The Story-Line of Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect Lesson 2: Sodom and Gomorrah After the flood, the story-line of apocalyptic continues with God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. After the flood, the story-line of apocalyptic continues with God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This lesson will explore how Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect uses the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Hebrew Bible as a resource. This lesson will explore how Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect uses the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Hebrew Bible as a resource.  Click for the next slide and a Hebrew Bible resource for Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect.

A Hebrew Bible Resource for Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect Even after God destroys all corrupt human flesh with a flood that covers the entire earth, humans do not simply produce goodness and righteousness on earth. Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect uses God’s destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 as an important resource for warning people that God will destroy them if they are evil.  Click to continue the explanation of this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

A Hebrew Bible Resource for Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect cont. In the Hebrew Bible, God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah, because the men of the city do not offer hospitality to foreigners in the city. Abraham’s nephew Lot, and members of his family, are the only ones saved from destruction, since Lot immediately offered hospitality to the strangers when they came into the city.  Click for this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

God Destroys Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 19:1 The two angels came to Sodom at evening. Lot sat in the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them. He bowed himself with his face to the earth, 19:2 He said, and he said, “See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” 19:3 He urged them greatly, and they came in with him, and entered into his house. He made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.  Click for continuation of this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

God Destroys Sodom and Gomorrah cont. (1) Genesis 19:4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 19:5 They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them.” 19:6 Lot went out to them to the door, and shut the door after him. 19:7 He said, “Please, my brothers, don’t act so wickedly.  Click for continuation of this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

God Destroys Sodom and Gomorrah cont. (2) Genesis 19:8 See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to you. Only don’t do anything to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof.” 19:9 They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge. Now will we deal worse with you, than with them!” They pressed hard on the man Lot, and drew near to break the door. 19:10 But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.  Click for continuation of this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

God Destroys Sodom and Gomorrah cont. (3) Genesis 19:12 The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? Sons-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, bring them out of the place: 19:13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before Adonai that Adonai has sent us to destroy it.” 19:13 for we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before Adonai that Adonai has sent us to destroy it.”  Click for continuation of this Hebrew Bible resource for apocalyptic rhetorolect.

God Destroys Sodom and Gomorrah cont. (4) Genesis 19:24 Then Adonai rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Adonai out of the sky. 19:25 He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew on the ground. 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (Read Genesis 19) Genesis 19Genesis 19  Click to read Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect in Luke 17:29-35 that uses this event as a resource.

Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect: THE DAYS OF LOT ARE LIKE THE DAY OF THE SON OF MAN Luke 17:28 Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 17:29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. 17:30 It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 17:31 In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.  Click for continuation of this Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect.

Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect: THE DAYS OF LOT ARE LIKE THE DAY OF THE SON OF MAN cont. Luke 17:32 Remember Lot’s wife! 17:33 Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left. 17:35 There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left.” (Read Luke 17) Luke 17Luke 17  Click to read another use of this Hebrew Bible resource in 2 Peter 2:6-10.

Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect: GOD DESTROYS THE UNGODLY AND RESCUES THE RIGHTEOUS 2 Peter 2:6 Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, God condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; 2 Peter 2:6 Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, God condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 2:8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds)  Click for continuation of this Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect.

Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect: GOD DESTROYS THE UNGODLY AND RESCUES THE RIGHTEOUS cont. 2 Peter 2:9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment; 2:10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. (Read 2 Peter 2) 2 Peter 2 Peter 2  Click for a summary.

Good Work! In this Second Lesson you have learned how Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect uses God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Hebrew Bible as a resource for warning people that they must be righteous and godly, or they will be destroyed on the Day of Judgment. Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect changes the focus on hospitality in the Hebrew Bible story to an emphasis on sexual lust, which is also present in the Hebrew Bible story.

All the Best! You are now ready for the Third Lesson, where you will learn how the book of Revelation in the New Testament uses the Ten Plagues on Egypt in the Hebrew Bible as a resource for its presentation of Seven Bowls of Wrath that angels pour down from heaven. Every good wish to you as you continue through the additional lessons on the Apocalyptic Story-Line in Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect.