“ We need have no fear of impending judgment. Here is blessed assurance for all eternity . ”
but God saw from the beginning how rebellious man would rush headlong into judgment. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). And He knows what is in man. In His “ longsuffering to us-ward, not will ing that any should perish” (II Peter 3 :9 ), He has dealt with us in grace. But the day of reckoning will come, and o f that day the prophet Enoch spoke. But for Jude, we should not know that Enoch was a prophet; for his is another reference found no where else in the Word o f God. This prophecy of Enoch is altogether different from the promises of the rapture of the church— “that blessed hope.” Enoch’s vision was o f the Lord Jesus returning with the church, personally, bodily, visibly, to establish His kingdom on earth. In that day He will come “ to execute judgment upon the ungodly,” to judge all apostates, to rule with a rod of iron. Enoch’s prophecy is in keeping with the Epistle of Jude! It is significant also that it was Enoch who uttered this prophecy to the men of his own gen eration; for “ by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death” (Heb. 11:5). When? Before the flood in the days of Noah. The flood is a type o f the judgments to come upon the world in the days of the great tribulation; and Enoch is a type of the church, which will be translated before the Antichrist is revealed and the purifying judg ments sweep the earth. Noah and his family may well represent the faithful Jewish remnant which will go through the tribulation and be preserved in it. But Enoch, who “walked with God” and “was not; for God took him” (Gen. 5:22, 24), speaks to us of the blood-bought Bride of Christ who walks with Him now by faith, and will one day meet Him “ in the air” (I Thess. 4:13-18). Then after the great tribulation has run its course, Enoch’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Then “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thess. 1 :9). “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son o f man” (Luke 17:26). There was apostasy in the days of Noah. Corrup tion filled the earth. And our own generation today is swiftly becoming corrupt— “ as it was in the days of Noah.” But thank God! He is coming for His
own to take them out of this scene of apostasy and corruption. And He is going to return with His redeemed to rule in righteousness and peace. To the saints His coming will be glory; to apostates, it will be a terrible time o f certain judgment. To which class do you belong, my friend? “ Today is the day o f salvation.” Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. EXHORTATION TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD “ But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles o f our Lord Jesus Christ: how that there should be mockers in the last time . . . But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out o f the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh,” Jude 17, 20-23. How restful and comforting are these words, following the vivid description of sin and unbelief! In these closing words Jude encourages us to study the Word of God, that we may be built up in the most holy faith; to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit; to have fellowship with the Lord’s people; to win souls and encourage the weak; to keep our garments unspotted from the world. If we heed Jude’s admonition, my Christian friend, we shall be able to discern truth from error, apostates from the children of God. And our hearts will be satis fied, even in this day of stress and strain and tur moil and chaos as we “ occupy” till He comes. We need have no fear of impending judgment; for our God “ is able to keep” us “ from falling, and to present” us “ faultless before the presence o f his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Assurance of salvation? Yes; the eternal security of every born- again soul! And added to that, “ the presence of his glory,” the presence o f our Lord, who loved us and gave Himself for us—His presence throughout the endless ages! “ To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 25).
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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