Jude 6 FALLEN ANGELS The first example of apostates Jude writes about are ungodly people who do not trust God and will be destroyed because of their unbelief. The second example he wrote about are angels who held positions of authority but were not satisfied with the role God had given them. They had apparently been assigned places referred to a "principalities." Their "first estate" was a principality. Angels were created pure and holy and could live without fear in the presence of God. But under the leadership of Lucifer, they gave in to pride and rebelled against divine authority. Wherever their designated responsibilities lay, they refused to carry out or maintain the work to which they were assigned. We read of them in the book of Daniel as being spiritual powers controlling the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece who came against God's people who were defended by Michael, the prince over Israel.
These fallen angels are denounced as examples of those who deny divine Lordship and were unfaithful to God in their assigned places and work. Satan was their leader and in pride, he and those who followed him wanted a higher position, seeking to place themselves equal to God. In spite of their strength, their intellectual capacity and the positions of authority they held, they were dissatisfied. They wanted more. This same mindset is in the human nature today. People want to exalt themselves to where they think they are the ultimate authority over their own lives without any "fear of God" before them. "Up with man," and "No fear" are common phrases used by humanists.
Existentialists such as Jean-Paul Sarte and Albert Camus promoted this philosophy. The attitude and mindset of human freedom and responsibility is up to each individual who is able to create his/her own meaning in life, caught hold in Europe in the 1940's and 50's in which many were disillusioned with religion, society and even life. Like those fallen angels, existentialists believe you have only to be authentic to yourself. We are free to make our own choices depending on what our own prideful will determines is right. You make your own purpose in life that does not depend on morals, science or social responsibility - let alone obedience to God, who the existentialist doesn't believe exists. Those angels who had lived in the presence of God could never have realized the supreme authority of God.
Those who deny divine Lordship and have adopted a "live and let live" attitude toward life, others and God, have no real inner peace. There is a sense of hopelessness and anxiety that accompanies those who live with no predetermined purpose in life or no destiny after life. The example of those angels, demonstrates that now that they know the results of their willful pride is "everlasting chains under darkness," their only purpose is to bring as many as possible down with them. These angels are an example to us of those who deny the Lord ship of Christ, deny the faith and are not faithful in "the calling wherewith they have been called." The doom of the ungodly believers is to be destroyed. The whole purpose of their being is totally useless. The doom of those who reject divine authority is darkness forever. No direction, nothing of value can ever be found as a reason for existence. The darkness they are in now, is the darkness in which they will be kept until the day of judgment following which they will be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and all who follow him.
The original habitation of angels was heaven where they would have lived in the light of God's glory. Whatever and wherever their designated responsibilities lay, when they were cast out, they were not satisfied until they infected humanity which had been created in innocence and was sinless at the beginning. Man's God-given ability to make choices, the same as the angels, was challenged by the devil and mankind has fallen in sin. It appeared that Satan had won the battle for the souls of men. However, God's grace is "greater than all our sin," and those God saved by His grace have been raised above angels and are "seated with Christ in the heavenly places." By nature, man is a little lower than the angels who are superior in strength, intellect and ability. But when we are "in Christ" we have been made "partakers of the divine nature."
Here on earth where we are in our present physical state, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities (angels who kept not their first estate), against powers, against ruler of the darkness of this world (the "princes of ..."), against spiritual wickedness in high places." There are "world rulers of this darkness" who oppose our Lord and His people. Whether the place they are kept in everlasting chains is physical or/and moral darkness, they, or at least some of them are still involved in activities directed by satanic power. They oppose the Gospel, they deceive, they seek to control the will of mankind, they are even determined to use their dark power to create physical problems in human beings. Their leader still opposes God and they follow that "evil one." When we "earnestly contend for the faith" we are up against that dark power. How much we need God in every part of our life and labor.
There will be a final judgment for fallen angels the same as there will be for human beings who choose to follow Satan. It is obvious to us that the "everlasting chains," the darkness and the warnings of coming judgment, though they are real, do not stop the activities of the "principalities and powers" arrayed against us now. Jude's warning to the Lord's people of his day is as relevant to us as it was to them. The spirit of apostasy is present today in individuals, governments, religions and even in some churches. Denying the Lordship of Christ and being unfaithful to God is not uncommon among people.
It is important for God's people to know the characteristics of those who are in opposition to His divine will so that we can stand fast when attacked and earnestly contend for the faith. Our lives do count for the kingdom of God. Our labor and our calling, does not diminish in any way because of the increasing departure from the truth in our day. If anything, our motivation to fulfill our calling should be greater as we consider the consequences of those who fall under the influence of the ungodly and fallen apostates.
To some people "pride" is a special word, That means we should think good of one's self. But when pride is set against our Lord, That is promoted under Satan's spell That will result in an awful cost To be paid someday by prideful man. With fallen angels such men are lost, As pride finally, man's souls will damn.
To lift one's self in foolish pride, Is a fateful act of our sinful will. There is no place where one can hide, When the cup of iniquity we do fill. God is determined to bring the proud man down - When man exalts himself, it is sin. But when true humility itself is shown, The humble person is lifted up by Him.
"Father, I know pride can show itself in many ways in my life. A true estimation of myself is hard to maintain because of the sin of pride. As I read Thy word and learn more of Thyself and my Lord - I am humbled. I want to stay that way and bear the yoke of Him who is meek and lowly in heart. Amen."