Jude reminded the recipients of this letter that even angels could fall. He recalls those angels who "kept not their first estate but left their own habitation" (v. 6).

To what situation is Jude referring? There are three interpretations, which have been put forth to explain this passage. The first one is that Jude is making reference to angels vacating their high position of habitation, which God had designed for them, namely Heaven. That is all the text is saying, and nothing more should be read into it. But the passage teaches much more than the above.

The second interpretation is that Jude is making reference to a third of the angels (Rev. 12:4) who rebelled against God's authority when Lucifer tried to dethrone Him (Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:12-19). Again, the passage seems to say much more than what occurred at Lucifer's fall. Furthermore, neither Satan nor the rebelling angels are presently "reserved in everlasting chains" (v. 6).

The third interpretation is that Jude was making reference to angels who left their habitation in Heaven and, against their nature, committed sexual immorality with mankind. This is the correct view for the following reasons: First, these angels were practicing the same sin as Sodom and Gomorrah who gave themselves over "in like manner... to fornication" (v. 7). Second, they went "after strange flesh" (v. 7); that is, flesh of a different nature. This is clearly taught in Scripture when the men of Sodom and Gomorrah sought sexual perversion with angels (Gen. 19:5), and angels sought the same with women (Gen. 6:4).

Some would strongly object to such an interpretation for the following reasons: (1) This union would be abnormal grotesque and very mythological (2) Jesus said angels are sexless and do not marry (Mt. 22:30); (3) the phrase "sons of God" is also used to speak of godly men (Hos. 1:10; 11:1); (4) the chapters preceding Genesis 6 contrast the godly descendants of Seth and the ungodly descendants of Cain (Gen. 4:16-24; 4:25-5:32) and do not indicate angelic beings cohabiting with women.

In support of the interpretation that the sons of God are fallen angels is the following:, (1) The Hebrew phrase "bene-elohim" (sons of God) always refers to angels in the Old Testament (job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Dan. 3:25). The references cited (Dt. 14:1; Isa. 1:10; 4:6; 11:1) do not use "bene-elohim" for sons of God. (2) In Matthew 22:30, Jesus is talking about angels in Heaven, not fallen angels on earth in Noah's day. True, angels are not able to cohabit and procreate among themselves, but they are able to take on human form and perform human functions such as eating, walking, talking and sitting. As already shown, angels were mistaken for men and desired for homosexual acts in (Gen. 19:5). Since the total nature of fallen angels is unknown, it may be possible that they cohabited with women in Noah’s day. This seemed to be the case in Jude 6 and 7. (3) The Hebrew word "nephilim" (translated "giants" in Gen. 6:4) actually should be translated 'fallen ones' and designates the unusual offspring of the unholy union between fallen angels and women. (4) Once again, Jude is teaching that the angels committed sexual perversion by uniting with flesh of a different nature (Jude 6-7). (5) Jewish history taught this position. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote, "Many angels accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust" (Antiquities 1:3:1). (6) The early church held this view until the fourth century, at which time the angelic interpretation was replaced by an alternate view.

What is the state of these vile beings that left their first estate? They are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (v. 6). Peter stated about such angels, "God ... cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" (2:24). In other words, they are confined and closely guarded in a dense dark place, awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

What was Satan's purpose in perpetrating such perversion on the human race? First, he tried to corrupt the messianic line, which would have kept Jesus from becoming totally human, thus nullifying His redemptive ministry. Second, Satan tried to create a hybrid of angelic humans who would be unredeemable nullifying Christ's redemptive ministry.

In the midst of such darkness, it was possible to find one who did not compromise his faith in God, for Noah was "just ... perfect [uncontaminated] ... and ... walked with God" (Gen. 6:9). For 120 years he was faithful to the task God had given to him in preparing the ark and preaching righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5) to his degenerate age (Gen. 6:5). God's testimony of the man is twofold. First he "found grace in the eyes of the LORD' (Gen. 6:8). Second, "Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded hire" Gen. 7:5). How refreshing to find a man in an age of total apostasy who was un-movable in contending for the faith. In every age, no matter how apostate it might be, God has men who will not compromise their faith.