Getting Real with Jezebel

Getting Real

Anyone who has been in the church for any length of time has probably heard various definitions of Jezebel. Preachers, teachers, and prophets all have their exegesis on who she is and how she translates into New Testament (NT) life. I want to talk about Jezebel in the Thyatira Church. What was Jesus’ beef with her anyway?

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.’”

Revelation 2:18-23 (ESV)

Jezebel promoted sexual immorality and idolatry. Jezebel was a person in the Thyatira Church. She was not a spirit. She was likely a face well-known to the congregation in the Thyatira Church and a friend to many. She was one of them and she had influence. Notice that Jesus says the church allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce others regarding sexual immorality. She was allowed to have an influence on others and was not disciplined nor restrained by the leaders of the church.

Since Jezebel was promoting sexual immorality and Jesus was about to judge the church for it, what does the NT define as sexual immorality and what are the consequences for it?

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 22:14-15

According to 1 Corinthians 6, sexual immorality includes fornication, adultery, and homosexuality. Revelation 22 states that the immoral will not enter the city (New Jerusalem) and 1 Corinthians says they will not inherit the Kingdom. Both scripture references place sexual immorality together with other vile sins.

How often do we hear messages on holiness? Are people dealt with biblically regarding these vile sins? Paul, by the Holy Spirit, says:

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (ESV)

The man spoken of (“Purge the evil person from among you”) was having sexual relations with his step mother and would not repent. Sexual immorality was not tolerated! The remedy was to expel the person from the congregation—with the hope of restoration. The goal was to get the person to acknowledge their sin, repent, and be restored, so that they would not be judged. In this case it worked: the man came to his senses and was restored (2 Corinthians 2).

Sexual promiscuity and perversion are prevalent in the church today.

They are tolerated.

They are allowed.

By the church…

… but not by God.

God is Holy and we too are to be holy (1 Peter 1:15). People who are living an immoral lifestyle or who are promoting such a lifestyle should not be allowed to stay in the congregation where they will have influence. They should be given space to repent, as was Jezebel. Jesus said: “I [Jesus] gave her [Jezebel] time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.”

This is New Testament Christianity. God is kind and God is merciful, yet He does not tolerate sexual immorality within His church. His kindness does not translate into passiveness. And since judgment is not handed out immediately, people continue in sin (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

Really, it’s time to stop sinning, whatever our sin may be. Don’t be passive about sin—God isn’t. Encourage your friends to serve the Lord with passion and holiness.

God is Holy.

Be holy.