Parallels Between Apostles Peter And Jude Regarding The Mockers In The Last Days

1. Apostle Peter on the mockers in the future

Both Apostles Peter and Jude referenced previous prophecies given by the Apostles regarding  the MOCKERS/SCOFFERS  (empaiktēs/G1703) of the Word of God who would appear in the last days or future. They warned that these mockers would depart from the faith and live contrary to the truth.

Apostle Peter described the mockery of the people living in Noah’s era as they responded to the prophecies about the World Deluge. The people of Noah’s era doubted the possibility of rain falling from the sky, referring to the fact that since Creation, the earth was watered from mist that arose from the ground. At least they did not deny the fact of the Creation.

Apostle Peter reminded the recipients of the letters that the Word of God would come to pass, because that same Word had commanded water to remove from the earth. It was in that same breath that the Apostle warned about the coming destruction of the earth by heat.

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

³ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, ^G1703 , walking after their own lusts

⁴ And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

⁵ For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water (2 Peter 3: 2 – 5)

2. Apostle Jude on the last days or last times

Apostle Jude warned that the mockers in the future would “walk after their own ungodly lusts.”  The root word in the Greek for lust refers to lusting after a woman;  to desire; to covet; to desire evil things. In other words, human beings would live to satisfy the flesh and would refuse to allow the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to control their desires. We are indeed living in this era of the exercise of unrestrained passions of the flesh: 

¹⁷ But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

¹⁸ How that they told you there should be  mockers ^G1703 in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

¹⁹ These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit (Jude 1: 17 – 19).

3. The Apostles exhorted us to live holy and godly and to flee these ungodly lusts in order to escape the judgement of God.

Apostle Jude gave a three fold exhortation to believers. First, he taught that we are to build up ourselves on our  most holy faith. The second exhortation is to pray in the Holy Ghost and the third is to rescue the mockers from the fire of hell:

²⁰ But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

²¹ Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

²² And of some have compassion, making a difference:

²³ And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 1: 20 – 23).

4. What does it mean to build up one’s self ON the most holy faith?

Apostle Jude used the picture of  the construction of a house when he said that the believer must build up him or herself ON the most holy faith. The Apostle painted a picture is of the Spiritual House of Faith. According to the scriptures, the teachings of the Apostles and Prophets is the foundation and Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. We are reminded that the Apostles teach only what Christ taught them  (Ephesians 2: 20).

A cornerstone is the foundation stone because it is the  FIRST stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. This stone is  important because all of the other stones will be set in reference to it, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

We see immediately that the Spiritual House of Faith is a built upon rock or stone and not sand. The foundation of the Apostles and Christ the CornerStone are knit together. Spiritually speaking, that rock is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. We are also given a picture of a structure that is eternal and enduring and that will stand the test of time, as it has.

Since Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, Apostle Jude is really teaching that the believer can only be built up on the Teachings of Christ and no other.  Another important consideration is that the truth has come through the Apostles who have already laid the doctrinal foundation.  the believer cannot follow any other way.

The believer who is built up on the most holy faith is therefore built upon the Word of God and will become a strong living stone, rooted and built up in Christ and established in the faith according to Colosians 2: 7.  The Spiritual house of faith is a stone structure built upon a solid, eternal foundation. The believer who is therefore built up on Christ will therefore become strong in the Lord and will remain in the faith. As he or she is established in the faith, the lusts of the flesh will be destroyed.

5. What does it mean to pray in the Holy Ghost?

a. To pray in the Holy Ghost is to pray with groanings ^G4726 or to groan in prayer instead of using words.

According to Apostle Paul, the believer should groan in prayer in times of infirmities or sickness, diseases, weakness, temptations and sins of the flesh. For example, Mary Magdalene was afflicted with evil spirits and infirmities, teaching us that demons cause sickness (Luke 8: 2).

The cross references show that the prayer of groanings ^G4726 is characterized by earnest desire for deliverance, grief, sighs, a sense of being burdened, deep internal sorrow. This is the prayer of deliverance for one’s self or others. Jesus Christ, called The Spirit Himself in the text, prays in Heaven with groaning, and imparts that same SPIRIT OF INTERCESSION  to the one who is beset with infirmities:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for ^G4336 as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh   intercession for ^G5228 us with groanings ^G4726 which cannot be uttered

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for ^G5228 the saints according to the will of God.

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for ^G5228 us – Romans 8: 26, 27, 34.

Jesus gave us an example of true intercession before His death

As if to confirm how He prays in heaven, Jesus set the example in the Garden of Gethsemane. His was a life of prayer, since he habitually rose early to pray for many hours. However, when faced with the infirmity of death, He was tempted to give up its suffering and humility. Our Lord went apart from the disciples and sought refuge in earnest prayer, feeling great agony, pleading with the Father to deliver.

Apostle Luke, who was an observer, recorded that the Lord’s prayer was so intense that sweat poured from His body profusely, like great drops of blood. He therefore lost a tremendous amount of body fluid in that period of intercession. This is the nature of true intercession. However, it was in intercession that Jesus overcame His weakness and submitted to the Will of God to go to the Cross.

When faced with the imminent moment of death, Jesus became overcome with sorrow. Prior to that moment, He had taught the disciples about His death, rebuked Peter for denying that He would die and had also spoken with Elijah and Moses about it. Jesus’ example therefore reveals that intercession confirms the Will of God and strenghtens His people to obey:

⁰ And when he was at the place, he said unto them,

Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

⁴¹ And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

⁴³ And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22).

b. To pray in the Holy Ghost with groanings is to pray  the prayer of deliverance.

We often do not know how to pray in times of Infirmities. Therefore, when we pray in the Spirit, this means that Jesus the Mediator groans in heaven on behalf of the believer in order to perform the Will of God, which is to deliver us from evil engineered by the devil. 

I believe that Jesus prays to deliver us from evil, because God is not the author of infirmities. We see that Jesus healed all kinds of infirmities during His ministry. Apostle Paul therefore exhorted us to groan in prayer in order to be delivered.  My belief is supported in the following text which says that God comes down to deliver when we groan:

I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, ^G4726 and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt  – Acts 7: 34.

c. To pray in the Holy Ghost is to intercede, which means to:

• give over one’s self to prayer on behalf of someone else.
• strive together in prayer for someone else, which means to agree with someone else in prayer – Romans 15: 30. 
• take authority against the adversary in prayer – Ephesians 1: 22.
• labour fervently in prayers that another would mature in all the will of God = Colossians 4: 12.
• give one’s self to prayer night and day, praying exceedingly  – 1 Thessalonians 3: 19.
• To pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty – 1 Timothy 2: 2.

Romans 8 show that Jesus the Intercessor groans on behalf of His Saints, working with him/her to bring about deliverance. The believer must follow the Lord’s example by acting as intercessor on behalf of others who are suffering from various kinds of infirmities, temptations and weakness of the flesh.

We see too that the Church, whether local, regional or international, is commanded to intercede on behalf of individuals and nations. This kind of intercession for Peter brought angelic visitation and deliverance from prison. We must activate the power and authority of the Church in the earth through the power of intercession:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for ^G5228 them which despitefully use you, and persecute you – Matthew 5: 44

Bless them that curse you, and pray for ^G5228 them which despitefully use you – Luke 6: 28

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for ^G5228 me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me – Acts 8: 24

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for ^G5228 him = Acts 12: 15.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ^G5228 Israel is, that they might be saved – Romans 10: 1.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for ^G5228 me – Romans 15: 30

Praying ^G4336 always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints – Ephesians 6: 18

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over ^G5228 all things to the church – Ephesians 1: 22

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for ^G5228 you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God = Colossians 4: 12.

Night and day praying exceedingly ^G5228 that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? – 1 Thessalonians 3: 10.

d. To pray in the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit means to pray the will of God in one’s native language or to prophesy the will of God:

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray ^G4336 that he may interpret – 1 Corinthians 14: 13.

What is it then? I will pray ^G4336 with the spirit, and I will pray ^G4336 with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also – 1 Corinthians 14: 15 (KJV)

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,

²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14/NIV).

I pray that God will grant us the Spirit of Intercession, so that we can build up ourselves on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.