Jude, Revelation 1-2

Jude

Jude Background

Author: “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” 

• This is traditionally understood to be Jesus’ half-brother Jude

Date: around AD 65-80, probably closer to 65-68

Jude writes “To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.”

• No specific church 

Very similar to 2 Peter 2

Jude addresses believers as:

• Called
• Beloved
• Kept for Jesus Christ

He prays for:

• Mercy
• Peace
• Love
• Multiplication

Believers must “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.”

Jude explains why he wrote. False teachers have:

• Crept in unnoticed.
• Perverted God’s grace into sensuality.
  • They were using the idea of grace to justify sin 
• Denied Jesus Christ.

 Examples of God’s Judgment

Jude gives three Old Testament examples.

1. Israel in the Wilderness

• Although God delivered Israel from Egypt, He later destroyed those who refused to believe.

1. Fallen Angels

• God keeps the angels who sinned in chains awaiting judgment.

1. Sodom and Gomorrah

• God’s judges persistent wickedness.

False teachers:

• Defile themselves (vs. 8)
• Reject authority
• Blaspheme the glorious ones
• Grumble (vs 16) 
• Follow their own sinful desires
• Speak arrogantly.
• Show favoritism to gain advantage

Michael and the Devil

Michael did not give  judgment against Satan. Instead he said “The Lord rebuke you.”

What was going on with Moses’ body? “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses…”

• We do not know. The only other reference to Moses’ body was when he died in Deut 34. 
• Moses was at the transfiguration and is possibly one of the two witnesses in Revelation. Maybe Satan wanted to thwart that somehow. 

Cain, Balaam, and Korah

False teachers are compared to:

• Cain (hatred or unbelief)
• Balaam (greed)
• Korah (rebellion)

They are also described as:

• Hidden reefs
• Waterless clouds
• Fruitless trees
• Wild waves
• Wandering stars

Believers should remember the apostles’ warnings.

They are encouraged to:

• Build themselves up in the faith.
• Pray in the Holy Spirit.
• Keep themselves in God’s love.
• Wait for Christ’s mercy.

1 Enoch 1:9 is quoted (not in scripture). The Lord is coming in judgment (perhaps future). 

Different responses are needed for different people:

• Show mercy to those who doubt.
  • Either have compassion
  • Or confront/ save with fear

Doxology

God is able to:

• Keep believers from stumbling.
• Present them blameless before His glory with great joy.

Jude ends by praising God’s:

• Glory
• Majesty
• Dominion
• Authority

through Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1

I don’t have time to even begin to break down this book but will update more next year. 

The author identifies himself simply as “John” 

• Most likely John the Apostle while exiled on the island of Patmos

Date around AD 95-96 (right before his death) 

The book is addressed toseven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey):

1. Ephesus
2. Smyrna
3. Pergamum
4. Thyatira
5. Sardis
6. Philadelphia
7. Laodicea

This book is:

• The revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Given by God.
• Delivered through an angel.
• Recorded by John.

A special blessing is promised to those who:

• Read
• Hear
• Keep

the words of this prophecy.

John greets the seven churches.

God is described as who was, who is, and is to come, highlighting His eternal nature. 

Seven spirits is mentioned (see Isaiah 11:2)

• The Spirit of the Lord
• The Spirit of Wisdom
• The Spirit of Understanding
• The Spirit of Counsel
• The Spirit of Might (or Strength)
• The Spirit of Knowledge
• The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord 

Jesus is described as:

• The faithful witness
• The firstborn of the dead
• The ruler of the kings of the earth

Jesus:

• Loves us.
• Freed us from our sins by His blood.
• Made believers a kingdom and priests.

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds…”

Similar to:

•  Daniel 7:13
• Zechariah 12

God declares:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega.”

John was exiled because of:

• The Word of God
• The testimony of Jesus

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”

• John received a vision (in the Spirit) 
• Lord’s Day? This is a different term than the one usually used for judgment day “Day of the Lord”, but some people think it could be similar. More likely means Sunday or the day the church met to worship. 

John sees Jesus (son of Man) :

• Walking among seven lampstands.
• Wearing a long robe.
• Golden sash.
• White hair.
• Eyes like fire.
• Feet like burnished bronze.
• Voice like rushing waters.
• Seven stars in His hand.
• Sharp two-edged sword from His mouth.
• Face shining like the sun.

Much of this imagery comes from Daniel

John falls in fear. Jesus says “Fear not”  and tells John to write down what he sees. 

He is:

• The First and the Last
• The Living One
• He died and is alive forevermore
• He holds the keys of Death and Hades.

The seven lampstands represent the seven churches.

The seven stars represent the angels (or messengers) of the churches.

Revelation 2

See below for church chart

Letter to Ephesus

Description of Jesus: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Commendation

Jesus praises them for:

• Hard work
• Endurance
• Rejecting evil
• Testing false apostles

Rebuke

“You have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Call

• Remember and repent

Promise

The overcomer will eat from the tree of life.

Letter to Smyrna

Description of Jesus: the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Commendation

Jesus knows:

• Their suffering.
• Their poverty.
  • Yet spiritually they are rich.

Encouragement

Do not fear persecution. Some will be imprisoned. Remain faithful unto death.

Promise

• Crown of life
• The overcomer will not be hurt by the second death.

Letter to Pergamum

Description of Jesus:  him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Commendation

They remained faithful where “Satan’s throne” was, even after Antipas’ was martyred.

Rebuke

Some tolerated:

• Balaam’s teaching (immorality, idolatry)
• The Nicolaitans (immorality/pagan culture)

Promise

The overcomer receives:

• Hidden manna
• A white stone (freedom from judgment)
• A new name

Letter to Thyatira

Description of Jesus: the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze

Commendation

They excelled in:

• Love
• Faith
• Service
• Endurance
• Increasing works

Rebuke

They tolerated “Jezebel” a false prophetess leading believers into:

• Sexual immorality.
• Idolatry.

Call

Hold fast until Christ returns.

Promise

The overcomer will:

• Authority over the nations 
• Receive the morning star (Jesus is the morning star- Revelation 22:16)

Application

In Jude we are called to discern from false teachers and stand firm in our faith. This is a beautiful transition to Revelation where we see Christ reigning over His Church and showing He conquers over death. Just like the churches, we must examine our hearts and stay faithful to God.