Quote from Forum Archives on June 2, 2002, 5:25 pm

Posted by: jnthrower <jnthrower@...>

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

THE BOOK OF JUDE

GOD JUDGED THE ANGELS THAT REBELLED (VS 6)

INTRODUCTION

There has always been controversy among good and Godly men about who these angels are, what they did, and what God did to them. This controversy will continue until we find out from God.

The important issue is that "they kept not their first estate" and God judged them for that.

If God judged angels because of rebellion. He will judge the rebellious apostate.

I. WHO ARE THE ANGELS (IN GENERAL)? (Some things we know about them.)

A. THEY ARE MINISTERING SPIRITS. (Hebrews 1:7; 14)

Created by God. (Colossians 1:16)

B. THEY CAN FLY AND MOVE QUICKLY. (Daniel 9:21)

C. THEY ARE ALWAYS REFERRED TO IN THE MASCULINE.

D. THEY DO NOT MARRY OR BEAR CHILDREN. (MATTHEW 22:30)

II. WHO ARE THESE ANGELS?

(NOTE--WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE!)

A. WHO I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT. (Gen 6:1-4; Matt 22:30)

(I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE "THE SONS OF GOD" IN GENESIS 6)

1. The most natural way of interpreting this passage shows differently.

2. The statement of Jesus in Matthew 22:30.

3. The law of biogenesis--life begets similar life. ("After its kind")

4. Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15:38-40.

5. Moses did not use the regular Hebrew word for angels (malak) which he later uses at least 28 times in the first 5 books of the Bible.

6. "Mighty men" (supposed offspring of angels and women) is the Hebrew word gibor which is used dozens of times in the O.T. and always refers to human men.

B. WHO I BELIEVE THEY ARE. (Matthew 25:41; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 12:7-9)

(I BELIEVE THEY ARE THE ANGELS WHO REBELLED WITH SATAN)

C. WHAT DID THEY DO TO CAUSE THE JUDGMENT OF GOD?

(A SPIRIT OF REBELLION--Isaiah 14:12-15)

D. HOW DID GOD JUDGE THEM?

(THEY ARE RESERVED IN THEIR CHAINS OF DARKNESS UNTO THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT DAY--Matthew 25:41)

There is no salvation for fallen angels. They are held by the chains of their sin.

III. WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? (Jude 6)

A. SOME OF THE ANGELS KEPT NOT THEIR FIRST ESTATE--

(i.e. THEY REBELLED AGAINST WHAT GOD HAD FOR THEM.)

Man did this too, but praise God he sent us a Redeemer.

B. GOD JUDGED REBELLION IN ANGELS.

C. GOD WILL JUDGE THE REBELLION OF THE APOSTATE.

D. GOD WILL JUDGE REBELLION. (Deuteronomy 31:27; 1 Samuel 15:23; Proverbs 17:11; Jeremiah 28:15-17; 29:30-32)

Conclusion

We need to guard against rebellion in our own heart.

We need to be on guard against those who are out to get us to be rebellious against God. (Apostates)

We need to earnestly contend for the faith!