In Search of Meaning: Archaeology and the Bible

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In Search of Meaning: Archaeology and the Bible "What Happens in Sodom, Stays in Sodom" Lecture 13 Outline By Franke J. Zollman, D. Min. I. INTRODUCTION -- GOD AND ABRAHAM DISCUSS SODOM A. Genesis 18:2 -- For 10 righteous people, God will not destroy Sodom B. Genesis 13:10-13 -- Lot, Abraham's nephew, lived there C. But found only wickedness 1. People of city try to molest strangers 2. Angels warn Lot and family to flee 3. Lot's wife turns to pillar of salt II. SODOM AND GOMORRAH -- THE CITIES A. Until 1970s no extra-Biblical mention of cities B. Ebla tablets 1. Date to 2,500 BC 2. Mention five cities as found in Genesis 14:2 C. Where are these ancient cities located? 1. North? No evidence of these cities 2. Under southern end of Dead Sea? No evidence of cities as it has dried up 3. West side of Dead Sea? Ron Wyatt. These are undoubtedly geological formations 4. Southeastern corner of Dead Sea a. Five ancient cities have been found b. Several large cemeteries III. BAB EDH-DHRA -- ANCIENT SODOM'S REMAINS? A. Paul Lapp did excavations B. Found evidence of large population in the Early Bronze Age -- Dating to 3000 BC to 2000 BC. C. Two different tombs in cemetery 1. Shaft tombs 2. Charnel house D. Other structures found by Rast and Schaub 1. Wall with gate 2. Public building 3. Sanctuary E. Graves most important find 1. Faces have been reconstructed from skulls 2. LOTS of pottery -- thousands of pieces F. Destroyed by fire and has a layer of ash G. A little too early for Abrahamic times H. Is Bab edh-Dhra actually Sodom? No evidence currently to prove it is IV. SODOM AND GOMORRAH BECOME WATCHWORD FOR HELL A. Deuteronomy 29:23 & 2 Peter 2:6 B. Four words for hell in King James Bible 1. Psalm 16:10 -- sheol -- grave 2. Revelation 1:8 -- hades -- grave (= OT sheol) 3. 2 Peter 2:4 -- tartarus -- place of darkness 4. Matthew 18:9 -- gehenna -- burning place (named after the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where there was a trash dump and continually burning fires) C. When and where will hell be? 1. Revelation 20:7-9 2. At least 1,000 years in the future, not burning now 3. Upon the earth D. Who is hell for? 1. Matthew 25:41 -- Devil and his angels 2. Revelation 20:10, 15 -- Devil and his followers E. How long will hell last? 1. Two camps of thought: eternity or short time period 2. Texts that suggest into eternity a. Revelation 20:10 b. Mark 4:43 c. Jude 7 3. Texts that suggest a short time a. Malachi 4:1-3 b. Ezekiel 28:18 c. Revelation 20:9 F. How to reconcile #2 & #3? Exodus 21:1-6 and 1 Samuel 1:22 & 28 show meaning of "forever" is only as long as something lasts -- its lifetime G. Everlasting or eternal fire? Jude 7 says Sodom destroyed with eternal fire, but not burning today H. How does God feel about the death of the wicked? Ezekiel 33:11 tells us he takes no pleasure in it V. GREATEST TRAGEDY OF HELL A. Jonathan Edwards (1740s) tried to scare people to heaven by threatening hell B. Revelation 22:1-7 tells of the Joys of heaven C. The greatest tragedy of those who don't choose to be in heaven is not what they suffer in hell, but what they miss in heaven ABC'S TO REMEMBER Archaeological point -- The remains of Sodom and Gomorrah have not absolutely been identified, but many like the sites of Bab ehd-Dhra and the cities located with it. Biblical idea -- The Bible teaches that hell is yet to come and will destroy sin and sinners totally. Conclusion -- The reason to choose to follow God and serve Jesus is for the joys of heaven to come, not to escape the scare of the fires of hell. .

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