What the Bible says about Apostates, Future
(From Forerunner Commentary)
He calls these future apostates, these future false teachers, "savage wolves." Jude later calls them "brute beasts" (Jude 1:20). This conjures in our minds the idea that man's animalistic nature—what one could call the physical side of man's nature, what he shares with the beasts—is driving these false teachers. It is not necessarily their minds and their ideas that are driving them but their bodies, their desires, their lusts, and they want these lusts satiated in some way. It is not just eating, drinking, sex, and similar carnal needs, but also the base desires that men have for gain, for standing atop the pack, for glory and prestige. These false teachers are letting their "animal nature" get the best of them.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
JudeRelated Topics: Apostasy | Apostates, Future | Brute Beasts | Competitive Spirit | Competitiveness | False Ministers/Prophets | False Teachers | False Teachers, Characteristics of | Greed | Lust and Hatred | Savage Wolves | Wolf Imagery
Paul specifically says these apostates will rise up from among the ministry. In verse 29, he says that "savage wolves will come in among you," and in verse 30, that "among yourselves men will rise up." They will be people in leadership positions or those who are considered to be pillars in the church and highly respected. Thus, they are in an advantageous position, from their point of view, to do the most damage.SS
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
JudeRelated Topics: Apostasy | Apostates | Apostates, Future | Apostles, False | Damnable Heresies | False Ministers/Prophets | False Teachers | False Teachers, Characteristics of | Heresy | Heresy, Smuggling in | Savage Wolves