I have been involved in spiritual warfare for about 40 years. Since the beginning I have heard about the spirit of Jezebel. Some claim to find Jezebel spirits everywhere and are almost obsessed with Jezebel. Others go to the opposite extreme and totally ignore anything having to do with that name. Just what is the truth? Is there a Jezebel spirit? Are there more than one? How are we to recognize them and, even more importantly, how do we have victory over them?
The first appearance of the woman Jezebel is in 1 Kings 16. The wicked king Ahab married a very evil Gentile woman who encouraged him in Baal worship. She was cunning and spiritually controlling. In 1 Kings 18 she ordered the death of all the prophets of the Lord. She wanted to silence their voices and replace them with altars to Baal. She kept trying to kill Elijah, God’s prophet, and later had battles with Elisha. 1 Kings 21 records the story of her paying false witnesses in order to kill the owner of a vineyard her husband Ahab wanted. Eventually she died when taunting Elisha. She was thrown from a window and trampled by a horse. They wanted to recover her body — to give her a queen’s burial — but most of her body had been eaten by dogs. Not a very pleasant end. But her death was a fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy against her (2 Kings 9:37).
That’s not the end of her, though. Her name appears in Revelation2:18-25 in Jesus’ letter to the church in Thyatira: “I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”
A woman in the church acted like Jezebel. We don’t know if she was Gentile or Jewish, but she was a very influential woman who called herself a prophetess but who led many astray, much the same as Jezebel in the Old Testament led people astray. Her prophecies were not from God but from demons. Is a “Jezebel spirit” a demon who leads people into idolatry and evil or a characteristic of a person (or group of people) who do the same thing? I think it’s a combination of both. Demons incite and encourage people to greater evil like Jezebel did to Ahab.
Revelation 2 says she encouraged people to “practice sexual immorality” and to “eat food sacrificed to idols.” What does this mean? It’s helpful to think about the first Jezebel. She encouraged the Israelites to compromise and prostitute themselves spiritually by worshipping Baal. It seems that something similar is happening here. The “eating food sacrificed to idols” is participation in the idolatrous aspects of the world in which they live.
She was warned but refused to repent. This stubborn refusal of repentance is characteristic of the Jezebel from the Old Testament. Because of her refusal to repent, her end – and that of all those who follow her – is death and destruction.
I don’t agree with the attention given to a “Jezebel spirit,” as if it is a more powerful demon, someone to be feared. It’s not right to give any demon unwarranted attention. They love to be feared or focused on. They take that as worship and gain strength from it. Don’t feed the pride of any demon by thinking of them too much or fearing them in any way. All our respect and faith rests in Jesus alone.
Instead of thinking of the “Jezebel spirit” as a particular person or demon, think of it as a specific set of character traits which tries to influence believers to sin and turn from God and focus on things of this world instead. Certainly, one or more demons can energize this work against God and His people, but don’t give demons any more attention or credit than necessary! Be very careful before accusing someone of having a Jezebel spirit, or telling others one is attacking you. Even if it may be true, focusing on them just glorifies ‘Jezebel’ and her power. We never want to do that.
We should watch out for anyone using spiritual influence to manipulate or control others. Be alert to those who promote sexual immorality (which is also symbolic of spiritual apostasy). Turn from idolatry, anything that leads people away from Jesus. Watch out for fear and discouragement. That is how Elijah responded to Jezebel’s threats to kill him in 1 Kings. And be alert for false teaching.
When someone acts as Jezebel did, exemplifying these characteristics, we might say that they have a Jezebel spirit. Don’t tolerate their false teachings or fear them. We do well to reject Jezebel.
Be careful, though. If a woman has a type A personality and strong propensity for leadership, this very well could be a God-given spiritual gift. But if you’re inclined to view such women as a Jezebel in waiting, then you’ll dehumanize her and squelch the way God has made her.
Yes, there are those within our individual lives and communities who exhibit a spirit akin to the Jezebel of the Old Testament and Revelation 2. Yet, we should also have caution and avoid undue speculation. The Scriptures do not explicitly speak of a “Jezebel spirit.” There is no mention of a hierarchy of the demonic with Jezebel spirit one of the chief rulers. Focus your attention to the One Who died and came back to life for you. Then you can’t go wrong!
How does this blog apply to you?
Do you know anyone who talks about a Jezebel spirit a lot? What can you do to help them?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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