This paper covers the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the movements of Abraham and the lessons for today’s world. The activities of Lot and his family are also significant.

E-mail: secretary@ccg.org

This paper is available from the World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org

This paper deals with the build up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The destruction is a vision of what is to happen on earth in the last days.

After the flood, the world had one speech and one priesthood centred at Salem under Melchisedek. The identity of Melchisedek or ‘My King is Righteousness’ has often been obscured. The most likely figure in history was Shem, the priest of The Most High God, and a son of Noah. Shem lived for over 500 years. His son Arpachsad, grandson of Shalach and great grandson of Eber were all alive at the same time as Abram. The book of Genesis is not a myth. Nothing is written in the Bible by chance.

Genesis 11:1-32 tells us the people were scattered because of the false system established under Nimrod at Babel. They had been told to spread out and repopulate the earth. Their languages were also changed so they couldn’t establish a world government system, which they are trying to do now. If that had been set up then, they would have destroyed the planet long ago. The patriarchs lived to great ages then. The dispersion of the nations occurred when Abraham was 48 years old, at the death of Peleg 340 years after the flood (Seder Olam Rabbah, Ch. 1). He left Haran when he was 75 (Gen. 12:4).

Yahovah is stated as being the God of Shem and Japeth is to live in the tents of Shem. This is a prophecy for today. Shem was the priest of the Most High God at the time of Abraham. Abram, as he was known then, went to Egypt because of lack of faith. This is like us before conversion. We don’t trust in God. Pharaoh was punished for taking Abram’s wife, thus breaking the commandments. Ignorance of the law was not taken as an excuse. Even though the written law on stone wasn’t given to Moses until some four hundred years later, these people at this time under the high priesthood of Shem knew the law. The laws of God had been established from Noah and the flood, right through Babylon to Egypt, and Pharaoh was aware that Shem was the legitimate heir of God. Noah understood the laws of God.

The flood punished the nations because of their extreme evil ways, and it also wiped out the crossbred beings, a group that won’t be resurrected. They transgressed the law and law existed and was known (1Jn.3:4). Abram repented and was visited by God (Gen.14:1-24). When they chose where to live, Lot took the best land although it was inhabited by evil people, who rebelled against authority. He placed material possessions above the laws of God.

In the last days it’ll be worst than Sodom and Gomorrah. They will condemn us. Our nation today is more base and evil than they were. Our country will be invaded unless we repent. The people who deal with us will be given a heart of stone by God, and their faces will be set against us. Sodom broke God’s laws. We are breaking God’s Laws now, so we will also be dealt with by God Almighty. Be Warned!

Lot went into captivity with them. We could go into captivity if we serve an evil nation, when the Lord acts against it. Abram rescued Lot and whilst doing this also had to rescue the iniquitous king and people. To save the elect, the evil ones were also spared. This story has a parallel with Gideon; the numbers and sequence are similar. (See paper Gideon’s Force and the Last Days (No. 22)).

Abraham tithed to Melchisedek. This shows his turning to God (Mal.3:7-10). At no time was this planet without a priest or law. After the death of Shem the priesthood passed to the sons of Isaac from Abraham. This was a priesthood without genealogy, unlike the latter Aaronic priesthood, which had to be set up. The future priesthood in the Millennium will be according to the order of Melchisedek, with Christ as the High Priest (Heb.5:5-10).

Genesis 15:1-21 shows us a promise was made to Abram of a multitude of descendants. Also their captivity in Egypt was foretold. That captivity is symbolic of the nations under Satan, when Messiah will liberate them in the last days. This is the basis of the parable of the sheep and goats found in the New Testament. The nations are judged on how they treat the descendants of Abraham. (Gen.17:1-27).

Abram was renamed Abraham (Father of Nations) and The Lord established His covenant with him, naming his future son Isaac. The circumcision was a physical symbol that pointed towards the new covenant, which was Jesus Christ. It symbolised a spiritual cleansing of the heart with the Holy Spirit.

Before God dealt with the corrupt cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent three representatives to Abraham. These angels or Elohim were referred to as Yahovah. No-one has seen God The Father (Jn.1:18). These were three elohim referred to as Yahovah in the text.

Genesis18:1-33 shows Abraham interceded for the people in these nations. God would not destroy a people if there were even ten righteous people left. Thus the responsibility on the elect is heavy, to plead and intercede for the people, so they aren’t destroyed in the last days. Jehovah here was the angel of Yahovah, the elohim of Israel who was the preincarnate Jesus Christ.

Genesis 19:1-14 tells us the people were tested. They were judged on how they treated the daughters. The spiritual significance relates to the church, where the nations are judged by their conduct in relationship with the elect. Two churches are effectively destroyed by the depravity of the last days. The Sardis church is dead and the Laodicean is spewed out and removed from grace (Rev. 3:1-2,15-17). Only remnants of them survive. This also relates to the two covenants and how the nations deal with them.

They were offered salvation but could not take part because they did not repent so they were blinded and the door shut. Lot’s sons-in-law thought he was talking nonsense when the place was condemned to destruction. So will it be in the last days. Today people aren’t taking notice of the numerous warnings such as that the seas are rising because of global warming.

Genesis 19:15-38 shows us Lot is offered protection. The concept here of the place of safety is where we flee from one place to another and given respite, whilst the destruction occurs around us. God will put His hand on us and provide for us so that if it is too far for us to go, we will be given sanctuary (Mat.10:23). The problem with Lot’s wife was that she was not truly repentant. She was destroyed because of her attitude. She didn’t want to leave, but was happy and comfortable living in a sinful society.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a vision of what is to happen to the earth in the last days. All this is caused by the breaking of God’s laws. The devastation is virtually imminent and unavoidable. The four angels are developing the devastation now at amazing speed (Rev. 8:7-13; 9:15). See also the paper Global Warming and Biblical Prophecy (No. 218).