Worthy is the Lamb: SEDUCED BY JEZEBEL

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

SEDUCED BY JEZEBEL

By Eligah Barrett

Innocent lll proved to be one of the most notorious pope of all time. He brought a lot of force and energy to his office. He went after the Waldensians on all fronts. He ferretería out church groups that were using the Bible and ensured that their Bibles were burned. In addition, he developed his own form of poor men within the Catholic Church. These men were poorly clothed. They lived austerely and were loyal to Rome. The pope sent these men out two by two to counteract the true ministers of God. In 1209, he sponsored a rival of the Waldensian movement within the Catholic Church to draw members away from God's Church. Outwardly, these efforts had little effect. Not many joined the Catholic Church. But an internal sickness developed within God's Church. Christ warned the Thyatirans: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou suffered the 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. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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 Revelation 2:20-23. Many in Thyatira began to believe the false doctrines promoted by the Catholic Church.

JEZEBEL

Jesus Christ used the Old Testament character of JEZEBEL to warn the Thyatirans against the errors of this false church. Remember, God uses the symbol of a woman to represent spiritual Israel,or the Church Revelation 12. JEZEBEL represents the great false church Revelation 17. Involvement with this New Testament JEZEBEL would mean spiritual sickness and death.

Study the history of JEZEBEL 1 Kings 16 - 2 Kings 7. She was a Gentile who seduced her husband to worship BAAL 1 Kings 16:31 and follow the sins of Jeroboam. She was extremely wicked totally selfish, conniving and murderous you especially see this in 1 Kings 21. She used deceit to serve her own purposes. She usurped her husband's authority. She practiced sorcery and played the harlots for political favors 2 Kings 9:22, 30. Worst of all, she martyred the prophets of God 1 Kings 18:4; 19:1-2.

JEZEBEL APTLY PORTRAYS WHAT IT SANK TO GREAT DEPTHS OF MORAL DEPRAVITY. Reputable scholars and historians have recorded this history. Many celibate priest fathered numerous offspring. The papal palace at Rome became a brothel. Political deals were struck. The papal office was often wonder by murder and intrigue. However, this church called itself a prophetess Revelation 2:20. It arrogantly believed it could rule over and teach true Christians.

Conditions at Rome became so bad that many loyal Catholics eventually formed the protestant revolt. In verse 23, THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES ARE REFERRED TO AS JEZEBEL CHILDREN.
Sadly, some true Christians fell prey to the schemes of the false church. Some Waldensians allowed themselves to be seduced into a religion of compromise. Tired of persecution, some began to allow the Catholic Church to baptize their young, reasoning that the ceremony was meaningless. Some attended Sabbath services and Sunday mass in oder to avoid persecution.

Gradually the vibrant truth of the Bible were compromised. The Thyatira era of the Church of God fell into serious decline. By 1532, long after the lamp had been moved to the Sardis era, several of the scattered Waldensian groups joined forces with those involved in the Protestant Reformation. They renounced their former biblically based teaching.

Today, the surviving Waldensian groups in Europe appear to be like any other modern Christian church.