Jude 1:5-7 (NKJV) But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Faith in Jesus is THE important decision in life. We see the importance of faith in words and deeds. We see the importance of truth in words and deeds. We see the consequences of refusing to believe.
V5 “But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” Sometimes we have so much information given to us, that we forget. We can’t remember everything anyway. God had to remind people, so did Jude, and us as well. Jesus gave the prophecy of His coming betrayal, death, burial, and resurrection 3 times (Matthew 16:21–23, Matthew 17:22–23, and Matthew 20:17–19). Even so the disciples still had difficulty understanding and believing Jesus.
The Exodus is when God delivered (saved) Israel from slavery in Egypt. Even though they were delivered most of them showed unbelief, disobedience, and outright hate, thus, received the consequence of their sins by dying before they reached the Promised Land. See Numbers 14:29.
V6 “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…” There is great controversy concerning the meaning of this verse. This might refer to the “sons of God” in Genesis whom many believe to be angels who sinned. It might be the angels who followed Lucifer in rebellion against God. Whatever one believes after studying the Bible, the point is they had a privileged and blessed state which they rejected to follow their evil heart. They rejected, were seized, chained, and throw into a prison.
Some believe that the chains of darkness refer to symbolic chains. I think it is clear from the text that there exists chains that can bind spirits. This happens to satan, too (Revelation 20:1-2).
Darkness means darkness.
Hades, Tartarus, and the abyss are holding cells until the judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
V7 “…as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Sodom and Gomorrah are another example. The citizens of both cities broke every sin God ever commanded. They had severe punishment. Only one sin is mentioned here–sexual immorality of any and all sorts. God’s punishment for satan and his angels is the Lake of Fire (Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:11-15). The Greek word for “vengeance” is (G1349) δίκη dikē, which means justice and (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “Legally, what is established is what is laid down by law as a. law, b. legal case or plea or decision, and c. punishment.”
We should note that we are not to seek vengeance but God will avenge. Nevertheless, all crimes must be reported.
We learn:
- Disbelief and disobedience to God has serious consequences.