On August 24 79 AD, the eruption of Vesuvius destroyed the Roman hedonistic playgrounds of Pomepii and Herculaneum. In the ruins of Pompeii the remains of 35 brothels have been found. In both Pompeii and Herculaneum, pornographic images adorn the villas of the rich.

In the July/August 2010 edition of Biblical Archaeology Review, an intriguing article appeared entitled “The Destruction of Pompeii—God’s Revenge?”. You can access the article here. The author asks, “Did anyone connect the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 C.E. with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70?” and reviews the evidence. Another question that must be considered is whether both Pompeii and Herculaneum were judged for their notorious immorality and hedonism, having figuratively passed a point-of-no-return from God’s perspective? (Earlier I opined here that I believe America has passed a point-of-no-return for the judgment of God.)

There is an interesting video here regarding the 300 bodies found on the beach in Herculaneum that caused historians and archeologists to reconsider what happened that fateful day in 79 A.D. There is also a video here chronicling what happened that day.

(Shortly after the devastating tsunami in 2004 in the Indian Ocean, John Piper penned an editorial here offering his perspective on the tragedy – he believed that tragedies like that are a clear message to repent.)

The heat was so intense from the pyroclastic flow in Herculaneum (900 degrees F) that is literally vaporized the brain causing the skull to explode. It is noteworthy that Scripture refers to the “fire” of hell that always burns but never consumes. Today, the doctrine of Hell has largely become a forbidden topic in the church; I talk about that here. But in fact, the doctrine of Hell has a place in apologetics and the sharing of the gospel.