Sexual Sins in The Book of Revelation "Jezebel and Church of Thyatira"

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things say the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:18-28

            As we continue studying sexual sins in the book of revelation, we must stop at what God told the bishop of Thyatira. We find that God praises the church of Thyatira for love, faith, patience, endurance and that the church is growing spiritually. However, God accuses the church of Thyatira that it tolerates the woman Jezebel who is teaching God's servants to practice sexual immorality. God is giving Jezebel and her followers a chance to repent; and if they don’t, they will be thrown into a great tribulation. God concludes his words to the church of Thyatira with a blessing for the one who conquers in the spiritual warfare, saying “I will give him authority over the nations and he will rule over them with a rod of iron.”

To understand the context, the city of Thyatira lay southeast of Pergamum in Asia minor, which is now modern-day Turkey. Thyatira was a commercial city known for its trade unions (Acts 16:14). Union meetings frequently included cultic meals in their patronal, pagan, temples, a problem for Christian tradesmen, for the meetings involved idol worship and sexual immorality[1]. The excessive, lawless, and promiscuous practice of sex that was so common in the pagan rituals of old still lives on today. While it may not be directly used in pagan worship anymore, it is still incited and normalized by the same demons. Today, however, these demons have another tool at their disposal: pornography. For where they cannot incite a person to partake in the actual act of lawless sex, they will ensnare him or her with porn. In our modern society, pornography is so widespread has a strong an impact on our culture. Many pornographic sexual acts have become normalized and tolerable.  Shockingly, porn is even becoming an instruction manual for intimacy[2]. This is alarming because the sex portrayed in pornographic videos is not at all what God intended intimacy to be. Sexual harassment of girls is unacceptably normalized because of the widespread prevalence of porn culture[3]. Even though porn consumption is lower than average among church attending Christians [4],[5] and religiosity is a positive factor in helping recover from porn addiction[6], Christians aren’t immune to this epidemic.  In fact, they should be very cautious of it.  

  In the church, two common approaches have been adopted to deal with porn addiction. The traditional approach often involves punitive measures, such as shame, guilt, and isolation. These methods, though well-intentioned, can unintentionally worsen the problem by driving addiction further underground, reinforcing feelings of shame, and preventing individuals from seeking help.  To avoid these consequences, a compassionate and understanding approach within church communities is recommended [7]. There is a strong need for open conversations about pornography addiction, de-stigmatizing the issue, and offering practical resources for recovery. By fostering an environment of empathy and support, churches can, and will, play a vital role in helping individuals find their path to healing.

Back to the church of Thyatira who tolerated Jezebel. Let’s first learn about Jezebel who’s referenced here in these verses. The name Jezebel means Baal exalts or unchaste[8]. Jezebel is first mentioned in First kings chapter 16 as the wife of king Ahab, who betrayed God by worshipping idols. Jezebel killed God's prophets (1st Kings 18) and added insult to injury by forcing the people to worship Baal. Baal is a fertility god whose worship included immoral sexual acts [9],[10].  Later on, we find out that king Ahab built an Ashera pole to please his wife; Ashera, a pagan goddess, is often portrayed naked and her worship involved sexual acts with the associated priests[11],[12]. The depiction of the Ashera goddess is comparable to how modern-day porn stars are positively portrayed and admired in our society. However, the porn stars’ glamorous lives that’s portrayed in the media is a complete lie. Jan Villarubia, an ex-porn star who eventually left the porn industry, says “Of course, I lied to my fans. I led them to believe I lived a fantasy life that was far from the truth. I fed into their fantasies. I said I wanted sex 24/7 and made it seem like I absolutely loved what I did and was living this happy life. I gave them hope and insight into their relationships by telling them what to do. I started to feel like an important nobody” [13] Don’t believe anything that comes from this industry; they are only interested in keeping you addicted and stealing your money.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel

Aside from glamourizing sexual sins, king Ahab and Jezebel legalized sexual sins by making the worship of Ashera and Baal the official public religion. Sadly, a similar legal protection for pornography exists today. It is protected by the first amendment because it’s considered freedom of speech[14].  Yet There’s nothing free about it. It is full of compulsion, exploitation and abuse. In 1967, president Lyndon B. Johnson, established a Presidential Commission on Obscenity and Pornography. The commission’s mandate was to analyze pornography in a social scientific manner to come up with legislative recommendations. In 1970, the commission report found no evidence to suggest pornography was harmful and called for the immediate repeal of all laws prohibiting adults from accessing sexual materials. Thankfully the report provoked public outrage and the senate voted overwhelmingly to reject it; but still even today this report is used as a reference in support of the porn industry[15]. There are numerous examples about governmental support for the industry, which is no different than king Ahab legalizing and supporting sexual sins through the worship of Baal and Ashera. It’s important to realize that not everything that’s legal is biblical or right. Pornography is a clear example of that. We follow biblical law not earthly law. Just as saint Peter said to the pharisees that “We ought to obey God rather than men” Acts 5:29. Unfortunately, earthly law will contradict biblical law and we need to be ready to abide by biblical laws only. The porn industry is a huge 96-billion-dollar monster[16]. It will keep expanding its power in courts, laws and politics[17] to keep our kids enslaved to sin. We should be ready fight it and not be intimidated by its legality.

A similar example to King Ahab legalizing sin, or giving sin legitimacy, was when President Jimmy Carter, a devout Baptist, did an interview with Playboy magazine[18]. Playboy magazine aimed at men and the first to present female nudity and sexually oriented material in a relatively sophisticated format. Through its support of that belief and its popularization of the notion that viewing sexually suggestive photography of women was not only acceptable but healthy, it contributed to the so-called sexual revolution in the United States in the 1960s, marked by greatly more permissive attitudes toward sexual interest and activity than had been prevalent in earlier generations[19]. In this event presidential candidate Jimmy Carter purposely “tolerated Jezebel” to win the election. When asked “do you have any problems with appearing in Playboy? Do you think you'll be criticized?” He responded “I don't object to that at all. I don't believe I'll be criticized.”[20] How can a devout Baptist and a Sunday school teacher, tolerate or even legitimize a pornographic magazine by doing an interview with them? The answer lies in greed to win the election, because he wanted to appeal to voters who read Playboy at the expense of his personal beliefs. It started during the democratic primary when Playboy interviewed Carter’s rival, governor of California, Jerry Brown. Right after Brown’s Playboy interview appeared, the young governor shot up in the polls, surging ahead of early front-runner Carter, and he won the Maryland primary. Consequently, Carter also accepted an interview with Playboy[21]. In accepting an interview with Playboy Carter was trying to combat the stigma of a weirdo religious Baptist. “Hamilton Jordan (Carter’s campaign manager) had always called Carter’s faith ‘the weirdo factor,’” said media historian Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor who has written extensively on Carter. “Talking to Playboy was their way to prove he wasn’t some kind of prude.”[22]. What a shame! Compromising his own beliefs and becoming a stumbling block for others so he can win the election.

Jimmy Carter indeed won the election; but he lost his soul and became a stumbling block for many. Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”. Eventually, Carter regretted doing the interview as he said during the presidential debate with Ford “I agreed to give the interview to Playboy other people have done it who are notable Governor Jerry Brown, Albert Schweizer Mr. ford’s own secretary of treasure Mr. Simon William many other people but they weren't running for president and in retrospect from hindsight I would not have given that interview had to do it had I to do it over again if I should ever decide in the future to discuss my deep Christian beliefs and condemnation and sinfulness I'll use another Forum besides”[23]. It’s silly to speak of God in the wrong setting to the wrong audience. Mr. Carter ended being mocked by Christians and non-Christians and his words were misinterpreted because they were said in the wrong setting. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6

We further read about king Ahab in 1st kings’ chapter 16 verse 30, “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.  He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria.  Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him." You can see a descending spiral of king Ahab’s sins. We tend to fall progressively in sexual sins unless we take serious steps to turn things around. We can see this in king Ahab’s story; first, he married Jezebel then he worshiped Baal, then, he built an altar for Baal, then he made an Asherah pole. A descending spiral, my friend. That’s why you have to cut the sin at the beginning. Don’t negotiate or build any attachment to it because it will progressively spiral into something worse.

            The same spiraling into sin is evident for porn addiction. Scientifically, it’s called desensitization[24]. This is where porn addicts start developing a numbed pleasure response, or inability to achieve the same “high,” an addict once did. This process is also accompanied by something called habituation[25],  which is boredom from viewing the same picture or video. Eventually, desensitization and habituation lead the porn consumer to seek more than just porn. They end up craving new content: new people, new imaginary partners, new situations. Internet pornography fills the need by offering an endless variety of sexual “partners” and situations to gratify that sinful desire.

To avoid this deadly spiral we should sever anything that has to do with pornography. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:29 “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Cut all unhealthy relationships. Cut all sources of temptation, delete your social media accounts, get yourself a flip phone instead of your smart phone. Do whatever it takes to break that unhealthy relationship. Saint Hilary says, “We are here being advised to pluck out inordinate loves or friendships if they are the occasion that leads us further into wrongdoing. We would do well to not even have the benefit of a member, like an eye or a foot, if it furnishes the avenue by which one is drawn by excessive affections into a partnership with hell”[26]

In the same context the psalmist says “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.” Psalm 119:37. In commenting on this verse St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386 AD) refers to worthless things as the theater in his time. More interestingly he warns of theater addiction! Going to theater back at the time was like going to strip club today. Back then, the theater was mainly focused on very explicit content. In modern days, going to a strip club physically is no different than going virtually through pornography. It was the same as going to the theater back then. The theater was just as addictive then as pornography is today. It’s a shame that humanity hasn’t learned from the past and replicates ancient sins despite its modern twist. When explaining this verse, St. Cyril says, “Next you say, “and all his pomp.” The pomp of the devil is the craze for the theater, the horse races in the circus, the wild-beast hunts and all such emptiness, from which the saint prays to God to be delivered in the words, “Turn away my eyes that they may not behold worthless things.” Avoid an addiction to the theater, with its portrayal of sinful conduct, the lewd and unseemly antics of actors and the frantic dancing of degenerates. Not for you, either, the folly of those who, to gratify their miserable appetite, expose themselves to wild beasts in the combats in the amphitheater. They pamper their belly at the cost of becoming themselves, in the event, food for the mouths of savage beasts; of these gladiators it is fair to say that in the service of the belly that is their god they court death in the arena. Shun also the bedlam of the races, a spectacle in which souls as well as riders come to grief. All these follies are the pomp of the devil.”[27]

Interestingly in commenting about the same verse, St. Ambrose warns about the same thing -- Theaters! St. Ambrose and St. Cyril of Jerusalem lived in the same time period 300-390 AD[28],[29]. St. Ambrose was in Milan, Italy and St. Cyril was in Jerusalem; yet these two saints in two different continents warning about the same thing. Back then, there was a global culture same as we have today. Specifically, during the Roman Empire, a vibrant and interconnected global culture emerged, marked by the fusion of diverse influences and the spread of Roman values and practices across vast territories. The main part of the Roman culture is the theater which spread throughout the Roman Empire, from Spain to the Middle East. The remnants of the Roman theaters in Jerusalem and Milan can still be seen today[30],[31]. Similarly, today a global culture is spreading much faster through the internet and pornography is a global problem. In explaining Psalm 119:37, St. Ambrose warns of theaters saying “Therefore David, who had experienced those very glances that are dangerous for a man, aptly says that the one is blessed whose every hope is in the name of God. For such a person does not have regard to worthless things and follies if he always strives toward Christ and always looks on Christ with his inner eyes. For this reason, David turned to God again and said, “Turn away my eyes, that they may not see vanity.” The circus is vanity, because it is totally without profit; horse racing is vanity, because it is counterfeit as regards salvation; the theater is vanity, every game is vanity. “All things are vanity!” as Ecclesiastes says, all things that are in this world. Accordingly, let one who wishes to be saved ascend above the world, let him seek the Word who is with God, let him flee from this world and depart from the earth. For one cannot comprehend that which exists and exists always, unless he has first fled from here. On this account also, the Lord, wishing to approach God the Father, said to the apostles, “Arise, let us go from here.””[32]

On a personal level, an important takeaway from the story of king Ahab and Jezebel is the need to choose our relationships carefully. Dysfunctional relationships can lead us to stray from God. Relationships aren’t limited to those between us and other people. They can also be between us and what we see, use, and do. A serious sin was growing inside the church of Thyatira--Jezebel-- who was encouraging a profligate lifestyle. God punished this woman harshly to show how much he wants to protect his people from her evil influence. We see here God's care for us and how much he wants to protect us from evil world we live in. Notice, what God says about Jezebel in Revelation: "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:21-23

Brittni De La Mora was a porn star, until God changed her life through a divine series of events. She began to encounter the love of God, which became substantial enough for her to make a dramatic, unexpected decision by all who knew her to leave the industry overnight[33]. A key moment in her repentance journey was when she read Revelation 2:20-22 “You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality…I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So, I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.” After reading it she says “I started crying. I said: “I’ve been sexually immoral and leading your people into sin. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” And the Holy Spirit just said: “Brittni, I love you so much. This is not the life that I have for you. If you would just quit the porn industry today, I would bless your life so much.” And so I quit the porn industry that day. I started going back to church. And God radically transformed my life.[34] Truly, God’s word touches hearts, heals, and changes people forever.

Having time to repent and not using it means that evil is a choice[35]. There are people that sin out of ignorance, naivety or weakness. But unfortunately, the worst is people who sin out of free will, as a choice. “I will kill her,” is not about the visible death but about the spiritual death[36]. A stronger description of sin by choice leading to spiritual death can be found in Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” In commenting on this passage St. John Chrystom says “Here too Paul shows that the heathens were responsible for their own sins, and he deprives them of all excuse. For he says that their evil deeds did not come from ignorance but from willful practice. This is why he did not say “because they did not know God,” but rather “they did not see fit to acknowledge God.” In other words, their sin was one of a perverted determination of obstinacy—stubbornness-- more than of a sudden ravishment--impulse. Furthermore, it was not in the flesh (as some heretics say) but in the mind, to whose wicked lust the sins belonged and from which the fount of evils flowed. For if the mind becomes undiscerning, everything else is dragged off course and overturned.”[37] On a practical level, people who are spiritually dead lose interest in God or anything spiritual. They interpret everything in a very carnal and sensual way.  They eventually grow cold—meaning they lose connection with others-- with loved ones and become emotionally numb and detached and indifferent.  “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” Matthew 24:12

Notice also that the punishment is on Jezebel as well as all her followers even if they are not openly revealed. God is the one who knows all hidden things, and that is characteristic of sexual sins as they are usually hidden and held as a secret but there are no hidden things for God; and He knows and sees all hidden sins. God’s words to the church of Thyatira start by saying "These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:" Revelation 2:18. St. Andrew of Caesarea said “the fiery aspect of the eyes signifies the enlightenment of the righteous and the burning of the sinner”[38]. Whenever, we do something we should remember Jesus's eyes that are like flame of fire. Nothing can be hidden from his eyes because He sees and knows everything. These eyes are either going to enlighten what we do or burn what we do. If you are still in doubt, whatever you are hiding or ashamed of revealing is definitely a sin. As long as pornography addiction is hidden no hope or healing in sight. It has to come to light, confessing your sins is key to healing from porn addiction. Seeking help from a counselor/advisor is also key to healing from porn addiction. There’s no hope as long as your addiction is a secret.

Some common stumbling blocks with porn addiction are that everyone is doing it and that it’s everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s also inside the church and is most likely ignored and nobody wants to address it. When the scripture says "you tolerate the woman Jezebel" he is addressing the person of the bishop, who has the authority for tolerating or removing. God is holding the bishop culpable since by permitting Jezebel to teach, he is participating in her evil. Bishops who are ignorant of to the sins of their people, expose their followers to the left side, by not forbidding them. So, what should we do in such an unfortunate situation? Very similar to modern days where churches are okaying sexual misconduct or letting wrong teachings prevail[39]. The answer comes in what the lord said in Matthew chapter 23, "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do." Simply we should adhere to bishops’ teachings but not their deeds. Porn being ignored or tolerated doesn’t mean we should follow the herd and ignore or tolerate it ourselves; we are called to be different. Even if leadership isn’t clear about it, we should do what’s right in God’s eyes and abstain from sin. We are called to stand up and stop stumbling blocks from deceiving the innocent. Unfortunately, many innocent minds fall victim to porn addiction because of a bad role model or being confused about what’s right or wrong. We shouldn’t allow bad example to prevail as a stumbling block for the simple. Saint Andrew of Caesarea said “Although on account of your faithfulness and your service for those in need I acknowledge your piety and your endurance, nonetheless I rightly blame you, because you allow the heresy of the Nicolaitans to exist openly. This heresy is figuratively called “Jezebel” because of its impiety and licentiousness. Because of this heresy, my servants, through their simplicity of mind, are presented with a stone of stumbling and are drawn toward idolatrous practices from which they had previously fled. You must curb this heresy, because it deceitfully calls herself a prophetess, being moved by an evil spirit.”[40] 

Lastly, let’s discuss the last verses in Revelation about the church of Thyatira “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:24-29.

This passage starts by praising those who are simple minded “who have not known the depths of Satan” Revelation 2:24. Which is a positive thing, because being ignorant in sin is a blessing. It saves you a lot of pain and it saves you from fighting sins and addictions later in life. In Romans 16:19 St. Paul says “I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil”. Trust me you are not missing anything by purposely ignoring pornography; on the contrary you are doing yourself a favor and saving yourself from bitter bondage. In this passage we clearly see that God is praising the simple minded and, moreover, facilitating the spiritual life for them. It’s already a big struggle to keep yourself clean from sexual sins while everyone around you isn’t. Therefore, if you choose the struggle to keep your mind simple, God doesn’t add any other burden to you.  St. Andrew of Caesarea says “To the more simple, the Lord says, “Since on account of your simplicity you are not able to withstand those who are evil and have a facility with words,” namely, that you do not know “the deep things of Satan,” as you call it, I will not expect from you any war through words, but only that you preserve the teaching which you received until I remove you from there.”[41]

God also said that the simple-minded will have power over nations. Definitely, the bible here means spiritual power because the simple-minded stand as a testimony that it’s possible to remain clean. Many people find excuses that pornography is everywhere and everyone does it but the simple minded will stand as a testimony that it can be overcome through God’s grace. The simple-minded are indeed more powerful spiritually than sinners who know the depths of Satan. A clear example of power over nations is the Pope, who is no more than a moral authority that says what’s right and what’s wrong. This spiritual authority is very powerful because it stands as an example that someone can be simple-minded and dedicate his life to Jesus.

            In this article, we covered the legal and political angle of the porn industry. This industry exploits legal and political loopholes to further normalize porn usage and promote pornography as healthy. However, there’s nothing healthy or satisfying about porn. We convince ourselves that we will be happy once we have enough. Yet, there’s never enough porn. We dedicate our mind, energy, and passions to the consumption of porn[YW6]  but we are never satisfied. St. Augustine of Hippo, on the very first page of his Confessions, gives us the formula, "You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." [42]

[1] John D. Currid and David W. Chapman, eds., ESV Archaeology Study Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2016).

[2] Fight the New Drug, “Porn Culture Has Changed Teens’ First Sexual Encounters,” Fight the New Drug, 28 August 2023, https://fightthenewdrug.org/porn-culture-has-changed-teens-first-sexual-encounters/.

[3] Tanith Carey, “Heartbreaking Reality of a Teenage Girl’s Sex Life,” Mail Online, 9 June 2021, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9669443/Heartbreaking-reality-teenage-girls-sex-life.html.

[4] “Pornography Use Grows among Christians, Study Says, Urging Church to Offer Healing,” Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma, 30 October 2024, https://www.baptistmessenger.com/porn-use-grows-among-christians-study-says-urging-church-to-offer-healing/.

[5] Kyler Rasmussen and Alex Bierman, “How Does Religious Attendance Shape Trajectories of Pornography Use across Adolescence?☆,” J. Adolesc. 49.1 (2016): 191–203, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.03.017.

[6] Iesha Gibbons et al., “Addressing Problematic Pornography Use in Adolescent/Young Adult Males: A Literature Review and Recommendations for Family Therapists,” Am. J. Fam. Ther. 49.1 (2021): 57–73, https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2020.1848481.

[7] “What Churches Get Wrong about Pornography and How to Fix It,” Crosswalk.Com, n.d., https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/what-churches-get-wrong-about-pornography-and-how-to-fix-it.html.

[8] Robert L. Thomas and W. Don Wilkins, New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible: [Including] Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries, Updated ed. (Anaheim, Calif.: Foundation Publications, 1998).

[9] Currid and Chapman, ESV Archaeology Study Bible.

[10] “Baal Worship| Jewish Virtual Library,” n.d., https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/baal-worship-jewish-virtual-library.

[11] That the World May Know, “Fertility Cults of Canaan,” That the World May Know, n.d., https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/fertility-cults-of-canaan.

[12] Tilde Binger, Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel and the Old Testament, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 232 (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997).

[13] Fight the New Drug, “Ex-Porn Performers Share Brutal Truth About Most Popular Scenes,” Fight the New Drug, 20 November 2024, https://fightthenewdrug.org/10-porn-stars-speak-openly-about-their-most-popular-scenes/.

[14] “Pornography Is Protected by the First Amendment,” n.d., https://reason.com/2019/10/04/pornography-is-protected-by-the-first-amendment/.

[15] Lynn Comella et al., “Perspective | The Adult Industry Can Survive without Government Help. Here’s Why.,” Washington Post, 12 May 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/05/12/adult-industry-can-survive-without-government-help-heres-why/.

[16] Fight the New Drug, “How Does the Porn Industry Make Its Money Today?,” Fight the New Drug, 10 November 2024, https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-does-the-porn-industry-actually-make-money-today/.

[17] Fight the New Drug, “How the Porn Industry Quietly Fought to Stop Keeping Official Records of Performers’ Ages—and Won,” Fight the New Drug, 15 November 2021, https://fightthenewdrug.org/porn-industry-fought-to-stop-keeping-records-of-performers-ages/.

[18] “Interview with ‘Playboy’ Magazine | The American Presidency Project,” n.d., https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/interview-with-playboy-magazine.

[19] “Playboy | Definition, Founder, History, & Facts | Britannica,” 23 October 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Playboy.

[20] “Interview with ‘Playboy’ Magazine | The American Presidency Project.”

[21] “That Time We Reporters at Playboy Asked Jimmy Carter That Question | Column,” Tampa Bay Times, n.d., https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/03/23/that-time-we-editors-playboy-asked-jimmy-carter-that-question-column/.

[22] Associated Press BILL BARROW, “Jimmy Carter and Playboy: How ‘the Weirdo Factor’ Rocked ’76,” Text, The Hill, 16 April 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-entertainment/jimmy-carter-and-playboy-how-the-weirdo-factor-rocked-76/.

[23] {Citation}

[24] Fight the New Drug, “Neuroscience Study Reveals Similarities Between Porn and Drug Addicts’ Brains,” Fight the New Drug, 8 December 2024, https://fightthenewdrug.org/cambridge-neuroscientist-valerie-voon-porn-drug-addict-brain/.

[25] Fight the New Drug, “How Porn Can Become an Escalating Behavior,” Fight the New Drug, 20 May 2024, https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-become-an-escalating-behavior/.

[26] Manlio Simonetti, ed., Matthew 1-13, 1[st printing in paperback]., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. New Testament New Testament, 1 a (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 20).

[27] Quentin F. Wesselschmidt and Thomas C. Oden, Psalms 51-150: Volume 8 (The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture) (Downers Grove (Ill.): InterVarsity press, 2007).

[28] “Saint Cyril of Jerusalem | Patriarch, Catechetical Lectures, Doctor | Britannica,” 27 November 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Cyril-of-Jerusalem.

[29] “Saint Ambrose | Biography, Writings, Patron Saint, & Facts | Britannica,” n.d., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Ambrose.

[30] “Teatro Romano,” n.d., https://www.milomb.camcom.it/teatro-romano-en.

[31] Biblical Archaeology Society Staff, “Ancient Roman Theater Exposed Under Jerusalem’s Western Wall,” Biblical Archaeology Society, 1 November 2017, https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-sites-places/jerusalem/ancient-roman-theater-jerusalem-western-wall/.

[32] Wesselschmidt and Oden, Psalms 51-150: Volume 8 (The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture).

[33] “Brittni De La Mora,” Love Always Ministries, n.d., https://www.lovealwaysministries.com/brittnidelamora.

[34] Brittni De La Mora26 November 20212 min read, “How Jesus Rescued Me from a Life in Porn,” Premier Christianity, n.d., https://www.premierchristianity.com/testimonies/how-jesus-rescued-me-from-a-life-in-porn/5768.article.

[35] Andrew and Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, Commentary on the Apocalypse, The Fathers of the Church : A New Translation v. 123 (Washington, D.C: Catholic University of America Press, 2012).

[36] Ticonius, Francis X. Gumerlock, and David C. Robinson, Exposition of the Apocalypse, The Fathers of the Church, a New Translation Volume 134 (Washington, D.C: The Catholic University of America Press, 2017).

[37] Gerald Lewis Bray and Thomas C. Oden, eds., Romans, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture 6 (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 2005).

[38] Andrew and Constantinou, Commentary on the Apocalypse.

[39] WIKIPEDIA, s.v. “List of Christian Denominations Affirming LGBT People.”

[40] William Carl Weinrich and Thomas C. Oden, Revelation: Volume 12 Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove (Ill.): InterVarsity press, 2005).

[41] Weinrich and Oden, Revelation: Volume 12 Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture.

[42] The Word on Fire Bible. The Promised Land (Elk Grove Village, IL: Word on Fire, 2024).