Sodom And Egypt?

Q

Thank you so much for your extremely helpful website. Please help me understand Rev 11:8. Why would Jerusalem be spiritually called Sodom and Egypt?

A

The reference to Sodom is symbolic of Jerusalem’s spiritual immorality, the Jews having flirted with false gods periodically through out their history. 750 years earlier, Isaiah referred to Israel’s leaders as the rulers of Sodom, and their subjects as the people of Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:10)

Egypt represents the spiritual oppression that characterized the manner in which Judaism was often practiced. Isaiah also said their worship of God was made up only of rules taught by men (Isaiah 29:13). The Pharisees especially were focused on a nearly obsessive obedience to the minute details of the law.