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[[Image:Martin destruction sodom640x422.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Destruction of Sodom by God]]

[[Image:Martin destruction sodom640x422.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Destruction of Sodom by God]]

Sodom was an ancient city located in the Holy Lands.  It was considered by bible scholars to be the sister city of another populated area known as Gommorah.  Both cities were destroyed in 1898 B.C. by God according the Book of Genesis in the Bible.  Biblical scholars believe the destruction of these twin cities was a statement by God concerning his views of [[Homosexuality | Sodomy and Sodomite Idolatry]] as defined in the [[Homosexuality | Old Testament]].  According the the [[Bible]], God rained burning hot [[lava]] onto the city from the sky, and killed all of the inhabitants because they practiced state sanctioned [[homosexuality | Sodomy and Sodomite Idolatry]].  The Bible also states that Lot's wife "burned in her bosom" for the ways of Sodom and was subsequently killed by God and transformed into a pillar of salt for her admiration of the [[Homosexuality | sodomite]] lifestyle practiced in the city.   

'''Sodom''' was an ancient city located in the Holy Lands.  It was considered by bible scholars to be the sister city of another populated area known as Gommorah.  Both cities were destroyed in 1898 B.C. by God according the Book of Genesis in the Bible.  Biblical scholars believe the destruction of these twin cities was a statement by God concerning his views of [[Homosexuality | sodomy and Sodomite Idolatry]] as defined in the [[Homosexuality | Old Testament]].  According the the [[Bible]], God rained burning hot [[lava]] onto the city from the sky, and killed all of the inhabitants because they practiced state sanctioned [[homosexuality | Sodomy and Sodomite Idolatry]].  The Bible also states that Lot's wife "burned in her bosom" for the ways of Sodom and was subsequently killed by God and transformed into a pillar of salt for her admiration of the [[Homosexuality | sodomite]] lifestyle practiced in the city.   

 

 

==The Story of Sodom==

==The Story of Sodom==

[[Image:sodom1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the Ancient City of Sodom near the Dead Sea.]]

[[Image:sodom1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Location of the Ancient City of Sodom near the Dead Sea.]]

We know that Sodom was a very sinful city. We know that it was destroyed because of its sinfulness. However, we are not told explicitly in Genesis what the sin of Sodom actually was. The story does tell us implicitly how the Sodomites sinned, and serves as a warning that we must not sin in the same way.  

We know that Sodom was a very sinful city. We know that it was destroyed because of its sinfulness. However, we are not told explicitly in Genesis what the sin of Sodom actually was. The story does tell us implicitly how the Sodomites sinned, and serves as a warning that we must not sin in the same way.  

'''Sodom in Genesis'''

===Sodom in Genesis===

The first few references to Sodom are fairly neutral. We know that it was on the Canaanite border (Genesis 10:19). It was in a fertile, prosperous region (Genesis 13:10). The people of Sodom were "wicked and sinners" before God (Genesis 13:13). The King of Sodom was Bera (Genesis 14:2), and when Bera went to war with Chedorlaomer, Lot was captured. Abraham rescued Lot, and in doing so he rescued Bera and his men. He would not accept any reward for this (Genesis 14).

The first few references to Sodom are fairly neutral. We know that it was on the Canaanite border (Genesis 10:19). It was in a fertile, prosperous region (Genesis 13:10). The people of Sodom were "wicked and sinners" before God (Genesis 13:13). The King of Sodom was Bera (Genesis 14:2), and when Bera went to war with Chedorlaomer, Lot was captured. Abraham rescued Lot, and in doing so he rescued Bera and his men. He would not accept any reward for this (Genesis 14).

:''And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.'' (Genesis 18: 19, 20)

:''And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.'' (Genesis 18: 19, 20)

The wickedness of Sodom was already well established. The angels had not yet set foot in the city, and its sin was already considered to be very grievous. What we are seeing here is God's formal process of judgement. He did not have to send the angels to Sodom to find out how evil the city was; he already knew. God was prepared to send Jonah to Nineveh, giving the Ninevehites the chance to repent. The Sodomites were also sent messengers from God, and they also had the same chance to repent. The people of Nineveh responded, but the people of Sodom, as we will see in Genesis 19, did not.

The wickedness of Sodom was already well established. The angels had not yet set foot in the city, and its sin was already considered to be very grievous. What we are seeing here is God's formal process of judgment. He did not have to send the angels to Sodom to find out how evil the city was; he already knew. God was prepared to send Jonah to Nineveh, giving the Ninevehites the chance to repent. The Sodomites were also sent messengers from God, and they also had the same chance to repent. The people of Nineveh responded, but the people of Sodom, as we will see in Genesis 19, did not.

Abraham was a man of God, and he knew what Sodom was like. He knew what the angels would find. He asked that Sodom would be spared if as few as ten righteous people were found there. God agreed: Sodom would be spared if there were even ten righteous people there.

Abraham was a man of God, and he knew what Sodom was like. He knew what the angels would find. He asked that Sodom would be spared if as few as ten righteous people were found there. God agreed: Sodom would be spared if there were even ten righteous people there.

The prophets of Jerusalem are said to commit adultery, walk in lies, and strengthen the hand of evildoers. This support of evildoers also features in the most important Old Testament reference to Sodom, outside of Genesis.

The prophets of Jerusalem are said to commit adultery, walk in lies, and strengthen the hand of evildoers. This support of evildoers also features in the most important Old Testament reference to Sodom, outside of Genesis.

''See References below.  The "high places" mentioned througout the Old Testament refer to the "poles of Astereth", phallic shrines used by worshipers of the Sodomite religion ([[Homosexuals | Homosexuality]]).''

''See References below.  The "high places" mentioned throughout the Old Testament refer to the "poles of Astereth", phallic shrines used by worshipers of the Sodomite religion ([[Homosexuals | Homosexuality]]).''

The parallels between the days of Lot, the days of Noah and the last days are used as exhortation in 2nd Peter chapter 2, verses 5 to 9:

The parallels between the days of Lot, the days of Noah and the last days are used as exhortation in 2nd Peter chapter 2, verses 5 to 9:

:''And [God] spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished''

:''And [God] spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished''

Just as Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation - the godless incontinent lifestyles - of those around him, the disciples of Christ will be and are vexed by the godless incontinent people in the 21st Century. To be vexed by these things is not the same as fearing that we have been abandoned by God. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly, and as he delivered Lot, so he will also deliver us.

Just as Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation - the godless incontinent lifestyles - of those around him, the disciples of Christ will be and are vexed by the godless incontinent people in the 21st Century. To be vexed by these things is not the same as fearing that we have been abandoned by God. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly, and as he delivered Lot, so he will also deliver us.

The most puzzling reference to Sodom in the New Testament - probably the most puzzling of all Biblical references to Sodom - is found in Jude:

The most puzzling reference to Sodom in the New Testament - probably the most puzzling of all Biblical references to Sodom - is found in Jude:

:''I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.'' (Jude 5 -7)

:''I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.'' (Jude 5 -7)

There are three groups here: "the people out of the land of Egypt", "the angels which kept not their first estate", and "Sodom and Gomorrha". The first two groups rebelled against God and were punished, so Jude supports my conclusion that Sodom and Gomorrah were not godless cities destroyed for their godlessness, but were rebellious cities destroyed for their rebellion, just as "the people out of the land of Egypt", "the angels which kept not their first estate" were punished for their rebellion.

There are three groups here: "the people out of the land of Egypt", "the angels which kept not their first estate", and "Sodom and Gomorrah". The first two groups rebelled against God and were punished, so Jude supports my conclusion that Sodom and Gomorrah were not godless cities destroyed for their godlessness, but were rebellious cities destroyed for their rebellion, just as "the people out of the land of Egypt", "the angels which kept not their first estate" were punished for their rebellion.

The puzzling part of this passage is "going after strange flesh". It is possible that this is an obscure reference to the attempted rape of the angels. This would be another parallel between the days of Lot and the days of Noah (Genesis 6:1-4). Indeed, the "angels which kept not their first estate" may also be the "sons of God" described  in Genesis 62.  

The puzzling part of this passage is "going after strange flesh". It is possible that this is an obscure reference to the attempted rape of the angels. This would be another parallel between the days of Lot and the days of Noah (Genesis 6:1-4). Indeed, the "angels which kept not their first estate" may also be the "sons of God" described  in Genesis 62.  

== Fundamental Christian Teachings ==

== Fundamental Christian Teachings ==

Many Christians believe God's treatment of Sodom and Gommorah was an eternal statement on his views of Homosexuality.    Notably, Two Angels of God visited the city and the Homosexual inhabitants attempted to rape both of them in front of Lot's home.  The Angels struck the sodomites blind and provided safe passage for Lot, a servant of the Living God, from Sodom according the the Biblical account.  During the journey from Sodom, Lot's wife, who turned to look back at Sodom, was killed by God for her disobediance and her yearning for her homosexual friends.  Many Christians and Biblical Scholars believe the transformation of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt was a statement by God concerning his views and eventual punishment of any non-Homosexuals who endorse, sponsor, or support the Homosexual Lifestyle or agenda.

Many Christians believe God's treatment of Sodom and Gomorrah was an eternal statement on his views of homosexuality.    Notably, Two Angels of God visited the city and the Homosexual inhabitants attempted to rape both of them in front of Lot's home.  The Angels struck the sodomites blind and provided safe passage for Lot, a servant of the Living God, from Sodom according the the Biblical account.  During the journey from Sodom, Lot's wife, who turned to look back at Sodom, was killed by God for her disobedience and her yearning for her homosexual friends.  Many Christians and Biblical Scholars believe the transformation of Lot's wife into a pillar of salt was a statement by God concerning his views and eventual punishment of any non-Homosexuals who endorse, sponsor, or support the Homosexual Lifestyle or agenda.

== Biblical References to [[Homosexuality | Sodomites]], [[Homosexuality | Sodomy]], and Sodom and Gommorah ==

== Biblical References to [[Homosexuality | Sodomites]], [[Homosexuality | Sodomy]], and Sodom and Gomorrah ==

* (Gen. 13:13)

* (Gen. 13:13)