Jude 14-25 - Prophecy, Eschatology and Apostates - The Mysteries of God's Word

Jude's powerful message focuses on apostasy within the church, with particular emphasis on a prophecy from Enoch about Christ's return with ten thousand holy ones to execute judgment on the ungodly. The epistle warns believers about false teachers who have infiltrated the church while offering practical guidance for standing firm in faith until Christ returns.

• Jude quotes a prophecy from Enoch about Christ returning with angels to judge the ungodly
• The Book of Enoch, while containing this prophecy, is not considered inspired Scripture
• False teachers are characterized as grumblers, malcontents, and self-serving boasters
• These apostates cause divisions in the church and are "worldly people devoid of the Spirit"
• Believers are instructed to build themselves up in faith and pray in the Holy Spirit
• Jude's doxology emphasizes that Christ, not our own strength, keeps believers from stumbling
• Our salvation is secure because we are in God's hands, not our own
• Believers will one day be presented blameless before God through Christ's righteousness

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Chapters

• 0:28 Introduction to Jude's Message
• 1:43 Enoch's Prophecy and the Book of Enoch
• 5:12 Christ's Return with Ten Thousand Holy Ones
• 8:18 Apostates: Grumblers and Malcontents
• 11:18 Warnings from Apostles Against False Teachers
• 16:18 Building Yourselves Up in Faith
• 19:41 Jude's Powerful Doxology of Assurance

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:15

Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. Over the last couple of weeks we have been in the book of Jude, and Jude's message to the church was that he wanted to write about our common salvation. But certain people have crept into the church, ungodly people who are perverting the grace of God into sensuality. And then Jude goes on to explain some of the specific traits that these people have in their ungodliness and how they actually pervert the grace of God into sensuality. Today we're going to be picking up in verse 14 of Jude, where Jude continues to talk about these apostates, but he does so in a very unique context, a prophecy from Enoch which points to eschatology, and that will be the focus of our message today, starting in verse 14,. Starting in verse 14, it was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of their deeds of ungodliness that they've committed in such an ungodly way and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are grumblers, malcontents following their own sinful desires. They're loudmouth boasters showing favoritism in order to gain advantage. In these three verses, jude gives us an extraordinary amount of information on prophecy, on eschatology and on these apostates. As I mentioned in my first podcast, jude goes deep into theology and he packs it all into just a few verses. Jude begins saying it was also about these that Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied. Before I get into the specific people that Enoch is prophesying about and Jude is referring to, let's talk a moment about Enoch and this prophecy. First of all, jude specifically points to Enoch being the seventh in line from Adam, and scripture records that Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him. Enoch was one of the only two men in all of earth's history that didn't face a physical death because God took him directly from the earth. And here we learn that Jude quotes a prophecy directly from Enoch, as Enoch was given direct insight into the last days by God. And since we're talking about this, we should also talk about the book of Enoch as well. This prophecy that Jude quotes from Enoch can actually be found in the book of Enoch, chapter 1, verse 14. And we also know that the book of Enoch is part of Jewish literature. It was considered an important resource of study by certain Jewish sects and it was often found alongside the scripture, as it was found alongside the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Speaker 1: 3:51

However, the Book of Enoch is not to be considered inspired or canon for multiple reasons. Inspired or canon for multiple reasons. There are many books referred to in Scripture that are not Scripture or inspired themselves. For example, joshua 10.13 refers to the book of Jasher. However, there is no book of Jasher in Scripture, nor do Jews nor Christians consider the book of Jasher inspired by God. Furthermore, while the book of Enoch is titled under Enoch's name, it is well known that it contains works that are not by Enoch and, in fact, were compiled over many centuries. The book of Enoch itself was not put together or compiled until over 2,000 years after Enoch lived. And while the book of Enoch is certainly an interesting read and it was considered important study material for Jewish literature, it has never been and never will be regarded as canon. It does not show signs of divine inspiration and, as I say that we should recognize that Jude, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, does quote this one prophecy of Enoch as a genuine prophecy from God to Enoch. However, the book of Enoch as a whole is to be rejected as inspired by God.

Speaker 1: 5:25

Now let's talk about the people that Jude is speaking of and the people that Enoch was prophesying about. The people spoken of here by Enoch in his prophecy are the people that will be on earth when Christ returns physically. They will have rejected the gospel and they will be following the Antichrist. They will have received his demonic sign on their foreheads and on their hands. They will have seen signs of God's judgment in the heavens and on earth against all of their wickedness. They will have heard the angels in the air proclaiming the gospel message. They will have seen the two prophets on the earth who have called the world to repent of their sin and turn back to God, and they will have seen the sign of the Son of man in the sky. Yet they refuse to acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior and in their hearts of blasphemy they form a resistance to Jesus Christ under the Antichrist, under this man of lawlessness, and they prepare to wage a final war against the coming King of Kings. These are the people that Enoch prophesied about.

Speaker 1: 6:51

Also in Enoch's prophecy, we see that the Lord comes with 10,000 of his holy ones. What Enoch is prophesying here are the hundreds of millions of angels that will come with Jesus Christ wreathed in fire. Come with Jesus Christ wreathed in fire. 2 Thessalonians 1, 7 and 8 read To grant you relief who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, jesus Christ. Jesus also spoke about this in Matthew 24, 30, and 31, when he said Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of man, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. I don't want to get too deep into eschatology, brothers and sisters, but I do believe that when Christ appears in the heavens, it will be like lightning and everyone will see him on earth, and that will be the time of the rapture.

Speaker 1: 8:19

I'm not a fan or a proponent of the secret coming of Christ that raptures the church prior to his appearance in the sky which brings about the wrath of God upon the earth. As Jude says Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of his holy ones to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of their deeds of ungodliness that they've committed in such an ungodly way. It will be during this time of the wrath of God that our Lord unleashes the final judgments on the earth to convict all the ungodly of their deeds. The Greek word for convict here means to expose, to prove guilty, meaning that Jesus Christ will completely expose the wickedness and error of these people, these wicked apostates who have seen and heard the gospel message and have seen the wrath of God against the world and have seen the Son of man in the sky and have seen the Son of man in the sky, but yet they snub their nose at him in arrogance and rebellion. And these wicked apostates will be judged according to their wicked deeds and their wicked words against God. They're immoral, they're irreverent of God, they're blasphemous of God and they continue to store up more and more wrath against them for the day of judgment when they will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Speaker 1: 9:58

Romans 2.5 reads Because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself. On the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed, then, jude focuses on the attitudes of these apostates and what comes out of their mouths. He says they're grumblers, they're malcontents, they follow their own sin, they're loud-mouthed and they show favoritism. So these apostates are grumblers. They grumble about their problems and they blame everybody else, and even God, but never take responsibility for their own lives. Never finding fault in themselves, they follow their sinful desires. They're prideful and in their pride they brag about themselves. In fact, they're so puffed up, they brag about their own sin and they'll flatter other people when it fits their selfish and evil agenda to do so. They are full of ungodly deeds, they're full of lies, they're full of blasphemous speech, and one day it will all be exposed for everyone to see.

Speaker 1: 11:22

Picking up in verse 17 of Jude, it reads following their own ungodly passions. It is these who cause divisions, worldly people devoid of the Spirit. Here, in verses 17, 18, and 19, jude reminds the church the predictions of the apostles the apostle Peter, the apostle Paul and the apostle John. In their letters all warned of a constant threat of apostate teachers, as did Jesus Christ himself. Here are some of those warnings, mark 13, 22 reads "for false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect".

Speaker 1: 12:07

1 John 2, 18 and 19 reads Children, it is the last hour and, as you have heard, the Antichrist is coming. So now many Antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us they would have continued with us. 2 Peter 2, 1-3 reads Even denying the Master who brought them, bringing upon them swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed, they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle and their destruction is not asleep.

Speaker 1: 13:16

These warnings from Jesus Christ and his apostles aren't something new, as it has always been an issue amongst God's people to be warned against false teachings by the prophets of old. Some of those passages are Isaiah 28.7, jeremiah 23.14, ezekiel 13.4, micah 3.11, zephaniah 3.4. There has always been false prophets and false teachers trying to take advantage of God's people for their own selfish gain. We also recognize in verse 18 that Jude says In the last time there will be scoffers following their own ungodly passions. The reference to being in the last time refers to the time between Christ's first coming and his second coming. That is the last times. And Jude says there will be scoffers Again.

Speaker 1: 14:19

Both the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles warn us against these scoffers who speak against God and God's word. These people who scoff at the very words of God reveal that they're unbelievers, that they're following their own ungodly passions. Their hearts are on unholy things of the flesh and they scoff at those who have repented of their sin and have a desire to build the kingdom of Jesus Christ. The lives of these apostates revolve around the desires of the flesh rather than the things of the Spirit that please God. Romans 8.9 and Galatians 5.16-24. And then Jude brings his letter full circle back to remind us that this letter is a warning to the church that these people, these certain people, have entered the church like hidden reefs, that they're going to cause destruction upon the church like a reef destroys a ship. These worldly people who are focused on their own passions rather than on the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus, pose a threat to the church. They're devoid of the Spirit. They've not been born again. They are not a new creation with a new heart that desires to please God Verse 20,. But you, beloved 21, are encouragement for the church, for those who are believers in Jesus Christ. Jude encourages them to practice their faith and their spiritual discernment, to build themselves up in a most holy faith.

Speaker 1: 16:21

Jude reminds the church Jesus has done all the work for our salvation 1 Corinthians 3.1,. And he's blessed us with every spiritual blessing that we need Ephesians 1. 3.1. And he's blessed us with every spiritual blessing that we need Ephesians 1.3. But we must daily walk in this. We must increase our dependence upon what Christ has already given us, what Christ has already done for us. In other words, we're to become strong in our doctrine. We're to become strong in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus so that we can apply it to our lives. Some verses that refer to this are Acts 20.32,. 2 Peter 3.18,. Romans 14.19.

Speaker 1: 17:08

Jude says pray in the Holy Spirit. And the will of the Holy Spirit is the same as the will of the Father and the will of the Son. The Trinity is at work here. Jude says pray in the Holy Spirit so that you might do what is the will of God and in accordance with the message of Jesus Christ. Yet we don't always know how to pray, and when we don't know what to say, the Holy Spirit will intercede on our behalf, with God, the Father, praying in the very name of Jesus Romans 8, 26 and 27.

Speaker 1: 17:45

For the church to pray in the Holy Spirit means that we are to trust in the providence and in the character of God himself. We're to seek his will, to trust in the providence and in the character of God himself. We're to seek his will, to trust in his power to save and build up our lives. As we do this, as we trust in the timing of God, as we trust in his power and in his character rather than our own will, we will find ourselves in the love of God. We will love one another. We will even find ourselves loving our enemies. Practically speaking, this means we will be living in obedience to God, just as Jesus told us in John 14, 15, if you love me, you will obey my commandments. As we live out our lives in submission to God, we will live out lives of obedience to him and divine blessing will be given, and every day that we're alive on earth is to be an expression of God's mercy to us. And this context of waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's mercy to us. And this context of waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's mercy to the believer, because one day we'll be resurrected from the dead. That is our hope and that is the ultimate expression of God's mercy. The believer is to continue to wait in hope and great anticipation for this glorious return of Jesus Christ, when we will be ushered into eternity as brothers and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Philippians 3.20,. 1 Thessalonians 1.10.

Speaker 1: 19:23

Jude finishes with his doxology. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory, with great joy. To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen, and now and forever Amen. Jude's doxology is perhaps one of the most beautiful and powerful. That expresses how our eternal salvation is secure in Christ. Jude says to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory. Before the presence of his glory, jude shows how, if we're trusting in our own power, we are weak, we will fail, but when we surrender to the purpose and power of Jesus Christ, we are secure. If it were up to us or our own works to maintain or keep our salvation, we would lose it. But praise God, it's not in our hands, but rather we are in his hands, for the Lord is faithful. He is able to finish what he's begun.

Speaker 1: 20:46

Philippians 1.6. Jude points to how the power of the Messiah will keep the believer from falling away. As we trust in him, he also can deliver us from temptation. 1 Peter 2.24. It is the Holy Spirit that has sealed the believer and it's through the Holy Spirit that Christ enables that. Christ establishes, keeps and sanctifies the believer. Establishes, keeps and sanctifies the believer. 2 Corinthians 1, 21 and 22. Ephesians 1, 13 and 14. And one day Jesus Christ himself will present us blameless. Christ himself has established believers in his grace. Romans 5, 1 and 2 reads Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God Because we are established by Christ. In his grace, believers will one day stand with him in glory.

Speaker 1: 22:01

Believers in Jesus Christ have been given the righteousness of Jesus. Philippians 3.9 reads Be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but which comes through faith in Christ. The righteousness from God that depends on faith. 2 Corinthians 5.21 reads For our sake, he made him sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. You see, beloved in the eyes of God, believers are blameless.

Speaker 1: 22:39

Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers have been given robes of righteousness and made white by the blood of the Lamb. Believers are not to trust in the things of the flesh or the things of this world. Rather, their faith is to be in the purity that comes through the forgiveness and the righteousness in Jesus Christ alone. One day, when that trumpet of the archangel blows, there will be a multitude from every nation, every tribe, every language, dressed in white. They will be praising God before the Lamb and they will come with Christ in his glory, with the angels. As Jude closes, so will I. To Jesus Christ, our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time, now and forevermore. Amen.