December 27, 2023: Jude 14-15 - The Lord Cometh to Execute Judgment Upon All
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince [convict] all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” - Jude 14-15
In verse 14 of this book, Jude references a prophecy of Enoch. Before we consider the prophecy itself, let us discuss a little bit about who Enoch was. Jude distinguishes the Enoch to whom he is referring by telling us that this Enoch is the seventh from Adam. Prior to this Enoch, there was another, who was the son of Cain (Genesis 4:17). Cain committed the first murder in mankind after the fall in the Garden when he killed his brother Abel. The Enoch to whom Jude is referring was the seventh from Adam:
Adam
Seth
Enos (or Enosh)
Cainan
Mahalaleel (or Maleleel)
Jared
Enoch
The number seven in the Bible represents completeness or divine perfection, and the Bible uses this number many times in that context, including:
In the beginning, in six days God made the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, including man and woman, and God rested on the seventh day. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3)
The book of Leviticus describes God’s commandment for Israel to have seven periods of seven years, totaling 49 years and at the end of the 49th year, the 50th year would be the Year of the Jubilee, when all debts were forgiven and all slaves were released. It would also be a year when the land would rest and not be farmed:
“Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, and for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which growth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.” (Leviticus 25:3-11)
After Moses died and God had chosen Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land, God told Joshua He was giving Jericho into his hand. God told Joshua that for six days, Joshua and his men should march around the city once a day. He was to take with them seven priests bearing “before the ark of the covenant seven trumpets of rams’ horns” and they were to blow their trumpets. However, Joshua told them not to shout or make any other noise with their voice until he told them to. On the seventh day, God told Joshua to tell the men:
“And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the rams’ horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:4-5)
Chapter 9 verses 24-27 of the book of Daniel contain a seventy weeks’ prophecy, where each week is a period of seven years. Gotquestions.org has a good article that explains the prophecy (see: https://www.gotquestions.org/seventy-weeks.html). To summarize, the angel Gabriel gave Daniel a prophecy of the future when Jerusalem would be rebuilt, when Messiah would come and be cut off (i.e., crucified and die, all of which would happen in a period of 69 7-year weeks, or 483 years. All of this happened as Daniel prophesied. One week remains left in the prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled, and that is when the final Antichrist will confirm a covenant with many for one week and will commit the abomination of desolation:
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even the consummation, and that determined shall be poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:24-27)
In the days of Noah when God sent a worldwide flood to destroy all of mankind and the land animals because they had all been corrupted, God had told Noah to bring seven pairs of males and females of each clean beast into the ark. After the waters flooded the earth and the waters finally abated, “And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.” (Genesis 8:4)
Jesus made seven “I Am” statements about Himself to His disciples:
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
“I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman.” (John 15:1)
The last book of the Bible, which is titled “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”, where “revelation” literally means “unveiling or disclosure” is filled with the usage of the number seven. In this book, an angel gave to the apostle John visions of the things that would come upon this world, including the 7-year tribulation period, also called the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is the 70th week spoken of by Daniel in his prophecy. Revelation prophesies of the second coming of Christ, His 1,000-year millennial reign on earth, and the creation of a new heaven, a new earth, and the holy city new Jerusalem, when all who have believed on Jesus Christ as their Savior will live with Him and sin will be no more, for Satan and everyone who rejected Christ will have been cast into the lake of fire. In my examples of the usage of the number seven in Revelation, because there are numerous references to them throughout the book, I have only included the first reference of them.
Seven letters to seven churches in Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. (Revelation 2-3)
Seven Spirits (Revelation 1:4). I agree with gotquestions.org (See: https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-spirits-God.html) that these seem to be the seven aspects or characters of the Holy Spirit that rest on Jesus Messiah, as written by Isaiah in Isaiah 11:2 (1-Spirit of the Lord, 2-Spirit of wisdom, 3-Spirit of understanding, 4-Spirit of counsel, 5-Spirit of might, 6-Spirit of knowledge, 7-Spirit of the fear of the LORD).
Seven stars representing the angels or messengers of the seven churches, and seven golden candlesticks representing the seven churches in Asia. (Revelation 1:20)
A scroll that is sealed with seven seals that only Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is worthy to open. (Revelation 5:1-5) These are the seven seal judgments. The opening of the first seal starts the period of the 7-year time of Jacob’s trouble. Jesus is described here as a Lamb that had been slain and has “seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:6)
Seven blessings to God from all in the heavenly realm who are around God’s throne and worship God: 1-Blessing, 2-Glory, 3-Wisdom, 4-Thanksgiving, 5-Honour, 6-Power, 7-Might:
“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
Seven angels sounding seven trumpet judgments. (Revelation 8:1)
Seven angels having seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, the last of the 21 judgments of God during the time of Jacob’s trouble. These are also known as the seven bowl judgments. (Revelation 15:1, 7)
Further, in the book of Luke, Luke 3:2-38, it names the genealogy of Jesus, from Joseph, Mary’s husband, all the way back to Adam. Enoch is listed in this genealogy. I do not believe it is any coincidence that the number of generations listed is 70. These are just some of the examples of the usage of the number seven in the Bible.
There is something else that is interesting about Enoch. He was only one of two men who never died and were taken up to God. The other man was the prophet Elijah, who spoke against the wicked King Ahab, who was the king of Israel when Israel was divided into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Elijah also spoke against the false prophets of the false god Baal, and along with Elijah’s men, killed all of them as God commanded. Let’s read what the Bible tells us about how Elijah was taken up to heaven:
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha [Elijah’s successor] from Gilgal…And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder [separated the two of them]; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:9, 11)
After Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha, his successor, put on his mantle, which was a robe or cloak and a symbol of Elijah’s authority as a prophet of God. Elisha then was approached by sons of the prophets who wanted to send fifty men to go and look for Elijah in the event “the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.” (2 Kings 2:16). Elisha told them not to send the men to look for Elijah, but they insisted and he approved their request. The men searched for three days but did not find Elijah.
Regarding Enoch, we know very little about him except what the word of God tells us:
“And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch: and Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and beget sons and daughters: and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:18-24)
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6)
Enoch made such an impact on God that God listed him in what is known to many as the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter names people in the Old Testament who, despite their circumstances, were faithful to God. Enoch was also Noah’s great grandfather. Enoch’s son was Methuselah, and his son was Lamech, Enoch’s grandson. Lamech had Noah, Enoch’s great grandson. Noah is also named in the “Hall of Faith.” There was obviously something about Enoch and Noah that God recognized them for their faith in Him.
The Bible tells us there were ten generations from Adam until Noah. At that time before the flood, people lived a very long time, up to 800-900+ years, and there would have been a lot of people alive at the time of the flood. Out of all these people, it is only Enoch and Noah that it is said they walked with God. We know that God sent the flood to destroy all of mankind because man had become wicked and “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) The Bible also tells us that God not only destroyed all of mankind with the flood but also every beast, creeping thing, and the birds on the earth, for they had been corrupted. This corruption seems to speak of some sort of genetic manipulation because what other way could these animals, insects, and birds have been corrupted? Are we not doing that same type of thing in the times in which we live by genetically modifying organisms and feeding them to people and also to other animals? In an article by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from February 17, 2022 states, “More than 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in the United States eat GMO crops.” (See: https://www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/gmo-crops-and-food-animals) The animals eat these genetically modified crops and then humans eat those animals. Our food supply has been corrupted by people. Is it any surprise that we have seen a surge in Americans who are lactose intolerant and have gluten and other food-related allergies?
Enoch was taken up to God before He sent the flood upon the earth.I have heard it said that Enoch represents God’s church, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, both those who have already died and those who are alive at that time, who will be caught up to God in the rapture of the church prior to the start of the 7-year tribulation period or time of Jacob’s trouble, and that Noah represents the Jews who are alive on earth and come to faith in Jesus Christ after the rapture and who are protected by God during the time of Jacob’s trouble. Though this is not stated in the Scriptures, it is something to consider.
I know I am sidetracking a little here, but let’s dig a little deeper in the Scriptures. In the book of Revelation chapter 12, there is a statement made that I have always wondered about. Chapter 12 discusses a vision the apostle John had of “a great wonder in heaven” in which he describes the woman (Israel) who gave birth to a child (Jesus), who would rule the earth with a rod of iron and that He (Jesus) was caught up to God and His throne, and a dragon (Satan) and one third of the angels who were ready to kill the child as soon as it was born. It goes on to describe a war in heaven with Michael the archangel and his angels fighting against Satan and the angels who are with him and against God and Michael cast them out of heaven and down to the earth. Satan then persecutes the woman (Israel). Have we not seen the persecution of Israel increasing over time, especially during World War II and most recently since the massacres of October 7, 2023 in Israel? The Bible tells us this will continue to increase significantly during the midpoint of the 7-year tribulation period. It is at that point when the final Antichrist, who at the start of the tribulation period confirms a covenant or treaty that he will make with many (Daniel 9:27), and at the midpoint, 3-1/2 years, into the covenant he will commit an act of abomination in the third Jewish temple that will be built sometime in the future. It is as that point that the Jews (Israel) will realize the Antichrist is not the man of peace and safety they thought he was and will flee to the wilderness. There are some who believe this wilderness is located in Petra, Jordan. It is thought that Petra is the city called “Sela” in the Bible. “Petra” and “Sela” mean “crag, cliff, or rock.” Looking at photos of Petra, you can see buildings and temples carved right into the mountains and cliffs of the city. Revelation 12:14 tells us Israel will remain there for 3-1/2 years and will be nourished and it is implied that it is God Himself who nourishes or provides for Israel to protect them “from the face of the serpent [Satan]” who seeks to destroy them. It is very interesting that in Revelation 6:12-16, it discusses the judgments of the sixth seal judgment that are cosmic disturbances and when people all over the earth will run for their lives to caves and mountains from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus). However, in this case, it does not say that God protects them, as He does with Israel in the wilderness:
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens [caves] and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
On March 1, 2023 businessinsider.com wrote an article about the superrich people of the world who are building underground bunkers to save them from a coming apocalypse (See: https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-inside-luxury-bunkers-ultra-rich-prepare-for-doomsday-2022-9). Just recently on December 21, 2023, it was reported that Facebook founder and one of the most wealthiest men in the world, Mark Zuckerberg, is building an underground bunker in Hawaii (See: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/21/mark-zuckerberg-apocalypse-bunker-hawaii). These types of “doomsday apocalypse” bunkers are becoming more prevalent, but for those who choose to accept Satan as their “god” and reject Jesus Christ, nothing will be able to protect them from the wrath of the Lamb.
Now, back to the part in Revelation 12 that has piqued my interest and it is in reference to a flood. After Israel flees to the wilderness and is nourished or protected by God for 3-1/2 years from Satan:
“And the serpent [Satan-see Rev 12:9] cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman [Israel], that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:15-17)
I do not know for certain if the flood spoken of in the verses above is a literal flood or figurative. The first part seems to imply it is a figurative flood since it says “as a flood” but the second part that says the “earth helped the woman” and “swallowed up the flood” seems to imply it might be a literal flood. However, it could be literal in the sense that there is a flood of evil literally coming to the wilderness against Israel by those who are allied with Satan and the earth will literally swallow them up. We do have a precedent where the earth has swallowed up the wicked when Israel was in the wilderness after Moses led them out of Egypt and Korah and his men rebelled against Moses and Aaron:
“And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.” (Numbers 26:10)
There is another flood reference in the Bible and that is in Daniel chapter 9, which is Daniel’s 70-weeks prophesy for Israel. In verse 26 it prophesies of the coming Messiah, who will be “cut off,” meaning crucified. Daniel then prophecies that Jerusalem and the temple will be destroyed:
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:26)
We now know that it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish temple in 70
AD; thus, the “prince that shall come,” who is the final Antichrist, will be from the Roman Empire, which had a Western and Eastern leg. This destruction of Jerusalem and the temple did come as a flood to Israel when it was overwhelmed by the Roman army.
Back to Revelation 12:14-17, we do know that this point in the time of Jacob’s trouble, Satan will throw everything he has at Israel as he tries to destroy them once and for all. It could be symbolic for the flood of persecution that comes against Israel during this time. We know that no one will come to the aid of Israel and it will be the earth itself who helps Israel. Are we not already seeing the foreshadows of this today with the increased persecution against Israel and the raging of people calling for the death and destruction of Israel? As the Bible tells us, this will increase and Jerusalem itself will become a cup of trembling or a burdensome stone for all people:
“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:1-3)
As with the literal flood that occurred during Noah’s days, when only a very small remnant of mankind survived - Noah and his family, eight people in total - so too will it be during the last half of the tribulation period, the time of Jacob’s trouble, when only a remnant of the Jews will survive. These are the seed or the offspring of the woman, who is Israel. We are also told in Revelation 12:17 that this remnant will “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” These are the Jewish people who, before the tribulation period started did not believe in Jesus as their Savior, will come to belief in Him during the tribulation period. This remnant of Israel is also discussed in Zechariah 13:8-9:
“And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 13:8-9)
This is why the tribulation period is called the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), meaning Israel’s trouble, but in the end, God will restore His people, the Jews, who will finally believe in Jesus as their Messiah.
Now, back to today’s Scripture verses in Jude 14-15. While the Bible does not contain this prophecy of Enoch that Jude wrote about, it was obviously made known to Jude. Let’s read again what Jude says of Enoch’s prophecy:
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 14-15)
Did you catch the fact that this prophecy Jude quoted from Enoch was made long, long ago before the first coming of Jesus? As Jude wrote, Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam and he made this prophecy. This prophecy is strikingly similar to what the apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, at Jesus’ second coming when he comes to earth with the armies of heaven who are clothed in white linen. These are the bride of Christ, the saints (Revelation 19:7-8), who have believed in Jesus as their Savior, and come with Jesus when He executes judgment:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture [robe] dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite [strike] the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh, a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
Notice that Enoch’s prophecy tells us on whom judgment would be executed, and it is the ungodly. While Jude’s book is written in the context of the ungodly men who had crept in unawares, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Jude 4) the prophecy of Enoch is written to all people and to tell them that the Lord Jesus will come with His saints to “execute judgment upon all” and to convince, meaning to convict, all of the ungodly. We know that other Scriptures in the Bible warn us that in the end times before the second coming of Jesus that mankind will grow increasingly wicked, both with unbelievers but also in the professing churches. Jesus Himself warned His disciples about this as a sign of the end of the age and before His return, and Paul also wrote about this apostasy that will take place in the churches:
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness] shall abound, the love of many shall wax [grow] cold.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 24:11-12)
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent [without self-control], fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady [haughty], high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
Notice that Paul said that these people have “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” and that we are to “turn away” from them. They pretend to be of God, called by the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is not in them.
In Jude 15, the prophecy of Enoch used the word “ungodly” four times:
Ungodly among them
Ungodly deeds
Ungodly committed
Ungodly sinners
There is nothing godly about the ungodly. Though they may be in a church, their ungodliness separates them from true believers in Jesus Christ. They are tares, or weeds, false converts, pretending to be the wheat, the true believers in Jesus Christ. However, God knows His own, and they are not them. They may be able to fool themselves and the people in these churches who come to listen to them preach their feel-good-in-your-sins messages and do not want to follow the One true God but a counterfeit version of Him, but they cannot fool God. The very first psalm in the book of Psalms warns us of the ungodly. We are not to walk in their ways, or stand with them as they promote their ungodly ways, or be like them:
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1)
Psalm 1:5 reminds us what the future holds in store for the ungodly:
“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:5)
We have many people who call themselves “pastors,” others in church leadership, and many in their congregations today in America and around the world who have gone the way of the wicked, the way of the ungodly world. They truly are trying to gain acceptance of the ungodly world instead of obeying God and His commandments to be set apart from the world. Jesus talked about what the future holds for the tares that pretend to be the wheat, the true believers of God:
“He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world [age]. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity [practice lawlessness]. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Jesus Christ; Matthew 13:37-42)
Jesus has warned us time and time again in His word, the Bible, of what will become of all who choose darkness over light, sin over salvation, evil over good, but most people could care less what Jesus told us. Instead, they are embracing the darkness, with even many professing Christians sitting in the pews of their false churches, listening to a watered-down sermon that is far from the truth of God. It reminds me of the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22, where Jesus is standing outside, knocking on the door of the church:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup [dine] with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Jesus
Christ; Revelation 3:20-21)
Jesus wants to save us. He wants us to admit that we are sinners in need of the Savior, and believe in Him as the One sent by God, His only begotten Son, to take away the sins of the world, and to take of his free gift of salvation. The only way we can be washed clean from all our sins is through Jesus, and when we do that, we will be allowed entry into His eternal kingdom and spend our eternity with Him. We are all ungodly sinners committing ungodly deeds, every single one of us. If we refuse to believe it, it doesn’t matter; it is the truth. The good news is that Christ died for the ungodly so that we can be saved from his wrath when He comes to judge the ungodly world: but we must choose to turn to Jesus, to turn away from our sins and to turn to Him, trusting in and allowing Him to save us from all our sins.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure [perhaps] for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:6-11)
But we must choose to turn to Jesus, to turn away from our sins and to turn to Him, trusting in and allowing Him to save us from all our sins. It is a free gift, the Greatest Gift, ever known to mankind. Will you reject this gift or will you accept it? The choice is yours alone to make. If you choose to reject it, you will have no one to blame but yourself when judgment comes, and it surely will. ✝️