Genesis 18:23-26 NLT Abraham approached Him and said, "Will You sweep away both the righteous and the wicked? (24) Suppose You find fifty righteous people living there in the city—will You still sweep it away and not spare it for their sakes? (25) Surely You wouldn't do such a thing, destroying the righteous along with the wicked. Why, You would be treating the righteous and the wicked exactly the same! Surely You wouldn't do that! Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" (26) And the LORD replied, "If I find fifty righteous people in Sodom, I will spare the entire city for their sake."
Do you recall this conversation where Abraham interceded for the inhabitants of Sodom? By the time it came to a conclusion the number of righteous people necessary to save the city of Sodom had been whittled down to 10. Just 10. And they could not be found. Sodom was destroyed and forever after used as a message to all who would live ungodly lives.
Jude 1:7 KJV 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.
Abraham knew that God, as the Judge of all the earth, would do right, but sometimes we do not understand His methods and actions because we can't see the whole picture of what He is doing. Tradition has taught us to interpret scripture along certain lines and it is very difficult to think outside of the religious box that we were born into.
Jesus (Yahshua) is the way, the truth and the life. He mentioned Sodom when He spoke to the people in the city of Capernaum.
Matthew 11:20-24 KJV Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (21) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (22) But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. (23) And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (24) But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Stop and think about what Jesus (Yahshua) said. If the miracles that He had done were done in Sodom, the city and it's people would not have been destroyed. Tyre and Sidon would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, like the city of Ninevah did at the preaching of Jonah.
So if God knew what would cause the people of those cities to repent, why didn't He do it? Would a righteous judge withhold the very thing that made the difference between life and death for thousands of people? It doesn't make sense according to our natural way of thinking. We need to remember what it says in Isaiah:
Isaiah 55:8 KJV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
We need to climb out of our religious box and realize that God punished the people of those cities for their sins, but He was not finished with them yet. They will be raised to stand in judgment and then they will see what was hidden from them in their lifetime. Jesus said they would have repented if they had seen the miracles. How much more so will they repent when confronted with Him in all His glory?
In Ezekiel 16, Yahweh is confronting Israel and Judah with their sins. Ezekiel 16:48 NLT As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, Sodom and her daughters were never as wicked as you and your daughters.
Yahweh is righteous. He is going to judge Israel, and all sinners. Judgment involves chastisment, punishment and correction that is used to change behavior. This judgment takes place at the Great White Throne.
Sodom was destroyed, but that is not the end of the story. Read about it in Ezekiel 16 where Yahweh is condemning the nation of Judah for their great sins in contrast to Samaria (Israel) and Sodom.
Ezekiel 16:52-62 NLT Shame on you! Your sins are so terrible that you make your sisters seem righteous, even virtuous. (53) "But someday I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria, and I will restore you, too. (54) Then you will be truly ashamed of everything you have done, for your sins make them feel good in comparison. (55) Yes, your sisters, Sodom and Samaria, and all their people will be restored, and at that time you also will be restored. (56) In your proud days you held Sodom in contempt. (57) But now your greater wickedness has been exposed to all the world, and you are the one who is scorned—by Edom and all her neighbors and by Philistia. (58) This is your punishment for all your lewdness and detestable sins, says the LORD. (59) "Now this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will give you what you deserve, for you have taken your solemn vows lightly by breaking your covenant. (60) Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. (61) Then you will remember with shame all the evil you have done. I will make your sisters, Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even though they are not part of our covenant. (62) And I will reaffirm My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
The promise is that not only Judah and Israel will be restored, but also Sodom. The people of Sodom did not repent before their death so when will it happen?
Hebrews 9:27 KJV And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
At the Great White Throne Judgment this will be heard:
Isaiah 45:22-24 KJV Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Romans 14:11-12 KJV For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Philippians 2:10-11 KJV That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
