To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end...

²⁰ “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.

²² “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. ²³ I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

²⁴ “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you ²⁵ except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. ²⁶ To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,

²⁹ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

The message to the church of Thyatira begins like the other messages Jesus confirms that the message is from Him and He begins by acknowledging the good that is happening in the church. To Thyatira He says, “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. This church is doing well, Jesus acknowledges their constant improvement. They are growing.

The message then turns to a very serious complaint Jesus has with this church.  “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. ²² “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.

The reference to "that Jezebel" is to the evil queen the wife of Ahab who dominated her husband and attacked the true prophets of God during the time of  Elijah. So whether there was actually one woman who was a false prophet in the church of Thyatira or there was a Jezebel spirit of false prophecy and witchcraft active Jesus calls the people to repent. We need to be aware of and understand the Jezebel spirit and witchcraft in order to not fall into it in our own lives. Witchcraft is not women in black casting evil spells on people. Witchcraft very simply is counterfeit spiritual authority; it is using a spirit other than the Holy Spirit to dominate, manipulate or control others. The Jezebel spirit is often linked to women who use physical seduction as a means of manipulation or control. They/it uses this seduction not to replace those in true authority but rather to dominate and control them, thus attaining the counterfeit authority. The rampant immorality that engulfs our society and culture is evidence of just how much influence this spirit has in the world today. 

As with all the evil counterfeits of satan, our best defense against the spirit of witchcraft is to know and walk in the Holy Spirit. The primary defense against counterfeit spiritual authority is to walk in true spiritual authority. There are some very good books written on the topics of the influence of witchcraft and the spirit of Jezebel in our lives and in the church today. Rick Joyner has several including "Over Coming Witchcraft" a booklet in the combatting spiritual stronholds series, which gives a simple and practicle explanation of and process to overcome the influences of witchcraft in our lives.(There is a link to Morningstar Ministries on this site, Joyner's books and other resources are available through their online store.)

For our purposes today we need to focus on the message to the church to repent for any way we have tolerated this spirit of counterfeit authority to influence us or become ingrained in our own lives. Remembering that when we try to use emotional pressure to manipulate others, when we use hype or soul power to enlist others even for the work of God it is a basic form of witchcraft. We need also, to guard against the tendency to battle the counterfeit spirit with anything but the true authority we have been given. When we try to fight manipulation and intimidation with manipulation and intimidation we actual strengthen it's power. 2 Corithians 10:4-5 tells us  the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵ We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,  Our true authority is in the devinely powerful weapon of prayer, not any form of manipulation. 

Jesus gave this Jezebel time to repent. That's always God's desire. 2 Peter 3:9 says, The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Seeing those influenced or caught up in the spirit of witchcraft or any evil spirit come to repentance should be our desire as well.

Again for us the best defense against the influence of evil in our lives is to know Truth. As we draw near to God, His light will reveal and dispel any darkness within us. Through the revelation of the light of Christ, He calls us as He did the church at Thyatira to repent.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ the Truth and the Light, Holy Spirit thank You that in You I have true spiritual authority. Forgive me for any ways which I have embraced counterfeit authority through the use of manipulation or intimidation. I pray that You Holy Spirit would continue to fill me more and more each day, that the light and truth of Christ would dispel and displace any darkness and falsehood within me. I desire to be among those You speak of Lord Jesus :

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you ²⁵ except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. ²⁶ To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,