Hebrews 12:1-11

The Race of Faith

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God
Cross reference with Proverbs 3:11,12

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?  But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.   (NKJV)

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Be Viligant!

WATCH:  be vigilant, guard against all the evils of which come to ensnare us and cause us to fall away from the faith. This would include the evils of dissension, of damnable doctrines, heresies, acts of disorder stirred up in the fellowship ,  especially of any false teachers, regardless of their rank within the church etc.

Paul’s Areopagus Address:                     Acts 18: 22-23

“Men of Athens I perceive that in all things, you are religious (superstitious)   for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
"TO THE UNKNOWN GOD".
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In Paul’s mind, the Athenians were religious in every way about every aspect of life to the point they had shrines, altars, artwork, sculptures and temples etc. that were dedicated to the different gods they worshipped, even to the point they had many places set up for “gods” they had respect and reverence but did not know anything about them. In their religious zeal, the Athenians did not wish to omit from their worship any deity with whom they might not be acquainted.
Paul asserted that there was indeed one whom they did not know, and this one he would declare to them.
 
Sad point: There are a lot of people who make the claim that they acknowledge God, yet do not have any real knowledge about HIM. Jesus said with their mouths they worship HIM, but their hearts are far from HIM. Hearing about God is not enough. Acknowledging that there is a God is not enough. You must get to know the “GOD of the Bible and forget about the god that is in a lot of people’s head because they are not the same! God (Jehovah in Greek, Yahweh in Hebrew) is the true and living God.

Scripture for the Month of July 2019       1 Peter 2:1-12
Our Inheritance Through Christ's Blood
"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious".

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient. The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.  (NKJV)
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Concerning The Church Discipline

 According to Matthew 18:15-17:
The purpose of any church discipline is to bring that person or persons to repentance and turning them away from the behavior(s) that put them at odds with a person, people, the church in general and with God . It’s important that the committee that is designated to act in behalf of the integrity of church understands the importance of following the leading of the Holy Spirit and the scriptural basis for their actions against the accused.

If we fail to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit "scriptural protocol" concerning   repentance and forgiveness and fail to forgive a truly repentant member and restore the right hand of fellowship to them, as well as restore every right and privilege granted to them according to scriptural protocol, and by the church bylaws to them and fully embrace them, we could endanger the repentant and cause that person to go on a life path that will ultimately destroy their lives, simply because we didn’t follow scripture protocol thus revealing that there may have been personal bias in the disciplinary actions taken against the accused.. And the church will have to give in account of it is some way.

What Does God Expects of Us

Ephesians 6:10-18 Be prepared for "Spiritual Warfare"

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 
NIV

 Editorial: “Feeling Forsaken by God the Father”

Matthew 27:46, the Bible said:  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"* 

By the time we get to the 45th verse of Chapter 27 of Matthew, it was about the 6th hour (high noon), but you couldn’t tell it by the demeanor of the sky. The sky has lodged its response to the cruelty of this moment and the crucifixion of the Son of God, The next 3 hours would be the time that the elements of the sky would use for mourning. … There will be a protest from the sun. The sun will pull down its cosmic light shades and drape the shy in darkness and the sun…the s-u-n will refuse to shine while the Son of God is dying…The moon will need medical attention, because the moon will get so upset, it will begin to hemorrhage, and drip away in blood, And, though nailed to a Roman made cross…a cross that’s a sign and symbol of cruelty and capital punishment, a quiet but agonizing Jesus up to this point hasn’t said a mumbling word. But as it gets nearer to the 9th hour, that final hour of mortality, all of a sudden, Jesus breaks his silence and cries out in a loud and anguished voice: Eli…Eli..lama sabachthani…which is translated: My God…My God…why have you forsaken me?  Really? Jesus feeling forsaken?

These words, the words Jesus had just spoken were words quoted from Psalms 22:1. This statement is of great importance. Jesus not only quoted from this Psalm, but in their deriding him, the Pharisees in the crucifixion crowd spoke a quotation from another part of this same Psalm. The question is: Did God the Father really forsake Jesus, His Son? Now, there are scholars past and present would attempt to make you think so. The truth is, the Father didn’t forsake him and the plan of salvation/redemption was not threatened in any way. The world needed a savior and “sin” needed an “Atoner.” One of the writers from Barnes Note Commentary made the following statement: “Take deity away from any redeeming act of Jesus Christ and redemption is ruined.” Isaiah 53:10 (Amplified Version) puts it this way: “Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

2 Peter 2:4-22
Doom of False Teachers

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) —  then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,  and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

Depravity of False Teachers

But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;  but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 

Deceptions of False Teachers

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

​While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."     NKJV

Motto: Stand fast in the faith. Defend It!

"The Future of Satan and the Saints"
Revelation 20:1-11

 News Flash!!! Satan Incarcerated: Bound 1000 Years Revelation 20:1-4

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 

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The Saints Reign with Christ 1000 Years 
Revelation 20:4-6

"And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection".  "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years". 

Finally: "Satanic Rebellion Crushed"
(cf. Ezek 38; 39)
Revelation 20:7-10

" Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.  The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever". 
NKJV
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Cheerful Giving": An Attribute of Love  How do we do it?
First:  By loving God.  
Second: By responding to God’s love and financial appeals.
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2 "Biblical Facts" about Benevolence:

(1)  "It is God's love that triggers a Spirit of Benevolence in a person. 
Giving is not naturally in us because we are naturally selfish. God being the author and finisher of our faith plants both His love and the desire to give in our hearts. The Spirit of Benevolence is one of the many effects of his grace as He imparts both grace and mercy upon us. “Benevolence” opens our hearts in love and out of the concern for others, we express that love in our giving".

(2) "Benevolence" is a favor bestowed on a church or a group when God excites the members in her to give, especially in “special” offerings of benevolence to those in desperate need.Giving is one of the evidences of his love. Giving is a higher proof that we possess the favor of God and the ability to meet the needs of others. 
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 Church Profile: Sardis: The "Dead" Church
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​History: 
Jesus called the Church at Sardis a “dead” church even though the church had several names: “prince of joy”, “escaping one” and “those who come out.”  Dr. Clarence Larkin wrote in his book “Dispensational Truth, “Sardis was accused of being a “formalistic church,” a church that became “ritualistic” and formal in their form of worship”. The church was full of cliques and clans and was more politically driven than spiritually fervent. The Apostle Paul aptly described this type of church as having a “form” of God, but “denying the power thereof”. 

Jesus called this type of church as being like “whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones.” Sardis was the church period when the reformation or the protest against the “Papal” church because of the many false teachings, tyranny and the autonomic claims of what became the Roman Catholic Church and the “sovereignty” or “total autonomy” of the Pope. On October 31, 1517 A.D., a German Monk named Martin Luther in protest of the skewed doctrines of the Papal church wrote and nailed his 95 theses on the door of a Papal church in Whittenburg, Germany. This act earmarked the beginning of the “Protestant Movement” and the day that Reformation set in.Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of a struggle for political liberty than a Christian/religious movement. However, out of the Protestant Movement, the mode of church worship became less formal and became more simplistic. Not only this, but the Doctrine of “Justification by Faith” was revived and the Protestant movement opened the door for more Non-Papal religious sects (denominations) which over the course of history caused more contentions and controversies that can be felt in the church even today. The Sardis Period lasted 230 years and extended from 1520 A.D. to about 1750 A.D.
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​1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Day of the Lord
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

​Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
NKJV

2 Peter 2:1-3
Destructive Doctrines

​But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
NKJV

Editorial: Having "Inner Peace"

Philippians 4:6-7
 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
(NKJV)

What is peace without the peace of God that surpasses all of our "intellectual" understanding? We are all beings that have "partial" knowlege and live our lives based on 'partiality'. Letting Jesus in one's heart goes far beyond religion or religious practices, No religion cannot contain of confine HIM. It is in people's religions and "religious practices" that a lot of "misguided foolishiness" and "idiotic social confusion" comes forth, that has truly dividied the masses. 

Believe it or not, without Jesus, there is "no real peace", even from within. The reason is, there is an area located within the human psyche ( soul) that God can only occupy!" Sin" left and leaves that area empty and void." Nothing" or "no-thing" has the capacity to replace the void with "perfect peace" in your psyche (soul) but Christ. He's not just the "Prince of Peace", HE is Peace itself!", which means anything else that touts itself as peace, outside of HIM is really not peace and believe me, it will not last! Been there, done that!. 

Here's something we must remember:
Just because we may find "a quiet place" or experience "serene moments" away from the hustle and bustle of life's daily grind and challenges, doesn't always equate to or guarantee the possession or presence of peace.

 Contrary to public opinion, the absence of conflict is not the garauntor of the presence of peace. You may think that you have arrived at a place of peace, only to have its foundation ripped from underneath your inner being and fleeing from you when you least expect it. The difference in that peace that the world claims to give and that "perfect peace" that only Christ can give is, a person who is truly submitted to Christ, not religion can attest to the fact that in Christ, that "inner peace" they obtained through prayer, meditation, and practical living is not fleeting and just like Jesus, it will never max out, die out, or abandon you in critical times. 

Finally, it is true every person must be persuaded in their own minds and to each their own, but personally, I prefer God's  (through Jesus Christ) way to peace, and I truly believe that outside the realm of Christ, people may and often do find some facsimile of peace, that's false and fleeting but, it's usually manifest after dismissing one's self away from "surrounding drama". In Him, you can have both serenity and peace despite the surrounding drama in or around your life.

   Biblical Tips to Inner Peace
Philippians 4:8-9 "Meditation"

Meditate on These Things
 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.  (NKJV)                           

The "Purpose" of this Parable: "Mustard Seed"

The "purpose" of Matthew 13:31-32  is to illustrate the "work" of the gospel and how in the beginning the "effect" of the "gospel message" (the good news of Jesus Christ as Messiah) would be small at first, but over the course of time in "latter" stages of history both in centuries past, present and future that the gospel message, individuals who accepted Jesus Christ as Savior would increase in numbers and greatly mature in the faith the more Christ is embraced in their lives. 
Matthew Henry's Commentary sees it this way: The scope of this parable is to show, that the beginnings of the gospel would be small, but that its latter end would greatly increase. In this way the gospel church, the kingdom of God among us, would be set up in the world; in this way the work of grace in the heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on in particular persons.
We can safely conclude this parable illustrates the progression the Gospel and the growth of the kingdom of Heaven in the world and the growth of the grace (love) of God in the soul of a saved person. God's grace leads the soul to the fullness of glory may begin, and often does, in a person's single good desire-(a wish) to escape hell, or a desire to enjoy God in heaven. In this parable, Jesus reveals to us how the gospel influences the growth of both the church, and Jews of "Millennial Israel" who will embrace Christ during His triumphant second coming and how God's grace, (unmerited favor) the work of grace in and on a person's heart, the kingdom of God within us, would be carried on and in the "saved."

A Stroll Down Memory Lane:

One can only imagine the many thoughts that filled the heart of Mary on that faithful day at the cross as she now watches her beloved son hang on a rugged cross, having been accused of blasphemy, sedition and insurrection. 

Many memories of yesteryear will come to the forefront of our minds as we stand before a dying love one. It's been a few hours now, her son Jesus bleeding from head to toe, naturally suffering from the beatings he received, while at the same time bearing the sins of every man in his bleeding and battered body. If we were allowed to take a stroll in the mind of Mary, I'm sure she took a stroll in her own mind back to the beginning the first time they went to the temple to have Jesus circumcised and dedicated and came in contact with the Prophetess Anna, the daughter of Phanuel. Anna, according to the Bible stayed in the temple day and night fasting and praying and giving thanks to the Lord. Talk about dedication! If only we would become this dedicated toward God. How much better would our lives be? Anna spoke of Jesus to everybody she came in contact with from that time on.

And then there was Simeon, (Luke 2:25-25) a just and devout man who was waiting for the "consolation" of Israel.(Jesus) According to the Bible, Simeon was endowed by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit told him that he would not die until he laid eyes on the Christ child.I am sure the words of Simeon came across her mind when Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed God in the temple during the baby dedication and said: " Lord, now you can let your servant depart in peace according to your word; For my eyes have seen Your Salvation which you have prepared before the faces of all peoples; A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." (Luke 2: 29:32)

Back when Simeon said these things, the Bible said Joseph and Mary marveled at these words, but little did she know at that time that His words were not only prophetic, but she would actually see them come to fruition in her lifetime. Now those very words were staring her in the face as Jesus was hanging on the cross right before her eyes.You see, the Bible said Simeon then blessed them after he blessed God and said to Mary "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel. He will be a "sign" which will be spoken against. A sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many may be revealed."

A Powerful Testimony of Restraint and Perseverance:

As we focus on the events happening around the cross, here she is, her heart was being pierced. Mary was heartbroken, watching her son Jesus writhing in agony, but God saw this moment as Jesus making all things new, carrying out His, God's and the Holy Spirit's plan of redemption that was put in place before the foundation of the world. Mary as his mother sees him as her "suffering crucified son". God sees him as  his "suffering servant" and the "Lamb of God" that was slain before the foundation of the world, who came to take away the SIN of the world that separated Adam and Eve in Eden from God, and caused all men born after the fall of Adam and Eve to be "born in sin and shaped in iniquity". Jesus , the "Lamb" slain in eternity past now is hung on a cross in Mary's present who lived in "time present." Yet, Mary was undaunted, was not to be deterred from the fury of the enemy. (Pharisees, Scribes, Romans, Sanhedrin, Satan) Neither was she overcome by the horrific sight of a "crucifying cross". No, she could not take him down from the cross. There was no way she could rescue him or relieve the excruciating pain shooting through his body, but the love she had for him gave her the strength to stand by him, even at this dark hour. It's been said that His torments were her tortures; that she was upon a rack , while Jesus Jesus was raised and stretched out on the cross; that her heart bled with his wounds, while he was being "wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes, we were being healed"; (Isaiah 53:5) and the "reproaches" wherewith they reproached him actually fell on those who reproached him.

Yet, what was equally remarkable about Mary's was her demeanor at the cross in this hour of a heavy trial and persecution. You  would've expected her to be emotionally out of control and at her wits end. You would have expected her to tear her clothes, ripping out her hair, pleading with anyone who would listen to do something to save her son and get him down off that cross. But God gave her the strength to hold out and hold on; thus God kept her composed, reassuring her that all of this would work out for her good and the good of mankind, if they would only believe in the Messiah. This gives you the feeling that Mary inwardly had a greater expectation of the resurrection that most of the mourners did. What we must remember is many times we don't know how much we can bear until we are faced with major crisis in our lives. In times like these we find ourselves getting through the grief and trauma of a critical or grave situation. It's times like these when we can hear the voice of the Lord echo in our ears; "My grace is sufficient for you". 

Profile: Thyatira The "Church of Compromise"
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History Note: The church of Thyatira represents the "Papal church."

The "Papal" church introduced "images" and "pictures" into the churches and caused the people of that time to bow down to these graven images, and act that is "forbidden" in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 4) There is no question that whether this "Jezebel" was a real person, it is obvious that she was represents  a "Religious System". The only religious system that fits her character and religious practices is the "Papal Church".

​This church made the claim that it's teachings is "superior" to the Word Of God and since the church in personality  is always represented in the female venacular,  as the Bible teaches the church is the "Bride" of Jesus Christ, this church became a "False Prophetess"! 

​When you research and study the formation of this church system from its inception in 606 A.D. to the time of the Reformation in A.D. 1520, you will find out that this church introduced what is called "The sacrifice of the Mass" and other Pagan rites taken from the "Pergamos" Church Period, all of which had a "sway of "Jezebelism." The time period between 606 and 1520 A.D. was a time of "Jezebelistic Persecution", which was vividly illustrated in the times of the "Crusades", and the rise of what was called "The Inquisition." It was the "Inquisition" of this church that set up the need for the "Reformation Period" that followed in the Sardis Church Period, spearheaded by Martin Luther around 1500 A.D. when in 1517 A.D., Luther wrote and nailed his 95 "Thesis" in protest of the "Papal Church, its politics and religious practices.