“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.”
[Revelation 2:20]
Behind every good man is a good wife. Conversely, behind every wicked man is usually a wicked wife. Such is the story of Ahab, king of Israel, and his ruthless wife Jezebel [874-853 B.C.]. Once Ahab entered into forbidden marriage with the pagan princess from Sidon and allowed her to incorporate Baal worship in Israel, the spirit of antichrist was unleashed in the land of Israel. The rule of Ahab and Jezebel reflect one of the worst seasons of spiritual apostasy and persecution of God’s people in Israel’s history.
What can be learned from Jezebel and King Ahab that corresponds to the coming Antichrist?
Sexual Immorality and the Worship of Demons
Jezebel first seduced King Ahab and led him and the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel into the perverse and profane acts of worshipping Baal, the chief god of the Canaanites. Baal worship was rooted in human sacrifice and gross sexual immorality. Baal was the title of the heathen deity to whom the Jews ascribed the sovereignty of the evil spirits; hence, the Devil or a devil. In the time of Christ this was the current name for the chief or prince of demons, and was identified with SATAN. Jesus called Beelzebub the prince of demons — which referred to the same pagan god Baal.
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
[Matthew 12:24-28]
The reason the sin of Jezebel and Ahab was so grave in God’s sight is because they were openly ordaining and effectively leading Satan worship among God’s people. Clearly this is the same satanic spirit that is alive and well in the world today and that will culminate at the revealing of the Antichrist. As Paul says, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” [2 Thessalonians 2:9-10]
Also, the coming deception and satanic activity of Satan is always associated with every form of sexual immorality, which has saturated our world and is running rampant, even within the “church.” The pornography epidemic alone is enough to see how strong the spirit of Jezebel is today. Consider the LORD’s warning to the church in these last days that tolerates this Jezebel spirit.
“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. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22Behold, 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,23and 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 2:20-23]
PERSECUTION OF THE SAINTS
Another clear description of Jezebel is her ruthless persecution of the saints and the prophets of God. One of Jezebel’s primary agendas was to eliminate the prophets of God and replace them with her own prophets of Satan. The Bible describes how comprehensive this persecution had become. Because of Queen Jezebel, the prophets of the LORD, led by Elijah, were in perpetual danger in Ahab’s day. “And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)” [1 Kings 18:3-4]
Easton’s commentary gives a concise summary of Jezebel’s hatred for the prophets of God.
“She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle, restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain idolatry around her in all its splendour. Four hundred and fifty prophets ministered under her care to Baal, besides four hundred prophets of the groves [R.V., ‘prophets of the Asherah’], which ate at her table (1 Kings 18:19).
Jesus reminded us that in the last days, all who follow Him will be at risk for great suffering and tribulation. He calls many to flee the wrath of the Antichrist, like the prophets in Elijah’s day.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” [Matthew 24:9-13]
The Days of Elijah and the Two Witnesses
Elijah plays a significant role in the Biblical narrative. He served the LORD in times of great distress, famine, apostasy and persecution. The Jews highly regarded Elijah as the representative of all the prophets. Not only did Elijah stand against Jezebel and face off with the prophets of Baal, but also he was predicted to be the forerunner of the coming Messiah [Malachi 4:5-6]. It has long been believed in Jewish eschatology that since Elijah was taken to heaven on the mysterious chariot of fire, that he would be revealed again in the last days to precede the coming of Messiah.
Elijah was one of two witnesses with Moses on the mountain of transfiguration (Mt. Hermon), and although the Lord Jesus did correlate the spirit of Elijah with the ministry of John the Baptist [Matthew 11:14], I believe the ultimate fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6 has yet to take place. Elijah will come before “the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.”
In Revelation 11, we are introduced to two witnesses who are given a specific ministry during the great tribulation (3 1/2 years). These witnesses, though unidentified by name, are undoubtedly connected to Elijah and possibly Moses (or Enoch). Consider the description of these two witnesses and how their ministry mirrors that of the Old Testament prophets.
“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.7And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.” [Revelation 11:3-7]
The Arch of Baal
In 2015 the forces of ISIS destroyed an ancient temple in Palmyra, Syria that historically had been known as the temple of Baal. Although the arch, or gate, to this temple was damaged beyond repair, a stone replica was made using 3D printing technology and has since been on display at many of the major summits of the world. Consider the places this Arch of Baal has been on display with the approval of world leaders.
The Arch made its debut in London’s Trafalgar Square, on April 19-21, 2016, which coincided with the start of Beltane, an important pagan holiday on the Satanic calendar. Next, it appeared in New York, at City Hall Park, on Sept 18-24, 2016, which coincided with the UN General Assembly. Next, it was set up in Dubai, UAE, on Feb 12-14, 2017, which happened to coincide with the World Governments Summit. From there, it went to Florence, Italy, March 27 – April 27, 2017, which coincided with the first ever G7 Cultural Summit. The Arch of Baal was then displayed on the National Mall, in Washington DC, September 26-29, 2018, which once again corresponded to the UN General Assembly.
Why is the Arch of Baal — the prince of demons — being displayed and celebrated by leaders all around the world? Yet another sign that the spirit of antichrist is at work. For more information about this, you can read the story by OneNewsNow — https://onenewsnow.com/church/2018/10/01/arch-of-baal-erected-in-dc-to-pagans-delight
No More Toleration of Jezebel
Jesus reminds all believers of both the severity of those who tolerate and participate with the satanic spirit of Jezebel in these last days and also of the reward of those who reject it. As we draw closer to the coming revelation of the Antichrist, it is imperative that we as believers remain faithful and pure, as we hasten the coming of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ! Here is a call for the endurance of the saints.
“But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.28And I will give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
[Revelation 2:18-29]
Days of Noah 