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NASB | Jude 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jude 1:9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil (Satan), and arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him, but [simply] said, "The Lord rebuke you!" [Deut 34:5, 6; Zech 3:2] |
Bible Question: Why did Satan want Moses bones? |
Bible Answer: Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. I am assuming you are speaking of this passage in Jude. This is an amazing passage and full of doctrinal truth. First of all you will not find this account in the Old Testament. There are several views about where Jude could have gotten this. I believe that the answer is that it was a tradition among the Jews. There were traditions among the Jews that were full of error and yet they were based on true history. I think Paul referes to the tradition of Jannes and Jambres as true. 2 tim 3:18 I do not believe Jude was quoting from apocryphal material but that more likely the apocryphal material was written later to make up stories based on Judes references here. So if Jude is the word of God and we are sure that it is, what is the point here and what does it suggest? I think we can compare this verse with many others and get a better picture. I am not going to take the time to write the whole subject at this time but I will summarize. Moses died, and God buried him. No man knows where to this day. Moses body might have been taken to heaven. If so Satan would have opposed the legality of such a thing. It is satan’s legal right to cause death to reign and for the body of men to see corruption, rot after death. Remember Peter said in Acts 2 that David was prophesying of Jesus when he said.. Thou wilt not suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Satan accused God of being unjust in not allowing Moses body to be corrupted like all others. There is something significant to the kingdom of hell to see death have its complete sway on man even unto the rotting of the flesh in the grave. The angel said the Lord Rebuke thee. Because God did indeed satisfy the legal requirements of His own justice but satan did not know how yet. If I treated this subject fairly It would be several pages long. Satan is the accuser, his power is not like in the movies, he does not have power to just kill you outright, he gains power to bring destruction on a man through accusations. The spiritual warfare is more like a heavenly courtroom than a pitched battle of angels with cosmic swords. You have several scenes into this realm in the bible. Though this one concerning Moses is not in the OT the one where Satan accuses Joshua is (Zech) and there satan accuses Joshua because of sin, and the angel says The Lord Rebuke thee, is not this a brand plucked from the fire. Thus again there was a reason why God could use Joshua though he had been guilty of sin. We know that this is because Jesus would come and die and rise again and declare believers justified, that God might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. So God did not violate His own holiness and justice by allowing Joshua access to the administrations of the priesthood, though satan used that argument. And I think the contention over the body of moses has to be similar. There was some legal argument satan presented over why he should have access to the body and it was denied him. Now Moses body represented the church in the wilderness just as Jesus body represents the whole church. To bring this to a conclusion we have another fight between satan and Michael in Revelation and there again satan is defeated, and cast down. Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Revelation 12:7-8 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. The saints are seen as involved in the fight, or that the fight is over them. See here satan is contending with Michael over the fact that the manchild is caught up. This manchild is not just Jesus, but the Church, the manifestation of the sons of God, the redemption of the purchased possession, our bodies being glorified, and us rising.. that is what satan is arguing against. Satan is accusing the body of Christ that is rising to meet the Lord in the air as not having the right to escape death.. And the angle says the Lord Rebuke thee.. Only this time we have the complete reason why.. Because of the Blood of the Lamb and The word of their testimony. I do not content for this interpretation since it belongs in the realm speculation, but it works best for me at this time and better than most commentaries I have read thus far. |