“While everyone was busy looking after Jezebel they failed to take note of Athaliah.”[1]
Jezebel’s attack on the ministry (the Word of God) was a distraction, Athaliah is a real threat to the kingdom (attack the authority of God), Jehoshabeath (Jehovah-Sworn)[2] will protect the royal seed, and the King will come back.
Text:
“But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not” (2 Chronicles 22:10-11).
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Genesis 3:14-15, “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: (15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
JEZEBEL = “Baal exalts,” “Baal is husband to,” or “unchaste”
When we say her name, it conjures in our mind an image and thought. She was a dangerous queen, the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel, but her true allegiance was to herself.
She refused the Word of Jehovah, and even killed His prophets: “For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD…” (I Kings 18:3-4). – No details, but just that fateful line.
The threatened to kill Elijah after he destroyed the prophets on Mount Carmel. Her intimidation tactic distracted him and he ran.
Refuse the distracting tactics of Jezebel and identify her by her traits:[3]
- CONTINUALLY TESTIFY OF THEMSELVES: Through their revelations, insight, or spiritual sensitivity.
- OFTEN SEEK RECOGNITION: Thrive on recognition from the pulpit by leaders, becoming offended or distant if they are not.
- TRY TO GET CLOSE TO LEADERS: Fellowship, Flattery, Prophecy
- SELDOM WANT TO BE IN AUTHORITY: But will seek to be the power behind the throne (with hopes of being the King of the throne).
- USUALLY ATTRACT THE WEAKEST MEMBERS IN THE CHURCH: Will begin to control and manipulate them with flattery and/or grand prophecies.
- USE THOSE WEAK MEMEBERS: To spread slander, discontent, and division, lies…
- OFTEN TRY TO BE A MATCHMAKER: And try to control those relationships.
- MOST OFTEN HAVE WEAK SPOUSES: (Like Ahab) But will proclaim them strong, spiritual, and greatly gifted.
- STEAL PROPHECIES FROM OTHERS: In order to look better.
- USUALLY FEEL PERSECUTED: They don’t, believe, want to use me because…
- OFTEN MAKE EXCUSES: And never, or rarely, acknowledge their own sins.
- USUALLY ARE WORKS-ORIENTED: Often fasting and praying hoping to be seen as spiritual.
- OFTEN FULL OF BITTERNESS: Towards Father, or another male authority figure.
- OFTEN HAVE FLAWED REASONING: hiding behind a pseudo-spirituality that implies that only the spiritual can understand.
- OFTEN HAVE CHARISMATIC PERSONALITY: Constantly looking for people to listen to them, with hopes of having their own following.
- OFTEN REFUSE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OF PASTOR: Get their direction from God, have no need of a Pastor, or counseling. Usually leave the church and have private meetings – – forsaking the house of the Lord.
- OFTEN THE SOURCE OF THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT IS SHAME: A grudge one holds against themselves, others, or God.
Yes, Jezebel is dangerous, but most of the time her attack is a distraction, a feint, an attempt to get your attention on a possible danger and to ignore the real danger lurking in the palace hall.
What Jezebel seeks to have is control through manipulation, domination, and intimidation. She works behind the scenes causing division, mistrust, while feeding a spirit of offense with hope of getting you to reject the God appointed spiritual authority in your life.
“The issue is never the issue, the issue is almost always control” –James Rowe
You won’t win this battle in your flesh, it’s spiritual warfare:
Ephesians 6:10-20, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (19) And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (20) For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
ATHALIAH = “afflicted of the Lord”
While everyone was busy looking after Jezebel they failed to take note of Athaliah
Jezebel had a sister-in-law who was married to King Jehoram of Judah. Her name was Athaliah and she was the sister of Ahab.
>>Some scholars believe that Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel<<
Regardless, she was a deadly force to be reckoned with. She was a contemporary of Jezebel and had watched and learned from her, silently learning how and when to make her own move for power. She refused the authority of God.
The desire for power and recognition will destroy you, but usually not until it has hurt and possibly destroyed those in your way. Innocent people, God called people, and children of the King will not stop Athaliah from reaching her goal. Not if she can help it.
Because she will stop at nothing to get what she wants, God will afflict her mind. There is no peace of mind for Athaliah. She was vexed, troubled, bothered, upset, worried.
When you want something so bad that you will take it, steal it, kill for it, and lie for it. Well, you have an Athaliah problem.
While Jezebel is busy manipulating, pulling the strings and intimidating – Oh, she’s a bully – people to achieve her agenda,
Athaliah sits in the queen’s chamber silently plotting, scheming, and biding her time.
The spirit of the antichrist controls Athaliah. She is driven to destroy the Royal Seed.
God told the old serpent, the devil, back in the Garden of Eden, that while he would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman, the Seed of the woman would crush his head. That passage in Genesis 3:15 is the first messianic prophecy in the Bible and it is a promise that there was One coming who would reverse the curse of sin.
Since that time, the devil has been trying to supplant the promise of God with the antichrist spirit.
Antichrist = “An opponent of the Messiah.”[4]
In another passage, Judah was promised that the scepter would never depart from His line. David was promised that from his seed would come the Messiah.
So, that old antichrist spirit rose up and influenced Athaliah, and she set out to kill all the royal seed of Judah. Every man and every boy of the tribe of Judah who had a claim to the throne she marked down until the right moment and then, when her son died, she had them killed…
JEHOSHABEATH = “Jehovah is an oath”
BUT, Jehovah had sworn that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the devil, and that the Messiah [the Anointed One] would come through Judah.
This is a good time to tell you, “God keeps His promises.”
Joshua 23:14, “…not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you…”
Delay is not denial.
So, Jehoshabeath [Jehovah is an oath] found one infant son of the royal seed and hid him away. He was hidden in the house of God. Do you want to know the safest place to stay when Athaliah is on the loose? Stay in the house of the Lord.
Jehoshabeath’s husband was Jehoiada the priest, and he hid and protected Joash for seven years in the temple. In that seventh year he gathered all the Levites and all the rulers and captains and showed this the Joash of seed royal and they made a covenant with him saying, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign. As the LORD hath said of the sons of David.”
2 Chronicles 23:11, “Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.”
This is The Comeback Story of the Royal Seed – It doesn’t matter what plot the enemy of your soul has planned against you. When God has made an oath He will keep it, and He will never leave or forsake you.
Joash [Jehovah fired][5] is a type of Christ. We know how that the devil, the antichrist, tried to kill Jesus Christ – the Messiah:
- He was falsely accused and brought before Pilate.
- He brutally abused, beaten, bloodied, wounded, tortured.
- He was marched to the place of execution.
- Then the Royal Seed, the promised Messiah, was brutally staked and crucified to a cross.
- Naked. Alone. Rejected. Despised. Afflicted: “…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”[6]
- He died. “On the cross crucified for me He died. He was nailed to the cross for me”
- He was buried in a tomb.
Yes, the Christ was buried. He was dead. Everyone has an appointment with death, but this death seemed to be the capstone of Satan’s career.
How could anyone come back from that?
- You have been dealing with a Jezebel, who is trying to distract you from the ministry God has ordained for you to walk in.
- You’ve been attacked by Athaliah, who want to kill you because your very existence is proof of God’s power and Lordship.
- You’ve made mistakes, committed sins, chose paths, and listened to lies that told you that there no coming back from where you are this time.
- Your marriage is trouble, your prayer life is non-existent, your job is in question, finances are down, sickness is all around you, you’ve hunkered down in a hidden place (secreted away in isolation like Joash of old), and perhaps you’ve just about given up all hope and haven’t the strength to lift the shield of anymore.
- HOLD ON! Day three is coming! Resurrection power is on its way. the Royal Seed is coming.
- On that third day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and He said: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is The Comeback Story of the Royal Seed, and He is here right now to help you with your own Comeback Story.
Comeback from depression, sin, anger, marital strife, financial despair, addiction, hopelessness.
Come to Jesus. He trades beauty for ashes, joy for heaviness, forgiveness for sin, peace for anger, unity for strife, miraculous provision for financial despair, freedom from addiction, and He is the God of Faith, Hope, and Love.
Jesus Christ is the Comeback King and you are His Royal Seed.
1 Peter 2:9-10, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
[1] The Lord spoke this into my spirit about 2-3 months ago (July-August 2020) while I was crossing my driveway.
[2] Strong’s. H3090.
[3] Source: Mark F. Kuntzman. (10-14-2007). The Jezebel Spirit.
[4] Strong’s. G500.
[5] Strong’s. H3060.
[6] Isaiah 53:5.
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 