The Arabic Baptist Church, Boston, MA Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones هُوَذَا قَدْ جَاءَ الرَّبُّ فِي رَبَوَاتِ قِدِّيسِيهِ November 27, 2016

Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones Jude: 1:14 Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones «هُوَذَا قَدْ جَاءَ الرَّبُّ فِي رَبَوَاتِ قِدِّيسِيهِ

Introduction to Jude Jude was the brother of James (author of the book of James and first pastor of the Jerusalem church in Acts 15) and half- brother of Jesus. (See Mk. 6:3.) Along with his brothers, Jude did not believe in the ministry of Jesus until after the resurrection (Jn. 7:3-8). They were present (along with Mary) in the upper room just prior to Pentecost (Acts 1:13). Jude is devoted to the great apostasy which is to come upon Christendom before the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

The Problem of Apostasy (1:1-4). The author of this epistle. "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James" (1:1). We note Jude does not "pull rank" here by reminding us that he was an actual half-brother of Jesus. The recipients of this epistle. "To them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" (v. 1). The prayer of Christ: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me" (Jn. 17:11). أَيُّهَا الآبُ الْقُدُّوسُ احْفَظْهُمْ فِي اسْمِكَ. الَّذِينَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي لِيَكُونُوا وَاحِداً كَمَا نَحْنُ.

The purpose of this epistle (vs. 3, 4). Jude’s compulsion: "It was needful for me" (3). God literally pressured Jude to write this Jude’s command: "That ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (3). Contend for the faith, that is, the entire Word of God. Jude’s concern. "For there are certain men crept in unawares...“ "having settled down alongside“ Jud 1:4 لأَنَّهُ دَخَلَ خُلْسَةً أُنَاسٌ

The Description of Apostasy & their doctrine. They are destitute of reverential awe toward God (2 Tim. 3:5). They twist God’s grace into licentiousness (4). This is what the cults of the day do. They deny and say harsh things about the Person and work of Christ (4, 15). This is what the heretics of the day do (Titus 1:16). They are given over to sensuous dreams (8). They defile the flesh (theirs and others’) (8). They reject both divine and human authority (8). They ridicule the existence of angels (15).

The Description of Apostasy & their doctrine. They mock and curse at anything they do not understand (10). They "do their thing" like dumb and unreasoning animals (10). They are grumblers and fault-finders (16). They follow after their own lusts (16). They are arrogant (16). They flatter people, using flowery language for the sake of gaining an advantage (16). They are divisive (19). They are worldly-minded (19). They are without the Spirit (19).

Historical Examples of Apostasy Israel: "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" (5). فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أُذَكِّرَكُمْ، وَلَوْ عَلِمْتُمْ هَذَا مَرَّةً، أَنَّ الرَّبَّ بَعْدَمَا خَلَّصَ الشَّعْبَ مِنْ أَرْضِ مِصْرَ، أَهْلَكَ أَيْضاً الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا. The angels. "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" (6). Jud 1:6 وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَحْفَظُوا رِيَاسَتَهُمْ، بَلْ تَرَكُوا مَسْكَنَهُمْ حَفِظَهُمْ إِلَى دَيْنُونَةِ الْيَوْمِ الْعَظِيمِ بِقُيُودٍ أَبَدِيَّةٍ تَحْتَ الظَّلاَمِ.

Historical Examples of Apostasy The citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah: "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 external fire" (7). Jud 1:7 كَمَا أَنَّ سَدُومَ وَعَمُورَةَ وَالْمُدُنَ الَّتِي حَوْلَهُمَا، إِذْ زَنَتْ عَلَى طَرِيقٍ مِثْلِهِمَا وَمَضَتْ وَرَاءَ جَسَدٍ آخَرَ، جُعِلَتْ عِبْرَةً مُكَابِدَةً عِقَابَ نَارٍ أَبَدِيَّةٍ.

Historical Examples of Apostasy The devil: when he became proud and fell Cain. "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain" (11). He did not offer a blood sacrifice like Abel Balaam. "And ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" (11). Korah. "And perished in the gainsaying of Korah" (1:11). In Numbers 16 Korah led a rebellion against Moses, the official spokesman for God. Present-day apostates speak evil against pastors, missionaries, Bible teachers, and other God-appointed men.

Metaphors of Apostasy ( تشبيه المرتدين) Hidden rocks. Describing the unseen dangers of apostasy. Waterless clouds. Describing the false promises of apostasy. Autumn trees. Describing the barren profession of apostasy. Wild waves. Describing the wasted effort of apostasy. The apostasy of the last days will be characterized by much learning. (2 Tim. 3:7) and mighty works (Mt. 7:22), but neither to any avail. Wandering stars. This describes the aimless purpose of apostasy

The Judgment of Apostasy. "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him" (1:14, 15). وَتَنَبَّأَ عَنْ هَؤُلاَءِ أَيْضاً أَخْنُوخُ السَّابِعُ مِنْ آدَمَ قَائِلاً: «هُوَذَا قَدْ جَاءَ الرَّبُّ فِي رَبَوَاتِ قِدِّيسِيهِ لِيَصْنَعَ دَيْنُونَةً عَلَى الْجَمِيعِ، وَيُعَاقِبَ جَمِيعَ فُجَّارِهِمْ عَلَى جَمِيعِ أَعْمَالِ فُجُورِهِمُ الَّتِي فَجَرُوا بِهَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الْكَلِمَاتِ الصَّعْبَةِ الَّتِي تَكَلَّمَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِ خُطَاةٌ فُجَّارٌ». Both Enoch and Noah were fearless preachers of prophecy and righteousness.

The Judgment of Apostasy. The amazing faith of this pre-Flood prophet may be seen in that he predicted the Second Coming of Christ centuries before our Lord came the first time! Enoch thus predicts his coming in Genesis, while John proclaims it in Revelation (see Rev. 19:11-14). Both men refer to the same event. He comes with his saints (Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 3:13). He comes to judge (Heb. 9:26-28; 2 Pet. 3:7).

The Safeguards Against Apostasy (vs. 20-25). We are to build. "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith" (20). This is accomplished through the Word of God. Jud 1:20 وَأَمَّا أَنْتُمْ أَيُّهَا الأَحِبَّاءُ فَابْنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَلَى إِيمَانِكُمُ الأَقْدَسِ، مُصَلِّينَ فِي الرُّوحِ الْقُدُسِ، We are to pray. "Praying in the Holy Ghost" (v. 20). Eph 6:18 مُصَلِّينَ بِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ وَطِلْبَةٍ كُلَّ وَقْتٍ فِي الرُّوحِ، وَسَاهِرِينَ لِهَذَا بِعَيْنِهِ بِكُلِّ مُواظَبَةٍ وَطِلْبَةٍ، لأَجْلِ جَمِيعِ الْقِدِّيسِينَ، We are to keep ourselves in God’s love. While the believer cannot escape the boundary of God’s love he can withdraw himself from the full blessings of this love Psa 139:7 أَيْنَ أَذْهَبُ مِنْ رُوحِكَ وَمِنْ وَجْهِكَ أَيْنَ أَهْرُبُ؟

The Safeguards Against Apostasy (vs. 20-25). We are to anticipate the rapture. "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" it 2:13 looking for the blessed hope, and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, مُنْتَظِرِينَ الرَّجَاءَ الْمُبَارَكَ وَظُهُورَ مَجْدِ اللهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَمُخَلِّصِنَا يَسُوعَ الْمَسِيحِ، We are to win the lost "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.“ وَارْحَمُوا الْبَعْضَ مُمَيِّزِينَ، وَخَلِّصُوا الْبَعْضَ بِالْخَوْفِ مُخْتَطِفِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ، مُبْغِضِينَ حَتَّى الثَّوْبَ الْمُدَنَّسَ مِنَ الْجَسَدِ.

Practical Application Those who need compassionate tenderness, because sincere doubts trouble them. (Example: Those individuals troubled by alcohol and drugs) Those requiring urgent boldness if they are to be snatched from an eternity of fiery judgment. (Examples: Unsaved persons being strongly influenced to join one of the perverted cults of Christianity such as the Mormons, other world religions, or the secular world) Those who must be dealt with in cautious compassion lest the soul-winner himself be contaminated by their sins (Examples: Men and women concerning immorality in their lives)

The Assurance وَالْقَادِرُ أَنْ يَحْفَظَكُمْ غَيْرَ عَاثِرِينَ، وَيُوقِفَكُمْ أَمَامَ مَجْدِهِ بِلاَ عَيْبٍ فِي الاِبْتِهَاجِ، اَلإِلَهُ الْحَكِيمُ الْوَحِيدُ مُخَلِّصُنَا، لَهُ الْمَجْدُ وَالْعَظَمَةُ وَالْقُدْرَةُ وَالسُّلْطَانُ، الآنَ وَإِلَى كُلِّ الدُّهُورِ. آمِينَ. Jud 1:24 Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish, with unspeakable joy; Jud 1:25 to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and majesty and might and authority, even now and forever. Amen.