Womeninthechurch23

Women in the Bible

Lesson Twenty-Three: by turtle

Some may wonder why spend so much time on Ahab he is not a woman. Fact is his life like
many men’s lives are influenced by women. Women can be either a bad influence or a good
influence like men can be. And women or men can influence the church and the world for good
or for pure evil. Jezebel being the idolatry that she was, made her blood thirsty for revenge and
gave bad gifts to her husband by going after Naboth’s vineyard. She not only went after a
vineyard but after God’s prophets and put her choice of prophets that yield to her whim and
desires in charge. When on fails to put God first and forsake idols, something is going
to happen sooner or later. Many nations today worship false gods and false prophets. Looking
toward objects instead of God their creator. Today we are going to look at Revelations and the
problem going on in Thyatira. The second church mention in the churches in Revelations. Then
I want to back track to what happened to Jezebel in the old testament.

John the apostle wrote to seven churches in Asia, one was to the church Thyatira and
to another with similar problems called Ephesus and Pergamos. Each one of these churches
seem to stand out as far as those coming in and causing disruption and turmoil in the church.
Thyatira is the only church that actually had a false teacher though named Jezebel. Yet there is
no doubt in my mind that all these groups have something in common with each other with the
problems we have in the church today. And actually the problem persist in all of the churches in
Revelations in some form or fashion. And if you think that your church is exceptionally exempt
think again. There are people that will come in and try to under mind the pastor and his
authority in the church and Christ authority in the church. They do not announce who they are
but kindly go whispering and stirring trouble inside the church.

People that are causing this much trouble in a church may have underlining problems, from
idolatry, or Satanic worship. They do not agree with what is taught in the church and will go
about trying to under mind its teachings by teaching falsehoods or spreading lies to cause
confusion. Let’s look at the church of Thyatira and see what the problems were concerning this
false teacher name Jezebel.

Revelation 2:20-23 KJV
(20) 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.
(21) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
(22) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
(23) And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which
searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

The word fornication in the passage is not actually speaking of sex but of idolatry. We must
remember if we are not loyal to God we are adulteress and fornicators. It is any person that is
committing idol worship and is not reverencing God but idols. People are following this Jezebel
into worshipping other idols. It is dangerous and game that should not be played with
God. God clearly states in Exodus twenty that we are to have no other gods before Him.

Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
(1) And God spake all these words, saying,
(2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of
the house of bondage.
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
(4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
(5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me;
(6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

The word God in the first two verse in Exodus 20 means Elohiym. It is a Hebrew and Greek
word for the Triune God.

Defined by Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary
אלהים
'ĕlôhîym
el-o-heem'
Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially
with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates;
and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great,
judges, X mighty.

It is plural meaning more then one and is referred in the Biblical sense to God the Father , God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Jehovah witnesses do not believe that God the Son is God.
This would be considered a false teaching in mainstream Christian churches. This is probably
one of the easiest doctrines to recognize, but it is not the only one that one needs to be
aware of. For example some claim to be God today. They are not Big G God but maybe a little
g god in the since of power they display over people. Little g gods are not to be worshipped. We
also are not to bow down to idols. Why this can be made clearer by looking at Romans.

Romans 1:21-25 KJV
(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible
man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
(24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
When I read this passage the term polytheism comes to mind.

polytheism (n)

dualism, animism, pantheism
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

Polytheism can be dualism, animism, pantheism, etc.. In other words the worship of nature, the
thought that universe is one with itself or even dualism two opposing forces. Definition clearer
below.

a.du·al·ism
1. state of having two parts: a state in which something has two distinct parts or aspects, which
are often opposites
2. philosophy theory of two opposing concepts: a philosophical theory based on the idea of
opposing concepts, especially the theory that human beings are made up of two independent
constituents, the body and the mind or soul
3. religion doctrine of opposing principles: the religious doctrine that two opposed and
antagonistic forces of good and evil determine the course of events
4. religion dual nature of people: the religious idea that people are inherently dual in nature,
both spiritual and physical
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

b. an·i·mism
1. belief that nature has a soul: the belief that things in nature, for example, trees, mountains,
and the sky, have souls or consciousness
2. belief in organizing force in universe: the belief that a supernatural force animates and
organizes the universe
3. belief in existence of separate spirit: the belief that people have spirits that do or can exist
separately from their bodies
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

c. pan·the·ism
1. belief that God is everything: the belief that God and the material world are one and
the same thing and that God is present in everything
2. belief in all deities: the belief in and worship of all or many deities
[Mid-18th century. Coined from pan- + Greek theos “god” + -ism .]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.

With these definitions in mind, how many cults are there against the Elohiym. Too many to be
exact. And many of these ideas have come into the church and influence us. Probably way to
many then we truly realize. Though most Christians are not tree worshippers, or bunny
worshipers, people do put men and women on a petal stool as being god like. There is
a different of striving to be Christ like in servant hood and deeds and being Christ. We are to
follow Christ example but will never be Christ. We are to worship Elohiym(Triune God).
There is a difference in worshiping nature and taking responsibility to taking care of nature or
enjoying nature. The creator is to be worshipped.

Today people that worship gods, statues, animals and other pagan forms of worship into our
churches. It one thing for them to come to learn another thing for them to come in to disrupt
our churches. As Christian we need to take a bold stand against the enemy. In our nation we are
allowed to worship as we desire as long as it does not interfere with human and animal rights.
That means these people do not need to be in out churches causing us disruption and chaos,
they however are welcome to attend and learn about Jesus.

Revelation 2:20 KJV
(20) 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.

The church in Thyatira was tolerating this woman Jezebel to teach. I wonder did the minister
know there was a problem, who knows. The fact is the church allowed it. We are not to tolerate
these type of things being taught. This is why it is important to have doctrines and constitution
in place in your church. In other words by laws to protect yourself and the congregation. Laws
should not be a task master but a guide to what you teach.

Though the church tolerate the problem, God made it clear He was sending judgment
to Jezebel. Sound familiar. Yes in the Old Testament story of Ahab and Jezebel, God had
spoken through the prophet that judgment would come. No difference in the New Testament.
God does not tolerate idolatry. God wrath will come. And this study leads up to next week,
where we will see the prophecy in the Old Testament come to pass concerning Jezebel and if the
prophecy of the Old came to pass the prophecy in the New Testament concerning Jezebel will
come to pass.

Today decide who you will worship and what you will not tolerate and take a stand in your
church in a positive way. Teach those that are ignorant of the truth of the word. Be patient and
loving. Be clear what your church teaches to your teachers and ministers of faith.