Salt Sea (Sodom destruction)

From a message by a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subject: Re: Authority

>CQ> Scientists have established that there is a place in the Mideastern desert known as the Sodom Gomerea,and that such an ancient city did exist,and to have unexplicably ended. Thayt area of the Mid East Desert is today an blackened area of sand.

Obviously your so-called "scientists" are in error to think that such a "desert" area has anything to do with the historical cities that were overthrown with fire and brimstone in the days of Abraham.

Although closely associated, Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities, not one. TWO OTHER cities nearby, were also destroyed in the conflagration that overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah: "And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:" (Deut.29:23)

Those four cities were located in an area that later ended up UNDERWATER by the time of Moses: "That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar. All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea." (Gen.14:2,3)

Plainly then, what WAS once a well watered fertile vale, BECAME later what we know as the salt sea (aka. Dead Sea). The fifth city, Zoar (pka. Bela) was spared because Lot fled there. He later left that city and dwelt in the mountains east of the Lisan peninsula.

Concerning the Dead Sea, and the battle of the kings, the first century (A.D.) historian Josephus says: "These kings had laid waste all Syria, and overthrown the offspring of the giants; and when they were come over against Sodom, they pitched their camp at the vale called the Slime Pits, for at that time there were pits in that place; but NOW, upon the destruction of the city of Sodom, that vale BECAME the Lake Asphaltites, as it is called." (Antiq.Bk.1,Ch.9)

Geological evidence in the area shows a great cataclysmic upheavel at about the time of Abraham. A series of gigantic faults in the crust of the earth brought about the collapse of land, deepening the rift of the Jordan valley. (The faultline extends into Africa.) The further collapse in the area of the former vale of Siddim left the floor of the Dead Sea more than 2500 feet below world mean sea level. The former location of Sodom was "east" of an area which was south of "Bethel", but north of "Hebron". (In the northern Dead Sea area.)

The same kind of "fire" that destroyed the Sodomites, will one day result in a much greater destruction, "in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." To avoid being consumed with those that perish: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Grace be to them that receive the love of the truth. Amen. --Richard