"Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire out of the sky from the Lord,” [Genesis 19:24]. This well-known event in the Old Testament may now have some scientific evidence to back it up, if a theologian is correct.

Dr. John Bergsma says that archaeological finds in Jordan are evidence that Sodom really existed. Previous research suggested that the city of Tall el-Hammam in the southern Jordan Valley was destroyed in a catastrophic event. Bergsma says the evidence of devastation at Tall el-Hammam led him to change his views on the Old Testament.

Bergsma says he is aware that skeletons and pottery fragments provided evidence of extreme heating and could be proof of a direct hit from an asteroid. There were no signs of a military operation.

Steven Collins, the principal archaeologist, at Tall el-Hammam was surprised when he discovered Trinitite covering pieces of pottery. According to Bergsma ““that glass layer that you get when you set off an atomic bomb in the desert and it melts the sand”. 

Bergsma added: “They also started to find human remains. “Human skeletons that are complete up until about halfway up the backbone and then there's just a scorch mark and there's nothing on the top of the body."

Collins compared the proposed airburst to the asteroid impact which devastated Siberia in 1908 in what is known as the Tunguska Event. That impact detonated with a force equal to 1,000 times more energy than the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

Comments: Archeology often confirms or helps us better understand biblical historical accounts.  Answers in Genesis mentions some of the most important archaeological discoveries such as..

Dead Sea Scrolls. The discovery of these 900 scrolls near the Dead Sea has increased confidence that Old Testament scriptures are accurate. All but one book from the O.T. are represented in the scrolls.

Gilgamesh Epic. A number of ancient documents testify to a global flood. The Gilgamesh account of the flood is considered the most complete of these flood legends.

Intelligent Ancient Humans. The myth that ancient people were grunting brutes can be blamed on the evolutionary story that human ancestors were ape-men. But Noah built an ark, somebody designed the Pyramids of Egypt, ancient languages were created, Stonehenge built and much more.

Tower of Babel.  The Bible says “To Eber two sons were born. The name of one was Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided” (Genesis 10:25). In what way was the earth divided? Evidence suggest that it was a division of languages as the world was adjusting to the new reality of various languages as caused by the events at the Tower of Babel.

It is interesting that some evolutionists are admitting that their research contradicts the evolution story. (e.g. “‘Weird” Fossil Contradict Evolution Story”). At the same time they sometimes will point out instances where a discovery tends to support the accuracy of the Bible.

We are safe when sticking with God’s truth in the Bible while being suspicious of secular scientists who say things that contradict this divine account. “Preach the word . . . with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" (2 Timothy 4:2,3).

Warren Krug

Reference: Michael Moran, “Ancient city destroyed by 'atomic blast' is biblical city of Sodom, expert claims. Excavations in Jordan are evidence that one of the Bible's most dramatic and improbable stories could be literally true, according to top theologian Dr John Bergsma, Daily Star [September 12, 2023.”

PRINT

HOME

**************************************

Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just email your request to wkrug@lutheranscience.org.

****************************************

QUESTION OF THE DAY

How long can a person survive in space without a spacesuit?

"Within a very short time, a matter of 10 to 15 seconds, you will become unconscious because of a lack of oxygen," according to Stefaan de Mey, a senior strategy officer at the European Space Agency (ESA).

Source: Andrew Jones, “How long could a person survive in space without a spacesuit?” 

Space.com/Live Science, [August 4, 2023].)

****************************************

NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity, personal attacks or advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow several hours for it to appear on the blog.