The concept is inspired by the biblical story of the evil Queen Jezebel, who persecuted the prophets and was punished with a horrible death. The word “Jezebel” was used during slavery and throughout U.S. history to describe black women, characterizing them as overtly sexual and untrustworthy.

In the context of “Jezebel’s spirit”, the term has sinister connotations, suggesting that the person is under the influence of demons in a spiritual battle between good and evil. People who have studied the Jan. 6 insurrection warn that similar rhetoric about spiritual warfare drove many people to the U.S. Capitol that day.

“People… hear that this woman is possessed by a demonic spirit that is unconditional, terrible, hates men, hates authority, and will do anything she wants,” said Anthea Butler, professor at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the work. book “White Evangelical Racism,” which studied the New Apostolic Reformation.

The term, Butler said, is coded language to communicate that the person — a woman, usually a Democrat, black or multiracial — is not an acceptable candidate. Harris is Christian and Baptist, but when religious leaders link her to Jezebel, Butler said it falsely suggests she is not Christian.

WHERE DOES THE TERM COME FROM?

In the Old Testament, Jezebel is one of the most vile villains. She was a foreign-born queen who wielded great power, persecuted prophets, and worshiped false gods. Eventually, she was punished by being thrown out of a window, trampled by a horse, and then eaten by dogs.

Later in the Bible, Jezebel appears as a false prophet announcing the end times and promoting sexual promiscuity.

The term has long been used in the United States against women, particularly black women. During the era of slavery, this idea was used to justify the systemic sexual assault and rape of black women and girls. It has been used in the past to target other women like Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, and to categorize movements such as feminism, abortion rights, and LGBTQ+ rights.

It’s dangerous to conceptualize female candidates through the “Jezebel spirit,” said Tamura Lomax, author of the book “Jezebel Unhinged” and associate professor of religious studies at Michigan State University.

“Any woman who takes power in any way will be seen as this Jezebel who deserves violence,” she said.

WHO USES THE TERM? AND WHY?

The usage comes from a politicized movement in charismatic Christianity called the New Apostolic Reformation, a decentralized but highly networked movement whose leaders widely teach that demonic forces are involved in spiritual warfare and can speak through people. In this case, the spirit of Jezebel is a demon that is at work on earth and possesses the qualities of the Jezebel of the Bible, although the phrase “spirit of Jezebel” never appears in the Bible.

The language is used to galvanize and catalyze Christians with apocalyptic sensibilities with messages that the upcoming election is “do or die,” said Matthew Taylor, whose new book, “The Violent Take It By Force,” traces the history of the New Apostolic Reformation. and details its influence in the January 6 insurrection.

“It’s used as a way to justify assault,” Taylor said. “Christians are supposed to love their enemies. …But Christians have the right to hate demons.

And some people might use this militant rhetoric to justify violence in the real world, he said.

The movement came to the fore on Jan. 6, Taylor said, as believers waged “spiritual warfare” at the Capitol. During the attack, people sang religious songs, prayed and blew the shofar – a horn from Jewish tradition that was adopted by Christian nationalists, inspired by its use at the biblical Battle of Jericho.

Since that day, Taylor said, there has been a huge increase in discussion of spiritual warfare in American politics.

Christian nationalism is a fusion of American and Christian identities that seeks a privileged place for Christianity in American public life.

Lance Wallnau, who has a million followers on Facebook and is one of the leaders who used the “Jezebel spirit” to describe Harris, is considered a prophet of the New Apostolic Reformation, according to Taylor, and said that he received messages directly from God.

He was an early evangelical supporter of Trump and remains close to his campaign. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance recently appeared at an event hosted by Wallnau.

Wallnau posted a video on The personification of intimidation, seduction, domination and manipulation,” he added. “She can look presidential and that’s the seduction of what I would call witchcraft.”

In another video, he said Harris represents “an amalgamation of the Jezebel spirit in a way that will be even more disturbing than Hillary (Clinton), because she will bring a racial component and she is younger.” .

Meanwhile, Trump is described by some preachers linked to the New Apostolic Reformation as being anointed by God, fighting alongside the angels.

This language has also seeped into downhill races. In Indiana, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor said the election is between “divine strength and audacity” on the Republican side of the state and “the spirit of Jezebel” on the Democratic side , led by three women.

Micah Beckwith, a pastor and self-described Christian nationalist, did not respond to voicemails and text messages seeking to clarify his comment. Beckwith told IndyStar this month that his comment was not about gender but about Democratic ideas.

On October 12, thousands gathered to pray on the National Mall where Ché Ahn, a leader of the New Apostolic Reformation, decreed that Trump was a “type of Jehu,” the biblical figure who overthrew the reign of Jezebel and ordered her death. Ahn, who did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press, implored the crowd to come out and vote.

“I decree by faith that Trump will win on November 5,” he told the crowd. “He will be our 47th president and Kamala Harris will be ousted.”