Bible Study May 21, 2025
Jude 8 – 10
“Wicked Fantasies”
“Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.” . 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.”
There is so much packed into this one verse that it is easy to miss something. “These people … relying on dreams” refers to an abnormal state of mind. It affects their imagination which produces delusions and other sensual confusion. Their minds were so perverted they were numb to the reality and truth.
When these happen many people will say they heard this from God when in fact that to is delusion since God does not operate like that. There are five occurrences in Jude of such behavior 10,12, 14, 16, and 19. These apostates who were much like Sodom and Gomorrah had no moral restraints – anything went.
They “reject authority” like the sinning angels of verse six. Maybe it would be best to refer to them as “Pretenders.” They rejected all authority, both civil and spiritual thus rejecting the scriptures.
Unlike Michael, the Archangel these lack the propriety of Michael are like animals do not understand what they slander. They follow their instincts not realizing in the end their impulses will destroy them.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 