In Jesus's word to the church in Thyatira, he acknowledges what they were doing right, but says there is a huge problem which he goes on to address: "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent." Revelation 2:20-21 Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab, was an idolatrous woman who opposed the ways of God, and who exercised authority over men. When her husband wasn't able to get something that he wanted, she told him "I'll get it for you!" and she proceeded to murder the person standing in the way. She went on to support multitudes of the false prophets of Baal and she tried to kill Elijah, the prophet of God. Claiming to be a prophetess, she fostered immorality and idolatry leading the people into licentiousness and rebellion against God. The lesson here is two-fold. First, it's a warning. The Word of God states that women are NOT to be in a position of authority over men, under the correct order that God established. "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve." 1st Timothy 2:12-13 Under this order that God himself established, there is no intent whatsoever to suggest that women are inferior to men. That is not the point. God has established the correct order and to refuse that is to be in rebellion toward God. Even Jesus himself submitted to the Father, but obviously that did not imply that he was inferior to the Father. God created man and woman and gave to each talents and abilities and personalities fitting for the role each plays. "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do." John 14:31 Yet he is not inferior to the Father: "I and the Father are one." John 10:30 A husband and wife can be one; but God's order of administration is that the husband holds the authority. When Jesus was raised from the dead, the first person that he appeared to was ...a woman. That should state emphatically that Jesus esteems woman on equal par with man. Any church which gives women authority over men is a church in rebellion against the Word of God. They will find all kinds of excuses to erase that command from the Scriptures, but the Word of God will stand. It cannot be overthrown by "progressive" church movements, "women's rights," or by “modern” culture. The second lesson shows how Jezebel gains her position by bringing attention to herself claiming to be a prophetess, and when she attains that position she will lead the people in error. The letter to the church in Thyatira counsels us to stand firm on the truth of the Word of God and not tolerate those who distort it. It may be difficult to do because a woman who claims supernatural gifting will convince people to allow her the authority she wants, but by being contrary to the Word of God, she will lead the people astray. God states in the letter that the churches must not ALLOW her to take that position. The Word of God says that those who allow Jezebel to gain prominence over men in the church are committing spiritual adultery and will bring tribulation upon themselves. "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, AND THOSE who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds." Rev 2:22 This may be offensive to some, but then again - the Word of God often seems offensive to those who want things their own way and who take upon themselves the privilege of defining what's right and what's wrong. That's God's privilege, not ours. The Lord ends this passage with this counsel to those who can still hear his voice: vs 29: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
"You (Moses) shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt." Exodus 7:2-3 One might wonder why God would harden Pharaoh's heart. Isn't the Lord unwilling that any should perish? If GOD hardens one's heart, what chance does one have of being saved? Do you trust the integrity of God? When doubts come into your heart, if it seems that God is being unfair, always rest assured that God knows exactly what he is doing, and that he is NEVER unfair. Keep that in mind always, do not lean to your own understandings. When you have doubts, just put them on the shelf for now. At some point you will come to understand, but in the meantime remember that the God who has created galaxies - yet cares for a sparrow that falls - has a perspective that you don't have. And his Word says that he is NEVER unrighteous, he is NEVER unfair. Egypt was ripe for judgment. Not only was Egypt filled with wickedness, but they bowed before the many false gods of their land, and turned to magicians and sorcerers for guidance. Furthermore, they held God's people captive and were using them as slaves, placing terrible burdens on them. God did not harden a good man's heart, he hardened an evil heart that was already turned away from him, a heart that actually stood in defiance against him. When Egypt's time had come, when it was time to bring judgment upon that nation, Pharaoh's heart was already hardened, and his defiance brought upon the nation the judgments due it. But before the final judgment, God brought smaller ones, each one causing devastation to the land, to give Egypt several opportunities to see them and consider what the Jew's God was doing ...and repent. But they did not. In the final judgment upon Egypt, the firstborn son in every Egyptian home died. Pharoah relented and Moses led the Jews out of Egypt. But the enraged armies of Egypt pursued the Jews as far as the Red Sea. The Jews crossed the sea on dry ground and the Egyptian armies followed after them. When the last of the Jews was safe, the waters rolled back and the entire Egyptian army died in the Red Sea. In our generation, wheels from their chariots have been found and photographed at the bottom of the Red Sea. Today is still the day of repentance. God is still calling people to repent - but like in Egypt, God's call is being met with defiance by many. The United States has had several warning judgments - everyone knows what happened on September 11, 2001. Then in 2005 an entire area on America's southern border was deluged with the waters of hurricane Katrina causing devastating loss of life, destruction of land, and great financial loss. There have been great fires, great tornadoes, great floods, more hurricanes, great financial loss. America's borders have been open for terrorists to easily come across, and countries who have nuclear weapons are loudly saying that their intent is to destroy America. Yet immorality continues in defiance of the laws of almighty God. Does a country that murders babies in the womb really expect to escape judgment? Does a country that lights up its capitol with multi-colored lights in honor of legalizing perversion really think judgment won't come? Many, like Pharaoh, have had their hearts irrevocably hardened. I saw one person carrying a sign in one of their parades saying they're looking forward to hell. Oh what a shock they have coming. If you're still defying God, stop it and come to repentance while you can. Don't presume on his mercy. It takes great humility to surrender, and most won't. But for as many - or as few - who will, the door is still open. Come now and surrender your life to Jesus Christ that you might be saved and preserved in the judgments that are soon to fall upon this once-beloved nation.
"...for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 18:28 Could you do that? There is nothing as important in life as the Word of God. You will not survive spiritually if you don't feed yourself the Word of God daily. Some say they don't read the Bible because they don't understand it. But see it this way: when you eat a meal you don't worry how the nutrients, vitamins, and proteins are going to nourish you, you just eat. It's the same with the Bible. It is what nourishes your soul. You don't have to worry HOW it's going to nourish you, you just take it in every day and it will. If you don't, the effect will be the same as it would be if you did not nourish your body - you'll be spiritually weak and unhealthy. "...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you..." 1st Peter 3:15 Could you do that? If someone asked you, could you give a defense for your faith from the Scriptures? "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2nd Timothy 2:15 Put some effort into it, it's the most important thing in your life. Study God's Word. We are in "the last days," and Jesus said that that time would be characterized by deception and sure enough, deception is RAMPANT. Even people who would call themselves believers are falling for all sorts of deception. How will you not fall if you do not intimately know the Word of God? Satan is clever - do not underestimate him; spiritual con-men twist Scripture to deceive people. When they see Scripture being spouted they're convinced, and fall they do - by the multitudes - because they trust anyone who quotes Scripture. This is the day of the mega-churches which draw people by telling them what they want to hear. They use, actually mis-use, Scripture to preach the false gospel of prosperity, how to be successful, how to build your "self esteem," but they don't preach on sin or hell or picking up your cross daily to follow Jesus Christ. Other sects teach “religious” things one can do like walking the labyrinth, lighting candles, purposeful imaginations, “Christian” yoga (it's NOT Christian), "religious" practices that satisfy the soulish desire to be "religious" - but that simply aren't true. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2nd Timothy 4:3-4 Then there is the push toward the coming one-world religion under the banner of "ecumenism" which will be the joining of religions for the sake of "unity," but it will be the false last-days global religion. The Vatican has had Muslims reciting the Koran in an effort to bring mutual "tolerance" and mutual acceptance between all religions, creating a "unity" that is no more than Satanic heresy. You are NOT to join together with religions that worship false gods. "DO NOT be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" 2nd Corinthians 6:14 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:11 If you don't know the Word of God you are spiritually blind and you will easily fall for any of these. When asked what would be the signs of his coming, the very first sign Jesus gave was "deception." "And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you.'' Matthew 24:4 He put this before all the other signs, the wars, rumors of war, earthquakes, famines and pestilence. As terrible as those things are, he put the danger of deception first. The ONLY way to not be trapped in deception is to know the Word of God so that you can spot heresy when someone twists Scripture to make it say what it doesn't say. If you don't know the Word of God, you just might be given over to delusion. "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned WHO DID NOT BELIEVE THE TRUTH but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2nd Thessalonians 2:11 When you stand before the Lord, you will be judged on your response to the Word of God which he gave to us, the Holy Scriptures which alone are able to nourish your spirit. Begin now. Start nourishing your spirit with the nourishment God has provided for man - the Bible, the Scriptures, the Word of God - provided to nourish and guide mankind. And each time you take up that Bible, before you begin, pray for understanding, ask God to REVEAL his Word to you. And he will.