DEAD SEA - LAKE OF FIRE ONE AND THE SAME

Remember, in Jude 7 we were told that Sodom and Gomorrah along with the surrounding area was an EXAMPLE for ETERNAL [Greek - agelasting] FIRE for the punishment of the wicked. The Valley of Siddim where Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities were located "IS the salt sea" (Gen. 14:3).

These cities were located in the northern part of where the Dead Sea now covers. Abraham and Lot looked out over Sodom and Gomorrah from the site of Bethel [located about ten miles north of Jerusalem] and in NO way could they have seen the southern part of the lake from there (Gen. 13:10). The Bible states clearly that the two cities were 'east' of Bethel (Gen. 13:11), not south-by-east. When the four northern kings attacked Sodom and Gomorrah, they circled the Valley of Siddim on the east and then south, attacking Hazazon-tamar half way up the western side of the Dead Sea, THEN they engaged the King of Sodom (Gen. 14:7-8). This shows that Sodom and Gomorrah lay in the northern regions of the Dead Sea. In 1 Sam. 13:18 we are told that the Wilderness of Zeboiim was directly east of Beth-horon and Bethel which leads eastwards toward Jericho. All this takes us to the northern parts of the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is part of the Jordan rift, the longest fault line in the world. It starts just north of Mt. Hermon and continues southerly with the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, to the Gulf of Aqaba, the Red Sea into Africa toward the source of the Nile River. THIS LONGEST FAULT LINE ON EARTH COMBINED WITH THE United States and Soviet Union's USE OF EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY MAGNETIC WAVES WILL PROVE TO BE THE FACTOR THAT CAUSES THE DEAD SEA TO START BURNING AGAIN.

EXAMPLE OF PUNISHMENT

Jude used the Dead Sea with its burst of fire from the sulfur and asphalt as an example of the vengeance poured out by God upon the rebellious angels and wicked human beings. Jude could point to this subterranean smoldering FIRE and liken it to the final judgement of God at the END OF THE AGE. God brought the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities as an EXAMPLE OF THE FINAL PUNISHMENT. This fire was so complete that it looked as if the whole world was destroyed. Lot's daughters thought they were the only survivors on earth. "There is NOT a man [left] in the earth" (Gen. 19:31).

Jude used the Jordan Valley that drained into the Dead Sea, with its flames from sulfur, as the example that was known to him in his day. The Dead Sea was in Jude's day The Lake of Fire, and it is destined to become the Lake of Fire at the Second Coming of Christ.

THE VALLEY OF HINNOM

Now that we have some background about the Jordan rift with the Dead Sea being in the center, with its smoking fires, that will be the location of final punishment, let us better understand the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna!

Jesus mentions Gehenna as a place of judgement by FIRE. He said: "…but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell [Greek, Gehenna] fire." "…for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna fire]." "…and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell [Gehenna]" (Matt. 5:22,29-30). "…but rather fear him which is able to DESTROY BOTH soul and body in hell [Gehenna]" (Matt. 10:28). "…it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell [Gehenna] fire" (Mk. 9:47). "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell [Gehenna fire]; yea, I say unto you Fear him" (Lk. 12:5).

This Valley of Hinnom was located outside the southern walls of Jerusalem. Fires to the pagan God Molech were sanctified in this Valley. "And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the FIRE unto Molech;…to cause Judah to sin" (Jer. 32:35). It was sometimes called Tophet. "For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the [wicked] king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is of fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it" (Isa. 30:33). This is probably the location where Satan and his angels will be chained for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3).

The Valley of Hinnom started at Jerusalem and went toward the east at a rapidly declining rate until it dropped into the Dead Sea on the north side. Even in the Twentieth Century, it is still known as the Wady enNar [the Streambed of FIRE]! This Valley of Hinnom [or Gehenna of the Bible] ran for approximately fifteen miles in length. It dropped suddenly into the Dead Sea - which is the Lake of Fire. Gehenna [Valley of Hinnom] and the Dead Sea [Lake of Fire] were connected by both being fueled by sulfur; therefore, outbursts of fire in both.

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