We left off with Jude’s warnings about how we are deceived from those within the body. These are the most dangerous types of deceivers. Corrupt government officials, self-righteous professional athletes, and media darlings who live immoral life styles are somewhat easier to see as unholy, unrighteous, and in the ‘dark’. The ones, who are actually one of us, are far more dangerous and harder to discern.
Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
A real warning to all. A whole generation of the nation of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years until all who had rebelled against Jehovah died. This was probably nearly one million adults! The startling facts were that after 10 plagues in Egypt, a miraculous crossing at the Red Sea, the total annihilation of Egypt’s entire army, and Jehovah descending onto Mount Sinai in fire, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, and an ever increasing sound of a trumpet, they still disobeyed Him!
A lesson for all of us would be that it is much harder than we think to leave Egypt and all of its attractions than we imagine. So just substitute your city, state, cultural preferences, family practices, etc. for Egypt and ask Jehovah to reveal your heart to you.
1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
This is as alarming as it is revealing. Angels, created by Jehovah, are His divine messengers and dwell in His presence. Yet, they also disobeyed Him and also will eternally suffer His wrath as a result.
1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Just in case people have been told lies by their false teachers in regard to Jehovah’s holy, righteous wrath and condemnation of all sinners, Jude reminds all of the lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah. This earthly destruction by fire is one important example of Jehovah’s divine, eternal fire in Hell. But, people don’t like Hell anymore and false teachers oblige by eliminating it from discussions. Why lose members over Hell or sin. Just tell them stories that they enjoy and like to hear. Paul warned Timothy of this exact problem.
2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. You can’t preach both.
You either are a true teacher or a false teacher. There is no middle ground. You can’t flip back and forth. But, false teachers do just that as they always use truth to hide their lies. Sadly, most don’t see the difference and don’t really care either.
1:8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
You may have heard or listened to some false teachers who claim to rebuke Satan, tell him to leave, or suggest that they alone can exercise control over Satan. It is not our job to rebuke Satan, the Lord will rebuke Satan. Jehovah knows all about Satan and his evil plans. He stands condemned and he knows it. So what must or should we do?
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Our submission to Jehovah and His Spirit within us will enable us to resist Satan’s deceptions and temptations. Jehovah is all we need.
More next Saturday.