◄ What Does Jude 1:14 Mean?

Jude would have liked to write about our wonderful salvation and encourage us in our spiritual growth, but he was led to write a short, sharp epistle condemning the depraved acts of the apostates who were infiltrating the Church. Instead of a simple salvation message, Jude's letter was written to encourage believers to contend earnestly for the faith in an increasingly godless society.

Jude quickly reminds us of Israel's escape from satanic bondage in Egypt, the blasphemous angelic rebellion, the righteous judgement of Sodom, and the various ungodly acts of men like murderous Cain, greedy Balaam and the rebellious Korah, in order to warn us against being influenced by similar ungodly people in our own age and generation who try to infiltrate the Church and contaminate our faith. Jude wrote to warn of an increasing apostasy in the Church then as now, and to urgently caution us against following in the way of murderous Cain, being drawn into the error of greedy Balaam, or being influenced by the ungodly character of the rebellious Korah.

He describes the characters of such ungodly men as clouds without water, trees without fruit, wandering stars, and frothy foam on a raging sea. Jude reminds us that such men are bound for eternal separation from God, and that Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied of God's fast approaching judgement against such people. He tells us when this will happen; when Christ will return in the clouds with ten thousands of His saints, when He comes to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, and set up His heavenly kingdom here on earth.

Some six thousand years ago in the cradle of human history, Jude tells us that Enoch gave an amazing end-times prophesy of Christ's return to execute His judgement, at the end of the Tribulation: "Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, 'Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones." 

Let us remember that the night is far spent, the day is at hand, and we need to throw off all association with the ways of darkness that may be tarnishing our Christian witness and walk. We need to disentangle ourselves from any association with the murderous way of Cain, the greedy error of Balaam, and the ungodly character of the rebellious Korah, as we watch and wait for the any day return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the important instructions and information that You have given us in Your Word. I pray that You would show me any areas in my life that are dishonouring to You. Keep me from the influence and errors of apostate men and guide me into all truth. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.