It is the smallest book in the New Testament. It has no chapters, just twenty-five verses. It is one of the last writings included in the Bible. The book is titled after the writer's name but is written in a general sense to all of his fellow Messianic believers. The writer was the brother of Yeshua the Messiah and James (Jacob), the leader of the Jerusalem brethren. He obviously knew Peter and John, and probably Paul and the other apostles, since he was an apostle himself. He spoke with apostolic authority; however, he preferred to call himself just a bond-servant of Yeshua the Messiah and not assert his positional authority. He based his arguments upon the lessons of Torah and used triad logic (sets of threes) to make his point. The content of his book is a specific, singular warning to the body of Messiah. His warning is about a danger within the fellowship, not outside of it. He warned about certain persons in the faith (leaders and teachers) who make the Grace of God a license to transgress the Commandments of God.

Maybe these are the reasons that the book of Jude is virtually ignored by all believers. There is one thing certain about his short book though; his warning is the most ignored warning in the Bible.

As Messianic believers, we live in fascinating times. We are participants in the re-emergence of the spiritual remnant and nation of Israel. Our generation is the first in nearly 1900 years to see the land of Israel under an Israeli flag. We are also seeing a spiritual awakening of that remnant scattered in the nations. There is great anticipation as we sense the end of the exile and the manifestation of the Messiah, the Great Shepherd.

The Messianic Movement, like the ancient story of Moses, has all the characteristics of slaves preparing to leave Egypt. In fact, that story is a prophetic scenario for the last generation. The Hebrew word for Egypt is mitzrayim, which means "trials and tribulations." Just as the children of Israel left Egypt, journeyed through the wilderness, and received the Torah and the Tabernacle from God, the last generation will also make its exodus out of this world and this age. Our ancestors were tested and tried in that wilderness, eventually crossing over into the promised land. There is a direct prophetic parallel between the ancient generation and ourselves (the last generation). We, too, will soon be tested and tried in a tribulation and will cross over by resurrection and rapture into the Messianic Age (the promised land).

So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. Deuteronomy 30:1-4

There is no question about it. We are scattered in the nations; the exile is prophesied to end. There will be great judgments from God upon the gods of this world to prove that He is the One and only God. We will be delivered by God, brought through a period of trial and tribulation (called the Great Tribulation). We will only make it by returning with all of our hearts (the ancient generation fell in the wilderness due to unbelief and disobedience). We will experience the same spiritual tests and trials our ancestors faced. Will God save us? Will God deliver us? What will we eat or drink? It is imperative that we understand the teachings and lessons of Torah as Moses said.

When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. Deuteronomy 32:45-47

Each of us, in our hearts, finds ourself at the foot of Mount Sinai coming to terms with God's commands, whether we will do them or not. Some of us are dealing with our own spiritual identity. Are we part of Israel or part of the nations? We are trying to understand our heritage, learning the very promises given to our father Abraham. We are trying to believe those promises and experience the same faith that is counted for righteousness. With great anticipation, we are trusting God for one of His greatest promises—the Messiah, the Great Shepherd, Who is about to gather all of His sheep scattered among the nations. The sequence of events is our study of eschatology.

There is also another direct parallel that comes from the ancient story. It is a very serious warning about our greatest danger. Our greatest danger is not outside the camp; it is inside. This is what Jude spoke to us about. He warned us using the same lessons of Torah. Certain persons IN THE CAMP can hurt us more than Pharaoh's chariots or Amalek's raiders. It is imperative for us to heed Jude's warning if we hope to make it all the way to the promised land. This is a time for wisdom and insight, not apathy and ignorance.

Jude a bond-servant of Yeshua the Messiah and brother of James (Jacob), to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah; may mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. (Verse 1 and 2)

Jude's greeting is filled with a blessing of multiplication. It is one of the fascinating concepts of our faith. Your life is not just another statistic or number in the kingdom. Either your life has a multiplication effect in the kingdom upon others, or you zero yourself completely out. People in God's kingdom are of great value. That value was placed upon us by the Messiah when He paid the unbelievable price for every one of us.

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. (Verse 3 and 4)

Jude doesn’t hesitate to get to the point. Certain persons have turned the grace of God into a license (permission granted) to sin and ultimately deny the Messiah's place of leadership and authority. Using grace to justify an open transgression of God's commandments is spiritual absurdity. Paul posed and answered the same question.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law [no longer condemned to death because of sin] but under grace [recipients of God's salvation]? May it never be! Romans 6:15

This is the Apostle Paul's question and answer to every Christian teacher who asserts that the Messiah's salvation replaced the commandments of God. Many others also share this same viewpoint.

The Messiah Himself said that anyone who annuls the least of the commandments, and teaches others to do so, would be least in the kingdom (Matthew 5:20). The Messiah said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

The Apostle John said it this way.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7

John was referring to walking in the Light. This is a well known biblical concept. The Torah is a light unto your feet. Walking in Torah is walking in the Light. When one says that He is walking in the Messiah, but not in the Torah, he is in darkness. John went on to say this with even stronger words.

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 1 John 2:4

The Torah is the walk (the way) of truth and the light. Yeshua said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Therefore, the Torah (God's commandments) is the Messiah. They are not two different subjects.

Jude's warning seems to be the very same issue spoken of by others, but he does something unusual with it. He reminds us of a couple of Torah lessons and focuses on what else is evident regarding unbelieving persons. [You thought John was tough?… wait till you see what Jude says.]

Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. (Verses 5,6, and 7)

Wait a minute! Let's back up just a bit. You mean to tell me that the children of Israel were under the blood of the Passover Lamb (over their lintels and doorposts), that they were baptized by crossing the Red Sea, saved from their enemies, brought to the Mountain to receive God's word, given bread and water and yet they didn't make it to the promised land? Yes. Besides the children of Israel, you say that angels that already are in the heavenlies are also subject to God's judgment? Yes. And are you also telling me that God's judgment is very severe, something like Sodom and Gomorrah (fire and brimstone, which is eternally burning)? Yes.

But wait! I was told that believing in God, believing in the redemption of the Lamb of God is the way of salvation and I am not subject to His judgment. Yes, that is right also. But, if you disobey the Lord, willfully and defiantly, you just proved that you did not believe Him. Moses did not enter the promised land because he didn't believe the Lord. The children of Israel did not enter the promised land because they didn't believe the Lord. Angels who don't believe the Lord don't get to stay there either. So, where did we get the idea that the New Testament Church and grace has overcome that? Jude says that certain persons have brought that doctrine in, and they will be judged just like everyone in the past has been judged.

Let me summarize all of this for you. If you say that you believe in Yeshua the Messiah and are saved by grace through faith, then you have a confession of faith and have accurately understood His offer of salvation. But, if you then counter God's commandments and deny His authority as God and Messiah, then you have proved that you do not believe Him and have no faith in Him.

I think there are a lot of Christians who need to wake up and smell the coffee. There is not a lot of difference between the actions of the ancients and modern day Christians with their grace rhetoric. The ancients were found to be unbelieving and Christians of today will face the same judgment.

The predominant teaching and thinking in Christianity is that you do not need to KEEP God's commandments for salvation; just believe like they do, and you get to go to heaven. Brethren, that is not the teaching of the New Testament. Commandments are for life and blessings.

Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Verses 8 and 9)

Thus Jude goes a bit further describing these certain persons who teach this.

Some “believers” dream, they defile the flesh, they reject authority, and they revile angelic majesties. They assert that a personal spiritual dream (personal insight or understanding) is superior to the Torah when it comes to discerning the will of God. Instead of using good judgment (knowledge, understanding, and wisdom) that comes from the example of Scripture, they offer their own personal or denominational judgments as guidance for themselves and others. Those judgments are heavily biased by preference and personal convenience. Even when their conclusion is in direct conflict with the words of the Messiah Himself, they defer to their own view.

They openly state and operate under the premise that consuming as food what the Bible calls unclean is just fine for them. Even though the Scriptures say that it is unholy, defiled, and profane, they proceed with full confidence, saying that their prayer of sanctification has moved God to deny His own Word of instruction.

They actually believe that the church fathers had the right to amend, change, reverse, and contradict the spoken and written Word of God, not to mention His prophets and Apostles. Even further, these certain persons believe that truth, righteousness, and all the other biblical concepts must be re-interpreted in each generation because of the advent of modern appliances and electronic gadgetry.

Finally, there is the reviling of angelic majesties. Most believers don't even know what angelic majesties really are. You have to study the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah to get a glimpse of them. The book of Revelation is full of them. I’m referring to Michael, Gabriel, and the other Archangels, the throne of God, Cherubim, and Seraphim.

Have you ever heard the expression, "Going where angels fear to tread?" Reviling angelic majesties is really about scoffing at the throne of God in heaven. Sometimes it is about doing more than scoffing at those entities. For example, the tabernacle of Moses and the former temple in Jerusalem were made following the pattern of those things in heaven. Or, consider the feasts of the Lord, which were conducted at the temple. Did you know that angels are participants in all of those things? My son brought that point home to me.

Several years ago, I was preparing our congregation to celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. I made a serious effort to advertise and invite as many people from the community as I could to the service. Just before the service, I had dinner with my family and posed a question to them individually. How many persons did they think would come to the service? Our congregation was small then (about 50 of us) and my two children were young at that time. My wife estimated about 150 people would come. My daughter thought only 125 would come. But my son, who was about 8, calmly said about 20 million would be attending the service that night. I questioned him further, because he was very good at math and understood the value of numbers. "What are you talking about, son?” I asked. “Well, if you count the angels …” he explained.

Jude says they revile angelic majesties and he explains why.

But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Verses 10 and 11)

“They revile things they do not understand.” This has been the answer of my heart every time I hear some preacher speak against the Torah and the commandments. They are speaking about things they simply do not understand. Their thinking has been taken captive by church tradition and they do not comprehend that they say one thing and do the opposite.

Peter made this same observation about Paul's teachings.

As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:16

Jude refers to three great teachings of the Torah to illustrate the mistakes made by these certain persons: the way of Cain, the error of Balaam, and the rebellion of Korah. These are three very powerful lessons given in the Torah. Each of these Torah lessons is deserving of its own article and teaching, but allow me to quickly summarize them as Jude intended.

The Way of Cain (Genesis 4:1-15)

Cain and Abel both brought gifts to the Lord. Abel's gift was received, but Cain's was not. Consequently, he murdered his brother. The way of Cain is two-fold. First, you assert your will against God (your will is not greater than the Lord's) and then you force your will upon others. The way of Cain is selfish and only focused on yourself. Jude was referring to leaders who, like Cain, are out for themselves, to the extent that they harm others.

The Error of Balaam (Numbers 31:16, 2 Peter 2:15)

The biblical story focuses on Balaam's attempts to render a curse against the children of Israel for money at the urging of Balak. Unable to do that, he gave a teaching that was even more devastating than a curse. He taught that mixing the teaching of Moses with other religious customs would be more effective in destroying them. He was right. Instead of Israel facing their neighbors in warfare, they faced a plague from God in judgment. The error of Balaam is two-fold. First, you are motivated more by gain than principle, even though you know the difference. Secondly, you exploit the things of God to the harm of other brethren.

Jude was referring to religious teachers who chase the money and defraud the brethren of the truth. There is a world of difference between a teacher/leader whose actions are guided by opportunity, compared to one who does it by principle. For more teaching on Balaam, refer to the April-May 2004 issue of YAVOH, He is Coming.

The Rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:1-35)

Korah was a member of the same tribe as Moses and Aaron. Korah was smarter, more articulate, more handsome, more charismatic, and could sing better in the shower than Moses or Aaron. Korah was supported by 250 princes of Israel. He had impressive credentials: he was the former state treasurer for Pharaoh.

So… why wasn't Korah in charge of the nation of Israel? Because God anointed Moses and Aaron.

I know this is going to be a shock to some of you, but not all people in leadership are anointed by the Lord to be there. Some of them decided for themselves that they would like to be pastors, preachers, rabbis, and such. Some are in those positions because they have gone to school, have those credentials, and have decided that they are smart enough (in some cases smarter than others) to do it. To them, being called of the Lord is a concept at best, not an experience with God. They believe that being anointed of the Lord is only a religious expression, not an empowerment of the Spirit.

Korah was a smart man, but the Lord did not call him or appoint him to the position of High Priest. Being smart by the world's standards, instructed in a Bible college or seminary, and having some religious men ordain and lay hands on you does not make you anointed of God. This is the exclusive domain of God. To assert any religious order or authority over the Lord on this matter is open rebellion to God. It is self-deception. This was the mistake of Korah.

Jude's reference to the way of Cain was about leaders who assert their selfish will. The error of Balaam was about leaders whose actions are directed by opportunistic gain. The rebellion of Korah addresses those leaders whose egos and credentials cause them to usurp God's anointing. In all three instances, the Torah teaches that they produce great harm to God's people.

These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these men that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." (Verses 12 through 15)

A hidden reef will sink your boat. A leader who does not fear the Lord will harm God's flock without a thought. They will take the best and leave the worst. Jude calls them clouds without water. Drought is bad, but being in a drought where every day is cloudy with no rain is like insult on top of injury. Jude likens them to autumn trees with no fruit, pulled out of the ground dead. They are constant waves at the shoreline, casting up foamy muck and filth, ruining the water and the beach for everyone. They are wandering stars looking for something to orbit around and colliding with the unsuspecting.

Maybe this article has brought to mind certain persons in your past or present spiritual life. Most people look beyond themselves and view the Scriptures as criticism of others. Maybe you don't want to hear what Jude says further, because he has been blunt so far. We don't need to look beyond ourselves on this one.

These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. (Verse 16)

If you need to stop reading for awhile, so you can repent and ask for God's forgiveness, it's okay. We all need to do that. The truth is that we all fall into this last category. We all have our own personal examples of grumbling, finding fault with others, pursuing what we want instead of seeking the needs of others, and saying whatever it takes to get people to agree with us. Jude's reference to common behavior among us all is simply that, but it should not be the behavior of our leaders. Leaders are to be different in many of these respects. They must meet a higher standard.

But you, beloved ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts." (Verse 17 and 18)

Jude was a contemporary with Peter. In this instance, Jude is quoting Peter.

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:3

One of the purposes of prophecy is to strengthen our personal faith. Why does God give us a prophetic insight or statement before something happens? To get us to believe Him. This is why Yeshua told us about things that would happen before He returns—to get us to believe that He will return.

The testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10

Even when we see negative things, like mockers and those misbehaving before the Lord, we should remember that the Lord knew beforehand that they would do those things. He even advised us so we would not be concerned with it. They are not getting away with anything. Actually, it is another evidence and reason for us to put our trust in His judgment.

These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. (verse 19 through 23)

I have often shared that the Messianic movement is messy. We are like slaves leaving Egypt, stumbling over ourselves and lacking the etiquette of brotherhood. We have a host of theological issues where even the best of us are still dragging old baggage from our past. We are all in transition, but our future is bright and sure. Some are sitting on the fence (excited about Torah and still going to Sunday service). It is difficult to keep one’s balance with everyone in transition. We are still in the nations (this is not the kingdom). We do not yet have a temple in Jerusalem; we are returning with our hearts. We will all see the Messiah soon. His promise is sure.

As we watch the prophetic events of our world and see the Lord setting the stage for His return, let us make sure we understand the greatest danger we face. It is not the antimessiah, nor the government and the new world order. It is within the ranks of our own brethren. God's judgment is far more than anything the enemy can do. Our greatest danger is repeating what our ancestors did in the wilderness—not believing or obeying the Lord. They stumbled in the wilderness because of other voices: men like Dathan, Abiram, Korah, the spies who gave a bad report, Zimri of the tribe of Simeon, and Balaam. Instead, let us listen to those who repeat the words that all of us heard coming from the mountain.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Verse 24 and 25)

Amen and Amen. The quicker the better. In the meantime, let us heed Jude's warning. Let us make sure that we are not flaunting God's grace as the excuse for transgressing the commandments of the Lord. Let us make sure that we are learning and applying the weightier matters of the Torah, such as truth, faith, justice, mercy, and lovingkindness. If I recall correctly, that is what the Messiah said He would be doing when He returned.

I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

Is your faith like that of Abraham, believing the promises of God? Or, is your faith defined by the world and stored up for judgment?