The Spirit of Jezebel By Jon Hamilton
(taken from the book "The Nature Of Our Enemy")

In the book of Revelation, the Lord speaks to the church at Thyatira
"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." (Rev 2:20)
At first glance we might ask "What? Jezebel? Didn’t she die back in Second Kings? How can Jezebel be threatening the church in Asia?"
Obviously, the literal person of Jezebel was not present in Thyatira. The reference is a prophetic parallel. Just as John the Baptist was "Elijah" because he came in the spirit and power of Elijah, this person or influence in Thyatira was under the spiritual control of the same demonic influences that controlled Jezebel of old.
Thus, there is a type of demonic influence in society and the church that can rightly be called by the name Jezebel.
This spirit obviously existed long before Queen Jezebel, but she was so totally controlled by its nature that she has become its namesake. In scripture, Herodias is also a type of this force. As Jezebel opposed Elijah, so Herodias opposed John the Baptist. A third example is found here in Revelation 2:20
Queen Jezebel
Jezebel, the Biblical character, first appears in First Kings 16, when she marries Ahab, king of Israel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king and high priest of the Baal worshipping Sidonians. Baal worship was closely associated with obsessive sensuality and often involved sex acts. Jezebel, as a daughter of this perverse kingdom, was raised in an atmosphere where sex was a path to power and influence.
Ahab, King of Israel, was completely subdued and dominated by Jezebel. Jezebel then introduced the worship of Ashtoroth to Israel. This goddess, represented in Canaanite culture by the moon, was a power-hungry goddess of love and sensuality. Priestess-prostitutes filled her shrines and serviced her worshippers. The lure of these legal, readily available erotic encounters was more than the men of Israel would resist. By Jezebel’s influence, 10 million Israelites left the worship of God for Baal and Ashtoroth. Only 7000 people in the entire nation were not swayed by her control.


The Characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit
A Jezebel spirit seeks control through manipulation. It has a deep hatred of true spiritual authority, and uses emotional pressure, witchcraft and obsessive sensuality in its pursuit of power. It uses subtle persuasion to gain influence and get close to those in control. It then uses this position to gradually dominate.
In the Hebrew, the name Jezebel means literally "without cohabitation". She will not live or "cohabit" with those she cannot dominate and control. She will have no equals. Control is what Jezebel wants more than anything. Even when Jezebel appears to be submissive, it is usually out of a carefully wrought plan to gain influence.
Although it may be common to refer to Jezebel as "she", we obviously must conclude that as a spirit, Jezebel is gender neutral. Jezebel certainly has as many male slaves as female. However, since Jezebel initially tends to establish control without the actual use of physical force, she is more easily associated with classic feminine persuasion techniques.
Jezebel likes to appear close to leaders, and use their influence. She likes to use the power and influence of others to accomplish her goals and control her environment. In 1 Kings 21:8 we read " Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of the city." This is typical of Jezebel. She prefers to remain concealed in the background, while she manipulates situations and leaders.
Jezebel is often associated with pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. She will use any form of sensuality at her disposal to gain influence and control. Jezebel uses sensuality, but make no mistake, Jezebel is seeking CONTROL. Lusts are merely tools used to weaken others in order for her to accomplish her goal of control. In many cases sex is not involved at all.
Jezebel’s greatest enemy is true spiritual authority. As Jezebel opposed Elijah and Herodias opposed John the Baptist, so Jezebel today opposes righteous authority. In her heart, she despises all moral authority. .
Jezebel in Society
In America today, Jezebel is the arrogant, angry spirit behind abortion, crying out "It’s MY choice! Don’t tell me what to do!" She has cleverly manipulated debate and positioned herself behind seats of power.
She is the power behind the rebirth of witchcraft in our culture. She calls to millions of teenagers via popular music and movies, telling them that new age witchcraft will give them power. She is the force behind the psychic hotlines, which control and manipulate millions.
She is also the spirit at the center of Hollywood. Jezebel is the reason so many homosexuals are drawn to the entertainment industry, desperately seeking recognition and acceptance.
In an attempt to weaken righteous leadership, Jezebel is the force that draws millions of Christian men into hours of television. She is behind the explosion of Internet pornography. Today she is luring men of God into secret lives of bondage and condemnation. Some leaders, once powerful men of prayer, are now too ashamed to even sneak into the throne room. They are wracked with condemnation. They have been reduced to being mere eunuchs of Jezebel. Men with the calling of David have become pleasure shackled Ahabs. (God still wants to free these!)
Jezebel in the Church
Jezebel is not only visible in society. Jezebel is quite at home in the church pew.
1 Kings 21:9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
With a heart of ice, Jezebel gained control of Naboth’s vineyard under the pretense of a FAST. She suddenly got religion when she needed it.
Remember the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7? She first lured the foolish young man with, "I’ve just finished making my peace offerings, and have come looking for you." She made sure he knew she was a good religious woman before she seduced him! Likewise, Jezebel doesn’t let her sin keep her from church.
Jezebel often manifests within the most "spiritual" people you will ever meet. In the Church, Jezebel will first attempt to get close to the pastor or other leaders with flattery. She will attempt to gain his confidence. She "calls herself a prophetess" and often manipulates others with her spirituality. Her deep "truths" usually result in condemnation and burdens for those in her care.
If the pastor, like Elijah, sees and opposes her deceptions, he will find himself in a fight for his life! He may find himself unemployed! Many a man of God has unwittingly had this spirit of control drive out his godly leadership.
While Jezebel often claims to have inspired messages, (she "calls herself a prophetess" according to Rev 2:20), she usually discourages other prophetic voices unless they are under her control. She will attempt to cause leaders to be suspicious of true prophetic messengers, which bear the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10)
This same controlling spirit may manifest in very different, even opposite ways. For example, a controlling, super-spiritual, self righteous, manipulative mother (the kind that wants to run the church), will often be horrified when her daughter grows up to be sexually immoral. Little does she know that she released that very spirit into her child’s life!

Demonic Depression and Loss of Vision
For seven years, God had carefully protected Elijah. God fed him in the wilderness. When Ahab’s armies sought to kill Elijah, they were unable to lay a finger on him.
Finally, in a showdown at Mt. Carmel, Elijah called down fire from heaven and resoundingly defeated and killed the priests of Baal. All Israel fell at his feet in repentance, worshipping the true God. Elijah was the man of the hour. He was vindicated, victorious, and clearly in charge.
Nevertheless, when Jezebel sent Elijah a single threat, he suddenly turned coward and fled to the desert. Anxious, depressed, and miserable, he begged God to kill him!
Think about this. It makes NO sense. Elijah enjoyed supernatural protection for seven years. He watched fire fall from heaven and defeat his enemies, yet when a single angry woman threatened him one time, he lost every shred of vision and ran away. He moaned in self-pity and depression, begging God to kill him!
This is a great example of Jezebel’s powerful demonic "anointing" to intimidate, create fear, and cause men of God to withdraw. Jezebel steals your vision. Jezebel will even make you depressed and anxious when there is nothing significantly different in your circumstances. If there are difficult circumstances, this spirit will tell you they are insurmountable, impossible, and overwhelming. Jezebel will make you feel like dying when in reality, you are God’s man of the hour.
Jezebel’s witchcraft will attack key leaders in her targeted area through intimidation. Those under attack may awaken one morning to find it takes effort just to breathe. All joy seems to depart. Spiritual life seems irrelevant. Demonic voices will echo in their minds "something’s wrong with you!" They may suddenly find themselves in unreasonable anxiety, fearing tragedy or death. Much of what is called "depression" in the ministry is simply Jezebel!
Jezebel wants to paralyze with fear, condemnation, depression, apathy or whatever it takes until we withdraw. The only answer for those under Jezebel’s attack is perseverance in battle. We must remain on course no matter how long it takes!
This is War
The war continues today between Jezebel and Elijah. Like all wars, there are casualties. Leaders sometimes fall. Soldiers sometimes withdraw. Jezebel wants to keep the church within its present boundaries. She claims to decide the extent of the church locally. We must not tolerate this.

A Victory for Jezebel
The Welsh Example

The great Welsh revival of 1904 is a shining example of a true move of God. It has been called the "pentecost greater than Pentecost." Sadly, the revival’s demise is also an excellent example of how Jezebel works against the church.
In just two years, over 100,000 people were saved. Welsh society was revolutionized. Entire towns recorded no arrests for over a year. Places that formerly were hotbeds of vice suddenly became transformed. Police departments were forced to lay off idle officers. Professional sports teams disbanded because no one was willing to miss church for a game. Services continued virtually around the clock and there were demonstrations of God’s presence and power.
When God begins a work, he usually begins with a man. During the Welsh revival that man was Evans Roberts. Evans was only 26 years old at the time. Most of his leaders were only in their late teens and twenties. Evans was deeply devoted to the Lord, and his devotion to wait upon the Lord released a shower of blessings that was a marvel to the Church. Pastors and leaders from around the world streamed to Wales to behold it.
Many people became associated with the revival as it grew. Among these was a well-to-do woman named Jessie Penn-Lewis. For years Penn-Lewis had considered herself a Bible teacher, but she had never found a broad acceptance for her teachings. She had largely been rejected or ignored by most church leaders in Wales. At first, Jessie Penn-Lewis appeared as a friend and financial supporter to Evans Roberts. She gained his confidence, and began speaking into his life.
Long time friends of Evans Roberts expressed concerns that she appeared to isolate Roberts too much, but Roberts trusted Penn-Lewis completely. She began to minister certain messages to Roberts, which appeared to him to be profound corrections from the Lord. These filled him with condemnation. He was convinced her deep "truths" were things he needed to hear.
Mrs. Penn-Lewis began to express her "concern" to Evans that with the revival’s great success, perhaps too much glory was going to Evans Roberts instead of to God. The thought of stealing God’s glory horrified the sincere young man. He began to think that perhaps others should lead for a while. Penn-Lewis convinced Evans Roberts to withdraw from public ministry, and to move into the Penn-Lewis home.
Evans Roberts never returned to the ministry. The Welsh revival ended quickly and quietly.
After a short time in the Penn-Lewis home, Evans Roberts began experiencing severe bouts of depression. Often he was unable to leave the bed for days at a time. He appeared nervous and anxious. By today’s standards he was in severe clinical depression. It took a toll on his health.
Meanwhile, Penn-Lewis began writing articles and letters in Evans Roberts’ name, and on his behalf. These were published in both Roberts and Penn-Lewis’ name, and eventually, in her name alone. According to many former close associates of Evans Roberts, some of the works attributed to him could not possibly have had his approval. Certain publications were highly critical of other movements, especially the newly emerging Pentecostals. Unfortunately, few people were able to see or speak with Evans Roberts. He was kept guarded in the Penn-Lewis home. He was completely dominated.
Evans Roberts spent many dark years of depression in the house of Jezebel. Mercifully, he eventually broke all ties with Penn-Lewis, but not until his health was broken and his ministry just a shadow of its former glory.
Evans Roberts made contributions in two years of ministry, that most never see in a lifetime. His memory should be honored. Nevertheless, he is a sad reminder of the old proverb "Age and treachery will always defeat youth and enthusiasm." A revival that in 24 months saw 100,000 salvations and a glory some called greater than Pentecost, was destroyed by a single unwitting servant of Jezebel, seeking control in order to gain recognition and acceptance.


Trampling Jezebel

First, we must rid ourselves of Jezebel’s ways. We can not cast out lust when we harbor lust in our lives. We can not bring down a spirit of control if we use manipulation and hype to control our congregations. We must examine our own ways, and repent of Jezebel.
Second, it takes Jehu. Although Elijah was Jezebel’s enemy, it took JEHU to trample Jezebel.
Jehu took no prisoners and showed no mercy to Jezebel. He had singleness of purpose and was driven. As he approached Jezreel those who saw his chariot noted he "drives furiously" (2 Ki 9:20) When others offered peace and compromise, Jehu responded "How can there be peace as long as the harlotries and witchcrafts of Jezebel are many?" (2 Ki 9:22)
Jehu would not rest until Jezebel was dead. Her pleasures could not attract him. Her threats did not deter him. He would not tolerate Jezebel.
Jesus says we too can not TOLERATE Jezebel. (Revelation 2:20) We must learn the prophetic power of the word "No!" We must give no ground!
When Jezebel attempted to captivate Jehu, he did not even allow himself to be drawn into conversation with her. Instead, he called on her eunuchs to cast her down from her balcony. Those with the Jehu anointing will call to Jezebel’s emasculated slaves, and they too will cast her down!

http://www.jonhamilton.org/jezebel.htm

Great article Gabe. Thanks.

I've been fascinated with this for a while now. If anyone wants to read a great book on the topic, which really floored me, pick up:

Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit, by John Paul Jackson

A great read.

More on Jezebel


Exposing the Jezebel Spirit
Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon and the Phoenicians. She was the wife of King Ahab of Israel and birthed him two sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram, who reigned in his stead following his death. Her name contains the Canaanite root “z-b-l”, which is defined “prince, master” which is usually attributed to the god, Baal. Ahab married Jezebel for political and economical reasons. Their marriage of ‘convenience’ also opened the doors for Jezebel’s religious influences to spread throughout Israel. Jezebel is remembered for her devotion to the god of Phoenicia, Baal and Ashram. See I Kings 16:31; 18:4; II Kings 9:7, 22. The prophets Elijah and Elisha blame Jezebel more than Ahab for the assassination of God’s truly anointed and sent prophets and introducing the worship of Baal as the national religion. Jezebel maintained power and control during the regency of Ahab and their two sons. Although she reigned as queen, the prophets never treated her as such.
Jezebel plotted the murder of Naboth when her husband griped and complained over the coveting of his vineyard. After her conspiracy of Naboth’s death, she gave Ahab the land (I Kings 21). This woman was cunning, sharp, controlling and violent. Athaliah, who later become queen of Judah, inherited her mother’s spirit of witchcraft II Kings 8:18. It was Jehu who killed Jehoram (II Kings 9:14-28) and buried what the dogs left remaining of Jezebel’s bones (II Kings 10:18-28). It was Jezebellic influence which caused the downfall of the Omrian Dynasty (I Kings 21:17; II Kings 9:36-37). In Revelation 2:20, the term Jezebel is used to symbolize false prophetesses who bewitches and entraps Christians into idolatry.
Scripture Reading
I Kings 16:31; 18:4, 13, 19; 19:1-2; 21:5,7, 11, 14-15,23, 25. II Kings 9:7, 10, 22,30, 36-37. Rev 2:20

Spiritually speaking, Jezebel embodies a strong witchcraft spirit maintained by a strong, bossy, female. This spirit causes this woman to become manipulative, exceedingly evil, and rebellious. She thrives off of weak husbands (Ahab spirits) who look to her for pacification. An Ahab husband will throw temper tantrums when he can’t get his way (Naboth’s Vineyard), pout and sulk into depression, until his Jezebel steps in and fights his battles for him. The Jezebel spirit is one of lawlessness. She makes and enforces laws for everyone else to carry out and obey (her subjects) but follows none for herself. The spirit of the Anti-Christ is connected and related to Jezebel the prophetess. She will pray against and prophesy against Christians who are a threat to her demonic kingdom of control and domination and those who attack her weak and fearful husband. In the Hebrew, Jezebel means ‘priest of Baal’ which represents the masculine dominant spirit operating within the Jezebel spirit.
Jezebels are false prophetesses who depict themselves as the mother to her husband. They depict God as having female tendencies; “God is angry with you. God said you have toilet tissue feelings, etc.” Just like the Jezebel in 1 Kings who killed the true prophets, the spirit of Jezebel will cause this woman to assassinate the saints’ characters. She is a malicious gossiper who hides under the guise of “praying for your situation” with other ‘prayer partners’. She is a backbiter who will speak evil and wipe her mouth. She is a liar who will bear false witness to cause her subjects to side with and defend her against her victims. She has false gifts of prophecy and tongues because she cannot abide in love, the fruit of the Spirit from which all spiritual gifts ascend. She appears to be loyal and faithful, but only to accomplish her purposes. She will never admit her wrongs, she is always right. Jezebel complains and negatively criticizes Christians; they can never sing right, pray right, live right, or give right in her eyes. Jezebel will appear as a bright light in a very dark room but when placed among other lights, hers has the lowest wattage. Therefore, she will never place herself among other true prophetesses for fear of exposing her false light. She surrounds herself with prophets whom she can control, seduce, entice, and manipulate and share in her idolatry. The true prophets of God are her enemies and she sets out to massacre them with her deadliest weapon, her mouth. The spirit of Jezebel is religiously wicked, claiming everything in the name of God with no power and demonstration of His Spirit. She is very immature and blocks and hinders others’ spiritual growth.
Jezebel spirits love religious rituals and traditions. They despise change. These spirits are legalistic meaning they will always tell you what to do or not to do, “Don’t wear red. Don’t look at this TV show. Don’t work on that job. Don’t talk to this person.” Jezebel spirits harass and torment weakened children of God. Jezebel holds grudges and unforgiveness and pounces on an opportunity to ridicule their adversary. Although our sins have been washed away in the Blood of Jesus, they will always remind you of where you came from, who you were, and what you did. They hold un-forgiveness in their hearts for years; Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah and sent her subjects to search him out for years. These spirits are also very inquisitive and curious. An ungodly curiosity. They are meddlers into other men’s affairs and busybodies in other people’s business. Nosey. They want to know what you are doing, where you are, and who you associate with. They want to know every aspect of your life, but will never tell you what they are doing. They feel as if they don’t have to answer to you, you should answer to them. Jezebel is very emotional and will cry on the drop of a dime to deceive her subjects into thinking she has been offended so that they will rise up to defend her honor. She makes her subjects feel guilty for not defending her.
Jezebels have a false love for the brethren. She will force a mother-child relationship by introducing herself as the ‘spiritual mother’ before anyone acknowledges her as such. Jezebels loves money, loves to adorn herself outwardly, usually over-dressing for occasions to draw attention to herself, but will scorn her subjects for doing the same. Jezebel spirits have an ungodly relationship with their children. She is a domineering and smothering mother who wants to control every aspect of her grown children’s lives. Her children are rebellious, dysfunctional, emotionally disturbed, unable to love, unable to give, spiritually stunted, and unable to function in modern society without a cloak of their mother’s subjects. Jezebel mothers will always pacify their children, just as she does her husband, when they are wrong, but will belittle the woman who does the same. Jezebel will not discipline her children but will discipline other’s. She will tolerate the sins of her children yet show no mercy on anyone else’s.
Jezebel uses terror and fear to enslave her subjects. She manipulates them into thinking she can provide protection therefore her subjects should flock to her. When she is upset, she will retaliate in rage. She will make threats and use vengeance. She likes to play the role of God in family and in church. Christian women operating in Jezebel spirits often fake submission to their husbands in order to receive praise from her subjects, but inwardly Ahab, a spiritually weak man, resents Jezebel and often travels away from home without her under the pretense of engaging in some sort of mission. Jezebel wives are unconcerned with her husband’s problems unless she can use the opportunity to make a greater name for herself. Jezebel wives also push their husbands into projects and foreign affairs because she knows he is miserable at home with her. She encourages him away from home so she can continue in her manipulation and deceit. Because their marriages were marriages of convenience, there is no love between the two of them and they often dwell in separate corners of the house to maintain separation. They will feign a unified front while entertaining their subjects, but when alone, the will migrate away from each other.
Women with Jezebel spirits enjoy spotless homes and love to show it off, but do not like to share it with her husband’s friends and family. She will make them feel uncomfortable and will cause her husband to ‘go out’ to visit loved ones. The Jezebel family is always in confusion. The children are always trying to please her and Ahab is always trying to get away from her. Jezebel has a tongue which can cut men in pieces and she can make women feel worthless in comparison to her. She keeps her children and her subjects from growing up. She is selfish, yet clever at the same time.
If you have been operating in the spirit of Jezebel, we urge to repent and do your first works over. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and the Lord has made a way for all of to come boldly before His Throne.

Pray this prayer aloud:

Father in Heaven, I come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and my Redeemer. I thank you for showing me the error of my ways and allowing me the opportunity to make it right with you. I know that you love me and that your outstretched hands are reaching for me even as I speak. I come boldly to you admitting my need for deliverance and healing that only You, through the Holy Spirit, can give. Father, I admit my wrong attitude toward the authority figures You have placed in my life, Your Word first, and my husband second. I confess that I have rebelled against Your Word through my behavior. Please, show me how my need to control and manipulate others came into my life that I may close the door to this forever. I choose now to forgive everyone who has ever hurt or abused me in any way. I do now forgive the following people by name (call them aloud). I confess my life-style has been sinful and abusive and ask Your forgiveness and cleansing. I humble myself before You and offer no excuses for my actions.
Right now, in the name of Jesus, I renounce the evil work of all witchcraft control, domination and manipulation and turn away from all such activity in my life. I choose to break all ungodly soul-ties with those I have sought to control, dominated or manipulate. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, I break the ungodly soul-ties with and release the following people by name (those you have manipulated). By an act of my will, I submit to all authority You have placed in my life. I trust my submission and obedience to Your Word to keep me protect me and bless me. Open my eyes, Heavenly Father, to truly and clearly see Your Word and grant me the strength of will to walk in it. In the name of Jesus Christ and through the power of His shed blood I bind the strong man of Jezebel, part of the Queen of Heaven, and command her and all associated unclean spirits to leave me. I command the following demonic spirits to leave me now in Jesus name; Accusation, Indecision, Aggression, Intimidation, Attention seeking, Insinuation, Arrogance, Insecurity, Beguiling, Inadequate, Belittling, Intellectualism, Bickering, Inhospitable, Backbiting, Interference, Brash, bossy woman, Jealousy, Bedroom blackmail, Jezebel, Conniving, Lack of confidence, Contention, Lying, Continuous complaining, Lawlessness, Condemnation, Laziness, Confusion, Manipulation, Counterfeit spiritual gifts, Mistrust, Conditional love, Nagging, Charming, Overindulgence, Controlling spirits, Pouting, Dissatisfaction, Pride, Demands, Perversion (sexual & spiritual), Double mindedness, Psychology, Doubt, Philosophy, Disunity, Projected guilt, Discord, Quick temper, Disruption, Retaliation, Distrust, Revenger, Deception, Rationalization, Delusion, Rebellion, Demanding, Strife, Defeat, Slander, Determined maneuvers, Sharp temper, Dominance, Short temper, Emotional outburst, Sorcery, Failure, Shirking responsibilities, Fear, Sensitive, Frustration, Sharp tongue, Forsaking protection, Sleepiness, Female dominance & control, Shame, Female hardness, Suicide, Fierce determination, Spiritual blindness, False sickness, Self-defeating, Finger pointing, Sorrow, Frigidity, Turmoil, Grief, Ungodly discipline, Hatred of men, Unbelief, Hot temper, Ugliness, Hasty marriage, Vanity, Hopelessness, Witchcraft, Hypnotic control, Worldly wisdom, Inability to give or receive love, Whining, and Irresponsibility. I break and loose myself from all agreement with these demons and call on You, Lord Jesus, to set me completely free. Thank You Lord. I believe I am set free and I receive my deliverance from Jezebel now in Jesus name. Amen.
© 2009 True Love Church of Refuge. Delisa Lindsey. All Rights Reserved.

Everything I've read is that there is almost no hope spiritually or otherwise for a malignant narcissist, which I believe my wife has become. We discussed the 'Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit' book six months before, and she recognized a few of the traits in her, and even prayed a prayer, but in the deep recesses of her heart something was very wrong. It came roaring out to the surface of her life, and she announced she was leaving. (someone whispering in her ear).

In the Pastor Robert Morris video link sermon on the Jezebel Spirit, he talks about how he was a very immoral man at one point, and recognized that that spirit had it's tentacles on him. He broke them off finally. And is fully delivered. It is something for the men here to consider, if some of the overhang of this evil spirit have a cloud over them as well, because their partner or spouse dragged it into their lives. It is evil, but his message there gives many hope.

Your prayer you posted is good, but will help few of the wives here is they won't sincerely read it, or pray it from the heart.