Page 55 - Gods Plan of the Ages

return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your
former state."

Is it not an amazing testimony that Yahweh will restore even Sodom? That city in
which God could not find five righteous will be shown mercy. Indeed, Christ said that the
judgment of Sodom would be less than the judgment of certain cities of Israel, for Sodom
did not receive the witness that Israel received.

Matthew 11:23-24
"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades;
for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained
to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
in the day of judgment, than for you."

There is a parable in which Christ revealed that the wicked would be punished, but
none would be punished eternally.

Luke 12:42-48
And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will
put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that
slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put
him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be
a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and
drink and get drunk; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect
him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place
with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or
act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and
committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been
given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will
ask all the more."

Although this parable is specifically addressed to believers, it reveals a truth of God's
kingdom. Some who are wicked receive few stripes, and some many. There are none who
receive unending stripes. If the sin of those who knew to do right is worse than that of those
who did not, then how can Yahweh punish disobedient believers for a limited duration,
while punishing unbelievers eternally? Did not the believers have more truth and a greater
witness while choosing to act wickedly? If these believers "share a place with the
unbelievers" then is it not logical to conclude that there are none who will receive unending
stripes?
Sodom is like that servant that did not know his master's will, and he acted wickedly.
Israel is that servant that knew the master's will and still chose wickedness. This is why
Christ said it would be more tolerable for Sodom than for the cities of Judea in the day of
judgment. Those to whom much is given have much required.
Do not Christ's words regarding Sodom reveal that her punishment is not eternal?
How could the punishment of Sodom be "more tolerable" than that of Bethsaida if the
punishment was endless? Even in the Law of Moses we find that punishments had limits
set to them.