God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of the rampant sin of homosexual wickedness—an abomination that made the cities worthy of judgment.
According to Les Feldick, the men of Sodom demanded to have sexual relations with Lot's two angelic visitors, and the whole city was wrapped up in an immoral, rotten lifestyle. God therefore had to destroy the cities, and in 2 Peter 2:6 He turned them into ashes, making them an example to all who would later live ungodly.
Genesis 19:5 — The men of Sodom demand to 'know' Lot's guests, revealing the homosexual intent that led to the city's destruction.
2 Peter 2:6 — God's overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah is described as making them an example for the ungodly.
In Genesis 19, the Bible records that before Lot's guests lay down, the men of the city of Sodom, both old and young, compassed the house round and called to Lot, 'Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.' The word 'know' is the Scriptural term for intimate relations, showing the whole city was given over to homosexual lust. Then the Bible says in 2 Peter 2:6 that God 'turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.' He also 'delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked' (2 Peter 2:7).
Les Feldick teaches that the root problem in Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexualism. He points to Genesis 19 as the first scriptural account where the term 'sodomy' comes from—the men of the city were interested in having sexual relations with Lot's two guests. In his words, homosexuality is not an 'alternate lifestyle'; it is wickedness, an abomination, and 'sinful to the nth degree.' Therefore, God had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Les emphasizes that God was putting Sodom 'on trial' by sending the angels to see if the Sodomites would prove themselves worthy of sudden destruction—and they did. The whole population had become wrapped up in this immoral, rotten lifestyle, and when homosexualism becomes the norm, a community ends up filled with unrighteousness, immorality, envy, murder, and more. Les also highlights 2 Peter 2:6, where God turned the cities into ashes and made them an example to those who would later live ungodly. He says God is still the same and is ready to do the same kind of thing again. At the same time, God delivered 'just Lot,' whom Scripture calls righteous, because he was vexed by the filthy lifestyle around him.
The men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house and demanded that he bring out the two men 'that we may know them'—language that Scripture uses for sexual relations. Les Feldick says this is where we get the term sodomy, and it is the first scriptural account of such conduct. The entire city, from every quarter, was part of this demand. Les also notes that the offspring of Canaan, who were later the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, had the same problem: homosexualism.
2 Peter 2:6 says God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and condemned them with an overthrow to make them an example to those who would after live ungodly. Les Feldick explains that God is still the God of heaven and is not changed. What He has done previously as an example, He is ready to do again. The destruction of these cities is a standing warning to the world about God's view of that manner of living.
In 2 Peter 2:7, God delivered just Lot, who was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. Les Feldick marvels that Lot is called a believer, but says the Scripture does it and he does not argue with the book. Lot was a righteous man troubled by the lifestyle of the wicked people around him, and God rescued him in the midst of the cities' destruction.
Sodom on Trial
Les teaches that God sent two angels to put Sodom on trial; the men of the city showed they wanted sexual relations with the visitors, giving us the first scriptural account of sodomy.
Homosexuality Is Wickedness
Les directly states that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle but wickedness, an abomination, and sinful to the nth degree—and that this is why God had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.
An Example to the Ungodly
Les explains 2 Peter 2:6: God turned the cities into ashes and made them an example to those who should later live ungodly, and God is ready to do the same again.
The Whole City Wrapped Up in Sin
The entire population of Sodom was caught up in the immoral lifestyle; they demanded to 'know' Lot's guests, which Les identifies as the scriptural term for intimate relations.
They Applaud the Sinner
Les points out that the Greek implies those in sin not only agree with the lifestyle but promote and applaud those who practice it, and he notes that Scripture calls Lot a believer.
What Takes Over a Community
Les says when homosexualism takes over and becomes the norm, a community becomes filled with all unrighteousness, immorality, wickedness, and more—the condition of Sodom.
From Canaan to Sodom
Les connects the homosexual sin of Ham with Canaan's descendants, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying the problem there was homosexualism.
Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord? Genesis 18 & God in Human Form
So now take your three men that appeared up there in verse 1, two of them are going to start heading down toward Sodom, but the third one, or the first one, the Lord, is going to stay here with Abraham and finish out the chapter, but these other two men are going to start making their way down now to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 19:4: But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
Shows the entire city participated in the demand for Lot's guests.
Genesis 19:5: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
The men of Sodom demanded to have sexual relations with the two visitors.
2 Peter 2:6: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was a warning example to all future ungodly people.
2 Peter 2:7: And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
God rescued righteous Lot, who was tormented by the wickedness around him.
Romans 1:32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Les applies this to those who promote and applaud the homosexual lifestyle.
The men of the city, both old and young, surrounded Lot's house and demanded that he bring out the two men so that they could 'know' them—language the Bible uses for sexual relations. Les Feldick says this is where we get the term sodomy, the first scriptural account of it.
Les teaches that homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle but an abomination and wickedness to the nth degree. The whole city of Sodom was wrapped up in this lifestyle, so God had to destroy it.
2 Peter 2:6 says God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow to make them an example to those who would live ungodly. Les says God is still the same and is ready to do it again.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1