“Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead.”
Revelation 2:22-23
The end of Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament was a horrible scene. God gave her many years after her husband repented and then died to repent herself. But eventually her time was up and God sent judgment. The old, wicked queen made a last ditch attempt to defy God (see how a hard heart resists God even at death?) but it did not
work. She is thrown out of her palace window by her servants, run over by horses and her eaten by dogs. God uses this shameful end of a wicked idolatrous queen to show us how He will deal with willful rebellion against His word inside His church.
Behold We know from the Old Testament what an abomination God considered it when His people lived in sin. It was especially heinous if it involved the worship of idols – what God saw as spiritual immorality. Over and over He severely punishes His nation to bring them back to Him in purity. In the age of grace the holiness of God did not change so in His wrath God is about to deal with this abomination growing in His church.
I will throw her onto a sickbed The Lord says he will forcefully cast out (throw with force and with little regard for the landing place) this wicked woman Jezebel. The word cast is first used in Matthew 3 where it says “And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
There-fore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” The Lord throws her into a sickbed. If the church will not act, God Himself will. (Tremble at that thought!)
And those who commit adultery with her The Lord includes in this judgment all those who are actively involved in this sin with Jezebel. Some in the church follow this woman. The Lord said “He who is not with me is against me.” Here the Lord shows that we one can not walk both sides of the fence. The entire cancer will be removed just as Jezebel is.
I will throw into great tribulation He tells us what her followers will receive. Great is abundant, terrible or surprising. Her followers cannot imagine what lies in wait for them. Tribulation is affliction, distress or persecution. The implication is one who is hemmed in with no way of escape.
Unless they repent of her works Note this is “her” works. God holds her responsible for leading others into sin. We also see the longsuffering and compassion of the Lord. Even at this last minute He gives her followers time to turn back.
I will strike her children dead The Lord addresses the children of Jezebel. These are those who live in willing dependence on her and her beliefs. They abide in her household and willingly and forcefully hold her beliefs. They will be killed with death which indicates both physical and spiritual death. Those who embrace her beliefs are advocates of her abominations and lead others into sin will be destroyed. This is what God did in the Old Testament when He wiped out Canaanite nations and their children who would tempt His children into even deeper sin. ‘The gates of hell will not prevail.”
What can we learn? Read Proverbs 29:1. “God is not mocked.”