Lot And The End Days

Luke 17:28-30

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.

The Lord makes it very clear that the days of the coming of the Son of Man would be like the days of Lot.

Who is Lot?

We learn about this man named Lot in the book of Genesis.

Lot was the son of Haran, grandson of Terah, and nephew of Abram (Abraham). It seems that Lot’s father Haran died early. At some point, after Haran’s death, Lot’s grandfather Terah decided to move to Canaan with his entire family. However, they settled in Haran instead of Canaan. After the death of Terah, the Lord spoke to Abram and told him to go to Canaan and gave him a promise to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:1–3). Abram set out on this journey with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot.

When they came to Bethel, there was a quarrel between Abram’s and Lot’s sheepherders because both of them had much livestock and the land was not enough to support the amount of livestock each of them owned. So, Abram proposed an idea (Gen 13:8-9): they would part company, and Lot could choose the land he wanted. Lot chose the land of Sodom and Gomorrah near the Jordan River, as it was rich and lush while Abram dwelt in Canaan.

Genesis 13:12: "Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Noteworthy events after this include Lot’s rescue from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, during which Lot's wife became a pillar of salt, and Lot being made drunk by his daughters so that they could have children with him.

Lot chose Sodom based on its outward appearance.

Genesis 13:10 - It was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.

However the men of Sodom were extremely wicked.

Genesis 13:3 - But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the LORD.

What were the wickedness found in Sodom?

Sodom was a wicked city.

Sins of Sodom:

1. Genesis 19:5 - Sodom was known for rampant homosexual behaviour. In fact, the term ‘Sodomy’ and ‘Sodomites’ are derived from Sodom which was known for this widespread sin.

Bible also records other sins of Sodom

2. Ezekiel 16: 49 - Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

From the outside, it may appear that Lot was selfish and ungodly in choosing such a city to dwell.

However, let us see what the Bible has got to say about Lot:

2 Peter 2: 6 - 8

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 righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)

You may ask – How come a person like Lot - a wavering family man, a comfort-loving person and a drunken dad— be righteous?

There are three possible reasons why Lot was called righteous by Peter

1. Peter gives the answer in the very same passage of 2 Peter 2: 7 - 8

and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)

Lot was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked. His soul was tormented day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds

It is true that Lot chose the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, let us not forget that he did not forcibly demand those cities from Abraham. He was given a choice and he decided looking at the outward appearance of Sodom. Bible records that it was like the garden of the Lord. That does not mean that he agreed with the sins of Sodom.

Nowhere do we find him committing the sin of Sodom.

Neither was he indifferent to their sins.

On the other hand, he was oppressed. His soul was tormented by seeing and hearing about their wickedness.

Now lets get back to Luke 17:28-30

The Lord makes it very clear that the days of coming of the Son of Man would be as the days of Lot and the destruction of Sodom - pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; failure to strengthen the hand of the poor and needy