2007-1-25 04:22:00
JJ: Thanks to the group for your comments on Jezebel. It sounds like Dan had an interesting learning experience. The lesson of Jezebel can indeed come in many forms.
Here are the next verses:
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (Revelation 2:21)
JJ: The seeker went overboard on patience and tolerance of all kinds of beliefs until the inner voice was heard explaining that some are so harmful that they need to be confronted and exposed. This does not mean he should make a pest of himself, but there are times that he must act with judgment.
The Christ within was patient, as well as the seeker. It watched him be patient with all kinds of strange and opposing doctrines and stirred not his soul to respond. The Master within waited until the seeker became aware that Jezebel and her students had plenty of time to reflect and move further into the light but they did not. Something else besides waiting with patience was needed.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Revelation 2:22)
JJ: Here the voice is teaching the seeker what will be the natural fate of Jezebel and her followers according to the law of cause and effect.
Those who commit adultery are those who are unfaithful to the inner voice and have spiritual intercourse with outer voices which are substitutes for the real God, or husband of the true self. These outer voices always lead to pain and great tribulation until the pilgrim awakes, repents and follows the true voice.
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 2:23)
JJ: "I will kill her children with death" is a curious phrase. We've heard of killing with the sword, starvation, illness etc, but what does it mean to kill with death? Isn't everyone who dies killed with death?
Not exactly. Death, as it is generally understood, is not a weapon that will kill but death, as the prophets understood it, is another matter.
The world sees death as an extinction of some kind, but after the death of the body the spirit lives on so the entity itself is still alive. Literally then, death is not extinction or annihilation, but a separation. Physical death is a separation of the spirit and body, but this is not the only death. There are numerous deaths as there are numerous separations. The worst death that can happen to an aspiring disciple is to be separated from the inner Christ so contact becomes impossible.
This is the fate decreed for those who commit adultery against the God within and focus on the outer voices. This outer focus separates then from the true God and they are killed with death, or die spiritually because of separation from the voice within.
"and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts..."
JJ: Many fellow seekers (the churches) will be curious about Jezebel and her followers but in the end they will see that they are dead to the hearing of the inner voice and will find no peace or happiness, but great despair. They will be an example of what not to do.
"I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
JJ: This is a reiteration of the law of cause and effect. Those suffering from their own mistakes may see God as a vengeful being who is punishing them but instead they are merely reaping what they have sown. The seeker is being taught the natural consequences of our spiritual actions.
Here are the final verses for Thyatira:
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 2:24-29
Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.
Charles F. Kettering (1876 - 1958)
Copyright © 2007 by J J Dewey, All Rights Reserved