Friday, July 25, 2025

PT-1 Introduction to “Apostates Illustrated” (Jude 8-13)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/25/2025 10:45 PM

My Worship Time                                                    Focus: Introduction to “Apostates Illustrated”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                            Reference:  Jude 8-13

            Message of the verses:  8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13  wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.”

 

            I can say one thing as I read over these verses and that is that Jude gives a lot of metaphors in describing these apostates.  Now this evening I begin looking at the introduction to these six verses, verses that I have to say that I enjoy reading over, for there is so much truth in them, so many things that really interest me, something I am looking forward to look at.

           

            Now before I begin looking at these verses I have to say that I listened to an older sermon from John MacArthur as he did a series of sermons on heaven, and those in charge of his website, actually the churches website thought it was appropriate for people to listen to what John MacArthur preached about heaven because two weeks ago he entered into the presence of the Lord in heaven.  They were asking people to write into there and give an example of how John MacArthur had affected their lives.  I can say that since I have been studying the New Testament a while ago that John MacArthur has truly effected what I write on my Spiritual Diaries which then the Holy Spirit of God sends around the world doing with it things that I can hardly believe as the number of these Spiritual Diaries have reached over 950,000 views, and as I look at the numbers each day I know that it is the Holy Spirit who is using them to bring glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

            I will begin looking at the introduction to these verses by quoting from John MacArthur’s commentary:  “Terrorism has always existed in various forms.  From political assassinations to high-profile kidnappings to guerrilla warfare, history is full of men who have tried to enact change through violent means.  But on the watershed date of September 11, 2001, terrorism reached a new level, when mercenaries from the Al Qaeda terrorist network hijacked four jetliners and used them as missiles.  The resulting destruction of the World Trade Center in New Your City and damage to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (along with the crash of the fourth plane in rural Pennsylvania), killed more than three thousand people and dealt a severe blow to the American economy, raising the threat of international terrorism to an unprecedented height.  In response, strict security precautions were put in place, especially for airplane travel, vital industries, and high-profile public events.  Prior to September 11, the United States seemed blissfully immune to terrorist attack.  But after the incredible collapse of the twin towers, Americans gained firsthand knowledge of terrorism’s deadly tactics.

 

            “In contrast to conventional warfare, terrorism presents a uniquely serious threat for two primary reasons.  First, terrorists operate clandestinely.  They are relatively few in number, remain hidden, and certainly do not wear uniforms.  Their plans stay secret until after they strike, making their attacks very difficult to counteract.  Second, terrorists are usually willing to die for their cause (often by suicide as they carry out their objectives).  They are eager to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their mission.  Thus the prospect of even the severest human punishment, such as the death penalty, does not deter them.  If they are to be thwarted, they must unmask and apprehend before they act.  Otherwise it will be too late.”

 

            I have to say that Lord willing I will finish this introduction in tomorrow evenings SD, and also there are times when I began to read through MacArthur’s introduction to chapters in his commentaries that I don’t know where he is going until I see what I describe as a “punch line,” and that is the case this evening.

 

7/25/2025 11:14 PM   

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