Angels Which Kept Not their First Estate

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 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. Jude 1:5-6

In this passage of scripture, Jude conveys a deep sense of urgency in wanting to warn his readers. He emphasizes the significance of Old Testament examples for Christians, as seen in Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10-11. The author further elaborates on this theme by discussing Israel's downfall in the wilderness. Despite God's miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt, they responded with disbelief, doubt, and turned away from faith in God's promise of entering the Promised Land (Numbers 13:25; 14:4). They even resorted to idol worship and complained against God instead of worshiping Him. As a result, that generation perished during their 40-year journey through the wilderness. Jude is reminding them that just because they were saved, does not mean they can do anything they want to, and still come to salvation. He is giving as an example, the Israelites (God's people), who he delivered from Egypt. They were delivered, but started complaining and doubting that God would take them to the Promised Land. God made them wander in the wilderness 40 years, until those who had doubted and disobeyed, died. Friends, without faith, it is impossible to please God. It does not matter whether it is the Israelites on their way to their Promised Land, or believers in Christ who are on their way to their "Promised Land". We do know there will be some who stand before Jesus on judgment day who will profess to be Christians, who Jesus will tell to get away from Him, He never knew them (Matt. 7:21-23). We must walk in the salvation we receive to inherit heaven and know that our faith in Jesus Christ saves us.

The apostasy of fallen angels is depicted in Genesis 6:1-3, where they are said to have possessed men who then engaged in relationships with women, violating their own domain. This likely refers to the fallen angels, also known as the sons of God, who before the flood (as mentioned in 2 Peter 2:5 and Genesis 6:1-3) and prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah deviated from their proper state by lusting after women. The author later draws a comparison between the sinful acts of homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorrah and the actions of these fallen angels mentioned in Genesis six chapter.

The bible references Angels who are kept bond until "The judgment of the great day” The angels who sinned (fallen angels), are currently imprisoned and destined to continue in everlasting chains through the final judgment, when all demons and Satan are forever consigned to the “lake of fire” prepared for them (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10), and all the ungodly (Rev. 20:15). The word "kept" in the verse above is “tereo”, which means to guard, or keep an eye upon. The word "reserved" here, is translated from the same word that was translated “kept” in the verse above. The term "kept" in the referenced verse comes from the word "tereo," meaning to guard or watch over. The word "reserved" in this context is derived from the same word used for "kept" in the previous verse. In heaven, there were two archangels, Lucifer and Michael, each having authority over other angels. One possible explanation for one-third of the angels following Lucifer was their submission to his leadership. By choosing to follow Lucifer, now known as Satan or the devil, they forfeited their freedom and are restricted to carrying out evil missions. Demons, also known as devil spirits in the Bible, continue to serve but now in malevolent ways. These spirits require permission from God to harm a Christian, as believers are under the protection of Jesus. They await God's judgment, like all beings. Non-Christian individuals are vulnerable to attacks by devil spirits. The "chains" mentioned are symbolic of control rather than physical restraints, indicating their dwelling in darkness rather than a literal place.

The crucial point to note is that these beings fell from grace after having knowledge of God.

Demons, as we call them, or devil spirits as the Bible calls them, are still ministering spirits. They just minister evil instead of good. A devil, or demon spirit, must get permission from God before he attacks a Christian. We are bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus and we are His. He says what can happen to us, or "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Roman 8:35-39

These are waiting for the judgment of God, as is all humanity. The main thing we are to see in this is the fact that they fell after they knew God.