrote that last night and this morning.

I'm a pastor. I preach. That makes me a preacher. I teach. That makes me a teacher. Whether or not I'm great at it is beside the point. I am what I do. If John declares this Jezebel is teaching the people, then she's teaching. You can't get any plainer than that.
BTW, this was Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords telling John that. That pretty much nails it.

Ok so John just threw the word prophetess in there as word filler.

It really should read..

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a teacher.


It shouldn't read

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess,

Or it could read both ways I suppose seeing both words are interchangable and John didn't use that word for a specific reason

 

[Abiding]

do we have a suspect yet?

 

[homwardbound]

So if we were to make a flowchart of sorts, to help us easily spot these Jezebel Spirits, where would we start?

I'll start with my initial list of five...well..four..according to some...

1. Claims to be hearing from, and speaking for God, under the office of prophetess. Verse 20
2. Teaches and deceives people to commit sexual immorality. Verse Verse 20
3. Teaches and deceives people into eating meat sacrificed to idols. Verse 20
4. Commits adultery. Verse 22
5. Knows the deep things of Satan. Verse24

Ok so what types of people would be on our list of potential Jezebels if you use the list John gives in Revelation?

1. They'd have to be someone who believes God is still speaking through the office of prophet/prophetess today.
2. They'd have to be someone who believes God is directly communicating to them.

So based on this very simple starting point, who can we disqualify as having a Jezebel spirit?
Honing in on the potential suspects starts by finding out who isn't on that list.

I'd suggest those who believe the following, would have to be removed from the suspect list of who is a Jezebel.

1. Someone who doesn't believe God is still speaking through the office or prophet/prophetess today.
2 Someone who doesn't believe God is directly communicating with them.

Yet does not God communicate with us directly today? where we each that believe not sent the Holy Spirit of promise to teach us the deep things of God? God is to be our direct teacher yes? Hebrews 8 is where this is found, God will be our teacher, not man
[h=3][/h][h=3][/h][h=3]Hebrews 1[/h][h=3]New King James Version (NKJV)
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[h=3][/h][h=3][/h][h=3]God’s Supreme Revelation[/h][h=3]1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, [SUP]2 [/SUP]has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [SUP]3 [/SUP]who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [SUP]4 [/SUP]having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
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[h=3][/h][h=3][/h][h=3]Hebrews 8:10-12[/h][h=3]New King James Version (NKJV)
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[h=3][SUP]10 [/SUP]For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [SUP]11 [/SUP]None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. [SUP]12 [/SUP]For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

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