Athaliah (her name means “afflicted by God”) was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, and wife of Jehoram. Athaliah and Jehoram had a son named Ahaziah.

Athaliah was noted to counsel her son into his devilish schemes.

“He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of The LORD,” 2 Kings 8:18.

“In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. He followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of The LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family,” 2 Kings 8:25-27.

“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly,” 2 Chronicles 22:3.

Ahaziah served as king of Judah for less than one year before he was assassinated.

When Athaliah received word that her son was dead, she seized the opportunity to usurp the throne by murdering Ahaziah’s sons — her own grandsons.

Athaliah eradicated the entire royal family so she could take the throne. Despite her evil intentions, one grandchild escape this massacre.

Jehosheba, the baby’s aunt and the wife of the high priest Jehoiada, took the infant Joash and hid him and his nurse in a bedroom.

Joash was later smuggled out of the castle and taken to the temple, where he remained hidden for six years while Queen Athaliah reigned over the land.

“When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered.
She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of The LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land,” 2 Kings 11:1-3.

Characteristics of The Spirit of Athaliah

The Spirit of Athaliah targets individuals with leadership abilities before they have the chance to ascend to the throne or walk fully in the office that God has ordained for them.

This vengeful spirit’s purpose is to eradicate the next generation of leaders in their season of emergence. The driving force behind this spirit is revenge, envy and wrath.

To learn more about the spirit of envy, click here:- “Dismantling The Power Of The Spirit Of Envy“.

Leaders who have battled in spiritual warfare (and won) against the spirits of Jezebel and Ahab will often encounter the backlash of the spirit of Athaliah unaware.

This vengeful spirit is skilled at setting ambushes. With its familiarity with the kingdom of deceit, this spirit will move quickly to attack, leaving its target bewildered and unprepared. Individuals that are under attack from the spirit of Athaliah feel overwhelmed and may feel that the attacks are unjust – which could lead to an offense with God or a turning away from the faith entirely.

Attacks of the spirit of Athaliah are designed to annihilate its target completely, not just to merely cripple them. This is why the attacks seem severe and harsh.

The Spirit of Athaliah has the same characteristics as Jezebel, but it’s expression of those characteristics will visibly be more aggressive and lethal. Athaliah is like a viper, a venomous snake.

It strikes swiftly with a fatal bite. It blindsides the target and then moves in quickly for the kill. It comes in the form of Pharisees and Sadducee’s of this day who come operate in piety.

Beware, it is not uncommon for individuals who hold one of the five-fold ministries to operate under the auspices of this spirit.

There are many religious leaders, who resemble King Saul, that have stripped of their anointing to lead

“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him,” Matthew 12:34-35.

The spirit of Athaliah can freely operate in leaders who are so stricken with pride that they cannot see not discern the error of their ways.

Attempts to correct an individual operating in this spirit may result in gaslighting, manipulation and word twisting.

Do not directly engage this spirit with unforgiveness, bitterness or rage in your heart. You will be triggered emotionally and spiritually, and this may encounter another onslaught on attacks.

Additionally, this spirit desires to isolate its target, similar to how Jezebel’s tactics isolated Elijah.

This spirit will attempt to keep its target hidden by any means necessary. Some examples of Athaliah’s multi-faceted attack may include:

• Religious groups forming against you (secret meetings and conversations with the intention to discredit you).
• False flattery.
• Assassination of character publicly and privately.
• Public shame (in conjunction with sabotage).
• Sabotage.
• Monitoring:

• • To learn more about monitoring spirits, visit:- “Monitoring Spirits“
  • See Author’s Podcast:– “Monitoring Spirits“

This spirit is extremely envious of emerging leaders, but will go to great lengths to attach themselves to them to find out information that they can use to weaponize.

While this gathering of information can be grouped into the likeness of a monitoring spirit, the spirit of Athaliah will use word curses to weaken its target, especially if it has been exposed.

• • See Author’s Podcast:- “Breaking The Power of Word Curses“

Prophetic Encouragement: The Preservation of the Anointed Leaders

Joash, the grandchild of Athaliah that saved from the massacre, was hidden for 6 years.

Much like Joash, many leaders had to be groomed in obscurity because of the reign of the spirit of Athaliah. However, those days of obscurity are over.

The LORD is calling the Joash’s out of hiding and into their reign of prominence. The rise to ascension concerning God’s anointed leaders can not be undone and the enemy is furious.

The enemy is working tireless to delay and to distress the emerging leaders, but these tactics will not prevail. Now is the time to boast in The LORD and watch The LORD perform valiantly on your behalf.

For this battle, you will not be able to be idly standby. Wage war on the accuser of the brethren with worship, testimony, forgiveness, boundaries, intercession and financial giving.

The tables are turning quickly and the sound of this turn reverberating throughout the nations. It is time for the God’s anointed leaders to assume their positions.

“Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as The LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. Now this is what you are to do: a third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of The LORD. No one is to enter the temple of The LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what The LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.” 2 Chronicles 23:3-7 NIV.

The LORD has assigned watchmen and intercessors for the emerging leaders that God has anointed for this dispensation in time, but many of them have been led astray by their own failures and pride.

In intercession, The LORD assured me that there are still intercessors and watchman who are standing guard to preserve the next generation.

The LORD reminded me of Obadiah, for there are still intercessors who pray the will of God and not their own selfish desires.

For those of you who have been wearied with battle, do not give into the discouragement. You are not alone. The righteous ones are interceding on your behalf. Your ascension to the place of promotion and victory are imminent.

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force,” Matthew 11:12.

Be encouraged, not only do you have the support of your brothers and sisters in Christ, you have support in the unseen realm.

Angels are on assignment concerning you. Your victory is imminent.

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 18:10.

Hold fast to the promises of God. The spirit of Athaliah will not prevail against you.

You will ascend to your position of prominence, and you will thrive and rule under the leadership of The Holy Spirit.

“The seed of the righteous shall be delivered,” Proverbs 11:21.

 

Shalom,
~ Dee Evans

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Dr. Dee Evans is the founder of Dee Evans Ministries International and Koinonia Training and Consulting. She currently mentors ministers and leaders throughout the USA, Africa, and Pakistan. With a passion for training prophets and leaders for the 21st century church. Her ministry emphasizes the importance of worship, prayer, intercession, and deliverance. Chesapeake, VA.
Email: contact@thedeeevans.com

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