Lot

What is the connection between Lot and eschatology? How does it relate to Biblical eschatology? What are its consequences for 21st-century-eschatology?

The message of Lot is a narrative of God's decision to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. They practiced homosexuality to such degree that God purposed to wipe them out. Abraham pleaded on their behalf and God, merciful even in wrath, offered to spare the city if but 10 righteous souls were found in it, (Genesis 18:32) After an angelic assessment, the city fell two short of the required number. Hence, Lot and his family were duly warned to flee.

Early one morning the angels pressed Abraham's nephew and his family to haste on their journey urging them to not look back. By sunrise, the sun went down on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot's wife longingly looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt, (Genesis 19).

Interestingly, Jesus makes a critical connection between the Patriarch and eschatology showing the former to be an example of the biblical endtime. Luke writes, "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." (Luke 17: 28-30)

We here a pattern of the biblical endtime. It offers us tremendous clues on how to arrive at an accurate analysis and application, not only of Lot's experience, but for those of Jesus' first century audience and finally for those of us today. Once we correctly understand the principles, we can make proper application.

Sodom can properly be said to have last days. This shows us that last days mean the final or closing days of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It did not mean the end of material universe or destruction of the plant. From this model, Jesus drew his application to the time of his coming. Lot and eschatology therefore have an important correlation.

The wicked were taken away in the flood rains of fire and brimstone while the righteous escaped to the mountains of Zoar. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteousness man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment." (2 Peter 2:6-9)

Not only was there no destruction of the physical world to which the last days of Sodom could be paralleled, there was likewise no rapture of the righteous from the earth. God did relocate them to remove them from harm's way, but it certainly was not beyond the geographical territory of the earth. No parallel exists for a Rapture-like event often heard in 21st-century-eschatology Lot escapes in Sodom's Last Days

The last days of Sodom and Gommorrah began with the outcry of wickedness before God who took not of their unrighteousness.During this time there opportunities for repentance were available. They were spurned. Even the intercession of Abraham sought to save the city on behalf of Lot. Yet, the scarcity of the righteous would not provide enough godly influence to overcome the temptations of evil.

Eventually, the days of sparing Sodom and Gomorrah reach a terminus. They could delay the righteous judgment of God's wrath no longer. One sunny morning, the last hour of restraint arrived. It was Sodom's last day and their last hour. The wicked were taken away in the flood rains of fire and brimstone while the righteous escaped to the mountains of Zoar. "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteousness man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment." (2 Peter 2:6-9)

Not only was there no destruction of the physical world to which the last days of Sodom could be paralleled, there was likewise no rapture of the righteous from the earth. God did relocate them to remove them from harm's way, but it certainly was not beyond the geographical territory of the earth. No parallel exists for a Rapture-like event often heard in 21st-century-eschatology circles. Understanding the endtime taught by Christ and his apostles must take the facts of this matter into consideration. Otherwise, Jesus' words that "likewise" so shall the coming of the Son of Man be, have no logical connection to the last days of Sodom and Gommorrah. The facts are that Jesus had predicted the demise of Jerusalem, (Matthew 23:34-36) and it's temple and law system. (5:17, 18; 24:3-34). He was speaking directly of this A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem when he incorporates the message of Sodom.

Therefore, to properly apply the message of Sodom to first century eschatology, we must not see it as a globe destroying event. We must not see it as removing life from the planet. We must not see it as Rapturing the righteous and leaving the wicked behind. As we must not see time ending, but continuing on, just as it did in the after the "last day" of Sodom.

In this sense, each nation, country or city may have a last day. That is the correct biblical use of the term last days. Elsewhere more evidence on this subject will help to clarify and establish the reasons for these conclusions.