2d Timothy's reply #7
Hmmm. The more I look into this passage of scripture the more it seems to me it is speaking of Angels. Every other mention of the "sons of God" in the old testiment refers to angels. Also, at no time, before the Flood or after, has God destroyed or threatened to destroy the human race for the sin of mixed marriages. Now, in Gen 6:1-2 he says the Sons of God and daughters of men. If the writer meant the sons of Seth, why not say the Sons of Seth and the Daughters of Cain or men? The current interpritation implies that Seth's sons were Godly and daughters of men were not. Why were Seths sons destroyed in the flood? Only Noah's family was found to be righteous. All probing questions I think.
And still the question about the verse in Jude.
Jude 1:6-7
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
(KJV)
Clearly there is suggestion that angels left their estate (place of existence) and giving themselves over to fornication going after "strange" flesh.
2d Tim,
By the way, welcome to the forum.
In referring to Jude 1:6-7;
What you have stated, in your last sentence above, may be referring to leaving there place of habitation (dwelling place) as opposed to "existence" (state of being or in the case of the spiritual the realm), if you mean,
Since God is a Spirit, then the spiritual realm is the place of habitation for all that have their being in the spirit. And everything within this realm is subjected to God the Spirit.
I think this is what you have in view herein.
It is evident that they were able to exist on the earth since at Job 1, Satan comes and presents himself before the Lord, and when asked by the Lord;
7
Whence comest thou?; Satan answers;
From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.So, clearly the realm of their existence seems to include the earth, added to this thought, they come and go from the presence of God in the heaven lies throughout the universe executing Gods will.
So on this note, we can now consider the rest of these verses; it is clear from Genesis 3, Satan was able to indwell the serpent , which gives rise then to the thought that angels, who indwell any of the created beings on the earth could be that "strange flesh," referred to at verse 7 of Jude 1.
The word
fornication in the context of humans, is defined by the scriptures as;
...sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage, as opposed to adultery and as it pertains to married persons.
But the NT often uses the term in a general sense for any unchastity. And Paul who compiled 7 lists of sins found in his writings, fornication being the first found in 5 of them and is included in all of them.
Having said this, in The book of Revelation (Rev 14:8, 17:4) the word fornication is used symbolically as that of IDOLATRY, as any pagan religion defiles true worship of God.
Since there is no evidence given in the scriptures that angels are able to pro create after their kind (it is doubtful angels even possess a sexual organs or the ability to produce seed or offspring), and since Jesus refers to those that .............;
........shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. (Mk 12:25)
.............it is doubtful that Jude 1, is speaking of fornication as that word which applies to the actual sexual act as pertain to the human act.
This then leaves fornication as used in the symbolic spiritual application, in worshipping or praising something or someone, other that the Lord, which brings us to the purpose for the existence of angels, what do the scriptures say about them;
They were created an innumerable host (Heb 12:22, Psa 148:1-5), they were present to rejoice when He created the world (Job 38:4-7), He rules over them and they are His ministers that do His pleasure (Psa 103:19-21),
they are commanded to worship Him (Jesus) and are under His authority (Heb 1:6,1Pet3:22), they are not omnipotent (Heb 1 Pet 1:12), they desire to look into the things of God, especially the salvation of men, they are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. (Heb 1:14)
The exception to all these attributes of course are the fallen angels who kept not their first estate by leaving their own habitation, (Jude 1:6)
In there original state they were holy, but in the revolt they followed and were lead by Satan they lost their exalted position, and in doing so, it could very well have been that it is, here that fornication (spiritual idolatry) occurred, since they followed, served and did the bidding of Satan (their prince, Mat 12:24) (Rev 12:7-9) and continue even to this very day.
Something else to consider...Although all of the angels that were drawn from heaven (a third of them) by the dragon (Satan) were cast out of heaven, not all fallen angels were placed into chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, those who were not, are referred to as evil spirits or demons in the NT .
Blessings,
Petro
