1.  Adulteress was a strong word in Israel, a violation of the Ten Commandments and punishable by death (Ex 20:14; Lev 20:10).
2.  Adultery was widespread before the Fifth Cycle of Discipline (Isa 57:3; Jer 9:2; 23:10; Ezek 6:9; Hos 7:4).
3.  Jesus called Israel an adulterous generation (Matt 12:39; 16:4; Mk 8:38).
4.  Adulteresses is a metaphor for spiritual adultery (Jas 4:4; 2 Pet 2:14, 18).

James 4:4
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity toward God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be the friend of the world makes himself the enemy of God.

5.  Spiritual adultery is the love of the world, including friendship with the world (Jas 4:4).
     a.  The love of the Lord as Right Man is rejected (Jer 2:2-3; Ezek 16:32), corresponding to Reverse Process Reversionism (RPR) (Matt 5:28).
     b.  Sanctification is lost (Jer 3:1-2, 9; 23:10-11), and there is carnality and impurity (Rom 1:24; 6:19; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19; 5:3; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:7).
     c.  Idolatry is spiritual adultery (Deut 12:2; Is 57:5, 7; Jer 2:20; 3:2, 6, 13; 16:18; 17:2; 1 Cor 6:15-19; 10:21; Rev 2:20).

1.  True love requires an Integrity Envelope, or Edification Complex of the Soul.  The love of the world violates Integrity along the X, Y, Z, or Time axis.
     a.  Love is harmony with the object of love.
     b.  There can be no harmony between Christ and Belial (2 Cor 6:15).
     c.  Friendship with the world contradicts the love of God and Christ in a believer (Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15-16).
     d.  Friendship with the world includes the social life (1 Cor 15:33).
     e.  Sanctification from the world includes separation (Rom 16:17; 2 Thess 3:6; 2 Jn 1:10) or use of impersonal love (Jas 2:8).
2.  Spiritual adulteresses include carnal believers and reversionists (Rom 1:24).
     a.  Scar tissue of the soul is a blind spot and open door into spiritual adultery (Ex 7:3, 13; Deut 31:27; Psa 78:8; 95:8; Jer 5:23; 6:28; Jn 12:40; Eph 4:18-19).
     b.  Spiritual adultery overcomes a person and enslaves him in the Cosmic System.

Recovery

1.  Recovery from spiritual adultery requires passing tests (1 Pet 4:12).
     a.  The tests deliver a person into the world and open up love relationships with the world.  Examples:  Sarah and Pharaoh; Sarah and Abimelech; Joseph and Potiphar's wife; Solomon and the Shulamite.
     b. The person under testing will be under temptation and pressure from the world (1 Pet 4:4).
     c.  Passing the test requires Divine viewpoint and correct application of Bible Doctrine over a period of time (1 Cor 10:13-14).
2.  Advance to Spiritual Maturity is required to overcome spiritual adultery (1 Jn 2:13-14).

Influence of the Cosmic System

1. Satan and his demons enslave spiritual adulteresses as the Prostitute of Babylon, or Jezebel (Lk 8:2; 2 Cor 11:2-3; 1 Thess 3:5; Rev 2:20).
     a.  Satan tempts, lures, and entices people into sin and evil of the Cosmic System (Matt 4:1, 3; 1 Thess 3:5).
     b.  He also attacks, pressures, and harasses victims (Job 2:4, 7, 9; Rev 12:10).
2.  Angels and demons direct the paths of people and open opportunities for them to fall into spiritual adultery (Judg 9:23; 1 Sam 16:14; 18:10; 1 Ki 22:21-23; Jn 8:44; 13:2, 27; 1 Jn 4:6; Rev 16:13-14).

References

1.  Larry Wood.  Doctrinal Definition, Separation from the World, March 11, 2016.