Do you remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Most of us are familiar with the fiery tale of its destruction. Does the Bible have something to say about the final destiny of those who populated these cities? Are the men, women and children of these cities forever condemned to fire torture? Or is there hope that they will finally reconcile themselves to God? There are some passages that address this topic and in most English translations they seem to create some contradictions. However, a quick glance at a particular word in the original language clears up the confusion.
In preparation to look at the word in particular, let’s first look at a passage from the prophet Ezekiel that contains very important information about the destruction of these cities. In these verses, when God speaks to Israel, He shares an amazing truth. He tells them that the way they lived was worse than that of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Think about that for a moment. The sin of Israel was far greater than the sin of the people of Sodom.
"How i live" says the Lord God, "neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done like you and your daughters. See, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughter had pride, an abundance of food, and an abundance of idleness; nor has he strengthened the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before me; therefore, I took them off as I saw fit." (Ezekiel 16: 48-50 NKJV)
God was saying that the people of Sodom had not done such rotten things as what Israel had been doing. However, it tells us that ultimately "all Israel will be saved." Let that steep in your mind for a moment.
The Old Testament account of the destruction of Sodom is often used in conjunction with Judas verse 7 to "try" the reality of the eternal conscious torment of the wicked in hell.
"Like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them similarly to these, having indulged in sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are presented as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7)
In the New King James Version and other popular English translations, this verse clearly shows a picture of the people of these cities endlessly suffering in the fire. Is that really your destiny? Or could there be a problem with the translation of this verse?
First, I’d like you to take a look at a verse from Ezekiel chapter 16 that is often ignored. It is a verse that most people have never read on their own. It is also one that I have never heard a sermon about from behind a pulpit.
"When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to their former state." (Ezekiel 16:55)
Please reread that verse carefully. Did you understand what God was saying? Have you read those words before? When was the last time you heard a preacher talk about it?
Do you think God’s mercy would be so great that He would restore the people of Sodom? Could the grace of God be so great? Do you believe that Christ really is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world? Would Sodom and Gomorrah qualify as part of the world?
If Israel were worse than Sodom, would God be just to save all of Israel and at the same time torture all the inhabitants of Sodom, including the children forever and ever in the fire? How "only" Would it be for people whose sins were minor to be tormented forever in the fire, while those whose sins are major would finally be saved?
Let’s go back to verse 7 of Judas.
"Like Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them similarly to these, having indulged in sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are presented as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 7)
In this verse, the word translated eternal is the word "aionios" which is the adjective form of "aion."
Interestingly, many times in all of our English versions, including the KJV, this little Greek word has been translated as a "age."
For example, when you read the words "at the end of the age" is the word Aion. If Aion means eternal, how could the Bible speak of "The end of" eternal? Has no sense.
Elsewhere this word has been translated as "world."
How is it possible that the same word can mean something without end, something with an end and the world?
It seems more than strange to me that when the word Aion is used in a passage that has to do with judgment or anger, it is suddenly translated as eternal or eternal.
How is it possible that the same word can mean a period of time with a beginning and an end and also something without end?
As you take a moment to consider the fiery end of Sodom, consider a few questions.
When Sodom was destroyed, how long did the fire really burn? If it were an eternal fire, wouldn’t it still burn today? How long does the fire burn? It burns until it’s over!
The people of the city suffered the revenge of the Aionios fire. It was fire from God that burned until the city was completely destroyed. When there was nothing left to burn, the fire went out. In other words, the fire served its purpose for a time. If you visit the Plain of Sodom today, you will see that the fire is no longer burning.
The people of the city were burned in the fire that reigned. In other words, they died. But one day they will rise again.
As we saw earlier, God’s message through Ezekiel was that sometime in the future Sodom and her sisters would be restored.
I think they will participate in "Every knee bows and every tongue confesses" that Christ Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
I think they are part of everything that Paul wrote when he said: "As in Adam all die, in Christ all will be made alive."
I believe when the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world that included the sin of Sodom.
How is it possible? The answer is simple. It is because God is a God of grace.
The final salvation of the people of Sodom is like mine and yours. It is something undeserved, but it is given freely. Some of us believe before. Others will believe later. Eventually everyone will believe and everyone will be reconciled to God.
"For it pleased the Father that in him all fullness should dwell, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, through him, whether on earth or in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19)
