~ Apostates In The Last
Days ~
Few books
in the canon of Scripture are more relevant to our day than the book of Jude!
The book is about apostates of the last days. The Biblical concept of
“apostasy” includes a turning away from the faith, a falling into a lifestyle
of sin, and even outright rebellion. Perhaps the best word picture of apostasy
is “spiritual adultery,” a theme found throughout the Scriptures.
Outline of the Book (a single chapter of 25 verses)
1-3
Introduction
4-11
Apostasy Described (Danger)
12-16 Apostasy Denounced
(Danger)
17-25 The Believer’s Diligence (Duty)
Purpose in Writing
~ “Jude,
a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called,
sanctified by God the Father, and preserved
in Jesus Christ: mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I
was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you
exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all
delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long
ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (verses 1-4).
There are seven apostates
specifically mentioned in the Book of Jude.
Disbelief in Israel ~ The first apostasy mentioned is a national apostasy. A major sin of the
nation was idolatry. “But I want
to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the
people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe”
(verse 5). In summary the issue was Israel’s
Infidelity.
Disobedience of Angels ~ The second apostasy mentioned is an angelic apostasy. A major aspect of the
angels’ apostasy included daring the
Divine. “And the angels who did not keep their
proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under
darkness for the judgment of the great day” (verse 6). In summary the
issue was Angelic Anarchy.
Defilement of Sodom ~ The third apostasy mentioned is a city apostasy. A major sin of this city was sensuality.
“As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in
a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality
and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire” (verse 7). In summary the issue was Sodom’s Sins.
Debasement of Gomorrah ~ The fourth apostasy mentioned, like the
third, is a city apostasy. A
major sin of this city was degradation.
“As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in
a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality
and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire” (verse 7). In summary the issue was Gomorrah’s
Godlessness.
Displeasure of Cain ~ The fifth apostasy mentioned is the apostasy of an individual. A major sin
of Cain was the pride of self will. “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject
authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet
Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the
body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The
Lord rebuke you!’ But these speak evil of
whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts,
in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the
way of Cain” (verse 8-11a). In summary the issue was Cain’s Callousness.
Duplicity of Balaam ~ The sixth apostasy mentioned, like
the fifth, is the apostasy of an
individual. A major sin of Balaam was the pride of self interest. “Woe to them! For they have
gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit” (verse
11b). In summary the issue was Balaam’s
Barter.
Defiance of Korah ~ The seventh apostasy mentioned, like
the fifth and sixth, is the apostasy of
an individual. A major sin of Korah was the pride of self importance. “Woe to them! For they
have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for
profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (verse 11c). In summary
the issue was Korah’s Konivery.
Conclusion of the Matter
~ “These
are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving
only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead,
pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame;
wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Now
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold,
the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to
convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they
have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners
have spoken against Him.’
“These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to
their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain
advantage. But you, beloved, remember the
words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how
they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk
according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause
divisions, not having the Spirit.
“But you, beloved,
building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but
others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating
even the garment defiled by the flesh.
“Now to Him who is
able to keep you from stumbling, and
to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who
alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen”
(verses 12-25).
How about
you? Are you conscious of the pull of apostasy in the Last Days?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
