The Apostle Jude was a watchman on the wall of the church in his day. His words have taken on added importance in these last days. Jude’s epistle had then and has today a singular purpose: to expose false prophets. His job was to warn the Lord’s sanctified sons about the “angel of light’s” numerous “ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:15) who were creating havoc within the early church. Of the first 19 verses of his epistle, 17 concerned the presence of Satan’s deep state operatives operating within the Body of Christ and the destruction they would cause if allowed to operate freely. See Satan’s Deep State Strategy Exposed and The Elect and the Very Elect–What is the Difference? Jude’s letter to those whom God has called unto Himself is one of the most important books in the Bible because it describes today’s church scene perfectly. Here at the end of the age when Christ’s return is imminent, those who profess Christ as their Savior need to be aware of their spiritual status in the eyes of God before they meet Him face-to-face. Jude helps us in this regard by warning us not to be deceived by those who present Satan’s lies as God’s truths. In Ephesians 1:6-9 the Apostle Paul echoed Jude’s warning about the devil’s “perverted gospel,” which God calls “great darkness” because it is put forth as His Truths. Jude exposes the purveyors of Satan’s great darkness in his letter to God’s church (ecclesia–“called out” ones). A more important subject has never been investigated. Let us carefully study this divinely inspired message in order to learn, understand, believe and obey everything within it. Only those who do so will sit with Christ on His throne throughout eternity.

Verse 1: Jude identifies himself as Christ’s servant. But that was only part of who the man was. Jude, along with James, was also the Lord’s half brother. I will explain this family relationship at the end of this series. Jude’s letter was written to those whom God had “sanctified”–called to a life of holiness. These saints would be “preserved” in their status as long as they remained sanctified by “walking” (living) in holiness as did their Messiah (1 Jn. 2:6/Mat. 10:20). It was the holiness walk that Satan’s false prophets were trying to change. Following in their master’s spiritual footsteps, they were trying to sell the church a more user friendly way to receive eternal life. Nothing has changed. Earlier, Satan presented to God’s original church a side path that took her away from the path commanded by God. Adam and Eve took the exit. Satan later presented numerous side paths to salvation to God seekers. These choices resulted in the hundreds of denominations that comprise what is today called “the church.” Jude, along with other apostles, lost their lives warning believers about those alluring, self-satisfying paths presented by the enemy of God. He warns us about taking those paths in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but that way leads to destruction.” Unfortunately, only a few Truth seekers believed those original apostles. Nothing has changed (Mat. 7:13,14).

Verse 2: Before using the sword of the Spirit–God’s Word–on his audience, Jude takes the time to wish them well, stating his desire that they walk in God’s mercy, peace and love and have those blessings multiplied by believing and acting upon what he was about to tell them.

Be prepared to read some harsh words as presented by God through His apostle of old. The God of the Bible is not what the vast majority of church people envision. Many still see Jesus as a baby in a manger. As God points out in the Book of Revelation, that baby has become “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” God calls His Son a Lion for a reason. L.J.