The sons of God shouted for joy, Job 38: 7. Exalt my throne above the stars of God, Isa. 14: 12-13. There was a war in heaven, Rev. 12: 7-11. Before they were born, they received their first lessons in the world of spirits, D&C 138: 56. Satan rebelled in the premortal life, Moses 4: 1-4. Intelligences were organized before the world was created, Abr. 3: 22. The Gods took counsel among themselves, Abr. 4: 26. The Gods ended the work that they counseled to do, Abr. 5: 2.

Some notable passages in Jude are verse 6, which recounts the war in heaven and the casting out of Lucifer and his angels from that premortal state (Abr. 3: 26-28), and verses 14-15, which cite a prophecy made by Enoch.

Chapters 1-3 are an introduction to the book and letters to the seven churches in Asia. John wrote the letters to help the Saints resolve certain problems. Chapters 4-5 record visions that John received showing the majesty and righteous power of God and Christ. In chapters 6-9, 11, John recorded seeing a book sealed with seven seals, each seal representing one thousand years of the earth’s temporal history. These chapters deal primarily with events contained in the seventh seal (see Rev. 8-9, 11: 1-15). Chapter 10 describes a book that John ate. The book represents a future mission that he would perform. Chapter 12 records a vision of the evil that began in heaven when Satan rebelled and was cast out. The war that began there continues to be fought on earth. In chapters 13, 17-19, John described the wicked earthly kingdoms controlled by Satan and recorded their fate, including the final destruction of evil. Chapters 14-16 describe the righteousness of the Saints in the midst of evil just before the second coming of Christ. Chapters 20-22 describe the Millennium, the beautiful city of New Jerusalem, and the final events of the earth’s history.

The scriptures speak of the devil’s angels. These are those spirits who followed Lucifer and were thrust out in the war in heaven and cast down to the earth. See Rev. 12: 1-9; D&C 19: 36-38; Moses 4: 1-4; Abr. 3: 27-28, and as alluded to by Peter and Jude cited above.

Also known as the Ark of Jehovah, and the Ark of the Testimony; an oblong chest of acacia or shittim wood overlaid with gold, 2 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 broad and high, made by Moses at God’s command (Ex. 25). It was the oldest and most sacred of the religious symbols of the Israelites, and the Mercy Seat which formed its covering was regarded as the earthly dwelling place of Jehovah (Ex. 25: 22). (See Mercy Seat.) The Ark was fitted with rings and staves, by which it was carried. Prayers were recited before it moved or rested (Num. 10: 35, 36), and during its progress it was treated with the greatest reverence. According to 1 Kgs. 8: 9 it contained only the Tables of the Law, but in Heb. 9: 4 it is said to have contained the “pot of manna,” and “Aaron’s rod that budded,” which had been ordered to be kept “before the Testimony,” (Ex. 16: 32-34; Num. 17: 10; cf. Ex. 25: 16; Ex. 40: 20). The usual resting place of the Ark was in the Holy of Holies (see Tabernacle). It led the way at the passage of the Jordan (Josh. 3: 3-13); it was present at the capture of Jericho (Josh. 6); and during the conquest of Canaan it seems to have been kept at Gilgal (Josh. 9: 6; Josh. 10: 43). It was present at the solemn service held at Ebal (Josh. 8: 30-33). Later on it was removed to Shiloh (Josh. 18: 1; 1 Sam. 3: 3). In the days of Eli it was captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4-7, who sent it back to Beth-shemesh (1 Sam. 6: 11-20), whence it was taken to Kirjath-jearim or Baale of Judah (1 Sam. 6: 21 - 7: 2). Thence it was brought by David to Jerusalem, the journey being interrupted at Perezuzzah (2 Sam. 6; 1 Chr. 13: 11). In Jerusalem it was placed in a separate tent, which David pitched for it (2 Sam. 7: 2; 1 Chr. 16: 1). It accompanied the army in the war against Ammon (2 Sam. 11: 11), but David refused to take it with him in his campaign against Absalom (2 Sam. 15: 24-25). On the completion of Solomon’s temple it was placed in the Holy of Holies (1 Kgs. 8: 1-8). Apparently it was removed by Manasseh, and reinstated by Josiah (2 Chr. 33; 2 Chr. 35: 3). In 2 Macc. 2: 4 there is an untrustworthy tradition of its preservation by Jeremiah at the destruction of the temple. It had certainly disappeared before the building of the second temple. It was seen by John in his vision of heaven (Rev. 11: 19).

The author is the brother of James, and one of the “brethren of the Lord.” The epistle is addressed to certain people in danger, owing to the presence among them of professing Christians who were giving themselves up to the immorality of pagan worship and claiming to be above the moral law. Jude wishes to rouse his “beloved” to a sense of their danger, and also to help them through it by bidding them keep close to the “faith once committed to the saints.” There are some striking resemblances between this epistle and 2 Peter. Some notable passages in Jude are v. 6, recounting the war in heaven and the expulsion of Lucifer and his angels during the “first estate” or premortal existence (cf. Abr. 3: 26-28); v. 9, speaking of an otherwise unknown event involving Michael (Adam) and the devil contending over the body of Moses; and vv. 14-15, citing a prophecy of Enoch.

This term arises out of Rev. 12: 7 and refers to the conflict that took place in the premortal existence among the spirit children of God. The war was primarily over how and in what manner the plan of salvation would be administered to the forthcoming human family upon the earth. The issues involved such things as agency, how to gain salvation, and who should be the Redeemer. The war broke out because one-third of the spirits refused to accept the appointment of Jesus Christ as the Savior. Such a refusal was a rebellion against the Father’s plan of redemption. It was evident that if given agency, some persons would fall short of complete salvation; Lucifer and his followers wanted salvation to come automatically to all who passed through mortality, without regard to individual preference, agency, or voluntary dedication (see Isa. 14: 12-20; Luke 10: 18; Rev. 12: 4-13; D&C 29: 36-38; Moses 4: 1-4). The spirits who thus rebelled and persisted were thrust out of heaven and cast down to the earth without mortal bodies, “and thus came the devil and his angels” (D&C 29: 37; see also Rev. 12: 9; Abr. 3: 24-28).