Page 544 … Considering Jude
“Consider these words found in the book of Jude: ‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.’” (Jude 1:7-8)
My Friend, like its predecessor passages, these verses do appear to condemn homosexuality, and yet closer examination reveals that they actually do not do so … Please consider:
*First of all, it has been noted on a number of occasions in this thread that Sodom & Gomorrah were not destroyed in response to a prevalence of homosexual relationships, or in response to the presence of homosexuals themselves (or even in response to expressions of homosexual lust), but rather because of their inhabitants’ callous disregard for the poor & the downtrodden therein (Ezekiel 16:49) which was manifested in their wanton expressions of superficial greed & selfish gluttony (Luke 17:28-29).
“This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” ~ Ezekiel 16:49
“Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 17:28-29)
*Secondly, even if the previous verses of Scripture were to be ignored, the sexual immorality mentioned in this verse of Jude (and indirectly hinted at in Genesis 19) was not a reference to homosexual desire or homosexual sex, but rather to the intended rape of two fallen angels by a horde of heterosexual men.
*Thirdly, and quite intriguingly, the phrase in Jude 1:7 translated as “going after strange flesh” relates to what the mob in Genesis 19 was doing not because they were attempting to have nonconsensual sex with two men, but rather because they were trying to have nonconsensual sex with two Elohim – with two fallen angels! And if this literal reading of the text is indeed correct, it would make sense why those fallen angels would then angrily (and also unjustly) rain down fire & sulfur upon those cities thereafter.
*Fourthly & finally, it is important to note (especially for Christians) that Jesus himself was openly opposed to the ruthlessly violent & patently unmerciful method of condemnation used by the Elohim to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah … Consider the Word of God:
“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem … On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But [Jesus] turned and rebuked them, saying, ‘You do not know what spirit you are of, for the Son of Man has not come to destroy the lives of human beings, but to offer them salvation.’” ~ Luke 9:51-55
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