False Dreams and Disrespect for Truth
“In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them” (Jude 1:8-10).
Jude begins this portion of the text with a comparison of what he had written that transpired with the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah. He likened the apostasy and falsehood that was creeping into the church to following down the same destructive path as those two cities and their neighboring towns. Jude wrote that these wicked people based their ideologies on false dreams, despised God’s authority, and would not even honor heavenly messengers. Similarly, people today love to follow the false ideologies of prophets who promise cars, houses, money, and the likes, but they reject the true messengers of God who issue warnings regarding sin, hell, and living an eternity without Christ. Yet, the Lord loves to bless His people, but there is also the judgment side of God. The Apostle Peter, like Jude, cautioned that God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell to be held for judgment (2 Peter 2:4). Likewise, people who are rebellious against the Lord and call themselves believers will suffer the same fate.
Why were these warnings given? The warnings were given to prevent the church from following those who professed to have a message from the Lord through their own dreams and visions but had not consulted Him nor spent any time in His presence to receive an actual word. Similar words of caution were given to the Prophet Jeremiah. The Bible says: “Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. ‘They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32). Whatever truths these false teachers did not find beneficial, they discarded them to create their own fallacies for others to follow.
These apostates lacked moral judgment and defiled their bodies by committing sinful acts, thus bringing punishment upon themselves. For example, when men sleep with other men, they release a spirit of perversion into the backside of another, thus becoming defiled by uniting with the same sex. Similarly, whenever a woman becomes intimate with another women, a demonic spirit deceives them into thinking they can use items to substitute the oneness that they would share with a man. Therefore, both have not only physically but spiritually polluted their bodies and become one with Satan.
Jude’s use of the word polluted (ἀλίσγημα) in Greek means contamination; therefore, they contaminated their bodies with that which was considered unholy and unnatural.[1] Jesus had this to say about the defilement or contamination of the body and soul due to sin: “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them” (Matthew 15:11). Therefore, the willful deception of the false teachers defiled all who were in contact with them, thus causing not only themselves but others to sin as well as those who practice sexual immorality.
The apostates were not in alignment with the will of God. On the contrary, they opposed God and exposed themselves and others to judgment. Just as Lucifer had defied God, the defectors of the faith preferred to curse God and His dwelling place in their thoughts, actions, and abominable living rather than humble themselves and submit to His correction. Their actions went against God’s laws and His nature, hence the warnings Jude and Peter sent to the church(s) were to discourage them from following suit.
As an example of how a believer should be, Jude spoke of how Michael, the archangel, had a dispute with Satan over the body of Moses. Even so, he did not allow himself to sin. Instead, he spoke in the name of the Lord to caution Satan against his actions even though he (Michael) was in a position of authority. Nevertheless, the apostates acted more like animals, led by instinct, than believers in Christ, operating by the Spirit. However, the Bible says: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).
[1] Bible Hub, "Strong's Greek: 234. ἀλίσγεμα (alisgéma) -- Pollution," Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages, last modified 2023, https://biblehub.com/greek/234.htm.
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