Queen of Seduction

The infamous Jezebel was raised as the daughter of a high priest—but not of Jehovah. Jezebel’s father, Ethbaal, worshiped Baal, a pagan god known as the “Lord of the Earth,” and Ethbaal taught his daughter to do the same. When she married King Ahab, the new queen brought her family’s religion with her (1 Kings 16:31).

Thus began Israel’s reign of outright apostasy. Ahab followed after the religion of his wife: “He went and served Baal.” According to Scripture, the true Lord of the Earth, “the ruler of this world,” is the devil (John 12:31 and 16:11). As a result, all of Israel was soon steeped in idolatry.

The people were God’s chosen; they were betrothed to Him. But they did not love Him in return. Scripture refers to their idolatry as spiritual adultery. Through Jezebel’s influence, the people abandoned God to chase after paganism. But this was no mere flirtation. The Israelites gobbled up this false religion, “[eating] things sacrificed to idols,” consuming such pagan practices to make them their own.

The same adultery occurred in the church during the Dark Ages. Christianity fornicated with paganism, and soon statues of gods and goddesses became worshiped as revered saints, mystical rituals became common, and the Word of God was replaced by a man who “[spoke] pompous words against the Most High … and … [intended] to change times and law” (Daniel 7:25)—that is, God’s times and law.

This was not an obvious enemy. Paganism slithered in through beguilement, just as Jezebel’s beauty had beguiled Ahab. It looked good. It called itself pious; Jezebel likewise “[called] herself a prophetess.” But it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. When it had triumphantly tricked Christianity, it showed its true colors: as “Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord” (1 Kings 18:4), so did the papacy slaughter millions, “making war against the saints, and prevailing against them” (Daniel 7:21).

God Almighty, may I cling to Your strength, Your courage, Your endurance in the darkest of times: You “will not leave [us] nor forsake [us]” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

For Further Study: John 15:18–20; Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4

Key Bible Texts

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