Defiled and Rebellious Dreamers

sDefiled and Rebellious Dreamers

Jud 1:3-10 KJV Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (5) I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. (6) And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (7) Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (8) Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (9) Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (10) But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

As Jude both reviews and transitions into his next thoughts he mentions that the apostates of his day had apostatized in these ways—

Like Sodom and Gomorrah, they defiled their flesh through sexual deviance.
Like the angels, they despised proper authority and usurped roles and responsibilities that were not theirs.
Like unbelieving Israel, they spoke evil of authority. (Term wider than simply speaking against angels.)

III. The Judgment of Apostasy

In every case, God’s judgment fell upon the apostates. Jude is reinforcing the fact that he has mentioned earlier—the false teachers faced a certain condemnation. Our God is a consuming fire! He is just!

IV. Application

Let us be aware of the nature of apostates, so that we may resist their message. * Let us be aware of the nature of apostates, so that we may resist their influence.
Let us be aware of the end of apostates, so that we may not envy them.
Let us be aware of the end of apostates, so that we might strive to avoid such an end.

"Our heart, reason, history, and the work of Christ convince us that without Him we cannot achieve our goal, that without Him we are doomed by God, and only Christ can save us."

These were deep and sensitive thoughts for a 17-year-old, revealing spiritual wisdom that few attain. He had been baptized into the Lutheran church in 1824, at age six, and was confirmed at 16. Now, to graduate from high school, he had been required to write an essay on a religious subject. He chose to explore "The union of believers with Christ, according to St. John's Gospel (John 15:1-14), an exposition on its basic essence, its absolute necessity and its consequences."

The fruit of our union with Christ, he continued, is our willingness "to sacrifice ourselves for our fellow man." And the "joy which the Epicureans in their superficial philosophy sought in vain... is a joy known only to the innocent heart united with Christ, and through Christ to God."

So wrote Karl Heinrich Marx, but by 1844, nine years later, he had abandoned any Christian devotion he may have once felt. Marx's adolescent writings exhibited a spirit of Christian devotion and longing for self-sacrifice on behalf of humanity.

Later at the University of Berlin, he fell under the influence of a young lecturer in theology named Bruno Bauer who was developing the idea that the Christian gospels were a record not of history but of human fantasies arising from men's emotional needs and that Jesus had not been an historical person. Marx also enrolled in a course of lectures given by Bauer on the prophet Isaiah. Bauer taught that a new social catastrophe "more tremendous" than that of the advent of Christianity was in making. He would eventually call religion the opiate of the masses. In fact, his militant atheism and philosophical ideas of man's struggle for a classless utopia free from the numbing effects of religion, established him as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

-- From Moody Monthly, June 1988.

Jude writes these words with a very specific group in mind. As such we ought not expect every description of Jude to fit every apostate in the world. Yet in his words we find clues and guidelines which help us to be aware, to guard ourselves from such influence, and to examine our own selves lest we find in ourselves such things.

I. Dreamers—Their relationship to God’s Word

Jude describes these apostates as “dreamers.” What is his point?

It is possible that he is saying that they are blissfully unaware of the coming judgment; that this slumber is a reference to apathy concerning the certainty of coming doom. Perhaps their immoral passions have blinded their minds to this certainty.

I think that the word is describing a deluded mind in general, not just delusion regarding their end! That is, they are numb to the truth of God. Just as the sleeping man is removed from the reality of the world around him, so these apostates are removed from the reality of the truth of God. Alford—“the state of dreaming in the sleep of sin.”

It is also very possible that these false teachers elevated their own ideas and opinions (metaphorically “dreams”) above the truth of God. Or even that they claimed a specific special revelation through literal dreams. How often has this been the case of apostates?

So the irony of this is that the very ones who seek to lead others into spiritual truth are themselves numb to it!

II. Defilers—Their relationship to their own bodies (impacting also the flesh of others)

They defile their bodies through sexual deviance. Perverted views on the gift of sex and perverted actions in that area.

The word points to a continual state or action.

So far from bringing people up in the path of righteousness, these people are personally unrighteous and defiled!

III. Despisers—Their relationship to authority (internally speaking)

They despise dominions. They reject authority. reject, refuse, ignore; make invalid, set aside; break It is a mark of false teachers and apostates that they have a bad attitude toward authority, both civil and spiritual. Within their heart there burns a rebellious disposition.

Their rebellion does not end in their disposition toward leaders in this earthly realm, but also to Christ Himself!

We serve no sovereign here!

Those who desire the following of others revolts against the idea of themselves being under authority.

IV. Disparagers—Their relationship to authority (externally speaking)

Who are these dignities?

It is possible that these dignities are angels. (dodzas)

—the word has heavenly connections (“glory” many places, “glory that will be revealed”)

—the example immediately afterward is one of angelic conflict

—the example found in the parallel passage in 2 Peter 2:10-11 also may speak of angelic conflict (speak evil of them)

If these are angels then are we speaking of evil angels, good angels, or both?

—Evil angels, since the following example is that of Michael refusing to slander the top evil angel, Satan.

—Evil angels. They like the sons of Sceva take the forces of darkness lightly. They speak evil of what they do not understand.

—Elect angels, since only good angels reflect God’s glory and could be termed “glorious ones.”

—Elect angels, because this is an overflow of their hatred for the commandments of God. Angels were in a special relationship to the Law of God. Act 7:53 KJV Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Gal 3:19 KJV Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Heb 2:2 KJV For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

Is it possible that the term is wider than the specific examples given? Is it likely that these false teachers not only had a rebellious disposition toward angelic authority, but also other authorities ordained by God (particularly spiritual) and expressed it in open slander?

If I say that a student has a disrespectful mouth toward authority and then give a positive example of a student who might seem to have a right to mouth off to his English teacher, does that mean that I only have English teachers in view? Not necessarily.

It would also appear to me that if there is a term in this verse that ought to directly apply to angels, it would be dominions. This term or a form of it is used twice to unmistakably refer to classifications of angels. Col 1:16 KJV For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Eph 1:21 KJV Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

The term “dominions” here is understood to apply to a wider group than angels by every commentator that I consulted. Why not dodzas? (dignities)

Most older commentators and translators seem to look at this term dignities as a term that has a wider interpretation and application. I am inclined to this view. To me it would seem that Jude is pointing out that the false teachers of whom he speaks have both a rebellious attitude toward civil authority, but also are willing to openly slander spiritual authority.

“The audacity of these professed ministers of religion is unparalleled in the angelic realm.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary) The foolish boldness of men who dare to do what holy angels shrink from doing!

Michael and Satan

What is this event which is being spoken of? Jude speaks of a contention regarding the body of Moses. Apocryphal literature records that after Moses died Satan tried to prevent to the burial of Moses’ body, saying he had no right to an honorable burial because he had killed a man. (The Egyptian who was beating Moses’ Israelite kinsman.) Why did Satan want the body? Who knows! Perhaps to use it as an object of worship for the children of Israel. Consider the history of the Roman Catholic Church! Medieval crusaders returning from Palestine and Constantinople brought with them a treasure trove of “relics”—sacred objects from the Holy Land. All Europe was astir, bishop vying with bishop, church competing with church, to acquire and display various holy items. Cathedrals became virtual museums, and these relics were soon objects of veneration and pilgrimage.

In various churches, worshipers could view barbs from the crown of thorns, splinters from the cross of Christ, or the finger that Thomas thrust into Jesus’ side. The church of Halberstadt acquired the sponge and reed of Golgotha. A church in St. Omer claimed the lance that pierced the Savior’s side. The cathedral of Amiens enshrined the head of John the Baptist in a silver cup. Three different churches in France boasted a complete corpse of Mary Magdalene. In various other European churches, one could view Noah’s beard, Jacob’s rock, Moses’ rod, or the stone of Christ’s sepulcher. Elsewhere his robe, his chalice (the Holy Grail), or shavings from his beard thrilled wide-eyed pilgrims.

Even the Lord’s foreskin, his naval cord, and milk from Mary’s breasts were reportedly discovered and displayed. The basilica of St. Peter in Rome enshrined the bodies of Peter and Paul, making it the ultimate goal of Christian pilgrimage.

It isn’t surprising, then, that England was beside itself on October 13, 1247, when some of “Christ’s blood” arrived in London. The Crusaders vouched for its authenticity, and it bore the seals of the patriarch of Jerusalem and the archbishops of the Holy Land. King Henry III fasted and prayed through the night of October 12; then as morning broke he marched through London’s streets, accompanying the priests in full regalia. He held aloft the vase containing the holy liquid. The procession moved from St. Paul’s to Westminster, then the Bishop of Norwich preached a great sermon regarding the relic in the vase.[1]

Michael’s response was, “The Lord rebuke thee!” Rather than railing out against Satan, he appealed to God’s sovereign rule rather than his own. Now if anyone would seem to have the right to rail out against Satan and personally rail against him, would it not be Michael?

He is an archangel—Dan 10:13 KJV But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
He is one of the only angels to mentioned by name in Scripture, the other being Gabriel.
He is also the one described as one who fights against the Devil in Revelation 12, and prevails against him. And actually casts him out of heaven to the earth!

It would appear that if anyone had the right to rail out, it would be Michael! Yet he, in all his might, does not do so. And so the contrast is made between these false teachers and the mighty angel. They boldly go where angels fear to tread!

So because these apostates are dreamers who defile, despise, and disparage, Jude tells us…

Jud 1:10 KJV But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

—“speak evil…they know not” How often do those who attack Christian truth show that they have no true understanding of what they attack!

A person may understand the facts of Scripture, but have no true spiritual apprehension of the facts.

—“but what they know…they corrupt themselves” What is it they know? They have rejected revelation. They know their carnal appetites! And it is those very appetites that will destroy them!

Application

Do not allow sin to lull you into slumber.
Guard you relationship with the Word.
Keep your body and bring it into subjection.
Continually examine your relationship to authority.

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[1]Morgan, R. J. 2000, c1997. On this day : 265 amazing and inspiring stories about saints, martyrs & heroes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville