The Confinement of Jude 6

(This is a continuation of The Spirit World book series. This post assumes the prerequisite reading of earlier posts in the series.)

No specific term is associated with this text other than a description:  “kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”  Once again, a singular reference is given concerning this spiritual realm.  That text is found in the book of Jude.

The Text

Jude 1:5-7 (NIV)
⁵ Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. ⁶ And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home–these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. ⁷ In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

The book of Jude writes about false teachers who have crept into the church without notice, bringing godless doctrines to congregations.  The immediate context of verse 6 is the establishment of God’s faithfulness to bring judgment on those who corrupt his plans.

Deductions

The first deduction concerning this confinement is that demonic angels are the subjects.  Jude notes that “angels who did not keep their positions of authority” are the recipients.  Righteous angels could not be the substance of his focus by merit of their being righteous in nature.  They do not rebel from their given positions of authority.  He must be referring to demonic angels.

The second deduction is that these demons have committed a specific act of disobedience to have been cast into this place.  They “did not keep their positions,” but “abandoned their own home.”

The third deduction is that these demons are sentenced more severely than those of the Abyss.  They are sentenced, as the angels of Tartarus are, “bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”  Likened to Tartarus, this is a place of confinement until the last judgment. 

Lastly, this place includes bondage with chains.  They are “bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”  Likened once again to Tartarus, these demons are bound within the confines of their spiritual containment.

Conclusions

Every deduction concerning this location is consistent in nature to the containment of Tartarus.  The only difference is that while Tartarus is given a name, this confinement is not.  Thus, this location is one and the same as Tartarus of 2 Peter 2:4

Much more can be deduced concerning the nature of confinement into Tartarus.  While beyond the scope of this work, the author’s book, “The Return of The King” describes the deeds of these particular demons in great detail.

The Spirit World series will continue weekly until the entire book is published online. If, however, you enjoy this series and do not wish to wait, you can purchase the paperback version of The Spirit World here.