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The Truth About Angels
treatment of these heavenly messengers that very night they would
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reach the climax of the guilt which doomed their proud city. But there
was one man who manifested kindly attention toward the strangers,
and invited them to his home. Lot did not know their true character,
but politeness and hospitality were habitual with him.—
Patriarchs and
Prophets, 158
.
The angels revealed to Lot the object of their mission: “We will
destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the
face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” The strangers
whom Lot had endeavored to protect, now promised to protect him,
and to save also all the members of his family who would flee with
him from the wicked city.... Lot went out to warn his children. He
repeated the words of the angels, “Up, get you out of this place; for
the Lord will destroy this city.” But he seemed to them as one that
mocked....
Lot returned sorrowfully to his home, and told the story of his
failure. Then the angels bade him arise, and take his wife and two
daughters who were yet in his house, and leave the city.... Stupified
with sorrow, he lingered, loath to depart. But for the angels of God,
they would all have perished in the ruin of Sodom. The heavenly
messengers took him and his wife and daughters by the hand, and led
them out of the city.
Here the angels left them, and turned back to Sodom to accomplish
their work of destruction. Another—He with whom Abraham had
pleaded—drew near to Lot....
The Prince of heaven was by his side, yet he pleaded for his own
life as though God, who had manifested such care and love for him,
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would not still preserve him. He should have trusted himself wholly to
the divine Messenger, giving his will and his life into the Lord’s hands
without a doubt or a question. But like so many others, he endeavored
to plan for himself....
Again the solemn command was given to hasten, for the fiery storm
would be delayed but little longer. But one of the fugitives [Lot’s wife]
ventured to cast a look backward to the doomed city, and she became
a monument of God’s judgment.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 158-161
.