Sodom and Gomorrah

The Lost Cities Destroyed by Fire and Brimstone

NOTHING LEFT BUT ASHES AND BRIMSTONE!

Unlike the historical sites found in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, you can easily visit the ruins of the “five Cities of the plain.” The ashen ruins of Gomorrah is the best preserved site and is located right next to Masada, the well known mountain top fortress of King Herod where nearly 1,000 Jewish patriots took their own lives rather than submit to the tyranny of Rome.

I visited Masada in 2005 with a large tour group and wondered what the strange looking white area was that we had driven through on the way to the mountain fortress. I even asked our guide – “Where is Sodom and Gomorrah?” The response was – “We don’t really know. Some think it is under the Dead Sea.”

Later, I learned that archaeological researcher Ron Wyatt had spent considerable time in the area and documented all five of the cities destroyed by fire and brimstone in the days of Abraham and Lot. That prompted my desire to return to the notorious cities and see if there was reason to be they were the remnants of the cities destroyed by fire. I became convinced really soon after my arrival!

As you drive into Masada from the main road that goes along the Dead Sea, you will notice a large parking lot on the right hand side. The sign says it is for overnight parking and camping. Not that anyone would want to camp there. There is no water, nothing grows there, and there is a noticeable absence of all wild life. Even bugs can’t be found crawling on the ground. The entire place is nothing but ashes.

Ashen sphinx at the entrance to Gomorrah.

It is an easy walk going to the north to the most striking ruin that stands high above the rest of the city. A large man-made sphinx was apparently set up near the city gates for protection from their enemies. Now it stands there, its ashen remains giving testimony that the pagan idol was powerless against the destructive fires that descended upon the huge community.

I was quite surprised, when I visited the site, that a pocket knife could easily penetrate the layers of white ash. The material is easily broken off and crumbles in your fingers. As it is rubbed between your fingers, it turns into a fine talc-like powder. One cannot help but wonder what kind of fire it would take to turn solid rock into crumbling ash?

Sulfur pellet discovered at the ruins of Gomorrah.In some areas of the ancient city there are numerous golf ball sized sulfur pellets. Some of them are encased in a thin, crust-like shell which was the result of burning. The sulfur pellets were tested by Wyatt and consist of 98% pure sulfur and a trace of Magnesium. These brimstone balls would have burned extremely hot!

It is interesting that sulfur found in its natural form is only between 40% and 45% pure. This sulfur is extremely high grade.

Brimstone (burning sulfur) rained down upon Sodom and Gomorrah.Some of the pellets I found were inside rock-like slag that apparently formed when there was nothing remaining to burn and the inferno was beginning to cool off. One “rock” that I broke open had the sulfur pellet still inside!

The samples I collected would burst into an immediate toxic flame when touched with a match.

Brimstone (burning sulfur) pellets that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.If you visit the site just after a rain storm you will find the brimstone pellets on the flat tops of the ruins. It was obvious to me that a literal rainstorm of burning sulfur fell upon these ancient cities.

I am amazed that tour groups do not visit the sites although I must admit, it was a sobering experience to visit a place where thousands of people perished in the storm of God’s wrath as described in the Book of Genesis.

Author, Chuck Anderson, at the large sphinx at the ruins of Gomorrah. Note the brown hills in the background. The whole city is nothing but white ashes!

HAT APPEAR TO BE MAN-MADE STRUCTURES CAN STILL BE SEEN AT THE FOOT OF MASADA BY THE DEAD SEA!

At the edge of each of the five cities the white ash suddenly stops, bearing witness that this was no random act of nature. In contrast to the white ruins, the surrounding mountains and desert floor are brown limestone.

Ashen ziggurat at Gomorrah.Ziggurat at Gomorrah:

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are much larger than the other three cities also located along the western shores of the Dead Sea. All but Sodom are easily accessible.

We should remember, according to the Biblical account, that the area was once a very beautiful and prosperous valley. The Book of Genesis records that Lot, the nephew of the ancient patriarch Abraham, chose to live there because the area was “well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD.” (Genesis 13:10-12)

It is obvious that the entire area came under the severe judgment of God. The Dead Sea, though rich in minerals, is virtually dead. The water is the consistency of #10 motor oil.

What was the sin that brought about God’s fiery wrath upon these cities? Many other pagan societies survived for centuries without experiencing such horrendous judgment. According to the Bible, God destroyed the cities because of their great immorality and perversion.

God apparently preserved the ancient ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah as a warning to other civilizations that God does not tolerate immorality and perversion forever. We read in 2 Peter 2:6 – “God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly.”

This is a pretty stern warning for people today who insist on parading their perversion before the world.

Doorway in the destroyed city of Gomorrah?

An arched doorway into the city? Layers of ash are apparently 40 to 50 feet deep. The city was once solid rock!

ARE THE ASHES OF SODOM & GOMORRAH A SOLEMN WARNING FOR TODAY?

Does the discovery of the cities destroyed by a literal rain storm of burning sulfur pellets have any implications for modern, end-time nations that flaunt their immorality and perversion? Is this a warning for any nation that legalizes perversion and calls it an alternative and normal lifestyle?

The answer to these questions appears to be, tragically, yes. For example, the ancient prophets of God spoke of a mighty, end-time nation that they described as the youngest, most wealthy and powerful of all the nations of the world. That nation is also described as the greatest consumer of all the world’s products and a melting pot of all nationalities.

The Prophet Jeremiah declared – “As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring
cities, saith the LORD, so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell in her.” (Jeremiah 50:40)

Windows in the ashen and rounded room located at the ruins of Gomorrah.

An ancient dwelling at the City of Gomorrah? Whatever it is, it was man-made!

It is noteworthy that this great end-time nations, whoever it is, is destined for destruction at the hands of the Almighty – “The merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.” Revelation 18:11

Imagine the merchants of the earth weeping at the destruction of a great and wealthy society because there will be no one to buy their trinkets!

Most astounding about the prophecies of this immoral, end-time society, is the fact that its fiery destruction will occur in just one hour’s time. (Read Revelation chapter 18)

MORE EVIDENCES OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE MAN-MADE STRUCTURES:

Possible windows at the ruins of Gomorrah.It would take days to explore all the ruins of the ancient cities destroyed by the fiery judgment of God. It appeared to me that their dwellings, walls and towers were built on natural cliffs so that enemy invaders would not be able to us ramming devices to destroy their fortifications. The canyons with square and round towers go on for literally miles.

Possible windows and doorway at Gomorrah.

Late in the afternoon when we were getting to leave the ruins just below Masada, we looked up and saw an impressive wall with eleven obvious doors and windows. Whether these were entries to dwellings or places carved out of the solid rock to house their idols was unclear. If you visit the ancient of Petra, you see countless square and round top recesses, carved to hold their pagan deities. Some apparent dwelling sites can still be viewed, but be prepared to do a lot of walking and take plenty of water with you.

The obvious smell of sulfur still lingers in the entire area. As we climbed the crumbling sides leading to the tops areas of the city, we began to find the sulfur pellets. Many of them disintegrate underfoot and the smell of sulfur is very apparent.

Windows and doors or altars to the pagan gods?

SODOM AND GOMORRAH SITES CONFIRMED BY THE ANCIENT HISTORIAN JOSEPHUS:

Archaeological explorer Ron Wyatt seems to be one of the first modern day persons to identify the ruins of the five “cities of the plain,” but he was certainly not the first to visit the sites.

During the first century, the Jewish historian Josephus recorded their visible existence in his day – “Now this country is then so sadly burnt up, that nobody cares to come at it . . . It was of old a most happy land, both for the fruits it bore and the riches of its cities, although it be now all burnt up. It is related how for the impiety of its inhabitants, it was burned by lightning; in consequence of which there are still the remainders of the divine fire; and the traces of the five cities are still to be seen.” (Josephus in his “Wars
Of The Jews”, Book IV, Chapter VIII)

“Traces” of the five cities is a good description. You are aware of the shadows of what had once been a large and thriving community, now, perfectly still and suffering the aftermath of a terrible day of infamy.

Ashen sphinx at the entrance to Gomorrah.The most obvious structures were the sphinx and ziggurats still clearly visible on the flat tops of the city. It would appear that God had left these specific ruins of idolatrous worship for all the world to see.

I was personally overwhelmed at the site of the Biblical judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah and was reminded that sin does bring about serious consequences. God Himself has said – “Be not deceived, god is not mocked, for whatever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

SPHINX as seen in Egypt.

More evidences of what appear to be man-made structures: It would take days to explore all the ruins of the ancient cities destroyed by the fiery judgment of God.”

“There is nothing left but ashes and brimstone! The ashen ruins of Gomorrah is the best preserved site and is located right next to Masada near the Dead Sea.” Sodom and Gomorrah sites have been discovered along the shore of the Dead Sea east of Jerusalem. One can still pick up sulfur pellets which are the remnants of what the Bible calls brimstone. The brimstone or sulfur pellets are composed of 99% pure sulfur. Such pure concentrations of sulfur have not been found anywhere else in the world.

The Scripture declares that God rained fire and brimstone upon the cities of the plain because of their immorality and perversion. Is this a warning to modern day nations who flaunt their open immorality and perversion before the world?

Will judgment ever all upon modern day nations for their sin? The Bible declares that the remnants of Sodom and Gomorrah are a reminder to other nations that walk in perversion.

“Are the ashes of Sodom and Gomorrah a solemn warning for today? Does the discovery of the cities destroyed by a literal rain storm of burning sulfur pellets have any implications for modern, end-time nations that flaunt their immorality and perversion?”