Lesson 10
Jude
Maintaining
the Faith Entrusted to Us
1:14-15 The Prophecy of
Enoch
To further amplify the
certainty of the judgment of these F/T's Jude points out a prophecy about the
return of the Lord at the 2nd advent with emphasis on the aspect of judgment
associated with His return.
1:14a And about these also Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam,
prophesied, saying
Who
is Enoch?
This
is not the Enoch from the line of sinful Cain (Gen. 4:17), but Enoch the son of
Jared, from Seth’s line (Gen. 5:18-24).
Why did this Enoch stand out from the crowd of his day?
Hebrews 11:5 amplifies what is in view in Gen. 5:24.
The writer of Hebrews interpreted
the meaning of “God took him”:
“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP” (Heb. 11:5).
Enoch’s translation to paradise
is a picture of living Christians being raptured to heaven when Christ comes for His bride the church (1 Th.
What
about Jude’s statement concerning Enoch’s prophecy being similar to one
recorded in the Apocryphal book of Enoch (Enoch 1:9)?
The
first part of this prophecy dealt with the Second Coming of Christ: “Behold,
the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones” (v.
14b).
Who
are the saints (holy ones) that are
referred to here and when?
Believe it will also
include the soul/spirit of OT saints which includes the martyrs of the
Tribulation will also be apart of this.
- See C/A saints
soul/spirit returns with Him at the rapture 1 Ths.
- Saints of the Age of
Israel, Dan. 12:2-3 [possible
all OT saints]
- All part of first
resurrection [category of resurrection, to life.]
One purpose for Christ’s coming is to implement the wrath of God: “To execute judgment upon all and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds (v. 15a).
Actually 2 purposes are stated here, 1st the general to execute judgement and the 2nd more specific to convict all the ungodly.
Conviction of these individuals will be on two counts.
First “all their ungodly deeds” (v. 15a)
Second, “of all the harsh speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (v. 15b) will be judged.
Observations Jude
1:14-15
1. Enoch was an
antediluvian (before the flood) prophet who under the principle of revelation
was given a glimpse of a major eschatological event in the future.
2. Jude applies
the prophecy to the future return of the Lord with emphasis on the judgment
that is associated with it.
3. He makes it
very clear that the judgement is against all the ungodly. None will escape.
4. Both Enoch and
Noah warned their generations; the message of both was rejected/repudiated.
5. Both were
vindicated by God and rewarded for their consistency in applying BD, and
walking with God in the face of the pressure from the apostates of their day.
6. In the days,
the time period prior to the flood, the dominant characteristics were
indifference, apathy toward God and His word just as it will be just prior to the
2nd Advent. Mt. 24:37-39
7. Enoch's reward
for faithfulness to BD was unique, he did not see death, but was translated
direct to paradise. Heb. 11:5; Gen. 5:24
8. Enoch's
prophecy makes several points that should be a warning to F/T's.
a. The Lord will break into human history as it reaches its MPE (Maximum Potential for Evil) and
will judge all.
b. He will be accompanied at His return by 10's of thousands [myriads]
consisting of angels and C/A saints. general statement Rev. 19:14; Believers Col. 3:4; Angels Mt. 25:31;
c. Purpose: 2 fold
#1 to convict, reprove the ungodly of the error of their deeds
#2 to judge the evil of all the ungodly
This judgment of all the evil of the ungodly
actually takes place over a period of time in several different judgments.
#1 The Tribulation period is a
period of God's wrath being poured out on mankind for rebellion against God and
also a time of preparation of
#2 Since the Messianic rule of
Christ, this 1000 year period will begin with all believers, both Jew and
Gentile believers, at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth,
before He establishes His Kingdom several events occur.
Rem: In judgment God has the opportunity to display His
Righteousness and justice which is the foundation of His rule!