“making them an example …” (2 Pet. 2:6, NKJV)
Sodom and Gomorrah becomes the typology in the Old Testament of what happens to the godless when they are judged by God. In the previous teaching we spent a lot of time discussing Jude 1:7, and convincingly argued, by drawing from the original language in which the text was written, that the inhabitants of this historical city who were “suffering eternal vengeance” are not burning in hell forever. Our thesis is that this can then also not be typologically true for other non-believers.
In the Hebrew language Sodom interestingly enough means “burning” (BDB), and Gomorrah means “submersion” (BDB). The former is prophetically significant, but the latter’s meaning sounds strange. If you however read what Smith’s Bible Dictionary has to say about this, the topological placing of the 5 cities that are collectively presented as the proverbial Sodom and Gomorrah, is of equal prophetic importance: “Eastward of them, and absolutely at their feet, lay the ‘circle of Jordan.’ The whole circle was one great oasis – ‘a garden of Jehovah’ (Gen. 13:10). In the midst of the garden, the four cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim appear to have been situated. It is necessary to notice how absolutely the cities are identified with the district … The mention of the Jordan (WHICH MEANS “DESCENDING”- TG) is conclusive as to the situation of the district, for the Jordan ceases where it enters the Dead Sea, and can have no existence south of that point. The catastrophe by which they were destroyed is described in Gen. 19:1, as a shower of brimstone and fire from Jehovah. However we may interpret the words of the earliest narrative, one thing is certain — that the lake was not one of the agents in the catastrophe. From all these passages, though much is obscure, two things seem clear: That Sodom and the rest of the cities of the plain of Jordan stood on the north of the Dead Sea; That neither the cities nor the district were submerged by the lake, but that the cities were overthrown and the land spoiled, and that it may still be seen in its desolate condition. When, however, we turn to more modern views, we discover a remarkable variance from these conclusions. The opinion long held, that the five cities were submerged in the lake, and that their remains — walls, columns and capitals — might be still discerned below the water, hardly needs refutation, after the distinct statement and the constant implication of Scripture.” (My emphasis.)
Sodom was thus named long before there was any sign of the fact that it would be destroyed by fire. And Gomorrah was called “Submerged” without it ever having occurred historically, but in the mouth of the people it is a myth that is presented as truth. Why is this? It is prophetically of such great importance that something Godly is built into the naming or these two cities on which so much hinges, so that you and and I can today read it as a typology (or example – 2 Pet. 2:6; Jud. 1:7) of God’s dealings with godless man! What the glorious implications of this are will be pointed out in the following teaching.
- Selah: Ponder God’s hand in the naming of things.
- Read: 2 Kings 22-24.
- Memorise: 2 Kings 22:5
