The Death of Jezebel in Type and Anti-type

The Death of Jezebel in Type and Anti-type Bro. Richard Doctor- San Diego Convention November 2006

There are two reasons why Jezebel’s death is important

Why consider Jezebel? n Jezebel’s life and death are a scriptural type n The anti-type of Jezebel’s destruction stands unfulfilled

Jezebel is a type – Revelation 2: 20 n Revelation names only 4 historical persons: n 2 righteous: Moses — David, n 2 wicked: Balaam — Jezebel The noble name “Jezebel” means “Chaste”

Jezebel of Tyre elevated Baal worship to a state religion in Israel n Jezebel was a princess from Tyre — the economic powerhouse of ancient sea trade n She married king Ahab from the 10 -tribe kingdom of Israel

What happened in the end? n Jezebel was destroyed n Jezebel’s children -- the ruling dynasty of Israel (10 -tribe kingdom) were destroyed n The house of David in Judah would have been destroyed were it not for the LORD’S overruling providence

Let us to follow sin and error over Four generations to its destruction Ahab’s father Omri founded the 10 -tribe’s 3 rd dynasty. The Bible says Omri: “wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him. ” 1 Kings 16: 25 Political map of Ahab and Jezebel’s period (9 th century B. C. )

Ahab was to far exceed his father Omri in doing evil n Baal worship was so abominable that the LORD sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab n Elijah prophesied a catastrophic drought in Israel as punishment. 1 Kings 17: 1. . . This drought is also a type Revelation 11: 1 -6

Baal worship was not the cause of Ahab’s death sentence from Elijah n Naboth and his son’s murder 1 Kings 21 was the cause of the death sentence on Ahab’s house 1 Kings 22: 38 n Jezebel arranged for the murders so Ahab could secure Naboth’s vineyard n Elijah prophesied, that Ahab and Jezebel’s blood would be licked up by the dogs as was Naboth’s Jezebel’s seal did not have sufficient authority to destroy Naboth

Jehovah is gracious — Ahab’s remorse for the crime apparently was sincere n Ahab put on sackcloth, went barefoot; would not touch any food; he confessed his sins. n The Lord again spoke to Elijah instructing him that while Ahab was living he would defer the punishment of his family. n The 22 -year reign of Ahab ended with his death in battle with the Syrians. …There is no record of Jezebel repenting

Ahab’s death was not at Megiddo n Ahab died from battle wounds fighting at Ramoth-Gilead n Ahab’s chariot was taken to Jezreel near Megiddo for cleaning n Ahab’s blood was lickedup by the dogs as prophesied by Elijah. 1 Kings 22: 37 -38

Death of Ahab

Family Relations Across Generations

Ahaziah’s brief and evil 2 -year reign followed Ahab n Ahaziah added yet more abominations to those introduced by Omri and Ahab. n An accidental fall through a lattice-work window left Ahaziah mortally injured.

Ahaziah’s brief reign ended in a death sentence delivered by Elijah n Ahaziah decided to enquire about his recovery directly of the god “Baal-zebub” (the real name was “Baal-zebul”) in Ekron, a principal city of the Philistines n Once again, Elijah directly proclaimed Jehovah’s judgment and prophesied the death of a king of Israel 1 Kings 22: 51

Elijah destroys the messengers from Ahaziah by Fire

Jehoram was the next son of Ahab and Jezebel to reign after Ahaziah n Jehoram had relative peace during his 12 -year reign 2 Kings 3: 1 n Modest reforms took place – the idol of Baal that Ahab had set up was “put away” although it is telling that there is no record of it being destroyed 2 Kings 3: 2 n Elijah the prophet passed from the scene during the reign of Joram King of Israel to be succeeded by Elisha

Jehoram’s Death n Joram led the army of Israel against King Hazael of Aram, a kingdom located in modern Syria in what was yet again another battle at Ramoth-gilead n Joram was wounded severely and taken from the battlefield. He was brought to Jezreel to recover. …this was not to happen

1 -Joram goes to Jezreel from Ramoth-gilead to recuperate; Ahaziah king of Judah follows

1 – Jehoram’s Convalescence n Ahaziah, king of Judah and the nephew of Jehoram, came to Jezreel to visit. 2 Kings 9: 14 -16; 2 Chronicles 22: 5 -7 n Jehu, a commander in King Jehoram's army, was approached by a servant of Elisha who anointed Jehu king and commanded him to destroy the remnants of Ahab’s house 2 Kings 9: 1 -14

2 -Jehu arrives in Jezreel from Ramoth-gilead

2 – Jehu arrives in Jezreel n Jehu rode quickly to Jezreel before the news of his anointing became known. n Jehu’s characteristic reckless chariot driving betrayed his identity

3 - Joram is killed at Jezreel; Ahaziah flees but is mortally wounded near Ibleam.

3 - “Is it peace, Jehu? ” The Death of Jehoram and Ahaziah n Jehoram and Ahaziah had time to mount their chariots and proceed outside the city n Jehoram perished n Ahaziah was not captured. He escaped Jehu, but later died of his wounds …Ahaziah dies at Megiddo

4 -Wounded, Ahaziah reaches Megiddo, where he dies

4 - Death of king Ahaziah of Judah n The death of king Ahaziah of Judah might seem an excessive exaction of judgment, and indeed we learn that this was the Lord’s perspective Hosea 1: 4 n In addition, 42 of Ahaziah's relatives, who were on their way to visit also perished at Jehu’s hand 2 Kings 10: 13 -14

5 -Jehu returns to Jezreel and has Jezebel killed

“Throw her down!” (2 Kings) n Jezebel’s blood spattered the wall and the horses, which trampled on her. n Jehu went in and ate and drank n He said, “See to that cursed woman and bury her; for she is a king's daughter. ” n But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.

“The corpse of Jezebel shall be like dung on the field in the territory of Jezreel…” “…So no one can say, ‘This is Jezebel. ’ ” 2 Kings 9: 32 -37

Those slain by Jehu n King Jehoram of Israel n King Ahaziah of Judah n Jezebel n Seventy male descendants of Ahab were also slain at Jehu's command 2 Kings 10: 1 -14 n 42 of Ahaziah's relatives … 115 in all

Jehu before Shalmanassar

Athaliah’s Treachery n Ahaziah’s mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. 2 Chronicles 2: 22; 2 Kings 8: 18 n Upon Ahaziah’s death, Athaliah exceeded even Jezebel in treacherous conduct, for “she arose and destroyed all the royal seed. ” 2 Kings 11: 1

Athaliah’s Treachery (continued) n Both Joash and his nurse found refuge in the temple of Jehovah n Thus by providential overruling, the ruling line of David was not totally annihilated.

Some Suggested Anti-types

Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel as types are well-defined [R. 5741]: “Elijah's prophecy was larger than on the surface it appeared; for he and all of his doings were a type on a small scale of greater things which came afterwards. Elijah was a type of the Church in the flesh … [this] is confirmed to us by certain statements in the Revelation. The matter is there covertly presented,

Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel as types are well-defined [R. 5741]: “…a great religious system being figuratively described as Jezebel, and the worldly system to which this professed Church of Christ is united being represented by Ahab, the king of Israel. ”

“…a great religious system being figuratively described as Jezebel” n The rise of the church was gradual and the antitypical spiritual drought of 1260 days was from 539 AD to 1799 AD “And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. ” Daniel 7: 20

Naboth’s vineyard n Reprehensible as Jezebel’s Baal worship was, “Naboth’s vineyard” led to the death sentence on Ahab’s house. n The anti-type here appears to be linked into the way in which the “professed Church of Christ” – the antitypical Jezebel – in a fervor for enlarging her base of adherents authorized policies that also served to enlarge the political and economic power base of the European states.

Naboth’s vineyard n These actions cover a nearly 500 year period from the beginning of the European “Age of Exploration” in the mid-15 th century until the close of the World War II in the mid-20 th century. n Roman Catholic states, Protestant states, and even the one significant orthodox state (Russia) jostled with each to carve out the best portions of the globe.

Shattered Myths n History amply corroborates the prophetic expectation of Pastor Russell. n The “Ahab” civil order ended with World War I.

Everyone in World War I had God on their side

“With God for King and Country”

Germany

Russia

England

Following World War I many thought that democracy was done n In 1931 Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University and the 1928 Nobel Peace Prize winner speaking to students said that totalitarian regimes brought forth: “Men of far greater intelligence, far stronger character, and far more courage. ” [cited from: Jonathon Alter, The Defining Moment, Simon & Schuster (2006) p. 82]

Ahaziah in Anti-type n Unrelenting economic woes after WW I paved the way for Nazism and Fascism. n Adolf Hitler realized that blindness was so prevalent among his followers looking for charismatic leaders that he said, “I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few. ”

Ahaziah in Anti-type n Nazism and Fascism set forth their own novel, powerful, and Beelzebub-worship mythologies, seeking to reclaim the energy of an idealized non-Christian past. n They had a short life

The New Russia Stalin – Time Magazine “Man of the Year” 1939

The New Germany & Italy

After the misery of World War II “…the fig tree and all the trees”Luke 21: 29 n There was growing political sophistication amongst former colonies n The system of political colonization and its costs were a burden that nations were unwilling to bear following World War II. n At the same time, a new and even more powerful system linked to economic domination was already taking root.

Jehoram and Secularism n Ahaziah left no direct successor – His brother Jehoram took the throne n Jehoram removed Baal worship from prominence in public life, but did not destroy it. (2 Kings 3: 2) n The characteristics of this post World War II era has been a tendency to embrace universal human rights How different from the WW I era!

Jehoram and Human rights n Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1999): “Human rights are foreign to no culture, and intrinsic to all nations…”

Jehoram and Human rights n Elie Weisel, Concentration Camp Survivor, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and tireless worker for Human Rights (1999): “The defense of human rights has become in the last fifty years a kind of world-wide secular religion…”

Jehoram and Secularism n At this juncture in late 2006, Ahab and Ahaziah have perished n Elijah is alive n Jezebel still lives as does her son Jehoram and all of Ahab’s sons.

Ahaziah’s Death — a Question One fatal fall from a window is an accident – are two fatal falls a type?

A Suggestion about Jehu Do they sleep? Barely. (Four to five hours a night is average. ) Are they pressured? You bet. Are they hard working? Astoundingly so. Do they plan to marry? Not anytime soon. Do they worry about the future — for themselves and for America? Absolutely. They are so technologically attuned they may seem alien to older generations,

Closing thoughts n History is not a matter action fated by divine will. n We find that the Bible contains not one, but both accounts of the intertwined histories of Judah and Israel that we may thoughtfully and prayfully consider the Bible’s lessons there

Closing thoughts n Israel and Judah could have written a much different history had they been obedient to principles laid down in scripture n In the end Jezebel and her family perished after four generations of increasing sin …The closing chapter of this account is not yet written

May the Lord add His Blessing For reference please see: “The Death of Jezebel” Beauties of the Truth — May 2005 www. beautiesofthetruth. org