“Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Eric's comment on 2022-09-26 09:15:28:
Many believe the 2 witnesses will be Moses and Elijah, which represent both the law (Moses) and the the prophets (Elijah). This perception is based on the fact that both were seen with Christ in the gospels by Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration where Peter asks Christ if he should build 3 tabernacles, 1 for Moses, 1 for Elijah and 1 for Christ.
Richard H Priday's comment on 2022-09-24 07:35:37:
I meant to say their ascension CAN'T be replicated although it could somehow be fabricated....
Richard H Priday's comment on 2022-09-24 07:34:48:
As with anything else; Hebrews 9:27 makes a plausible argument; but it isn't worth quibbling about. The nature of the unique ministry is quite remarkable; as there will clearly and at long last be an undeniable "signs and wonders" ministry that will dwarf anything seen before. This will; of course involve a prophetic contest between the truth and a lie; with fire coming down; a mark or seal; and a Resurrection being mimicked by the Beast immediately after these witnesses have completed their misistry (although their ascension can be replicated).
I tend to emphasize the same concept as Christ preaching to the spirits of disobedience in hades. This is; along with likely the 144,000 primarily if not exclusively a DECLARATORY message of judgment rather than the Gospel as it stands today; since by the sixth seal ALL of mankind will know about God and Christ as well as the beginning of judgment. I would say this probably can be defined as the completion of the "Gospel of the Kingdom" (Mark 1:14-15). The Gospel was said not to be given to all the cities of Israel before Messiah returns (Matthew 24:14). There are certain verses about preaching to kings and having the Holy Spirit give the words which seem to be dual prophecies for the Apostles as well as the end time saints; as much of the generation that is described that will not pass until all these things come to pass seems to be describing later on in verse 34 of the same chapter.
It does seem that there is a lag time between the Rapture and the appearance of the 2 witnesses. Since certain judgments on the earth are held back before the 144,000 and likely the 2 witnesses coinciding with that time frame; it would seem that time is needed (they say 6 months or so) for the Temple to be constructed and for most of the seal judgments to transpire first.
That in my mind would also all ow the so called "Psalm 83" war to take out Israel's surrounding nations and their threats to come first before Ezekiel 38.
PROPHECY's comment on 2022-09-23 07:07:08:
Brother Luke:
Enoch and Elijah are not the only two people in history that did not die but were translated into the presence of God. Anyone from the time of pentecost until the present that have been born again of the word of God, through the works of the cross, have not seen death. The two witnesses to this truth is Mosses and the prophets.
John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me (truth and life) SHALL NEVER DIE .....
Titus 1:2 In hope of ETERNAL LIFE, which God , that cannot lie, promised (witnessed by Mosses and the prophets) before the world began;
Luke Cage's comment on 2022-09-22 21:08:03:
Richard H, IMO, I believe that Elijah and Enoch will be the two witnesses in Jerusalem. After all, they would be the only two men in history that did not die (aside from the ones who were taken to Heaven by Jesus upon his return) but they will die at the hands of the Beast's Israeli servants. Moses died and amazingly enough, he may have even wrote that before he did as he is the purported author of the Pentateuch.
Lord knows's comment on 2022-09-11 07:41:36:
Yes if the Lord was not on my side I should have fallen many times to destruction. I can look back over many years and see this is the case . In Jude He reassures us that no challenge is too great . Verse 24
Chris's comment on 2021-08-30 18:30:46:
Thanks brother Philip, for those great additions to my understanding. As I read it over, my thoughts went to both our Lord & also to the Apostle Peter who brought out warnings about correct leadership of Christ's Church: Matthew 20:25-28 & 1 Peter 5:2,3. Those, of whom the early Church congregations were warned, certainly disregarded this great example of humility, leadership, & being a pattern to emulate. But aren't those the qualities that any leader, within or without the Church, should embrace & exercise? Thank you again & every blessing in your labours.
Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-08-30 13:51:27:
Dear Chris,
Thank you for reminding me of the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:6 & 15). The proper name "Nicolaitans" literally means "conqueror (or destroyer) of the laity (people)." I cannot find any proof that they were disciples of the Nicolas mentioned only in Acts 6:5. I certainly do not desire to defame that particular Nicolas based on conjecture or speculation.
The implication of the term "Nicolaitan" suggests that a despotic authoritarian, or a hierarchy had assumed unauthorized lordship as priests over the church, thus usurping The Headship of CHRIST (Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 1:18).
The church must never underestimate the influential power these charismatic religious heretics have over gullible churches. Note how the Ephesian Church hated "the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I (our Glorified CHRIST) also hate" (Rev. 2:1-6). Yet, the Pergamos Church appointed certain Nicolaitans into their church leadership positions and adopted and practiced ("hold") "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate" (Rev. 2:12-16).
I also looked up the word "hold" (Rev. 2:15) in my Greek dictionary and discovered it translates from the Greek verb root (pronounced "krat-EH-o"), which speaks of church leaders using dictatorial power over the church to enforce their Nicolaitan doctrine. This sets a dangerous precedence, for the powerful often gain power over the church far beyond that prescribed in the New Testament.
If "Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them" (3Jn. v.9), was not a Nicolaitan, he certainly seemed to have patterned his authoritarian intimidation after their doctrine.
Reading your post has given me some thoughts for adding to my own commentary. Thank you.
Chris's comment on 2021-08-30 05:52:24:
Indeed brother Philip, their ungodliness knew no bounds. Even if their many sins as you listed were sufficient for immediate condemnation, their "turning the Grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 4), seems to be the hook on which that list hangs.
I think of the condemnation by our Lord in Revelation 2:6,14,15 of the Nicolaitans, from whom these "ungodly men" may well have arisen or at least from under their tutorship. As these men (in Jude), so also were the Nicolaitans, who made mockery of the Grace of God revealed in His Gospel. Believing that marriage was not binding on Christians as it was a human invention, this gave rise to all manner of unnatural unrestrained sexual behaviour. And with the Love & Mercy of God to all men being the foundation of the Gospel, they, without fear of punishment for their sins, literally turned & perverted God's Grace into lasciviousness. And with swelling convincing words, many were led astray, fulfilling fleshly desires & becoming ensnared by Satan. Having done despite to God's Grace, the Holy Character of the Lord God & His Son were so marred & distorted, that it could be well said of them, that they 'denied the Lord & His Christ'. And don't these words allude to the Gnostic teaching at that time, which refuted the belief that deity could unite with flesh? These men spoken of in Jude came in many disguises to believers everywhere, even today, tools of Satan, to weaken & destroy the Body of Christ & the yet the sure promise from Matthew 16:18, is that even "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".
Thank you for those thoughts brother, on this passage.
Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-08-29 13:09:27:
Your spiritual insight and hermeneutical ability to disqualify my commentary as having "no understanding of this tiny book at all" greatly impresses me. I'll take your criticism under advisement, even in light of the fact that you have not read my lengthy commentary in its entirety. Keep in mind, this website limits each submission to only 2000 characters which is hardly enough to make a basic point.
Readers must first have a general understanding of the term "un-GODly" (Jude v.4) before they can apply it in the context. The general explanation details "why" they are un-GODly. Jude's epistle details "how" they are un-GODly. Jude provided no identities to these un-GODly people, for they exist in every age. Rather, Jude described them as "certain men crept in unawares" (v.4), and "these [filthy] dreamers" (v.8). While these two descriptions may identify different types of people, they all desire to produce the same result within the church: perversion of the Gospel and the Doctrines of CHRIST (e.g. vv. 11-12).
They are un-GODly far beyond their "secretly engaged in gross sexual immorality without anyone knowing" as you say. Consider their unGODly ways of ...
+ hatred toward all in authority (v.8),
+ mimicking Cain, Balaam, and Korah (v.11),
+ deeds, hard [speeches] and great swelling words(vv. 8 & 15-16),
+ unjustified murmurings and ungrateful complaints (v.16), and
+ mockery of all things holy during "the last time" (v.18).
Their behavior does not "imply they're going to lose their salvation", but rather they are not saved in the first place, for they "were before of old ordained to this condemnation" (v.4) because "they have not The SPIRIT" (v.19). These are the same type of heretics our LORD described as thieves, robbers, strangers, and hirelings (Jn. 10).
Yes, I'm keenly aware of Apostle Peter's account of the same type of un-GODly men as you correctly point out, particularly Second Peter chapter two, and to which I refer many times in my full commentary.
Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-08-28 08:23:44:
un-GODly men; Jude v.4 = The adjective "un-GODly" describes a person who has no reverential respect, nor any honorable consideration for GOD, or anything pertaining to GOD. Thus, they reject any thought or form of worshiping HIM because "they did not like to retain {possessing and putting intelligence and wisdom into practical use} GOD in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:28).
As a point of antonymous (the opposite of synonymous) reference, the term un-GODliness describes the polar opposite contrast to GODliness. Un-GODliness is anything and everything in man that contradicts GOD, HIS ESSENCE, HIS PERSON, HIS Character, HIS Attributes, HIS Will, and HIS Purposes. Un-GODliness is the rejection of, and unbelief in, GOD, HIS CHRIST, and HIS Gospel.
The un-GODly are not atheists by default or through any actual non-belief in GOD's real existence, for they are "men, who hold the Truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18). They actually know about GOD, but choose to reject HIM, for "they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:28). Moreover, the hatred the un-GODly seethe toward GOD prompts them to "despise the Riches of HIS Goodness and Forbearance" (Rom. 2:4) because of their "hardness and impenitent heart" (Rom. 2:5).
Their hatred, hardness, and rejection of GOD turns them into "The fool [who] hath said in his heart, There is no GOD" (Ps. 14:1; cp. Ps. 36:1; 53:1). Notice, the expression, "There is ", is in italics for it was added by the translators. What the fool literally says is this: "There is no God for me. I will worship and serve no god or deity." In essence, even though they "know the Judgement of GOD" (Rom. 1:32), this mental knowledge poses "no fear of GOD before their eyes" (Rom. 3:18; cp. Eph. 4:19; 1Tim. 4:2).
I John 2:17's comment on 2021-08-27 09:57:24:
I don't really understand why you're belaboring the definition of "ungodly", as if it's meaning wasn't patently clear from the very basic and fundamental prefix, suffix and root word that comprise the word -- i.e. "un", "God", and "ly".
And that litany of attributes you unilaterally ascribe to it without explanation doesn't have anything to do with the manner is which that word is clearly utilized within Jude, which is focused exclusively on gross sexual immorality. You invoke a litany of passages from other sections of the Bible, implying direct correlation to the subject of Jude, without remotely establishing that. You basically convey no understanding of this tiny book at all. Did you know that it directly mirrors 2 Peter Chapter 2, which is almost always discussed together it?
At any rate both passages describe teachers or other people of prominence in the Church, who are secretly engaged in gross sexual immorality without anyone knowing about it (according to "Peter" and "Jude"). They're describing people clearly integrated into the life of the church, but unbeknownst to everyone are sexual deviants, and it's implied they're going to lose their salvation for it. And whoever wrote 2 Peter just bends over backwards throughout the book to say, "I really am the Apostle Peter, and I'm fixing to be martyred and this is my last word to the Church." And then you have someone claiming to be the brother of Christ (Jude) that comes along and says nearly the exact same thing as "Peter".
Philip Christian Parks's comment on 2021-08-27 07:30:18:
un-GODly men; Jude v.4 = The adjective "un-GODly" describes a person who has no reverential respect, nor any honorable consideration for GOD, or anything pertaining to GOD. Thus, they reject any thought or form of worshiping HIM because "they did not like to retain {possessing and putting intelligence and wisdom into practical use} GOD in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:28).
As a point of antonymous (the opposite of synonymous) reference, the term un-GODliness describes the polar opposite contrast to GODliness. Un-GODliness is anything and everything in man that contradicts GOD, HIS ESSENCE, HIS PERSON, HIS Character, HIS Attributes, HIS Will, and HIS Purposes. Un-GODliness is the rejection of, and unbelief in, GOD, HIS CHRIST, and HIS Gospel.
The un-GODly are not atheists by default or through any actual non-belief in GOD's real existence, for they are "men, who hold the Truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18). They actually know about GOD, but choose to reject HIM, for "they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:28). Moreover, the hatred the un-GODly seethe toward GOD prompts them to "despise the Riches of HIS Goodness and Forbearance" (Rom. 2:4) because of their "hardness and impenitent heart" (Rom. 2:5).
Their hatred, hardness, and rejection of GOD turns them into "The fool [who] hath said in his heart, There is no GOD" (Ps. 14:1; cp. Ps. 36:1; 53:1). Notice, the expression, "There is ", is in italics for it was added by the translators. What the fool literally says is this: "There is no God for me. I will worship and serve no god or deity." In essence, even though they "know the Judgement of GOD" (Rom. 1:32), this mental knowledge poses "no fear of GOD before their eyes" (Rom. 3:18; cp. Eph. 4:19; 1Tim. 4:2).
Diane Smith's comment on 2020-10-07 22:07:57:
Thank you, Richard, for your reply. So kind of you to take time out of your day to respond.
The tongues of those who are upright and in right standing with God are as choice silver!
God Bless you brother.
Diane Smith's comment on 2020-10-07 21:58:13:
THANK YOU, Mishael, for your prompt reply! I love to study the scriptures and believe it is important to know the rules of engagement when dealing with the enemy. I appreciates the points you have made and have saved them for future reference.
May He grant your hearts desire and make all your plans succeed Ps 20;14 NLT
How To Get The Devils Out Of Your Life's comment on 2020-10-06 15:41:13:
If the attack is against me, I say "In Jesus name, it is written; The Lord rebuke thee. Get thee hence!"
It's good to use the Search Box and type in 'Authority' and hit the arrow. Every scripture on authority is listed. By reading all of them, it gives a clearer picture of what our Authority in Christ is. You can read all, Old Testament only, or New Testament only.
Jesus gave us his NAME. We study how he used his Name to rebuke Satan and his demon operatives.
Having good knowledge of scripture allows us to use it against the devils that know scripture too! If we speak the scripture with Jesus Name, those devils have to cease their attack.
That where binding comes in handy. (The Lords Prayer). Whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven.
Bind the demons and send them into outer darkness and dry places.
In Jesus name, Loose: angelic help, healing, deliverance, Emotional help.
Only tithing is how we ask for help in finances. We establish trust in Gods plan to help us be blessed financially. When the plan works, we can ask for what we need and receive it. The plan is not meant to be legalized by well meaning preachers. God made a simple principal to follow:
Minimum= adequate blessings
Maximum= over and above blessings
The plan operates on trust and obedience; with thanksgiving to God for His Word.
In Matthews 26, we see reasons why we should share what we have, with others who lack everything. Then we honor Jesus's known plea for those who are in need.
Mishael
Richard in Christ's comment on 2020-10-06 15:29:06:
Hello Diane,
Just to give a little, personal, answer to your question. Whenever I hear temptations, or statements not from our Father, I use that exact phase. Or "God Almighty rebukes thee satan" along with others using the name of Jesus Christ to cast the devil away from me.
Most of the time I myself don't even speak these things out of my mouth. It's mostly in my head or spiritual. You may have to repeat it several times. And do it with authority. God purchased you, you are His now. The Lord enjoys us keeping guard. Any bad thing cast it out.
Hope this helps some. God Bless you sister.
Diane Smith's comment on 2020-10-06 11:29:29:
Yes, Jude 1;9 "The Lord Rebuke thee"... as believers we have been given authority; Galatians 1;20-22 we are seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father...to rule and reign with Him, He is the head we are the body Gal 2; 5&6 Also Luke 10;19"Behold, I have given you all authority to tread on serpents and scorpions. I have given you authority over all the powers of the enemy, nothing shall by any means harm you. Also Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because Greater is He THAT IS WITHIN YOU, than he that is in the world. I John 4;4 ...So my question is When is it correct to say "The Lord rebuke thee"? Certainly Michael the archangel is more powerful (authority trumps power) than we are?? SO do we need to say the Lord rebuke thee.