Judging Everyone

 

THE LETTER OF JUDE

JUDGING EVERYONE

Jude 14-16

14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

NIV

We are not sure why Jude refers to Enoch and his prophecy. However, it is interesting there either was an oral or written record of the prophetic words of Enoch. There are three books of Enoch that have been printed by various sources and as of late, even a newer version of the King James Bible includes these three books of Enoch. However, there is no such evidence of these books having any authority, or belong in the canon. Nevertheless, Jude does refer to Enoch as the seventh from Adam. This too has given much discussion as to being the seventh, which seven is the complete number of God and we believe Enoch was taken up to heaven alive. This is implied in Gen 5:23 when it says that Enoch walked with God and he was no more because God took him away. There are some scholars who believe Enoch died and God resurrected him up into heaven, such as a forerunner to Christ. What we know to be the truth is that Enoch walked with God and God took him away. Still, here is Jude making note that Enoch had prophesied about these ungodly men who had slipped into the church to cause dissension in the church and to gather unto themselves a following for their own advantage. At some point in time, these types of individuals will face judgment and their end is a foregone conclusion. We also cannot be sure as to who these thousands upon thousands of the Lord's holy ones are. From what we know these are angels, as it is recorded in Daniel, the Psalms, and in Matthew that there are thousands upon thousands of angels that attend the Lord as he seats on his throne. This gives us a picture of just how majestic and holy God is. We can see the evil that lurks in the heart of man. Jude gives us enough details to know these men have been and are now present in the church looking for ways to improve their own lives by deceptive practices, taking from others to benefit themselves. But we also get this picture of God and his greatness, his judgment upon all evildoers. We would be wise to stay our course, close off ourselves from these evildoers, not listening to their lies, but staying true to the truth of the Gospel. Although it is true, there are others who bring the truth, either in their spoken words or in their written words. But we have to also be on guard against those who flatter themselves and those who preach the faults of others. This too serves us as a reminder not to be like these men, but to always remain humble before our God and men, giving all the credit to the Lord for every aspect of our lives. We want to be counted in that number, finding our names written in the book of life when the Lord seats about his throne and judges everyone.