Articles
Pompeii, Sin City of the First Century · February 01, 2006
By Hal Mayer
The destruction of the ancient city of Pompeii has tremendous lessons. It was built pleasantly near the southern foot of Mt. Vesuvius and near the Bay of Naples. It was built on rock, surrounded by farmland renown for its fertility. It had abundant fishing in the bay, fresh water from the river Sarnus, trees and other resources from the mountain, and a harbor for commercial industries and trade. Pompeii had become wealthy by exploiting its natural resources.
The well developed city had smooth stone-paved streets, an amphitheater for gladiatorial sports, theaters for plays, concerts and other entertainment, shops, gardens and vineyards. There were fountains, aqueducts, public baths, pools and other recreational facilities. Some homes were enormous; covering a city block, richly appointed, with frescos, statuary, fountains pools and large colonnades. Temples to pagan gods were many. The city was secured by massive walls 20 feet thick and more than 30 feet high in places. The people felt safe and secure.
But Pompeii had become corrupt. The city was known for its promiscuous lifestyle; its brothels, nightlife, and entertainment. Immorality was glorified and homosexuality was rife. Pompeii drew tourists from all over the world, much like New Orleans, Las Vegas and other cities given over to extreme pleasure. Someone once wrote an inscription on a wall in the city, “Sodom and Gemora.”
But warning signs were everywhere that August. Streams and wells suddenly dried up. But the farmers thought it was just the summer heat. Strangely, many dogs, cats, and other beasts began leaving the city, mystifying the people. The Bay of Naples began to boil in places from hot lava. As enormous underground pressures were building a few miles away, earth tremors became frequent and intense. Yet the people were unconcerned.
Ironically on the festival day honoring Vulcan, the god of fire, the mountain exploded sending fire and ash twelve miles into the air. A blanket of super heated ash covered the city in minutes. People panicked, some ran inside their homes, locked themselves in and waited. Others fled this way and that. By midnight roofs began to collapse under the weight of accumulated ash. The choking ash suffocated many trying to escape. Soon hot lava avalanches engulfed the city burying it under 18 feet of pumice, trapping its residents, “frozen” in their final acts.
We live in luxury and convenience too. We surround ourselves with physical comforts, pleasures and luxuries. We revel ourselves in non-stop entertainment which glorifies the same lifestyle of ancient Pompeii. Even many Christians have become “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” 2 Tim 3:4. Jesus said, “There shall be a time of tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time…” Matt 24:21.
Are the natural disasters like the Tsunami, the New Orleans flood, and recent earthquakes a warning to us? Why are Adventists so unconcerned about the signs of the times? Will we be engulfed by an overwhelming surprise like the people of Pompeii? Let us take heed and turn from our wanton extravagance, our passion for fashion, our addiction to sports and entertainment. “For the Son of man cometh at an hour that ye think not.” Luke 12:40.
