“I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you [Capernaum].” Matthew 11:24

Jesus performed many of his miracles in the city of Capernaum, yet today it is only a ruin. This fulfills Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 11:23. The people of Capernaum had been given many privileges and blessings from the Lord, which meant they had a responsibility to use them wisely.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had not received such great blessings and so not as much was expected from them (Matthew 10:15). These cities were notoriously wicked and unholy, yet the Scripture assures us that they would have repented had they had the light and knowledge given to those of Capernaum.

The first judgment day was in Eden—Adam was tested and he failed. Because of his failure, Adam was sentenced to death and this also plunged all of mankind into death. If Jesus had not provided his life a ransom for the life of Adam, thus releasing him and all his children from the death sentence, all would have stayed in the death condition forever!

The Day of Judgment (Millennial age) is not a twenty-four hour day but a thousand-year day (2 Peter 3:8) when all the world will be tested and judged worthy or unworthy of everlasting life. This includes all who lived in Sodom or Gomorrah, and other cities destroyed because of their great sinfulness, and even those that never knew God. Luke 3:6

An individual will be judged only after being given every possible opportunity to do that which is right in God’s sight. Satan’s influences will be done away with and every help and blessing will be made available so that obedience to the laws of the kingdom will be so much easier.

Those who become followers of Jesus during the Gospel age are released from the punishment that came upon Adam for his disobedience to God’s laws. These followers, the little flock, have their own time of testing before the world’s great day of judgment. 1 Peter 4:17

When they are given their reward of immortal life, they will become heavenly judges with Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:2). Remembering God’s mercy and love in their own experiences, they will be able to help the awakened people learn the ways of righteousness, so that they may gain everlasting life on earth.

Today the city of Capernaum is only a ruin.