Jezebel - The Depths of Satan
The Spirit of Jezebel has been contending against the Church of Jesus for centuries, and in these end-times it is more intense, as we approach the culmination of all things on earth. In recent decades many believers have increasingly experienced the suffering and vehement hatred of this demonic realm and its principality attacking their lives; to destroy families, churches and ministries. Many revelatory books and specific teaching ministries on the Jezebel spirit have risen in these times to prepare the Body of Christ to maturely discern and deal with it in the last days.
In the past two years to 2021 we have seen the onset of a great shaking in the world due to the pandemic (Haggai 2:7, Hebrews 12:26). The Church globally has also been shaken like never before, and the Jezebel spirit, from the depths of Satan, is now being exposed at a greater level. It cannot be tolerated in the Church anymore (Revelation 2:20)!
In the last few decades, cults and historical traditional church abuses have been revealed in mainstream stories that have shocked the world. Now we are seeing the exposing of religious control, various abuses, deceptions, sexual abuse, and lukewarm gospels, of some high profile contemporary churches being raked through the public arena, bringing Christ again into continued disrepute. These ministries often don’t boldly address the severity and truth of the last days we now live in, but rather play safe and stay neutral, promoting the good life.
The roots of Jezebel, hidden for decades, are being unmasked in the world. It is everywhere. People are waking up now in this time of great change; leaving religious deceptions and finding a greater and closer relationship with Christ. There is a prophetic cry echoing now, ‘And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.”’ (Revelation 18:4).
In scripture the great ‘whore of Babylon’ which is representative of Jezebel (Revelation 17), is the evil worldly spirit that rides the beast leader and the end-time New World Order global economic system (Novus Ordo Seclorum), as written on the US one dollar bill), to cause all humanity to receive the mark of the beast, whereby no one will be able to buy or sell without it (Revelation 13:17; Christians are not to take this mark). We are seeing this coming economic reality, mirrored on a global level right now for the first time in history. It is conditioning humanity through the divisive political, health and social agendas that are being perpetrated in every society, as our freedoms are being eroded. Millions of people know that something is terribly wrong in our world. The Old Testament prophet Daniel had to, ‘seal the book until the time of the end.’ The truth is now being revealed, and ‘the wise will understand.’ Daniel 12:4,10a. It is time.
Many are asking the question today: ‘What is Jezebel and the depths of Satan? The rest of this blog is an extract from chapter 15, Jezebel and False Authority, from my upcoming book, first written over 20 years ago, and to be re-released in these days. ‘The Power of Apostolic Music - The Proper Order of David’s Tabernacle re-building in these end-times’
Jezebel and False Authority
We must recognise also that this spiritual war is deadly serious and fraught with consequences. In the last several years, as the Elijah company of the Church has begun to arise so have Jezebels and Ahabs’. John Loren Sandford – Elijah Among Us (Chosen books)
The apostle John thought he had seen it all in life, until he was caught up in the Spirit to see the future and write the book of Revelation. In that spiritual ‘cinematic’ experience, he observed the astonishing wonders of heaven, but also many terrible things were revealed amongst the good. Hideous and ugly scenes of death and destruction and what God’s people would experience in the end-times. John really didn’t have the word-stock to describe all he saw, except that the images portrayed a depth of evil that surpassed anything he had ever imagined.
John, the humble fisherman, realised probably for the first time, how immense the battle was going to be in the future for the cause of his beloved Christ. Part of what he observed, was the false authority of Jezebel fully manifesting in the very end days throughout the earth. For a moment he wished he could be there to help. Then he saw Jesus speak these words to the Church at Thyatira. John began to hurriedly write them down; the wisdom and insight they were to bring to thousands of people in our future, was something he did not think of at the time.
‘I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow (tolerate) 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. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan as they call them, I will put on you no other burden’ (Revelation 2:19-24).
Jezebel - The Depths of Satan
In these current days there is great contention in the Church with the demonic Jezebel spirit. It is also in every strata of society, and in these times it has come against the emerging true apostolic governing authority of God being established in the Church; as the devil has always tried to do.
One of the most powerful weapons of demonised warfare against God’s people is the spiritual principality of Jezebel. The sinister depths of the devil within this spirit, rages vehemently against anyone in Jesus Christ who ministers and lives in genuine governing spiritual authority. Many have experienced this over the years, and seasoned people have learned to discern, confront, and deal with it in their lives, and further teach others who have been affected. Jezebel is referred to in scripture as from the ‘depths of Satan’ (Revelation 2:24).
The full extremes of the devil’s evil are embodied and found in this spirit, with all that satan can dredge up from his darkened pit. Its one aim is to bring you to the depths of poverty in all senses of the word, and destroy your motivation for everything in life; killing your ministry, destroying marriages and families, ripping authority from your life and at worse drive you to thoughts of death, even suicide. See Elijah under the tree (1Kings 19:4-5)!
Contending with the spirit of Jezebel can be exhausting and highly stressful. Many have wanted to flee the battles and give up everything, having not really fully understood what they are dealing with. They have experienced the vicious hate of satan in various ways, in particular through people; their manipulations and seductions, and also various restraining, or controlling church structures, however obvious or subtle.
Do not be ignorant
It is no light thing to experience Jezebel’s contentions; these things are real, not fantasy. We should be fully aware of the realities of the devil’s wickedness and not be deceived, ‘lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices’ (2 Corinthians 2:11).
There is a saying that ignorance is bliss, however wake up! We just can’t! Today the false in church authority will manifest and become more obvious (even if you didn’t see it previously, or over years), as true apostolic authority is established in the earth, and yoked in synergy with prophetic ministry and the other five-fold gifts; those who ‘have understanding of the times… and know what they ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32).
The stronghold of Jezebel in churches, and in the lives of people, will continue to be increasingly exposed in these days in all it’s extremes. Situations you may go through will bring a sifting of the flesh from the spirit, including the refining of your own life. Your own weaknesses will be exposed in the sifting; then as you fully surrender to God, they can become your strengths in Christ. True apostolic governing authority will break the deep roots of Jezebel’s influence in these times. Influence that could cause far greater damage in the future if allowed to continue, especially today.
Space to Repent
God gives time for repentance so a controlling Jezebel spirit can be delivered from a person, or the life of a church. If there is no repentance there will be great trouble, sicknesses, and even things will begin to die. Jezebel can split people from a church by control, seduction and deception. Ministries birthed may wither, or cease to be effective. Facilities or buildings may be lost, or taken away when not expected. If there is no repentance, hearts will harden, people are scattered, relationships end, and spiritual blindness sets in. People won’t face the Jezebel spirit for many reasons. ‘We don’t go there, we don’t want to rock the boat.’ Religious pride, contemporary or traditional is often at the root, however, the bad and ugly reality of Jezebel’s presence and influence will become obvious, and will need to be confronted.
If you are willingly, and knowingly yoked to a Jezebel situation, repent and quickly turn away (Revelation 2:20-23). Jezebel hates repentance, and the grace and mercy of God it gives to the believer. It is clear that in these times God is judging this demonic influence in churches and ‘all the churches shall know that I am He’ (Revelation 2:23). In other words, the truth will be revealed in this time.
Jezebel Causes Great Distress
This spirit causes great distress and havoc in people’s lives, for some, it becomes too much to handle. King David in the Old Testament, experienced this with the attacks of the enemy in his life. ‘For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life in the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed’ (Psalm 143:3-4).
David was in a heavy place within himself; have you ever felt like that? Nonetheless even in the most hopeless of situations, we can thank the Lord that He can deliver us, change things and make a way through; be patient. ‘He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.’ (Psalm 18:17-18).
Jezebel may be vehement, but David goes on to say, ‘…Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ (Psalm 27:1). ‘...What can man do to me?’ (Psalm 56:11b).
In some churches it is not acceptable to be seen as being negative in anyway at all, or say and express things that are contrary to a positive church image or culture and the status quo of their perceived narrative. Many are shunned if they speak out. This can generate a subtle fear, and it can hold people back in their spiritual life and relationship with the Lord, where they are unknowingly controlled by this mindset and given to it. David, however, poured out much of his pain and negativity through his heart in the Psalms, and it was ok with God. The Lord even used the words of his languishing as sacred songs. Don’t allow fear to shut your life down, or stop your voice from speaking out, and put up with just a limp religious Christian life.
There will be a price, and you may experience distress, depression, and anxiety of all kinds because of these depths of satan; despite these things God is ultimately your strength. Your faith is tested in the process, and you will see what you are really made of in your life and faith. If your heart is true to Jesus Christ, you will want to be stronger in Him; draw very close in this season. You will also learn the ways of your enemy in the journey, that you can never understand by just reading a book, and as a result, will mature into a mighty over-comer.
The Prophetic Roots Out Jezebel
It is the part of the job of the prophetic to see, discern, and boldly root this spirit out (Jeremiah 1:10). This is the reason why the antichrist devil of Jezebel has hammered effective prophetic people so hard. The prophetic anointing prepares the way for the apostolic to be released into a rightful place of authority and relationship, and to build and plant for the kingdom. Jezebel has to be rooted out, however its presence is not always obvious to the untrained.
In recent times God has been training many in His Church to discern Jezebel in all its facets. David said: ‘Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle’ (Psalm 144:1). The roots of this spirit are hidden in various soils of subtlety and disguise. For example; in the following areas of a music dept in churches, you may find this spirit present.
Where there is over controlling music leadership that does not fully release others. Where there is no clear prophetic music ministry, or songs of the Lord, or no genuine powerful prophetic flow with the flexibility of time for it to be expressed. Where there is an over emphasis on performance, image and production. Some of the elements of the principality of Jezebel may be at work in this atmosphere, trying to control and divert away from the true spiritual authority and power that God wants to establish; a genuine prophetic ministry functioning fully in church, especially in the music.
The Jezebel spirit attempts to attach itself to the work of the Lord, it loves being ‘in the Church.’ It can be seductive even with a guise to being prophetic, apostolic, caring, wise, and all-embracing using all the relevant spiritual language. It seeks to make inroads in the Church wherever it can, finding position and making soul ties with people. Its fruit will ultimately bring dilution of spiritual authority, and relational strength, and often splitting relationships. It will reduce you to having religious church, even though contemporary, but not entering into any governing authority.
Jezebel manifests as ‘tares amongst the wheat.’ It is now the ‘end of the age,’ the gathering time to expose all things ‘that offend,’ and burn up those lawless ones. ‘Have an ear to hear,’ (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), the parable of the Wheat and the Tares!
Jezebel causes confusion, divisions, cliques, miscommunication, wrongful self-promotion, elitism, selfishness, exclusivity, over-emphasis on self-image and performance, worldliness, immorality, strange tensions, false accusations, manipulations, fear, intimidation, control, cold heartedness, cold-shoulders, pride, lies, flatteries, spiritual blindness, and various other manifestations of flesh and strife. You cannot always attribute these things to a Jezebel spirit, but they are often symptomatic.
This can be in an environment where there is a lack of defined committed vision, alongside genuine Christian care and love amongst the team. It can also be where a vision is excessively driving people in its endless goals and levels of success and achievement, and always pushing the limits without rest or balance; creating burnouts, disillusionment and people suddenly leaving.
Areas always attacked by this spirit are spiritual authority, resource, and provision; the variables are many, however the signs will be there. This spirit will need to be prayerfully named, confronted, exposed and rooted out for things to move forward. Jezebel flies in the face of God’s word, however subtle or obvious. It is always disastrous to the lives of people it entangles; God hates it. It is false authority, wickedness in disguise, producing ugly results from the depths of satan.
David said, ‘For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity… For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; They flatter with their tongue’ (Psalms 5:4). ‘I see the treacherous and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word.’ (Psalm 119:158).
When Jezebel’s false immature authority is confronted, pulled down, and those spirits of control exposed, people may respond by wanting to rip and tear pieces off you. They’ll speak against you and want to sever you from your life, work, community, support, and the call of God. The prophetic stirs the flesh of man, and the demon spirits that are at work, that may have been not been discerned previously.
When you stand up to the Jezebel spirit, and say,“no,” naming it, and exposing it, the devil will attempt to pull your life apart. There will be contentions, sometimes vehement and painful. Suddenly you may find that friends, even in ministry, become adversaries. Spouses may split, setting you up for long term damage. Suddenly things do not make any sense, and lives are uprooted overnight; distress, pain and heartache can ensue through the isolation it often brings. A heart of love and understanding needs to be fully alive and well in you, for you must remember your wrestle is a spiritual one (Ephesians 6:12).
The Jezebel spirit is a taker not a giver. It will drive you, and claim ownership of every hour of your day 24/7. It will make you run at abnormal pace and wear you out, so you become vulnerable or isolated. Chronic fatigue could be your symptom, unshakeable sudden sickness, or backsliding and doubting your faith. It will put you to work where you will pay the price for a vision, yet have nothing to show for it at the end. There is nothing wrong with being put to work for God, or serving a vision, however, when the motivating spirit behind it is wrong, the outcome can be seriously damaging. It will take the best you have, be it gift, anointing, your finest years, energy and spirit, or money. It will use you for its own ends, but will often cut you off and turn its back on you. You will be its servants, as the eunuchs of Jezebel, feeling enslaved, not having a life. Finding what it really means to be a true son or daughter of our Heavenly Father, will elude you in that atmosphere. This spirit will eventually cause you to cry out to God for help with groaning and tears that never seem to end.
Jezebel is a classic taker. It can often move the goal posts when it has you in its grip. Promises and agreements can be made, and then changed to your detriment, especially where money and security is concerned. The spirit behind it can bring upset, stress, and affect your whole life. Jealousy, envy and insecurity in a person, or church leader, can be Jezebel’s vehicles of entry. Some church leadership will not understand about Jezebel and all it represents, or even discern the spirit is present in an organisation. They won’t talk about it, or at worse, even acknowledge it. They may give lip service to it, yet at heart they really don’t want to confront it, as they are comfortable, and most likely affected or under its controlling influence in some way. That is why the Lord says, ‘Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow (tolerate, put up with, let, permit) that woman Jezebel’ (Revelation 2:20).
In being neutral and safe, churches can allow this spirit, and all its subtleties, to permeate a work and not even be aware of it, even though the symptoms are there. It’s one of the reasons why a church work can end up having a reputation of being alive, promoted or otherwise, yet is actually dead, or dying on the inside; what a shock (Revelation 3:1)! The church may be totally driven in a vision, however, in many cases lacking genuine heart; serving a vision, but not God.
The Lord requires strong repentance in such a situation. We cannot be ignorant of the devil’s devices in 2021 onward, for the sake of the Church. We cannot allow this spirit and its seductions into either our personal lives or our families. In all we do, we must walk in purity and holiness, in the fear and love of God. We must also confront this spirit ourselves, repenting of anything allowing its entrance. The time is now to renew.
The power of God is being restored in the present apostolic move today, as it is often devoid in many churches. The governing power of the Holy Spirit should be in every aspect of church life, including the music, it is part of the rooting out and pulling down, so true authority can be planted and built for these days; the result of the prophetic chronology of Jeremiah 1:10.
Jezebel’s Works through Religiosity Old or New
Today, when you are flowing in the governmental power of the Holy Spirit, and God’s glory and presence is in your accomplishments, the spiritual impact of Jezebel can manifest against you. It can happen through any kind of religiosity, be it old or contemporary. The evil and hatred can be shocking and palpable. Jesus Christ experienced this constantly. The whoredoms of Jezebel control and religion are obvious now in the broad landscape view of history, but the same symptoms still exist today. In reading the gospel of Mark chapter 14, you will see some clear examples of how this demonic Jezebel spirit operated through religiosity over 2000 year ago (Mark 14:1-38). In these end-times it will be even more vehement!
1. Seeks to take you out with trickery. The Jezebel spirit wants to kill you ultimately, and take your authority and platform of ministry, as they did with the Lord. It will not initially want to do it clearly and publicly, or during services, or other Christian activities. This spirit operates in fear and intimidation behind the scenes. It is a man-pleaser, and will not want to upset the status quo. You can be made to look like the one with all the problems, or a situation can be clearly turned around against you suddenly, leaving you totally bewildered. The Jezebel controlling spirit will often require all loyalty, life accountability, and sometimes at extreme levels, nonetheless, having no real responsibility, commitment, or love and compassion for you, or your family. It is a spirit of lying and death. Its author is the devil (Mark 14:1-2). They may also seek the false testimony of others against you, to bolster their position at a later time (V55).
2. Sees your gift as a means to end. A woman anointed Jesus with very costly oil but religion only saw the merchandising value (Mark 14:3-4). Jezebel will criticise you for just wanting to wait on the Lord, or waste your time ministering to Him, when you should be busy doing other practical things (Mark 14:3-5). Your gift has a worldly value to it and a use by date; if you do not conform, or be as religious as they are.
3. Beware of those who are closest. Those closest to you, whom you love and serve, can often be the ones that eventually betray and deny you.
Jesus sent this warning. They may even be the ones that share the deepest communion with you, or a common vision; as with Judas (Mark 14:10, 20-25). Those you may consider your best and closest friends, may deny you when under the attack, pressure, and deception of Jezebel. Peter and the other disciples did the same with Jesus, denying Him (V29-31). The enemy can come with a kiss of worship, but behind him is a hoard of demons to take you out of your ministry; as Judas caused with Jesus (V44-46). Your worst enemy can be those in the House of God with you daily (especially when things are out of order), this can be very bewildering and disorienting (V49). Losing a church, relationships, or all you believed in, can feel like the wretched pain of a divorce.
4. Lucrative promises. The promise of money and the security it brings is often a carrot dangled by a Jezebel spirit; especially when you are vulnerable. This can however, be a promise for convenient betrayal (Mark 14:11). In the case of Judas, what the priests did was wrong, yet religiosity can turn and conveniently make itself look good; as if they had done all they can for you in whatever was discussed (as with the 30 pieces of silver). Yet you end up being the only bad guy in the room, like Judas; the machinations of religion has to keep going but you are dispensable, even in this case, to the point of death. Of course, Judas was not good, and in him there was obvious ground for the enemy to use him, yet the principle is there. The goal posts of promises can often change with Jezebel after it has lured and used you. Judas paid the ultimate price with his life for entering into such a liaison with the devil.
5. Scatter you and all you build. The ultimate aim of the Jezebel spirit is to strike at authority and scatter whatever is being built under that authority, rendering it useless and ineffective (Mark 14:27). The main leader of a church may be evicted, or other controlling,Jezebel influenced leadership, does away with true ministries under their authority to exalt their own.
6. Jesus’ answer. As believers, Jesus said, we must ‘watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…’ (Mark 14:38). It is important to be discerning, not be blindly naïve, but to be prayerful, and alert with wisdom, proving and understanding the authority to which you are told to submit. ‘that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ Romans 12:2b.
God Laughs at the Devil
At the end of the day the Lord God is Lord of all! ‘The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming’ (Psalm 37:12-13).
The Lord laughs at the devil with all his efforts to thwart God’s people, however, it will be very painful, with a heavy price at times when you go through trials. As you stay faithful and prayerful to God, vindication will come from the Lord. The last laugh is on the devil; you will eventually win. ’In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer’ (Psalm 109:4).
If you truly know the Lord and are not ignorant of your enemy the devil, you will eventually experience the joy of the Lord as your complete confidence, despite what you may go through. You will be an over-comer, growing as a person of fervent prayer, and intimate in the knowledge of God by the word. There is a price in the process of being an over-comer, yet in that journey you will mature with the character of Jesus Christ within you; to have true authority and carry it.
You may have poured your life into a vision, or church, and loved with great measure, being all in, yet those you served may have turned against you. Give yourself to prayer like the psalmist David. You will find the strength to overcome anything with a new understanding of your journey, and not become shipwrecked on the spiritual reject heap.
The Bible makes it clear, there is an end coming on earth, and with all that is happening today in the world, it seems even closer than ever. In learning to maturely deal with Jezebel, and all the adverse circumstances when they happen, you will be fashioned as a man or woman of God. Strengthened to move into this end-time future that will also have many more challenges.
In these last days, through your experiences and trials, you will have the character to carry governing anointing and power. You become a person that holds fast regardless. Holding the line reveals that we must continue in that, as we could lose it and suffer in the immense pressures of these days.
Trials are normal. King David was fashioned this way through his trials, testing, and times in the wilderness; yet he still became a king. It was part of the process.
I encourage you to grow and learn all you can in this day and age, the Bible says; ‘watch, be vigilant, sober minded and be ready,’ ‘for the end of all things is at hand’ (1 Peter 4:7, 5:8), It is now time to rise up in the true authority of Christ and see the false authority of Jezebel and the depths of satan exposed and brought down; with Jesus Christ the victory is yours!
By Stephen Bennett 10/10/2021
Author - Prophet Musician - As I have Called You
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Prophet-Musician
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/The-Divine-Artist
Coming soon:
The Power of Apostolic Music - ‘The Proper Order of David’s Tabernacle re-building in these end-times’
