Who Is The Modern-Day Jezebel?

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." 1 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 "women's rights" movements 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.”