JUDE 8
In verse 8 Jude returns to the issue at hand—the warning of ‘certain men’…
In the very same way these people — relying on the strength of their dreams — defile their own flesh, reject authority, and heap abuse on celestial beings.
These men whom God has marked/identified by their blatant public sexual perversion, rely on the strength of their dreams—the desire of their hearts—to do evil to others. Through Jude God is guiding us back to Sodom and Gomorrah to remind us of what happened there.
Lot was a Sodom city elder—a man of authority. One evening he was at the city gate when two strangers arrived. Lot immediately invited them into his home, because Lot knew all about the men of Sodom. He understood their propensity toward perversion and wanted to protect these strangers from the masses. The strangers agreed and after they arrived, a hoard of men surrounded Lot’s home (archeological digs of burial grounds around the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah indicate a population of one million people) and demanded he give the strangers over so they could do what they wanted to them.
Somehow Lot knew these strangers were special. Rather than turning the angels over, Lot offered his two virgin daughters to the mob, but they refused this man of authority. The mob attacked and the angels pulled Lot back through the door and blinded the leaders of the mob. The angels tell Lot to take his family and flee the city, which they do—only Lot’s wife lingers, and is killed in the ensuing destruction.
God destroyed the evil men of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone, not allowing them to ‘heap abuse’ on His angels.
The parallels between Sodom and Gomorrah and today’s evil men are astounding, in that these men defile themselves and other innocents today. They refuse to heed God’s demands that marriage is heterosexual. They also blatantly reject God’s authority over what is right and good and moral. They CHOOSE their preferences—the dreams of their heart’s desires—despite God, and despite His Son.
Jude continues explaining the absolute gall these men have in verses 9 through 16.
In verses 17-23 Jude goes on to remind believers today about the words spoken by the Lord’s apostles, where they warned believers “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude tells us these men who’ve crept in are the ones who cause division, they are worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But we are to build up our faith, praying in Holy Spirit, keeping ourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. Believers are to have mercy on those who doubt; we are to save others by His Word, snatching them out of the fire; while with others we have mercy through fear, hating even the garments that are polluted by their fleshly desires.
Jude blesses present day believers in verse 24: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless 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!
WOW! What an incredible blessing the book of Jude is to present-day believers. And there is no more fitting introduction to the book of Revelation!
Amen and AMEN!