Jude 14–15—“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

These verses lift our eyes from the corruption of false teachers (vv. 4–13) to the certainty of Christ’s coming judgement. Jude reaches back to Enoch, “the seventh from Adam”, who prophesied, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints”. Even in the earliest generations, God made known that history would culminate in the Lord’s appearing and righteous judgement. Jude knew Enoch’s prophecy through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, which ensured its authoritative accuracy.

In Jude 14, the “saints” (or the holy ones) are especially the angels who accompany Christ in judgment, though Scripture also teaches that redeemed believers will be with Him at His coming in glory. In the light of the judgment of the ungodly mentioned in v. 15, it appears that the emphasis of the word “saints” here is on the angels who are described in other parts of the Scripture as the executioners of divine judgment at His return (see Matthew 13:39–41, 49, 50; 24:29–31; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7–10).

The emphasis is on the certainty and universality of that judgment. The Lord comes “to execute judgment upon all”. No ungodliness will escape His notice. Jude repeatedly uses the word “ungodly” to expose the true character of the men he has been describing. Their deeds were ungodly, their way of life was ungodly, and even their “hard speeches” were directed against God. Sin is not simply improper behaviour toward others; at its root, it is rebellion against the holy God.

Every sinful deed and defiant word will be judged by His righteousness. Though the wicked may seem bold now, Christ will surely come to judge their words and deeds. Therefore, believers must not imitate the ungodly but live soberly, speak reverently, and walk in holiness, preparing for Christ’s return.