The Judgement of Apostates
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
“to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:14-15)
But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:17-18)
Have you ever had a sceptic ask you the question, “Why are there so many different kinds of churches?” Perhaps you have asked that question yourself. As you look around at the Christian landscape, it can seem bewildering to see the sheer number of kinds of churches. We would expect that with a shared Bible, we would arrive at the same answers, and we would be one church. Why so many churches?
There are several answers to that. One is simply that man is fallen, and that means that whatever he does, tends to result in some conflict. Even when people agree in theory, they often disagree in personality, and you have some division.
A second reason is that not all truth in the Bible is equally clear. Certain topics are vulnerable to a lot of disagreement, depending on how you tackle them. If you add in the fallen dishonesty, and unwillingness to let the truth be the truth, you will have more disagreement.
But a third reason for division in the church is the presence of false teachers, which is what Jude deals with.
These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:19)
False teachers, apostates introduce schisms and divisions. Were it not for the presence of false teachers within the church, it would not look nearly as divided as it does today. But because false teachers are not stopped at the door, they infiltrate the church, find a platform, and begin gathering a following. Soon enough, they have gathered enough people around their false doctrine to constitute another cult, another group claiming to be the church, but denying the Gospel.
This can seem very distressing to the average Christian. It may seem as if something is out of control, something is tearing the church apart, but nothing is stopping it. It just seems to be getting worse. We might wonder if the church isn’t spinning out of control being ripped to pieces.
But the book of Jude should calm our fears because contained within it are two predictions about false teachers. One of these predictions is sourced from the New Testament, and one is sourced from an Old Testament character. One deals with their appearance, the other deals with their judgement. One prepares us for their presence, the other assures us of their removal.
The fact that something is written in the past about the future should give us a calm sense of God’s control. If God knew it would happen, took the time to write it down, then not only will the future happen exactly as God said it would, it means God is so in control that it cannot happen any other way. We can look at the current church scene, and while we may be grieved, we can also trust that God is still sovereignly overseeing it.
We’ll take the NT prophecy first, found in verses 17-18, followed by the OT prophecy in v14-15.
I. The New Testament Predicted the Arrival of False Teachers in the Church
But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:17-18).
Jude tells his readers to remember the sayings of the apostles. The apostles of Jesus, who were the ministers of the new covenant, the writers of the New Testament, the foundation of the church, were insistent in warning that these apostates were coming. Jude tells us that the apostles described what these men would be, what they would do, and when they would come.
Peter warned they would come.
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
For this they willfully forget: that by the (2 Pet. 3:3-5)
Paul warned they would come.
“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
“Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. (Acts 20:26-31)
John warned they would come:
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 Jn. 4:1-3)
Now, this is what is interesting. The apostles warn that these false teachers are coming, but nowhere do they tell the church to try to destroy these false teachers. And the church of the Middle Ages, and even the churches begun by the Reformers did not understand this. They got it right that heresy was dangerous. But because they had wedded the church and the state together, they believed it was the duty of the king, or the magistrate, or the prince to capture and execute heretics and apostates. So we had the brutal Inquisition, and we had persecution of all kinds of people, even by some of the Reformers, because of this faulty idea that the State and the Church should be one.
But the New Testament never tells the church to arrest, prosecute, and punish apostates.
What does it tell us to do?
First, it tells us to be discerning, as we have seen in Jude. The first and primary thing the church must do is know the truth, know the orthopraxy that accompanies orthodoxy in the lives of its teachers.
Second it tells us to identify false teachers and separate from them.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (Rom. 16:17)
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 Jn. 1:9-11)
useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (1 Tim. 6:5)
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Tim. 3:1-5)
What would that separation look like? Obviously, it means we do not seek actual Christian fellowship with such people. We also would not endorse false teachers by buying or selling their books, promoting their conferences, joining their associations. Our own statement of faith puts it this way: “We believe that loyalty to Christ and the biblical principle of holiness require separation from groups and organizations that do not uphold and contend for the truth of God’s Word. True spiritual fellowship is the result of a common faith and practice.”
Third, it tells us to discipline anyone in our churches who begins teaching error.
But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. (2 Thess. 3:6)
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Tit. 3:10-11)
This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (Tit. 1:13)
You see that the New Testament’s concern is not to rid the world of heretics, but to rid the church of heretics. The Bible tells us to keep our own houses clean, keep the church a body of believers.
Know the truth, identify the apostates, separate from them and do not extend Christian fellowship to them, and when necessary, discipline from your own churches anyone teaching error.
But at this point, we might say, but then the false teachers are going to go out and deceive someone else! They’re leading people astray, and who is going to stop them?
Jude’s other prediction deals not with false teachers in the church, but false teachers in the world, not their arrival, but their final removal.
II. The Old Testament Predicted the Removal of False Teachers From the World
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
“to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:14-15)
Jude tells us that Enoch, Adam’s seventh descendant prophesied about false teachers. Now let’s remind ourselves of who this was, and why a prophecy from him would have been particularly relevant to the topic of false teachers.
This much we can put together from the book of Genesis. Enoch was the seventh from Adam. He was born 622 years after the Fall, and 1034 years before the Flood. He lived at a time when human lifespans were enormous by today’s standards, most of those mentioned in this genealogy averaged around 800 years. And if you work it out, Adam was still alive for the first 300 years of Enoch’s life.
From what we can tell, human civilisation during this time became very advanced. It’s possible that some of the enormous ziggurats, stonehenges, man-made mounds and other monoliths were being built during this time, or shortly after this time using methods and technologies we still don’t understand. Some of the blocks that were lifted into place were so heavy that in the 21st century, we don’t possess a crane strong enough to lift them. There seems to have been great advances in astronomy, mathematics, cartography and map-making, travel. When people are living for 800 years, they can learn a lot. And in the 1656 years between Adam and the Flood, there was no doubt enormous development, innovation and development. During Enoch’s life, some of the great cities in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Northern and Western Europe and India were beginning.
But they were not only becoming advanced in technology, they were becoming advanced in evil. False worship, idolatry, and possibly even demonic intervention in the world was part of life.
Gen 6:1-6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Genesis 6:11-12
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
It was in this world that Enoch lived. It was in this society that Enoch stood out like a diamond in the rough. Like us, he lived in a world given over to evil, in rejection of God. Enoch lived an outstanding life. So outstanding that God took him.
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Gen. 5:24)
Twice the writer of Genesis, Moses, tells us that Enoch walked with God. In the book of Hebrews we find some verses which become like an inspired commentary on these verses in Genesis, explaining them for us.
Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Enoch did not only walk with God, but God chose to extend a special welcome to Him. He took Enoch to glory personally. And it seems that Enoch lived such a life of communion with God, such a life of abiding in God, that there came a point when God chose to favour him with a gift that Christians living when the Lord returns will experience – direct catching up into God’s presence, without seeing death.
But Enoch had undoubtedly confronted his generation with its evil. His son’s name Methuselah possibly means, “When he is dead it shall be sent” or “When he dies, judgement”. Quite possibly, Enoch was told of the coming judgement of the Flood and testified to the world in the very name of his son – a son who lived for 969 years.
Now this prophecy isn’t found in Genesis, though Genesis tells us of Enoch’s walk with God, and of his rapture into the presence of God. These words are taken from the book of Enoch, which was a Jewish book, probably written in around 200 B.C., which contained what had no doubt become certain oral traditions. Obviously Jude knew what was reliable and unreliable in the book of Enoch, and quotes from 1:9 of Enoch this prophecy attributed to him.
His prophecy was simple: the Lord returns accompanied by myriads of his holy ones, to execute judgement on all, and to convict all the ungodly ones concerning all their ungodly works which they have done in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Now what word stands out for us there? Ungodly. The irreverent, the irreligious, the ones without fear of God. What do these ones do? They commit ungodly deeds in an ungodly way, and they speak harshly against the Lord.
What is going to happen to these who live in defiance of God, and speak openly against God?
Enoch saw the personal return of the Lord, accompanied by myriads of holy ones to separate the good from the evil, and to indict and condemn the false teachers. Enoch saw what is described by Scripture in several other places as the personal return of the Lord to execute judgement on evil doers.
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. (2 Thess. 1:7-10)
Now when Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares, many people missed his point. Some people even interpreted Jesus to mean that we should accept that there will be tares in the church, and just let it be. But listen carefully to how Jesus interprets the parable:
Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt. 13:36-43)
The field is the world, not the church. False believers, false teachers are going to masquerade among us as long as time lasts. This parable does not say, let them lie in your churches. Nor does it say, arrest them and execute them. Instead, it promises they will be dealt with by the Lord Himself, at the end of the age.
This is why the psalmists so often rejoice in future judgement.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth. (Ps. 96:12-97:1)
Not because they are sadists, and desire the pain of others. They desire judgement because it will finally sort out truth from lies, good from evil. What no one else can sort out, or untangle, or sort through, Christ will perfectly and finally sort out.
When we see them in the church, we know we were warned, and we do our part. Discern, separate, and discipline.
When we see them in the world, we know their end is prophesied. So we evangelise, and we wait, and hope.