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Christ declared； 〃As it was in the days of Lot； 。 。 。 even thus shall it be
in the day when the Son of man is revealed。〃 Luke 17：28；30。 The daily record
of passing events testifies to the fulfillment of His words。 The world is
fast becoming ripe for destruction。 Soon the judgments of God are to be
poured out； and sin and sinners are to be consumed。
Said our Saviour： 〃Take heed to yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting； and drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so
that day come upon you unawares。 For as a snare shall it come on all them
that dwell on the face of the whole earth〃upon all whose interests are
centered in this world。 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to
stand before the Son of man。〃 Luke 21：34…36。
Before the destruction of Sodom； God sent a message to Lot； 〃Escape for thy
life； look not behind thee； neither stay thou in all the plain； escape to
the mountain； lest thou be consumed。〃 The same voice of warning was heard by
the disciples of Christ before the destruction of Jerusalem： 〃When ye shall
see Jerusalem compassed with armies； then know that the desolation thereof
is nigh。 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains。〃 Luke
21：20；21。 They must not tarry to secure anything from their possessions； but
must make the most of the opportunity to escape。
There was a coming out； a decided separation from the wicked； an escape for
life。 So it was in the days of Noah； so with Lot； so with the disciples
prior to the destruction of Jerusalem； and so it will be in the last days。
Again the voice of God is heard in a message of warning； bidding His people
separate themselves from the prevailing iniquity。
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The state of corruption and apostasy that in the last days would exist in
the religious world； was presented to the prophet John in the vision of
Babylon； 〃that great city； which reigneth over the kings of the earth。〃
Revelation 17：18。 Before its destruction the call is to be given from
heaven； 〃Come out of her； My people； that ye be not partakers of her sins；
and that ye receive not of her plagues。〃 Revelation 18：4。 As in the days of
Noah and Lot； there must be a marked separation from sin and sinners。 There
can be no compromise between God and the world； no turning back to secure
earthly treasures。 〃Ye cannot serve God and mammon。〃 Matthew 6：24。
Like the dwellers in the vale of Siddim； the people are dreaming of
prosperity and peace。 〃Escape for thy life；〃 is the warning from the angels
of God； but other voices are heard saying； 〃Be not excited； there is no
cause for alarm。〃 The multitudes cry； 〃Peace and safety；〃 while Heaven
declares that swift destruction is about to come upon the transgressor。 On
the night prior to their destruction； the cities of the plain rioted in
pleasure and derided the fears and warnings of the messenger of God； but
those scoffers perished in the flames； that very night the door of mercy was
forever closed to the wicked； careless inhabitants of Sodom。 God will not
always be mocked； He will not long be trifled with。 〃Behold； the day of the
Lord cometh； cruel both with wrath and fierce anger； to lay the land
desolate： and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it。〃 Isaiah 13：9。
The great mass of the world will reject God's mercy； and will be overwhelmed
in swift and irretrievable ruin。 But those who heed the warning shall dwell
〃in the secret place of the Most High；〃 and 〃abide under the shadow of the
Almighty。〃 His truth shall be their shield and buckler。 For them is the
promise； 〃With long life will I satisfy him； and show him My salvation。〃
Psalm 91：1； 4；16。
Lot dwelt but a short time in Zoar。 Iniquity prevailed there as in Sodom；
and he feared to remain； lest the city should be destroyed。 Not long after；
Zoar was consumed； as God had purposed。 Lot made his way to the mountains；
and abode in a cave； stripped of all for which he had dared to subject his
family to the influences of a wicked city。 But the curse of Sodom followed
him even here。 The sinful conduct of his daughters was the result of the
evil associations of that vile place。 Its moral corruption had
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become so interwoven with their character that they could not distinguish
between good and evil。 Lot's only posterity； the Moabites and Ammonites；
were vile； idolatrous tribes； rebels against God and bitter enemies of His
people。
In how wide contrast to the life of Abraham was that of Lot！ Once they had
been companions； worshiping at one altar； dwelling side by side in their
pilgrim tents； but how widely separated now！ Lot had chosen Sodom for its
pleasure and profit。 Leaving Abraham's altar and its daily sacrifice to the
living God； he had permitted his children to mingle with a corrupt and
idolatrous people； yet he had retained in his heart the fear of God； for he
is declared in the Scriptures to have been a 〃just〃 man； his righteous soul
was vexed with the vile conversation that greeted his ears daily and the
violence and crime he was powerless to prevent。 He was saved at last as 〃a
brand plucked out of the fire〃 （Zechariah 3：2）； yet stripped of his
possessions； bereaved of his wife and children； dwelling in caves； like the
wild beasts； covered with infamy in his old age； and he gave to the world；
not a race of righteous men； but two idolatrous nations； at enmity with God
and warring upon His people； until； their cup of iniquity being full； they
were appointed to destruction。 How terrible were the results that followed
one unwise step！
Says the wise man； 〃Labor not to be rich： cease from thine own wisdom。〃 〃He
that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house； but he that hateth gifts
shall live。〃 Proverbs 23：4； 15：27。 And the apostle Paul declares； 〃They that
will be rich fall into temptation and a snare； and into many foolish and
hurtful lusts； which drown men in destruction and perdition。〃 1 Timothy 6：9。
When Lot entered Sodom he fully intended to keep himself free from iniquity
and to command his household after him。 But he signally failed。 The
corrupting influences about him had an effect upon his own faith； and his
children's connection with the inhabitants of Sodom bound up his interest in
a measure with theirs。 The result is before us。
Many are still making a similar mistake。 In selecting a home they look more
to the temporal advantages they may gain than to the moral and social
influences that will surround themselves and their families。 They choose a
beautiful and fertile country； or remove to some flourishing city； in the
hope of securing greater
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prosperity； but their children are surrounded by temptation； and too often
they form associations that are unfavorable to the development of piety and
the formation of a right character。 The atmosphere of lax morality； of
unbelief； of indifference to religious things； has a tendency to counteract
the influence of the parents。 Examples of rebellion against parental and
div