Apostates: Past and Present

5 Now I want to remind you, though you know all these things: The Lord n first o saved a people out of Egypt and later destroyed those who did not believe; p 6 and He has kept, with eternal chains in darkness for the judgment of the great day, the angels q who did not keep their own position but deserted their proper dwelling. 7 In the same way, Sodom and Gomorrah r and the cities around them committed sexual immorality and practiced perversions, s just as angels did, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire. t

8 Nevertheless, these dreamers likewise defile their flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme glorious ones. u 9 Yet Michael v the archangel, w when he was disputing with the Devil x in a debate about Moses’ y body, did not dare bring an abusive condemnation against him but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people blaspheme anything they don’t understand. What they know by instinct like unreasoning animals—they destroy themselves with these things. 11 Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, z have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam a for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion. b