Dr. John Tweedie - God’s Wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah

March 28, 2025 | 27:29

In a once lush and fertile plain by the Dead Sea, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were filled with wickedness. In the days of Abraham, God sends three angels to visit Abraham and inform him of the impending destruction of the cities. Abraham pleads with God, bargaining to spare the cities if he can find even ten righteous people. Unfortunately, no righteous individuals were found, and the angels rescue Lot and his family before raining down fire and brimstone upon the cities, reducing them to ashes.

#Faith #Religion #Culture #BibleHistory #WordofGod #Sin #Morals #Authority #Deception #DeadSeaScrolls #Genesis14 #JohnTweedie

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Israel: The Prophetic Connection | Dr. John Tweedie - God’s Wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah | March 28, 2025

- what you can see behind me was once a fertile plain
00:00:00.503 --> 00:00:03.673
That is until the day the god almighty rained down fire
00:00:03.673 --> 00:00:07.644
In brimstone and obliterated the cities
00:00:07.644 --> 00:00:10.513
And the people who lived here.
00:00:10.513 --> 00:00:13.083
That story next in this episode
00:00:13.083 --> 00:00:15.652
Of "the prophetic connection".
00:00:15.652 --> 00:00:18.021
(dramatic music)
00:00:18.388 --> 00:00:33.436
(dramatic music)
00:00:33.803 --> 00:00:43.880
(upbeat music)
00:00:44.247 --> 00:00:55.258
This area by the dead sea in israel was once lush
00:00:56.226 --> 00:00:59.796
And fertile, but the cities
00:00:59.796 --> 00:01:02.198
That were here were full of wickedness.
00:01:02.198 --> 00:01:05.101
The problem was that abraham, the patriarch, god's servant,
00:01:05.101 --> 00:01:09.706
A man he called his friend, lived here as did his nephew,
00:01:09.706 --> 00:01:14.577
Lot with their families.
00:01:14.577 --> 00:01:17.013
So when god told abraham what he was about to do,
00:01:17.013 --> 00:01:19.516
That he was going to destroy the cities, abraham interceded
00:01:19.516 --> 00:01:23.686
With god and pleaded particularly for the city of sodom
00:01:23.686 --> 00:01:27.590
Because lot and his family lived in it.
00:01:27.590 --> 00:01:30.326
So abraham tried to make a bargain with god.
00:01:30.326 --> 00:01:35.098
He said, "if i can find 50 righteous men in the city,
00:01:35.098 --> 00:01:38.535
Will you spare it?"
00:01:38.535 --> 00:01:39.569
And god said, "i will."
00:01:39.569 --> 00:01:41.838
Then 45 and 30 and all the way down to 10
00:01:41.838 --> 00:01:46.176
And abraham pleaded,
00:01:46.176 --> 00:01:47.544
"if i can find 10 righteous men in the city
00:01:47.544 --> 00:01:50.513
Of sodom, will you spare it?"
00:01:50.513 --> 00:01:52.582
And god said, "i will."
00:01:52.582 --> 00:01:55.351
But abraham couldn't find 10 righteous men.
00:01:55.351 --> 00:01:58.888
So god destroyed the city,
00:01:58.888 --> 00:02:00.790
But he first of all delivered lot his wife
00:02:00.790 --> 00:02:03.693
And their two daughters.
00:02:03.693 --> 00:02:05.395
So the angels took lot and his wife
00:02:05.395 --> 00:02:08.531
And daughters by the hands and brought them out of sodom
00:02:08.531 --> 00:02:13.002
And fire and brimstone fell soon after that.
00:02:13.002 --> 00:02:16.906
(dramatic music)
00:02:16.906 --> 00:02:20.009
- [narrator] the dead sea region in israel, today,
00:02:21.044 --> 00:02:23.513
A barren landscape was once a fertile plain at least
00:02:23.513 --> 00:02:27.717
Until god poured out his wrath in the form of fire
00:02:27.717 --> 00:02:30.587
And brimstone upon several cities and their inhabitants.
00:02:30.587 --> 00:02:34.958
But how corrupt must these places have been
00:02:35.858 --> 00:02:38.361
To invite such severe punishment from heaven?
00:02:38.361 --> 00:02:41.698
- that story is very interesting
00:02:41.698 --> 00:02:42.999
And this is such a great lesson
00:02:42.999 --> 00:02:44.267
For the western civilization.
00:02:44.267 --> 00:02:45.668
We think there's a connection between law and order,
00:02:45.668 --> 00:02:48.371
Culture and technology on one hand,
00:02:48.371 --> 00:02:50.340
And morality on the other.
00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:52.442
And not only is there no connection,
00:02:52.442 --> 00:02:53.876
I would say historically you can make a great case
00:02:53.876 --> 00:02:55.845
For the most technologically, culturally, and law
00:02:55.845 --> 00:02:58.147
And order societies being the most evil
00:02:58.147 --> 00:03:01.251
In terms of their behavior.
00:03:01.251 --> 00:03:02.819
Nazi germany was as culturally
00:03:02.819 --> 00:03:04.854
And the german personality is we will follow the laws.
00:03:04.854 --> 00:03:08.558
Incredibly law and order, very conformist society.
00:03:08.558 --> 00:03:12.395
You see this, ancient rome.
00:03:12.996 --> 00:03:15.632
The rome is known for its codification of law.
00:03:15.632 --> 00:03:17.967
And technology, they had running water
00:03:17.967 --> 00:03:19.936
And public toilets and bathhouses,
00:03:19.936 --> 00:03:22.472
But look what they do with that technology.
00:03:22.472 --> 00:03:23.840
Germany gave us factories for mass murder.
00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.476
Rome for all of its sophistication,
00:03:27.277 --> 00:03:29.412
Did some pretty horrible things in the world.
00:03:29.412 --> 00:03:31.914
If you look into, especially the rabbinic literature,
00:03:32.949 --> 00:03:34.817
Talks about what's going on in sodom and gomorrah,
00:03:34.817 --> 00:03:38.554
These were societies that worked only,
00:03:38.554 --> 00:03:41.391
There's an idea in judaism that god has two attributes.
00:03:41.391 --> 00:03:43.893
It's called (speaking foreign language)
00:03:43.893 --> 00:03:45.061
And (speaking foreign language),
00:03:45.061 --> 00:03:46.329
The attribute of mercy, which is one
00:03:46.329 --> 00:03:48.698
Of the god's names which is used specifically in hebrew,
00:03:48.698 --> 00:03:51.734
God acting the world using this pure judgment,
00:03:51.734 --> 00:03:54.304
Strict judgment, no bending the rules,
00:03:54.304 --> 00:03:56.105
You do it smack and then there's mercy.
00:03:56.105 --> 00:03:58.141
Without the mercy there'd be no world
00:03:58.141 --> 00:03:59.809
Because god has infinite patience for us.
00:03:59.809 --> 00:04:02.679
Sodom runs on absolute judgment
00:04:02.679 --> 00:04:04.881
And justice, meaning there's a famous midrashic story about,
00:04:04.881 --> 00:04:09.018
Anyone in dome, as it's called sodom,
00:04:09.018 --> 00:04:11.921
Who was charitable, would be killed
00:04:11.921 --> 00:04:15.358
Because absolute justice demands,
00:04:15.358 --> 00:04:17.126
You don't like bend the rules
00:04:17.126 --> 00:04:18.494
To give someone something they didn't work for.
00:04:18.494 --> 00:04:20.797
This is survival of the fittest.
00:04:20.797 --> 00:04:22.498
This is a rough world, but that's how it works.
00:04:22.498 --> 00:04:24.734
So it was a very sophisticated place in what was at the time
00:04:24.734 --> 00:04:28.137
Before it was like nuked, a very nice part of the world,
00:04:28.137 --> 00:04:32.108
But an incredibly organized but very evil society
00:04:32.108 --> 00:04:36.813
And dangerously because disorganized,
00:04:36.813 --> 00:04:39.315
Primitive societies is limit how much damage they can do.
00:04:39.315 --> 00:04:42.285
This is sort of the paradigm, the model
00:04:42.285 --> 00:04:44.320
For those future societies
00:04:44.320 --> 00:04:46.422
That seemingly are organized in law and order
00:04:46.422 --> 00:04:48.624
But incredibly immoral and even immoral
00:04:48.624 --> 00:04:52.228
And end up being antithetical
00:04:52.228 --> 00:04:53.629
To what the jewish worldview is about
00:04:53.629 --> 00:04:56.065
And places like that cannot survive
00:04:56.065 --> 00:04:57.800
And god doesn't let them to survive back then.
00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:00.303
- [narrator] could it be
00:05:00.303 --> 00:05:01.537
That there were no righteous people in any
00:05:01.537 --> 00:05:02.538
Of these cities of the plain?
00:05:02.538 --> 00:05:05.141
- this is what grabbed abraham.
00:05:05.141 --> 00:05:07.410
He wanted to save as many people as possible and pleaded,
00:05:07.410 --> 00:05:10.847
Interceded before god
00:05:10.847 --> 00:05:12.281
And god's answer was find me righteous people.
00:05:12.281 --> 00:05:15.451
And eventually i think what came
00:05:15.451 --> 00:05:17.587
To light was it was only lot
00:05:17.587 --> 00:05:19.455
Who was the only righteous person, much like noah
00:05:19.455 --> 00:05:22.992
And they came out to rescue him.
00:05:22.992 --> 00:05:26.062
- if we look at the biblical accounts, we can see
00:05:26.062 --> 00:05:28.197
That there are other righteous people in the area.
00:05:28.197 --> 00:05:30.400
They're just not in these particular cities.
00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:32.735
For instance, we're dealing with lot in sodom and gomorrah.
00:05:32.735 --> 00:05:36.939
But we're also dealing with abraham,
00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:38.975
Not too far away and that's a righteous family.
00:05:38.975 --> 00:05:41.144
And we know that he has almost a thousand people
00:05:41.144 --> 00:05:43.146
In his household
00:05:43.146 --> 00:05:44.480
Because he has 318 trained fighting men born
00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:48.017
In his household.
00:05:48.017 --> 00:05:49.519
So abraham is a very large impactful patriarch at the time.
00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:53.723
We also see other surrounding regions
00:05:53.723 --> 00:05:56.392
That god does not destroy.
00:05:56.392 --> 00:05:58.361
So it could be that the description, the definition,
00:05:58.361 --> 00:06:02.598
The filter of were there righteous people
00:06:02.598 --> 00:06:06.502
That abraham negotiates with god,
00:06:06.502 --> 00:06:08.037
Either 10 righteous people,
00:06:08.037 --> 00:06:09.639
Maybe they couldn't find 10 in sodom,
00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:11.707
They couldn't find 10 in gomorrah,
00:06:11.707 --> 00:06:13.342
But maybe they could find 10 in other towns
00:06:13.342 --> 00:06:16.179
Including abraham's area because he, again,
00:06:16.179 --> 00:06:18.581
He had access to kings,
00:06:18.581 --> 00:06:20.683
He had access to armies, which means he was influential.
00:06:20.683 --> 00:06:23.686
But you better believe that his family,
00:06:23.686 --> 00:06:26.289
His extended family was god followers.
00:06:26.289 --> 00:06:28.958
So for me it looks like these very defined walled cities
00:06:28.958 --> 00:06:33.663
Was where god stopped that judgment.
00:06:34.430 --> 00:06:36.866
It didn't extend to beyond that region
00:06:36.866 --> 00:06:39.902
And everyone in that region, but he defined those cities
00:06:39.902 --> 00:06:42.171
And why would he do that?
00:06:42.171 --> 00:06:44.207
Because god works within authority.
00:06:45.007 --> 00:06:47.210
If there is a king of the city
00:06:47.210 --> 00:06:49.245
And these days, city states had kings,
00:06:49.245 --> 00:06:50.947
We would call them mayors today maybe.
00:06:50.947 --> 00:06:53.416
But if that mayor had governing defined authority
00:06:53.416 --> 00:06:57.453
Of the city, then that's what god was gonna judge.
00:06:57.453 --> 00:06:59.889
But that mayor may not have authority
00:06:59.889 --> 00:07:02.158
In the next city or the next region.
00:07:02.158 --> 00:07:03.693
So he's not worthy of judgment in those moments
00:07:03.693 --> 00:07:06.562
Because god can't find righteous.
00:07:06.562 --> 00:07:08.064
I think it has to do with the boundary line of authority
00:07:08.064 --> 00:07:11.133
That the leaders of the city had.
00:07:11.133 --> 00:07:12.902
There was no more righteous
00:07:12.902 --> 00:07:14.170
That were gonna come to faith in those towns.
00:07:14.170 --> 00:07:15.571
It was very defined, but there certainly
00:07:15.571 --> 00:07:17.473
Was other righteous that could be found in the area.
00:07:17.473 --> 00:07:20.776
- [narrator] are there parallels
00:07:20.776 --> 00:07:21.978
Between our day and lot's generation?
00:07:21.978 --> 00:07:24.847
- there are numerous parallels between the condition
00:07:25.915 --> 00:07:28.484
Of our society and culture
00:07:28.484 --> 00:07:30.987
And as it was in the days of lot,
00:07:30.987 --> 00:07:33.155
The blurring of the genders,
00:07:33.155 --> 00:07:36.392
The sexualization of everything,
00:07:36.392 --> 00:07:38.828
The incredible violence that's being released in society
00:07:38.828 --> 00:07:43.466
At an interpersonal level and even at a social level.
00:07:43.466 --> 00:07:48.804
There are so many parallels that we believe
00:07:49.739 --> 00:07:52.174
That the judgments that were brought upon sodom
00:07:52.174 --> 00:07:55.511
And gomorrah are impending on much of our society today.
00:07:55.511 --> 00:07:59.549
It's really a fearsome thing.
00:07:59.549 --> 00:08:01.751
However, as in the days of sodom and gomorrah,
00:08:01.751 --> 00:08:04.320
God was willing to spare the society
00:08:04.320 --> 00:08:07.557
If he could find a remnant of believers.
00:08:07.557 --> 00:08:11.060
And that's how important the remnant is.
00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:13.462
- [narrator] the bible is replete with examples
00:08:13.462 --> 00:08:15.731
Of individuals and nations that pass god's tipping points
00:08:15.731 --> 00:08:19.735
And invited his wrath.
00:08:19.735 --> 00:08:22.371
Noah's generation is a case in point.
00:08:22.371 --> 00:08:25.274
Abraham and lot's generation is another example
00:08:25.274 --> 00:08:28.411
Of a wicked society that prompted god
00:08:28.411 --> 00:08:31.213
To act in judgment against those
00:08:31.213 --> 00:08:33.683
Who had violated his precepts and moral standards.
00:08:33.683 --> 00:08:38.521
(dramatic music)
00:08:38.888 --> 00:08:41.357
Don't go away, after this short break,
00:08:41.357 --> 00:08:43.359
Dr. john tweedie returns with his teaching.
00:08:43.359 --> 00:08:47.463
(warm music)
00:08:47.763 --> 00:08:48.664
-[narrator] this past year has been incredibly challenging.
00:08:49.765 --> 00:08:52.568
From the attacks on israel to the ongoing struggles
00:08:52.568 --> 00:08:55.705
Faced by the jewish people worldwide, we've seen heartache,
00:08:55.705 --> 00:08:59.308
Loss, and resilience like never before.
00:08:59.308 --> 00:09:02.745
Yet in the midst of these trials, c4i
00:09:02.745 --> 00:09:05.348
Has been a source of hope
00:09:05.348 --> 00:09:06.716
And support in the holy land, providing aid, comfort
00:09:06.716 --> 00:09:10.953
And a tangible reminder that they are not alone.
00:09:10.953 --> 00:09:14.390
Your generosity makes this life changing work possible.
00:09:14.390 --> 00:09:17.827
Your one time gift of just $25 or more helps us continue
00:09:17.827 --> 00:09:21.764
This vital mission, and as a thank you for your support,
00:09:21.764 --> 00:09:25.067
You will receive the bi monthly newspaper
00:09:25.067 --> 00:09:27.036
Israel the prophetic connection, filled with stories and articles
00:09:27.036 --> 00:09:30.306
Keeping you informed and up to date
00:09:30.306 --> 00:09:32.341
On all that is happening in israel.
00:09:32.341 --> 00:09:34.810
Call now 1-888-206-1986
00:09:34.810 --> 00:09:39.548
Or visit c4iamerica.com
00:09:39.548 --> 00:09:41.517
To make your one time donation.
00:09:41.517 --> 00:09:44.020
Together, we can make a difference for the people of israel.
00:09:44.020 --> 00:09:49.325
(upbeat music)
00:09:49.692 --> 00:09:56.098
- we've called this episode "a tale of two cities",
00:09:57.099 --> 00:10:01.137
But in truth it is really a tale of five cities,
00:10:01.137 --> 00:10:04.473
Five particularly wicked cities that were here in the time
00:10:04.473 --> 00:10:08.310
Of abraham, which is some 3,800 years ago.
00:10:08.310 --> 00:10:12.281
And the cities are listed for us in chapter 14
00:10:12.281 --> 00:10:15.718
Of genesis in verse one.
00:10:15.718 --> 00:10:17.853
"and it came to pass in the days of amraphel king of shinar,
00:10:17.853 --> 00:10:22.291
Arioch king of ellasar, and chedorlaomer king of elam,
00:10:22.291 --> 00:10:27.630
And tidal king of nations, that they made war
00:10:28.564 --> 00:10:31.033
With bera king of sodom, birsha king of gomorrah,
00:10:31.033 --> 00:10:35.171
Shinab king of admah, shemeber king of zeboiim,
00:10:35.171 --> 00:10:40.409
And the king of bela, that is zoar."
00:10:41.210 --> 00:10:43.379
So bela was also the city of zoar.
00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:45.948
"all these joined together in the valley of siddim,
00:10:45.948 --> 00:10:49.185
That is the salt sea."
00:10:49.185 --> 00:10:51.153
Now the salt sea is directly behind me
00:10:51.153 --> 00:10:54.090
And that was its ancient name,
00:10:54.090 --> 00:10:55.558
But it's also known today as the dead sea.
00:10:55.558 --> 00:10:58.994
So here we have five kings engaged in battle.
00:10:58.994 --> 00:11:04.133
That's just to let you know
00:11:04.734 --> 00:11:05.835
That there were five cities here,
00:11:05.835 --> 00:11:07.636
But the two cities that were particularly wicked
00:11:07.636 --> 00:11:10.139
In the sight of god were sodom and gomorrah,
00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:13.776
Two of the five.
00:11:13.776 --> 00:11:15.711
So as we move through the book of genesis
00:11:15.711 --> 00:11:18.180
And we come to chapter 18, we discover that god comes down
00:11:18.180 --> 00:11:22.818
To speak with abraham, chapter 18 verse one.
00:11:22.818 --> 00:11:27.223
"then the lord appeared to him to abraham
00:11:27.223 --> 00:11:30.126
By the terebinth trees of mamre
00:11:30.126 --> 00:11:32.895
As he was sitting in the tent door
00:11:32.895 --> 00:11:34.597
In the heat of the day.
00:11:34.597 --> 00:11:36.398
So he lifted his eyes and looked
00:11:36.398 --> 00:11:37.933
And behold three men were standing by him
00:11:37.933 --> 00:11:41.337
And when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them
00:11:41.337 --> 00:11:44.707
And bowed himself to the ground."
00:11:44.707 --> 00:11:46.976
So this is an act of reverence, which leaves the question,
00:11:46.976 --> 00:11:50.913
Who were these three men?
00:11:50.913 --> 00:11:53.382
Now let me suggest to you that one of them was jesus
00:11:53.382 --> 00:11:58.087
Of nazareth, the pre-incarnate jesus of nazareth
00:11:58.087 --> 00:12:01.957
Because abraham refers to him as the lord
00:12:01.957 --> 00:12:05.628
And the other two clearly were angels from heaven.
00:12:05.628 --> 00:12:09.698
And we'll see that as i continue
00:12:09.698 --> 00:12:11.200
To read scriptures in the book of genesis.
00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:14.637
But let me jump then
00:12:14.637 --> 00:12:16.105
Because abraham shows the three visitors hospitality
00:12:16.105 --> 00:12:22.178
And there's a discussion about sarah, his wife,
00:12:23.112 --> 00:12:27.383
And about sarah going to give birth and
00:12:27.383 --> 00:12:31.053
But i want to pass over that part of it.
00:12:31.053 --> 00:12:32.955
It's really a prophetic word that abraham
00:12:32.955 --> 00:12:34.757
And sarah received about having a child.
00:12:34.757 --> 00:12:39.995
But in verse 16 we read, "then the men rose from there
00:12:41.096 --> 00:12:43.999
And looked towards sodom
00:12:43.999 --> 00:12:45.901
And abraham went with them to send them on the way."
00:12:45.901 --> 00:12:49.305
So typical middle eastern hospitality, he walks
00:12:49.305 --> 00:12:53.108
With them part of the way and then to say goodbye.
00:12:53.108 --> 00:12:57.012
"then the lord said,
00:12:57.012 --> 00:12:58.380
'shall i hide from abraham what i am doing?'"
00:12:58.380 --> 00:13:01.050
And in fact specifically what i'm about to do,
00:13:01.050 --> 00:13:03.853
"since abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation
00:13:03.853 --> 00:13:07.356
And all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him."
00:13:07.356 --> 00:13:10.593
And of course he gave birth to the nation of israel.
00:13:10.593 --> 00:13:13.095
"for i have known him in order
00:13:13.095 --> 00:13:15.698
That he may command his children and his household
00:13:15.698 --> 00:13:18.667
After him, that they may keep the way of the lord
00:13:18.667 --> 00:13:21.804
To do righteousness and justice, that the lord may bring
00:13:21.804 --> 00:13:24.707
To abraham what he has spoken to him."
00:13:24.707 --> 00:13:28.244
Then there is a shift in sentiment in verse 20.
00:13:28.244 --> 00:13:31.847
"and the lord said, 'because the outcry against sodom
00:13:31.847 --> 00:13:34.416
And gomorrah is great and
00:13:34.416 --> 00:13:36.719
Because their sin is very grave, i will now go down
00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:40.155
And see whether they have done all together according
00:13:40.155 --> 00:13:43.325
To the outcry against it that has come up to me.
00:13:43.325 --> 00:13:47.396
And if not, i will know.'
00:13:47.396 --> 00:13:50.232
Then the men turned away from there and went towards sodom.
00:13:50.232 --> 00:13:54.136
But abraham still stood before the lord."
00:13:54.136 --> 00:13:56.672
This is where the appeals begin,
00:13:56.672 --> 00:13:58.574
Where abraham says in verse 23, "and abraham came near
00:13:58.574 --> 00:14:01.844
And said, 'would you also destroy the righteous
00:14:01.844 --> 00:14:04.747
With the wicked?'"
00:14:04.747 --> 00:14:06.015
And presumably abraham is certainly thinking
00:14:06.015 --> 00:14:07.750
Of lot, his nephew and his family,
00:14:07.750 --> 00:14:10.219
But perhaps thinking in broader terms
00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:12.821
That surely there must be other righteous people
00:14:12.821 --> 00:14:15.157
In this city before god absolutely destroys it.
00:14:15.157 --> 00:14:18.994
Anyway, the bargaining process begins
00:14:18.994 --> 00:14:22.131
And it's whittled down to 10 men.
00:14:22.131 --> 00:14:25.134
And basically abraham says,
00:14:25.134 --> 00:14:27.369
"if i can then find 10 righteous men,
00:14:27.369 --> 00:14:30.272
Will you spare the city?"
00:14:30.272 --> 00:14:31.974
And god said, "i will spare it for 10 righteous men."
00:14:31.974 --> 00:14:35.844
But the sad truth is abraham
00:14:35.844 --> 00:14:38.948
Couldn't find 10 righteous men.
00:14:38.948 --> 00:14:41.517
Now there's a lesson in this and that is that a city state
00:14:41.517 --> 00:14:45.521
Or a nation can either improve or disintegrate.
00:14:45.521 --> 00:14:49.558
In other words, wickedness will eventually take over.
00:14:49.558 --> 00:14:52.594
And that's what happened.
00:14:52.594 --> 00:14:54.063
Abraham couldn't find even 10 righteous men.
00:14:54.063 --> 00:14:58.067
The whole city was totally given over to sin
00:14:58.067 --> 00:15:02.371
And wickedness, the greatest depravity.
00:15:02.371 --> 00:15:05.607
So now when we move to genesis chapter 19,
00:15:05.607 --> 00:15:09.111
We pick up the rest of the story.
00:15:09.111 --> 00:15:10.946
"now the two angels came to sodom in the evening
00:15:10.946 --> 00:15:13.949
And lot was sitting in the gate of sodom.
00:15:13.949 --> 00:15:16.285
When lot saw them, he rose to meet them
00:15:16.285 --> 00:15:18.821
And he bowed himself with his face toward the ground."
00:15:18.821 --> 00:15:21.557
So he showed his reverence for them.
00:15:21.557 --> 00:15:23.492
Now, a man sitting in the city gate was probably one
00:15:23.492 --> 00:15:27.796
Of the leaders of the city
00:15:27.796 --> 00:15:29.498
Because it's known that in ancient times the judges
00:15:29.498 --> 00:15:32.368
Or the elders of the city sat in the gate.
00:15:32.368 --> 00:15:35.304
They offered counsel, they conducted business.
00:15:35.304 --> 00:15:38.674
So we would easily skip over that
00:15:38.674 --> 00:15:40.776
And say, well, he was sitting in the city gate,
00:15:40.776 --> 00:15:42.911
But there's deeper meaning to that than meets the eye.
00:15:42.911 --> 00:15:46.815
And so he by this time seemingly had influence in sodom
00:15:46.815 --> 00:15:51.353
And quite possibly one of the leaders,
00:15:51.353 --> 00:15:53.889
But he recognized the angels for who they were
00:15:53.889 --> 00:15:56.925
Because he bowed before them with reverence.
00:15:56.925 --> 00:15:59.795
And then in verse two, "and he said,
00:15:59.795 --> 00:16:01.430
'here, now my lords please turn into your servant's house
00:16:01.430 --> 00:16:04.867
And spend the night and wash your feet.
00:16:04.867 --> 00:16:07.703
Then you may rise early and go on your way'
00:16:07.703 --> 00:16:10.272
And they said, 'no, but we will spend the night
00:16:10.272 --> 00:16:12.975
In the open square.'
00:16:12.975 --> 00:16:14.643
Now remember they're introduced in the very first verse here
00:16:14.643 --> 00:16:18.280
As angels, but obviously they're angels
00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:20.849
That have taken on human form.
00:16:20.849 --> 00:16:23.185
And we know that this is possible
00:16:23.185 --> 00:16:24.486
Because hebrews tells us
00:16:24.486 --> 00:16:26.522
That people have entertained angels unaware.
00:16:26.522 --> 00:16:29.858
I won't take the time in this episode,
00:16:29.858 --> 00:16:31.960
But i can tell you of couple of times, afterthoughts,
00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:36.165
That i might have been in the presence of angels
00:16:36.165 --> 00:16:38.600
And i just can't be sure of it.
00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:40.302
But there were unusual circumstances and i'll say not much.
00:16:40.302 --> 00:16:43.405
I will say one thing, a little lady that i didn't know
00:16:43.405 --> 00:16:47.309
Affirmed my call to ministry with incredible authority.
00:16:48.410 --> 00:16:51.780
And i was left wondering afterwards,
00:16:51.780 --> 00:16:53.816
Did i just encounter an angel from heaven bringing me a word
00:16:53.816 --> 00:16:57.753
Of affirmation from the almighty god?
00:16:57.753 --> 00:17:00.122
But i can't say, i just remember the moment.
00:17:00.122 --> 00:17:02.758
Anyway, "but he insisted strongly,
00:17:02.758 --> 00:17:05.160
So they turned into him, entered his house,
00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.729
That he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread
00:17:07.729 --> 00:17:10.833
And they ate."
00:17:10.833 --> 00:17:12.434
So angels obviously can eat
00:17:12.434 --> 00:17:14.736
And digest in some form, at least.
00:17:14.736 --> 00:17:17.739
"now before they lay down, the men of the city,
00:17:17.739 --> 00:17:19.875
The men of sodom, both old and young,
00:17:19.875 --> 00:17:21.910
All the people from every quarter surrounded the house.
00:17:21.910 --> 00:17:26.181
They called to lot and said to him,
00:17:26.181 --> 00:17:28.217
'where are the men who came to you tonight?'"
00:17:28.217 --> 00:17:31.286
They saw them as men, obviously they're in physical shape.
00:17:31.286 --> 00:17:35.124
"bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."
00:17:35.124 --> 00:17:38.760
So here's the level of the depravity.
00:17:38.760 --> 00:17:40.696
"so lot went out to them through the doorway,
00:17:40.696 --> 00:17:43.432
Shut the door behind him."
00:17:43.432 --> 00:17:44.833
So you can see why he needed to do this,
00:17:44.833 --> 00:17:47.469
But sort of protecting the angels,
00:17:47.469 --> 00:17:49.905
At least hiding them from view.
00:17:49.905 --> 00:17:51.907
It was in a sense a futile attempt.
00:17:51.907 --> 00:17:54.243
But that's what happened.
00:17:54.243 --> 00:17:56.211
And then in verse seven, "and said, 'please my brethren,
00:17:56.211 --> 00:18:00.182
Do not do so wickedly.'"
00:18:00.182 --> 00:18:02.918
Now notice this and it's a strange thing for a father to do,
00:18:02.918 --> 00:18:07.122
But it's written in the text.
00:18:07.122 --> 00:18:09.491
And here's what happened in verse eight.
00:18:09.491 --> 00:18:11.059
"see now i have two daughters who have not known a man.
00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:15.264
Please let me bring them out to you
00:18:15.264 --> 00:18:18.367
That you may do to them as you wish."
00:18:18.367 --> 00:18:20.903
I mean imagine a father doing nothing.
00:18:20.903 --> 00:18:25.307
And perhaps it says something
00:18:25.941 --> 00:18:27.442
About lot's less righteous nature,
00:18:27.442 --> 00:18:30.979
But in any case, "'only do nothing
00:18:30.979 --> 00:18:33.015
To these men since this is the reason they have come
00:18:33.015 --> 00:18:35.884
Under the shadow of my roof.'
00:18:35.884 --> 00:18:38.053
And they said," the men of the city, "'stand back,'
00:18:38.053 --> 00:18:40.923
Then they said, 'this one came in to stay here
00:18:40.923 --> 00:18:43.892
And he keeps acting as a judge.'"
00:18:43.892 --> 00:18:45.794
So now they're saying
00:18:45.794 --> 00:18:47.062
To lot you're you're acting like a judge
00:18:47.062 --> 00:18:49.464
And we probably were here before you
00:18:49.464 --> 00:18:51.366
And you don't have this pride of position, anyway,
00:18:51.366 --> 00:18:55.270
They're accusing him.
00:18:55.270 --> 00:18:56.638
"'now we will deal worse with you than with them.'
00:18:56.638 --> 00:18:59.541
So they pressed hard against the man lot
00:18:59.541 --> 00:19:01.777
And came near to break down the door."
00:19:01.777 --> 00:19:04.446
And here's where the story shifts.
00:19:04.446 --> 00:19:06.582
"but the men reached out their hands," the angels that is,
00:19:06.582 --> 00:19:10.118
Called men in the verse,
00:19:10.118 --> 00:19:11.653
"and pulled a lot into the house with them
00:19:11.653 --> 00:19:13.755
And shut the door.
00:19:13.755 --> 00:19:15.390
And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house
00:19:15.390 --> 00:19:18.493
With blindness, both small and great
00:19:18.493 --> 00:19:21.363
So that they became weary trying to find the door.
00:19:21.363 --> 00:19:25.767
Then the men said to lot, 'have you anyone else here,
00:19:25.767 --> 00:19:30.005
Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters,
00:19:30.005 --> 00:19:32.374
And whomever you have in the city, take them out
00:19:32.374 --> 00:19:35.010
Of this place for we will destroy this place
00:19:35.010 --> 00:19:38.146
Because the outcry against them has grown great
00:19:38.146 --> 00:19:40.816
Before the face of the lord.
00:19:40.816 --> 00:19:42.684
And the lord has sent us to destroy it.'"
00:19:42.684 --> 00:19:45.787
So you can see there, the drama is increasing,
00:19:45.787 --> 00:19:49.358
There's a sense of urgency.
00:19:49.358 --> 00:19:51.159
The angels are about to act on behalf of the almighty god.
00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:55.197
So we read in verse 14, "so lot went out
00:19:55.197 --> 00:19:57.432
And spoke to his sons-in-law who had married his daughters
00:19:57.432 --> 00:20:00.669
And said, 'get up, get out of this place
00:20:00.669 --> 00:20:03.338
For the lord will destroy this city.'
00:20:03.338 --> 00:20:05.574
But to his sons-in-law, he seemed to be joking.
00:20:05.574 --> 00:20:08.677
I mean it seemed like outlandish
00:20:08.677 --> 00:20:10.379
To them, well, they weren't laughing for long.
00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:13.315
Verse 15, "when the morning dawned, the angels urged lot
00:20:13.315 --> 00:20:16.685
To hurry saying 'arise, take your wife
00:20:16.685 --> 00:20:19.221
And your two daughters who are here lest you be consumed
00:20:19.221 --> 00:20:22.624
In the punishment of this city.'
00:20:22.624 --> 00:20:25.427
And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand,"
00:20:25.427 --> 00:20:27.796
That is the angels, "his wife's hand
00:20:27.796 --> 00:20:29.965
And the hands of his two daughters,
00:20:29.965 --> 00:20:32.000
The lord being merciful to him.
00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.935
And they brought him out and set him outside the city."
00:20:33.935 --> 00:20:36.838
Now it's interesting, he lingered
00:20:36.838 --> 00:20:38.440
And what does that say to us, almost,
00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:41.276
It says to me that he was reluctant to leave.
00:20:41.276 --> 00:20:46.581
And of course we know that as they left the city,
00:20:47.582 --> 00:20:49.985
His wife had been warned not to even look back.
00:20:49.985 --> 00:20:54.323
But she took a backward glance
00:20:54.323 --> 00:20:56.591
And turned into a pillar of salt, which suggests
00:20:56.591 --> 00:21:00.262
That we need to be absolutely obedient
00:21:00.262 --> 00:21:03.198
To the word of the lord.
00:21:03.198 --> 00:21:04.566
And in this case she wasn't and she paid the price.
00:21:04.566 --> 00:21:08.070
So then we see in verse 20, because he's fleeing,
00:21:08.070 --> 00:21:12.974
But where's he going to go?
00:21:12.974 --> 00:21:14.509
So now we read, "see now this city is near enough to flee to
00:21:14.509 --> 00:21:18.213
And it is a little one."
00:21:18.213 --> 00:21:20.015
This is lot pleading, "'please let me escape there.
00:21:20.015 --> 00:21:23.685
Is it not a little one?
00:21:23.685 --> 00:21:24.519
And my soul shall live.'
00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:26.555
And he, the angel said to him, 'see, i have favored you
00:21:26.555 --> 00:21:30.025
Concerning this thing also in
00:21:30.025 --> 00:21:32.494
That i will not overthrow this city
00:21:32.494 --> 00:21:35.063
For which you have spoken.
00:21:35.063 --> 00:21:36.732
Hurry, escape there for i cannot do anything
00:21:36.732 --> 00:21:40.035
Until you arrive there.'
00:21:40.035 --> 00:21:41.803
Therefore the name of the city was called zoar."
00:21:41.803 --> 00:21:45.273
But why did god's spare this city
00:21:45.273 --> 00:21:47.876
When he destroyed the other four?
00:21:47.876 --> 00:21:50.612
I'll come back to this intriguing question
00:21:50.612 --> 00:21:52.447
After this very short break.
00:21:52.447 --> 00:21:55.283
(upbeat music)
00:21:55.283 --> 00:22:05.427
-[narrator] today more than ever before.
00:22:06.228 --> 00:22:08.630
It seems as though
00:22:08.630 --> 00:22:09.865
Our world is at a tipping point as generation after generation
00:22:09.865 --> 00:22:13.735
Slips further into chaos and darkness.
00:22:13.735 --> 00:22:17.439
Not since the days of noah has the earth
00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:19.741
Seen such decadence, immorality and violence.
00:22:19.741 --> 00:22:23.678
But what does this mean for those who believe?
00:22:23.678 --> 00:22:26.114
And what consequences await for those who do not?
00:22:26.114 --> 00:22:30.152
As it was in the days of noah, the dvd series of
00:22:30.152 --> 00:22:32.888
Dr. john tweedie's 21st season of the prophetic connection
00:22:32.888 --> 00:22:36.324
Explores the scriptures to uncover the meaning
00:22:36.324 --> 00:22:38.493
Behind the signs of these troubled times.
00:22:38.493 --> 00:22:41.096
Call the number on your screen now.
00:22:41.096 --> 00:22:42.731
1-888-206-1986
00:22:42.731 --> 00:22:46.568
Or visit c4iamerica.com to become a new monthly partner
00:22:46.568 --> 00:22:49.671
With your gift of just $25 a month or more
00:22:49.671 --> 00:22:52.340
And you will receive this dvd set.
00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:54.743
Ideal for individuals or small group studies,
00:22:54.743 --> 00:22:57.813
Along with the bi monthly newspaper
00:22:57.813 --> 00:22:59.581
Israel the prophetic connection.
00:22:59.581 --> 00:23:01.683
We're waiting to hear from you.
00:23:01.683 --> 00:23:05.253
(upbeat music)
00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:13.261
- so we know from the scriptures that lot
00:23:14.095 --> 00:23:16.865
Found refuge in the city of zoar,
00:23:17.566 --> 00:23:20.302
But he lost his wife in the process.
00:23:20.302 --> 00:23:23.638
And why did god spare zoar?
00:23:23.638 --> 00:23:25.073
Well, perhaps there were at least 10 righteous men
00:23:25.073 --> 00:23:28.643
Within that city while sodom and gomorrah
00:23:28.643 --> 00:23:31.580
And the other two were thoroughly given over
00:23:31.580 --> 00:23:34.082
To absolute wickedness.
00:23:34.082 --> 00:23:36.785
Now, as you can tell, i'm being bothered by flies.
00:23:36.785 --> 00:23:40.555
You cannot film in the desert
00:23:40.555 --> 00:23:42.190
And not have problems with flies.
00:23:42.190 --> 00:23:45.093
And also just for your information,
00:23:45.093 --> 00:23:47.863
It is 32 degrees centigrade, somewhere
00:23:47.863 --> 00:23:52.267
Above 90 degrees fahrenheit.
00:23:52.267 --> 00:23:54.703
And i don't know why lot wanted to live here,
00:23:54.703 --> 00:23:57.506
Why would anyone want to live in this,
00:23:57.506 --> 00:23:59.941
We will now say almost god forsaken place?
00:23:59.941 --> 00:24:03.445
But the truth is wherever god is, it's not forsaken.
00:24:03.445 --> 00:24:06.548
It's simply the desert region of israel.
00:24:06.548 --> 00:24:09.251
But remember, it used to be a lush, fertile plain.
00:24:09.251 --> 00:24:11.720
And by the way, you can see bull rushes behind me
00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:15.590
Because the waters,
00:24:15.590 --> 00:24:17.392
Fresh waters are coming up from under the dead sea.
00:24:17.392 --> 00:24:19.928
And i believe that's from underground rivers.
00:24:19.928 --> 00:24:22.230
But this is a fulfillment of a prophecy
00:24:22.230 --> 00:24:24.332
That the prophet isaiah gave long ago.
00:24:24.332 --> 00:24:27.469
And you can read of it in isaiah 35,
00:24:27.469 --> 00:24:30.472
Where there will be pools by the dead sea, fresh water
00:24:30.472 --> 00:24:34.910
And there will be bull rushers and reeds,
00:24:34.910 --> 00:24:37.679
And the birds can drink from these pools,
00:24:37.679 --> 00:24:40.048
Whereas they can't drink from the dead sea
00:24:40.048 --> 00:24:42.050
Because that would kill them.
00:24:42.050 --> 00:24:43.585
But this is a fulfillment of prophecy.
00:24:43.585 --> 00:24:45.654
So god is beginning to irrigate this desert region
00:24:45.654 --> 00:24:49.691
And prophecies are being fulfilled as it comes back to life.
00:24:49.691 --> 00:24:54.262
But back to the story with lot.
00:24:54.262 --> 00:24:57.499
The only explanation is that zoar
00:24:58.233 --> 00:25:01.336
Was less unrighteous than sodom and gomorrah
00:25:01.336 --> 00:25:05.140
And the other cities.
00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.241
But there's a lesson in this for us,
00:25:06.241 --> 00:25:08.310
And actually it's found in the lips of jesus.
00:25:08.310 --> 00:25:11.846
And let me just read this.
00:25:11.846 --> 00:25:13.214
In luke 17 we read this, and we've read this before.
00:25:13.214 --> 00:25:17.686
A prophecy about the end times
00:25:18.320 --> 00:25:20.155
Like the freshwater pools by the dead sea.
00:25:20.155 --> 00:25:23.925
But jesus said in verse 26, luke 17, "as it was in the days
00:25:23.925 --> 00:25:28.663
Of noah, so it will also be in the days of the son of man,"
00:25:28.663 --> 00:25:31.700
Meaning his coming.
00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:33.034
"they ate, they drank, they married wives,
00:25:33.034 --> 00:25:35.236
They were given in marriage
00:25:35.236 --> 00:25:36.738
Until the day that noah entered the ark and the flood came
00:25:36.738 --> 00:25:39.774
And destroyed them all.
00:25:39.774 --> 00:25:41.476
Likewise, as it was also in the days of lot, they ate,
00:25:41.476 --> 00:25:45.280
They drank, they bought, they sold,
00:25:45.280 --> 00:25:47.749
They planted, they built.
00:25:47.749 --> 00:25:49.985
But on the day that lot went out of sodom,
00:25:49.985 --> 00:25:52.587
It rained fire and brimstone from heaven
00:25:52.587 --> 00:25:55.090
And destroyed them all.
00:25:55.090 --> 00:25:56.958
Even so it will be in the day when the son
00:25:56.958 --> 00:25:58.860
Of man is revealed."
00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:00.328
So jesus is affirming these stories by drawing attention
00:26:00.328 --> 00:26:04.399
To them out of the history of israel
00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:06.968
And as examples of what happens to men who live in sin
00:26:06.968 --> 00:26:11.306
And invite god's judgment.
00:26:11.306 --> 00:26:14.175
And one final scripture for this episode
00:26:14.175 --> 00:26:16.711
That's found on the lips,
00:26:16.711 --> 00:26:18.613
Oh actually the pen of the apostle peter
00:26:18.613 --> 00:26:21.182
Who uses the same example in 2 peter two
00:26:21.182 --> 00:26:24.953
In chapter two in verse four,
00:26:25.587 --> 00:26:28.023
"for if god did not spare the angels who sinned,
00:26:28.023 --> 00:26:31.393
Who cast them down to hell
00:26:31.393 --> 00:26:33.061
And delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved
00:26:33.061 --> 00:26:35.730
For judgment and did not spare the ancient world,
00:26:35.730 --> 00:26:38.566
But saved noah, one of eight people, a preacher
00:26:38.566 --> 00:26:41.403
Of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world
00:26:41.403 --> 00:26:44.339
Of the ungodly and turning the cities of sodom and gomorrah
00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:48.309
Into ashes, condemned them to destruction."
00:26:48.309 --> 00:26:51.980
Basically making an example of all of these things
00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:55.583
Of what happens to people who do not repent
00:26:55.583 --> 00:26:59.554
And find faith in god through jesus christ.
00:26:59.554 --> 00:27:03.958
Now we're almost at the end of this series,
00:27:03.958 --> 00:27:06.428
But in the very last episode, we're going
00:27:06.428 --> 00:27:09.097
To look at god's tipping point.
00:27:09.097 --> 00:27:12.133
These events in scripture showed people
00:27:12.133 --> 00:27:15.036
Past god's tipping point.
00:27:15.036 --> 00:27:17.005
How close are we today in the 21st century?
00:27:17.005 --> 00:27:21.276
(upbeat music)
00:27:21.276 --> 00:27:22.577
- [narrator] thanks so much
00:27:22.577 --> 00:27:23.812
For watching "the prophetic connection".
00:27:23.812 --> 00:27:25.046
Join us next time for god's tipping point.
00:27:25.046 --> 00:27:25.046

Dr. John Tweedie - God’s Wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah

March 28, 2025 | 27:29

Closed captions

Share