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A Choice of Culture
Here is an excerpt from the tract “The Spirit of Jezebel” by Dale Rumble
”Satan has placed certain fallen angels as authorities of darkness over populated cities, regions and countries (Ephesians 6:12; Daniel 10:13). Operating through demons, these principalities exercise specific roles of wickedness in deception and warfare against mankind. The spirit of Jezebel, one of these spirit beings, is the most dominant authority of evil over our nation today!
The following are manifestations of this spirit which become apparent from observing the demonic behavior of Queen Jezebel whom it controlled. The wicked acts of the queen is why this being is called the spirit of Jezebel. Each characteristic represents a unique demonic influence which continues to mark this spirit today.
It is a spirit that seeks to control men and women, but primarily women, and to manipulate others through them, often through sexual means. Jezebel fed four hundred prophets of the Asherah (a wooden symbol of a female deity) at her table. Her pagan religion included the practice of fertility rites. Besides having a devastating debasing effect on the practitioner, the acts of worship included male and female cultic prostitutes in hetero and homosexual liaisons. Such corrupt practices as child sacrifice and licentious worship also marked religious devotion to Baal who Jezebel served.
It is a controlling, rebellious spirit that resists all law and godly authority, especially male authority. Although Ahab, her husband, was king over Israel, it was really Jezebel who ruled. She, not Ahab, defined and led the retaliation against Elijah (1 Kings 19:2).
It is a lying accusing, manipulating spirit. Jezebel manipulated men of authority to have the man Naboth falsely accused and then stoned to death, in order to steal a vineyard he owned.
It is a spirit of devastating fear and discouragement. After Elijah slew the prophets of Baal, demons of fear and discouragement troubled him greatly, so much so that he wanted to die (1 Kings 19:3-4, 10-14).
It is a spirit of witchcraft and the occult. Jezebel served Baal and supported four hundred and fifty demonic prophets of Baal, and was instrumental in leading the nation of Israel into idolatry.
It is a spirit of murder, and hatred for the word of God. Jezebel destroyed the Lord’s prophets in Israel (1 Kings 18:4), and she tried to kill Elijah. She played the role of chief priestess to the Baal of that area (Melkarth), a god that required the burning of innocent children as oblations on his altar.
This spirit has been in the world for centuries, but in the strategy of Satan, has been placed over this nation in recent years to bring about the same breakdown in morals that it accomplished over Israel in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. A primary focus of Satan has been to destroy the family. The controlling, dominating spirit of Jezebel is the very antithesis of meekness and submission which are the qualities of godly women. This spirit seeks to emasculate the headship of man which God has ordained for the family and for leadership in the church. The following are examples and consequences of the works of the Jezebel spirit in our nation.
The high and increasing divorce rate
The Feminist Movement
The current growth of abortions, and the related “Pro-choice” movement among women
The permissive life style philosophy of, “if it feels right, do it”, and the corresponding growth of drug abuse and premarital sex
The prominent place of women in the leadership of religious cults (i.e. Christian Science, Unity, Theosophy, and Astrology), and as mediums in channeling within the New Age Movement
The rapid increase of mind control based on altered states of consciousness of the New Age (i.e. séances, channeling, T.M., Yoga, self actualization techniques such as “Silva Mind Control”, etc.)
The consequences of extreme fear and discouragement in crippling ministries, physical sickness and suicide
The promotion of all of the above through the various media, especially T.V.
One ancient influence of this spirit in Christendom can be seen in the practice of presenting God to the people as a small baby in the arms of His mother, and encouraging prayer to her as a mediatress. A second, more recent example, is use of Mother as an acceptable alternative to Father when addressing Jehovah God.
A third example is the increasing acceptance of women for ordination into the clergy.
Of course, the closer a church walks in the ways of the world, the greater will the previous list of social influences become apparent in it. Ordination of homosexuals is one such example. The only answer to such influences is total repentance and commitment to the Lord.
However, the most significant and potentially dangerous influence can come from not understanding the strategies that are back of spiritual warfare today. The second conflict between “Elijah” and “Jezebel” is about to begin! The Lord is apprehending a new generation of bondservant leaders with hearts to raise up overcomers, to build the army of the Lord and to prepare the church for His return. The spirit of Elijah will rest upon them to bring forth these end-time “Elisha’s”. Because they have the now word of the Lord for His church, just as Elijah did for Israel in his day, they are going to be attacked by the Jezebel spirit. God will allow this in order to test and teach His children to overcome. Thus, the more spiritual of saints can expect the assault of this spirit. Consider the Lord’s words to the church of Thyatira (Revelation 2:19-20):
I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
After such words of commendation, it would seem almost impossible to imagine anything amiss in such a church! However, the Lord goes on to say:
But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bondservants astray. . . .
There is no higher calling for a believer in this life than that of a bondservant for Christ. It was the very best of the saints who were led astray; not by a woman, but by the prophetic evil spirit of Jezebel. The goal of its deception, shown in verse 24, was to subtly introduce “the deep things of Satan” to eventually corrupt and mislead the church. This is a remarkably accurate definition of Satan’s objective in the New Age Movement. It is not enough to serve the Lord with all of our heart; we must also be men and women of His presence. This is how we protect our hearts from error.
The real fault of the Thyatira church was the tolerance of its leadership to so called prophetic messages that were not from God. The elders failed to discern the spirit behind these “revelations”, and they did not judge their contents by the word of God.
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