Ezekiel 33:11. In harmony with what this verse says, what clarification of our beliefs have we received about the possible resurrection of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? (w24.05 4 par. 10; 6 par. 15).
Ezekiel 33:11 — Tell them, ‘“As surely as I am alive,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that someone wicked changes his way and keeps living. Turn back, turn back from your bad ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?”’
Answer 1: The clarification is that at least some of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah may be resurrected. It is not presented as a certainty, but as a hope that appears to have a Scriptural basis. Ezekiel 33:11 helps us understand why: Jehovah takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He is full of mercy and shows it whenever possible. Therefore, we should not assume that none of those inhabitants have the hope of being resurrected.
Answer 2: An important reason for this clarification is Jesus’ wording about Judgment Day. He indicated that it would be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who rejected him and his teachings. According to the explanation provided, everything indicates that Jesus was not exaggerating but was speaking literally. Understanding his words in this way gives us a basis for thinking that at least some inhabitants of those cities may be present at that judgment.
Answer 3: The comparison with the inhabitants of Nineveh also helps us understand the clarification. Jesus spoke about judgment both when referring to them and when referring to Sodom and Gomorrah. Surely, he was referring to the same Judgment Day. Both peoples did bad things, but the Ninevites had the opportunity to repent. This detail is part of the reasoning that leads us to recognize that there may be hope of resurrection for some inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Answer 4: Another basis is what Jesus explained at John 5:29: there would be a resurrection of judgment for people who practiced vile things. Thus, the wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah is not enough, by itself, to conclude that none of them could be resurrected. The explanation remains cautious: at least some may come back to life. If that happens, we may have the opportunity to help them come to know Jehovah and Jesus.
Answer 5: The clarification also distinguishes between what we know for certain and what remains a possibility. We do not know which of those inhabitants might be resurrected, nor is it stated that all of them will be. What we do know is that Jehovah never destroys anyone forever without weighty reasons. Ezekiel 33:11 shows his merciful feelings. Therefore, the possible resurrection of some inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah is consistent with what we know about his mercy.
What spiritual gems from this week’s Bible reading have you enjoyed?
Spiritual Gems From EZEKIEL 33
Ezekiel 33:3 — and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the horn and warns the people.
Comment 1: Ezekiel 33:3 shows that the watchman did more than see the danger; he warned the people. This reminds me that showing concern for others involves taking action. In the ministry, love can move me to overcome shyness and share the Bible’s message. The goal is not to alarm people but to help them.
Ezekiel 33:5 — He heard the sound of the horn, but he did not heed the warning. His blood will be upon himself. If he had heeded the warning, his life would have been saved.
Comment 2: At Ezekiel 33:5, the person heard the warning but did not heed it. His problem was not a lack of information but his response to it. This makes me think about how I respond to Bible counsel. I may know a principle very well and yet postpone a necessary change. To benefit from Jehovah’s help, I need to move from listening to acting. If I see something that I need to correct, the best course is to start doing so without delay.
Ezekiel 33:7 — “As for you, son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman to the house of Israel; and when you hear a word from my mouth you must warn them from me.
Comment 3: Ezekiel 33:7 highlights that the prophet first had to listen to Jehovah and then convey His warning. He was not to invent the message or express his own opinions as though they were God’s words. I see here a useful principle for teaching the Bible: before explaining something, I need to understand clearly what it says. Then, when I converse with someone in the ministry, I can direct his attention to the Scriptures instead of giving prominence to my ideas.
Ezekiel 33:9 — But if you warn someone wicked to turn back from his way and he refuses to change his course, he will die for his error, but you will certainly save your own life.
Comment 4: Ezekiel 33:9 distinguishes between the prophet’s responsibility and the decision of the person who received the warning. Ezekiel had to speak, but he could not force anyone to change. This principle helps me maintain balance in the ministry. I want to prepare well, listen, and explain the truth kindly, but the person’s response does not depend only on me. If someone does not accept the message, that does not necessarily mean that I have carried out my assignment poorly.
Ezekiel 33:11 — Tell them, ‘“As surely as I am alive,” declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that someone wicked changes his way and keeps living. Turn back, turn back from your bad ways, for why should you die, O house of Israel?”’
Comment 5: At Ezekiel 33:11, I am struck by the fact that Jehovah not only announces the consequences of wickedness; he also pleads with his people to change course. He wants people to live, and this reveals the love behind his warning. It teaches me how I should view Bible-based correction: not as a sign that Jehovah wants to reject me, but as help to abandon what harms me and draw close to him.
Ezekiel 33:13 — When I say to the righteous one: “You will surely keep living,” and he trusts in his own righteousness and does what is wrong, none of his righteous acts will be remembered, but he will die for the wrong that he has done.
Comment 6: Ezekiel 33:13 warns of the danger of trusting in one’s own righteousness. A person may have done good things and then think that this allows him to do wrong without consequences. The lesson for me is that years of service or good decisions in the past do not replace obedience today. Rather than feeling immune to temptations, I need to keep examining my conduct and accept help. Faithfulness to Jehovah must be reflected in my current decisions.
Ezekiel 33:15 — and the wicked one returns what was taken in pledge and pays back what was taken by robbery, and he walks in the statutes of life by not doing what is wrong, he will surely keep living. He will not die.
Comment 7: Ezekiel 33:15 shows that abandoning wickedness included concrete actions, such as returning what had been stolen. It was not enough to say that one was repentant; one had to change one’s conduct and repair the damage when possible. This helps me evaluate my apologies. If I have hurt someone, in addition to asking for forgiveness, I can ask myself what I should do to make the situation right. Genuine repentance is seen in the steps we take, not just in the words we use.
Ezekiel 33:16 — None of the sins he committed will be held against him. For doing what is just and righteous, he will surely keep living.’
Comment 8: Ezekiel 33:16 offers much comfort to someone who has left behind a wrong course of conduct. Jehovah assures us that he will not hold the former sins of a person who changes and does what is just against him. He does not consider it impossible for someone to become different. This also teaches me not to define others by their past mistakes. In the congregation, I want to recognize the genuine changes of my brothers and treat them in harmony with that progress.
Ezekiel 33:17 — “But your people have said, ‘The way of Jehovah is unjust,’ when it is actually their way that is unjust.
Comment 9: At Ezekiel 33:17, some accused Jehovah of being unjust, when they themselves were acting wrongly. This reminds me how easy it is to justify wrong conduct by questioning the standard that condemns it. If Bible counsel makes me uncomfortable, it is wise to examine my attitude before rejecting it. I can ask myself whether I truly do not understand it or whether I find it difficult to accept because it requires a change. Humility helps me allow Jehovah to correct my way of thinking.
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