Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, or did He?

[Roberth]

"Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens." Gen 19:23 NKJV

Altogether 4 cities were destroyed that day: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, & Zeboiim.

Now, do I think that God physically destroyed these cities by His own hand?

Answer: No!

I think they destroyed themselves.....

Do I have evidence? Yes....Are you open to this? Probably not.

 

[Blain]

The scriptures clearly say that God rained fire and brimstone on sodom but don't just assume that we are not open to your evidence, if you claim to have evidence of your view then I am more than willing to listen and take to heart the truth you bear if it indeed is the truth for one cannot learn and know the truth if they do not have a an open and teachable heart.
So what is this evidence you have?

 

[MikeHenderson]

Genesis 19:23-25
[SUP]23 [/SUP] The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
[SUP]24 [/SUP] Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens.
[SUP]25 [/SUP] So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.

Now i ask you, who is the Lord? Who is the He in verse 25?

The one who spoke to men and communicated with men was God the Son, the I AM of the Old Testament and who is Jesus in the New Testament.

Technically it was God who destroyed these cites, but not God the Father. It was God the Son who destroyed these cities.

 

[1faith]

The trinity are one of the same with different attributes.
Why dispute over such a small claim that prospers nothing?

 

[Rudimental]

"Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens." Gen 19:23 NKJV

Altogether 4 cities were destroyed that day: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, & Zeboiim.

Now, do I think that God physically destroyed these cities by His own hand?

Answer: No!

I think they destroyed themselves.....

Do I have evidence? Yes....Are you open to this? Probably not.

What is your point?

 

[Roberth]

.... don't just assume that we are not open to your evidence, if you claim to have evidence of your view then I am more than willing to listen.....

Fair enough.....

 

[crossnote]

"Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens." Gen 19:23 NKJV

Altogether 4 cities were destroyed that day: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, & Zeboiim.

Now, do I think that God physically destroyed these cities by His own hand?

Answer: No!

I think they destroyed themselves.....

Do I have evidence? Yes....Are you open to this? Probably not.

often 'heavens' refers to the solar system and not God's dwelling place. He very easily could have used meteors, fire mingled with hail etc..

 

[Roberth]

Technically it was God who destroyed these cites, but not God the Father. It was God the Son who destroyed these cities.

I agree, it was Christ. And I agree that He destroyed these cities, indirectly. But ultimately I have evidence that they destroyed themselves.

 

[Roberth]

often 'heavens' refers to the solar system and not God's dwelling place.

Here I'm sure it refers to the sky our atmosphere.

 

[breno785au]

I agree, it was Christ. And I agree that He destroyed these cities, indirectly. But ultimately I have evidence that they destroyed themselves.

You've said that twice now, let's hear it. And please don't use that your not open to it talk, its not nice.

 

[Roberth]

What is your point?

I'll give you two points to think about:

1] Deut 21:17 "Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, 'Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' (NASB)

2] Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. (NKJV)

Keep in mind 4 cities were destroyed that day: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, & Zeboiim.

 

[Roberth]

Now, I would like to quote some of my SDA friends:

God destroys no man. Everyone who is destroyed will have destroyed himself. Everyone who stifles the admonitions of conscience is sowing the seeds of unbelief, and these will produce a sure harvest. By rejecting the first warning from God, Pharaoh of old sowed the seeds of obstinacy, and he reaped obstinacy. God did not compel him to disbelieve. The seed of unbelief which he sowed produced a harvest of its kind. Thus his resistance continued, until he looked upon his devastated land, upon the cold, dead form of his first-born, and the first-born of all in his house and of all the families in his kingdom, until the waters of the sea closed over his horses and his chariots and his men of war. His history is a fearful illustration of the truth of the words that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. Did men but realize this, they would be careful what seed they sow. {COL 84-5}

 

[MikeHenderson]

1faith, the Trinity is three different persons with all being one God. Its not one with different attributes. Its actually three different persons

Matthew 3:16-17
[SUP]16 [/SUP] When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
[SUP]17 [/SUP] And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Jesus the Son of God was being Baptized while the Holy Spirit descended on Him and the Father spoke from Heaven.

Three different persons in God! Not one with 3 different attributes.

 

[crossnote]

Here I'm sure it refers to the sky our atmosphere.

OK, so you agree, God used the natural elements to destroy S&G.

 

[breno785au]

OK, so you agree, God used the natural elements to destroy S&G.

S&G, haha! I've never heard of it like that before, sounds like an insurance company haha

 

[Roberth]

OK, so you agree, God used the natural elements to destroy S&G.

Yes, natural elements probably destroyed them like a near by volcano.

No, God didn't do it. He gave them up...He abandoned them. He was no where to be found.

 

[Roberth]

Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel?

How did God hand over Israel?

But first, Christ's warning:

Matt 24:1 Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down...15 Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (the Roman armies in the temple) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (the temple), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

Christ is warning of Jerusalem's destruction that occurred in 70AD. How did it happen? Did God destroy the Jews for rejecting Christ?

No, they destroyed themselves! How?

Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house (the temple and/or Jerusalem) is left to you desolate.


Now, apply this to the principle we found in Deut 21:17

"Then My anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide My face from them, and they will be consumed, and many evils and troubles will come upon them; so that they will say in that day, 'Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' (NASB)

 

[posthuman]

you can fuss all you want about technicalities and the intricacies of exactly "how" He did it, but the scripture is pretty clear, and that, in more than one place.

Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt.
(This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
(Genesis 13:10)

But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 12:17) ​

 

[Ahwatukee]

Yes, natural elements probably destroyed them like a near by volcano.

No, God didn't do it. He gave them up...He abandoned them. He was no where to be found.

He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar.)
By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land

Hello Roberth,

I'm just curious as to why would you even suggest that God had nothing to do with this when the scripture gives every indication that God was directly responsible for the destruction. For example, scripture states that at Lot's request, the angel agreed to spare the town of Zoar. Also, it states plainly in the scripture that The Lord rained down fire and sulfur from the Lord out of heaven. This definitely demonstrates that the Lord was the One doing the destroying. Not only that, but if you look at the Lord's and Abraham's conversation on the previous day, the Lord said that he would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if he found at least ten righteous people there. This demonstrates premeditation on the Lord's part. Why would you take an opposite position when the scripture is very clear that it was the Lord that destroyed those cities and for the reasons that are mentioned?

 

[Ahwatukee]

you can fuss all you want about technicalities and the intricacies of exactly "how" He did it, but the scripture is pretty clear, and that, in more than one place.

Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt.
(This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
(Genesis 13:10)

But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.
(Jeremiah 12:17) ​

Good day posthuman,

This subject reminds of those who tried to claim that Israel didn't really cross through the Red Sea, but through the Sea of Reeds, attempting to claim that the water was only a couple of feet deep.

Why are there always those who attempt to go directly against scripture?​