A COMMENTARY ON THE
LETTER OF YAHUDAH (JUDE)
The apostle Yahudah, under the divine inspiration of YAHUAH, wrote a very brief and clear letter to the faithful. It was a very serious letter of warning to the believers cautioning them to struggle hard to keep the faith because of certain men who would enter in amongst the faithful, gain positions of authority over them and do nothing but the most disgusting evil that the wrong people placed in positions of authority are capable of.The letter of Yahudah, after careful scrutiny, is an unmistakable warning to all believers to guard themselves against corrupt men who would infiltrate the assemblies seek and gain a position of power within them and ultimately bring them to a complete ruin. There were no huge assemblies of denominated members in the beginning and these mega churches we see today were never intended to be. Big is not better.
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Mt 18:20)
And when one stops and considers what has happened to the faith since it was once delivered to the set apart ones, the warning issued in Yahudah is more appropriate for our day than ever before. Just look at what happened to the small but faithful early assemblies. From these, as they deteriorated due to the workings of the things described in Yahudah's letter; came the fragmented denominations of Protestantism. On the other side of the fence is the Roman Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, Freemasonry, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other completely pagan religions. These have always led to nothing but spiritual darkness and destruction.
Let's examine Yahudah's letter very carefully and if the spirit will open your eyes you will see that what is written here regarding that letter is true.
1 Yahudah, the servant of Yahuashuah, and brother of Yaaqob, to them that are set apart by YAHUAH the Father, and preserved in Yahuashuah, and called: 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 3 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, wicked men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying the one YAHUAH ELOHIM, and our Master Yahuashuah.
In verse 4, notice that it says there are certain men who've crept in without anyone's noticing--MEN not celestial beings. Crept in to where? To the small assemblies meeting in homes and wherever else they could gather. Verse 4 was written with wicked men, not spirits, in view. Wicked men, who perverted the grace of YAHUAH, and who used it as the means to excuse their shameful behavior while rejecting YAHUAH and contradicting His only begotten Son, Yahuashuah. The ones in the assemblies who initiate and sustain the perversion of YAHUAH’s grace and contradict what Yahuashuah taught and accomplished are the men in authority--the corrupt pastors.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that Elohim, 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.
Verse 6: The Greek word, aggelos, transliterated angel, means, 'messenger.' It is tragic that most people have been taught that the word angel refers exclusively to a particular class celestial beings. The truth is that anyone delivering a message can be rightfully called an angel. Theological and traditional teachings have warped and twisted the true meaning of the word angel.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah." (Col 2:8)
Here is a crucially important point to remember: Strong states that ‘angel’ also means, by implication; pastor! There’s proof of that right in the Scriptures.
“Unto the angel [pastor] of the assembly of Ephesus write;” (Re 2:1)
‘And unto the angel [pastor] of the assembly in Smyrna write;” (Re 2:8)
“And to the angel [pastor] of the assembly in Pergamos write;” (Re 2:12)
“And unto the angel [pastor] of the assembly in Thyatira write;” (Re 2:18)
“And unto the angel [pastor] of the assembly in Sardis write;” (Re 3:1)
“And to the angel [pastor] of the assembly in Philadelphia write;” (Re 3:7)
“And unto the angel [pastor] of the assembly of the Laodiceans write;” (Re 3:14)
It’s a well known fact that these perverted men have not stayed where their kind belongs--far away from the faithful, especially in our day--but dared and cunningly succeeded in gaining the office of pastor and then used that position of influence as a means to take sexual, financial, religious and political advantage of those they had power over.
“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels [pastors].” (1Co 11:10)
Now 1Co 11:10 is understandable! The Scriptures are teaching that women are to dress appropriately not provocatively and should be under the authority of their husbands. This is so that they won’t be victimized by these human wolves wearing sheepskins.
So; these 'angels' are actually certain men NOT celestials," “Certain men” is a reference to a particular sort of men. It clearly points a finger at the corrupt pastors who've crept in without anyone's knowing how bad they truly are; men who were ordained BEFORE OF OLD to the coming condemnation.
“Before of old” is a term that means ‘before time.’ In other words, these deceivers were known of before the foundation of the world. These men, as Yahudah in verse 4 warns the reader of; are engaged in turning the grace of our Father into 1lasciviousness, and denying the one YAHUAH Elohim, and our Master Yahuashuah.
1Noun: lasciviousness - feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, 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.
Verse 7: The Sodomites apparently also practiced bestiality. Bestiality is what going after strange flesh refers to. Men going after men, and women going after women simply does not qualify as going after strange flesh. That is actually same-gender fornication or homosexuality. Going after strange flesh is the act of people having sexual intercourse with animals--beastiality. Strange simply means 'different' and animal flesh is different from that of the flesh of man. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that celestial creatures have flesh. They have a body, but it is not one of flesh. Flesh is a substance created of the dust of the earth and celestials were not created from that. So thinking that Sodomites’ desire to sexually molest the celestial messengers that visited Lot constitutes being desirous of strange flesh is an incorrect conclusion. The strange flesh belonged to the animals those perverts were copulating with.
"All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds." (1Co 15:39)
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 Master rebuke thee.
Verse 9: Michael stands, as a sterling example, of how dignified and proper one of YAHUAH's own should conduct himself, even when facing the absolute vilest of YAHUAH's creatures.
I believe we will be witnesses at the judgment, of the magnificent dignity, kindness and fairness that the Great Judge Himself--Yahuashuah, will exhibit even toward the worst of sinners whom He will have to convict and sentence. What most fail to understand however is that all sentencing, though punitive, is also corrective; and at the consummation of the eons, the lake of fire will have finished its job and death will be the last enemy to be destroyed. With death no longer in operation, all who experienced the second death shall be made alive never to die again.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Messiah shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Messiah the first one; and afterward they that are Messiah's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to YAHUAH, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that YAHUAH may be all in all." (1Co 15:22-28)
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to YAHUAH, which giveth us the victory through our Messiah Yahuashuah. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Master, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Master." (1Co 15:54-58)
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.
Verse 10: We have these same devils in our society to this day. You can see them television and in every church and especially the mega churches.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Verse 11: Spirits don't go the way of Cain; [murdering their own family members] only people do that. Spirits cannot be murdered. You can spiritually murder someone without physically killing his body simply by destroying his faith. Many a so-called pastor has done that.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Verse 12: Spirits have no need of food nor do they drink; these are clearly men that are being written of.
Again I remind the reader of Yahuashuah's own words: "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Lu 24:39),
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Verse 13: Here is an amplified alternative (but yet quite correct) rendering of that same verse:
"Egregious sea billows [the 'sea of humanity'], frothing amongst themselves; shameful wanderers; for whom is reserved the shroud of obscurity [meaning death] to the Aion. [meaning of course to the Aion which is the final aion of time]."
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Master cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are wicked among them of all their wicked deeds which they have wickedly committed, and of all their hard speeches which these irreverent sinners have spoken against Him.
Hard speeches: Ever hear a sermon of condemnation from a hellfire and brimstone preacher?? Then you've heard something from one of these ministers of Satan. "If you fail to this, this, and this; then you are going to burn in hell forever!"
16 These ['pastors'] are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Verse 16: Since when do spirits hold men's persons in admiration in order to secure an advantage from them for themselves? As I have stated all along, these are men, not spirit messengers, they are false ministers of righteousness whose aims are self enrichment and self aggrandizement. Paul wrote of such men.
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Messiah. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2Co 11:13-15)
Yahudah cont'd:
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Master Yahuashuah;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own wicked lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most set apart faith, praying in the set apart Spirit,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of YAHUAH, looking for the mercy of our Master Yahuashuah unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise YAHUAH our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.The entire epistle of Yahudah clearly, CLEARLY has to do with clerics; men who've corrupted themselves with their various lusts, and who infiltrated the congregations of the faithful to minister corruption to them. It does not have to do with spirits who somehow transformed themselves into men. That is just horrible, traditional religious hogwash that ranks right up there with those corny cheesey 1950's B-class science fiction outer space movies we've all seen.
There are another brief set of verses we need to comment on because false teachers use these to prop up the lie that continues to be told based upon misrepresentation of the epistle of Yahudah.
These verses are from 2Pe 2:4-9:
4 For if YAHUAH spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; [The casting down is a reference to the state of death put upon them as the outcome of the flood in Noah's day]
Casting down to hell means the person has died and in this case has been placed in a category that won't be resurrected until the Great White Throne Judgment. Spirits cannot die so that fact eliminates them as candidates in this expose.' An aggelos or angel, is a messenger, and the messengers in view in the case of 2Pe 2:4. are false pastors. Such 'pastors' were and are indeed ministers of Satan who transformed themselves into messengers of light, who sinned and were cast into the grave. Hell in this instance is the English transliteration of the Greek word 'tartaroo' and is but another reference to the grave and the state of death albeit intensified to illustrate how great of a crime it is destroying the believers faith by corrupting of their fragile understanding of spiritual truth and then taking advantage of them in the other despicable ways mentioned. The "chains of darkness" refers to the degree of the the state of death that is reserved for these corrupters of the believers and of the truth. Such men will not have part in the judgment where rewards are given for work well done. These will remain imprisoned in death until roused to consciousness and unceremoniously dragged before the Great White Throne Judgment where the charges will be read and the prisoners sentenced and cast into the lake of fire.
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the wicked;
Verse 5: The wicked of the old world that died in the flood were 100% human not some sort of star-child hybrids. The rest of the verses below are about such men not spirits. There is no sane reason for imagining the verses as stating anything to the contrary.
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example to those that later might choose to live wickedly;
The example of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrha is set forth as a warning to people, not spirits. YAHUAH will destroy people who choose to live in wickedness.
7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Master knoweth how to deliver the truly reverent out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2Pe 2:4-9)
Indeed! That should be enough to convince the reader that the traditional ideas and teachings regarding the Letter of Yahudah to the set apart of YAHUAH, as well as what is commonly taught regarding the verses of 2P2:4-9 are patently wrong.
I see no need to comment further on thr remaining verses of Yahudah, the point has been established.
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of YAHUAH: I speak this to your shame." (1Co 15:34)
Be sure also to see the article titled, Angels.