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WHAT
OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS? (IT
WOULD DO WELL TO READ LUKE 16:19-31). To take this story at its face value, without the rest of Scripture to test it by, one could possibly conclude that this story is 100% true in every detail, and that the wicked do, in fact, go to an "eternal hell fire," and that the saints go straight to "Abraham's bosom" upon death. But the Bible says concerning the study of it that:- "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" Isaiah 28:10. And we surely cannot ignore the plainest language in Scripture concerning the state of the dead, and say that Jesus Himself taught something totally opposite. For example, in the story, the rich man knows that he has died, and shows concern for his brothers who are still living, but how does this stand in the light of Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything... also their love, and their hatred, their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun?" Another, the story shows each dead person talking to each other, yet Psalms 115:17 says, "the dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." We must remember, when studying the Bible, that Scripture backs up Scripture, not our own ideas or the opinions of others. So then, let us take a look at this story in the light of all of Scripture, and see if it can stand the test.... The scene of the parable is laid in 'hades,' the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew 'SHEOL,' in the story both the rich man and Lazarus had died with the rich man being buried on earth with the appropriate ceremonies. Although nothing is said about an intangible, immortal soul leaving the body at death, these two characters are often regarded as disembodied spirits — two ghosts, feeling their respective ghostly misery and joy, with words issuing from their lips. The rich man, (from now on called "Dives," from the Latin adjective for "rich"), in torment, is depicted in the story as seeing Lazarus afar off in "Abraham's bosom" — a common concept — and beseeching Abraham to send Lazarus to relieve his torment with a drop of water to cool his tongue. But instead, he is reminded of the impassable gulf fixed between them. That's the picture — the gulf between heaven and hell realistically too wide for "spirits" on opposite sides to cross over, but narrow enough for them to talk to each other!!! Now if this portrayal is real, then the abodes of the saved and the damned are forever within sight and sound of each other, yet the space between them is unbridgeable. It's a strange contention that the sights and sounds of the agonies of the damned are to enhance the bliss of the redeemed. (?). It must not be overlooked that Lazarus was carried off to "Abraham's bosom," not heaven. Nor to the presence of God. Abraham is the chief personage — and each of the characters is portrayed as without a prior resurrection. But this concept results in a maze of absurdities and contradictions. Abraham is shown to be talking, that he is actually there. Are we to understand from this that all the saved will dwell in "Abraham's bosom"??? And what of Abraham himself, having died and his sons burying him? Genesis 25:8, 9. Yet the Bible gives no record of his resurrection. In fact, Abraham is listed with the other patriarchs in Hebrews 11 as one waiting for that "better" resurrection at the second coming of Christ. The parable was a common method used by Christ in teaching truth. And the laws, or principles, of parables, familiar in Christ's day were a sufficient safeguard against misunderstanding. This particular parable, unique in the New Testament, has its nearest parallel in the Old Testament, in the parabolic imagery of Isaiah 14:9-11, which represents dead Kings, though actually in their graves, rising up and sitting on thrones in sheol, conversing and rejoicing over the mighty Babylonian conqueror who had put them to death, and who himself was now conquered by death and is coming to take his throne in the nether regions. Jotham's parabolic story of the trees, the vine, and the bramble engaging in a political discussion is another parallel in the Old Testament. The episode never took place in reality, but that no way detracts from the truth emphasised in parabolic form. This parable pictures inanimate objects personified, and even given life and speech. In Judges 9:8-15 we read, "the trees went forth on a time to anoint a King over them; and they said... "anyone will recognise this clearly as figurative language. All admit that the story of Luke 16 must be either literal fact, and 100% true in every detail, or only a parable. It cannot be both. If it is correct and true in its doctrine, what then do we do with the rest of Scripture? But if only a parable, then only a moral thought can be conveyed. And this is so, for Christ is not here disclosing the particulars of life beyond the grave, rather, He was using a trenchant story of the times to admonish and rebuke those who refused His teachings on the right use of wealth. It was also believed by the Jews that they were saved, not because of the grace of God, but because of their race. And what's more, if one was a RICH Jew, then his chances of salvation were even better! Hence, Christ using an ancient story, but placing a rich Jew in hell, while a common beggar went to heaven, showed the bigoted Jew just where he was wrong. God doesn't save anyone because of their race, nor only if they are rich. He saves them because as the parable points out, they have heeded God's Word and lived in obedience to it. Those who contend that this story is true, suppose that Dives and Lazarus are in a disembodied state, that is, destitute of bodies. "Spirits." And yet Dives is explicitly referred to as having "eyes" that see, and a "tongue" that speaks, as well as seeking cooling relief from the "finger" of Lazarus — real bodily parts. They are thus portrayed as going to their rewards bodily, despite the fact that Dive's body was duly buried and in the grave. Also, if this portrayal were real, who is there who would contend that a drop of water off the finger of Lazarus would be sufficient to help bring cooling relief for Dives? To cite this allegory as a literal instead of a figurative account, would, as has been said, place heaven and hell geographically within speaking and seeing distance of each other, which is absurd. Saints and sinners eternally holding converse!! Will all who die in Christ see and talk across the diving gulf, through all eternity, with their own loved ones who have died out of Christ?? If this is true, that dead men actually hold converse with one another, then the parable contradicts the plainest declarations of Scripture — "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Psalms 146:4. "The dead know not anything" Ecclesiastes 9:5. "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." Psalms 115:17. If the narrative is literal, then the beggar received his reward, and Dives his punishment immediately after death and before the judgment day, Acts 24:15. To use this parable to prove that men receive their rewards at death is squarely to contradict Christ Himself, who states explicitly that both the righteous and the wicked receive their reward, "when the Son of Man shall come in His glory." (Matthew 25:31-41; Revelation 22:12). It is in direct conflict with Paul's declaration that God, "hath appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness." (Acts 17:31). This day will be when "the Son of man shall come in His glory... and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from the other." (Matthew 25:31, 32). A literal interpretation also conflicts with Christ's promise of reward in Luke 14:14, "Thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Compare also Paul's statement, "There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD... shall give me at that day." 2 Timothy 4:8 — the day of His appearing. This statement is in harmony with Malachi 4:1-4, which says that "the day cometh" — a future event — when the wicked are to suffer the torments of consuming fire. Even King David, "a man after God's own heart" is still waiting in the grave for his reward, we are told in Acts 2:29, 34. It seems clear, that all the Bible, Moses and all the prophets, are united and harmonious in testifying that the dead, both the righteous and wicked, lie silent and unconscious in death until the resurrection day. {See Job 14:12-15, 20, 21; 17:13; 19:25, 27; Psalms 115:17; John 11:11-14}. Jesus frequently referred to the fate of the wicked. He mentioned "Hell" Matthew 10:28; He referred to "Hell fire" Matthew 5:22; He called attention to the resurrection of damnation" John 5:29; to the "damnation of hell" Matthew 23:33; and to "eternal damnation" Mark 3:29. We should also take special notice of Christ's words in Matthew 10:28, where Jesus says to "Fear him which is able to DESTROY ..." not 'able to inflict eternal torture,' no, destroy the "soul and body in hell." In the parable, Dives lifts up his eyes "in torments," "in this flame." But according to Scripture this torment does not precede the second advent. { 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8}. 'Gehenna' is the Greek word usually used when the fires of destruction are described. But in this story of Dives, the word "hell" is translated from 'Hades,' the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word 'SHEOL,' which both mean, "the grave," and the grave contains no such fire. To the Jews, all the dead were in 'hades,' the 'grave' home of the dead. This story in no way proves the consciousness of the dead, or the present and eternal torment of the wicked. Such a conclusion, I believe, is wholly without justification, and is contradictory to the clear, plain teaching of God's Word. Death is consistently set forth in Scripture as a condition of silence, darkness, a dreamless sleep, and unconsciousness. {See Psalms 6:5; 115:17; Isaiah 38:18}. THE
MEANING OF THE PARABLE We cannot stop here without giving you the reason behind such a parable. To do so would leave us with many unanswered questions! The great gulf, ( Greek, 'chasma' "chasm" ) — narrow enough to allow conversation to take place across it, but deep enough to prevent passage — is incomprehensible on the hypothesis of immaterial "spirit" beings. Why is it impossible for them to pass between heaven and hell when they are "spirits??" Didn't the very same spirit just travel from earth to either place at the point of death? Why couldn't it travel a little further?? Rather, the gulf would indicate the irrevocable division that death fixes between the good and the bad at the close of their earthly probation. Each must remain in the class in which death finds him, until the great judgment day. Today, one may pass from the state of the condemned { John 3:18}, to that of the pardoned. But when death comes, it is forever too late — the gulf is fixed. The obvious purpose of this parable being spoken is for the influencing of the living, and is adapted to the time. But God's appointed time for the grace of man is before death and resurrection. Retribution comes after resurrection, Daniel 12:2. Life after death is always consequent upon the resurrection. Moreover, when Dives pleaded with Abraham that Lazarus be sent back to warn his kinfolk against the terrors of hell, lest they come to the same place of torment, the answer was explicit: "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them" Luke 16:29. And if they will not heed them, then, Christ says plainly, they would not be persuaded, "though one rose from the dead." verse 31. THEREFORE
I BELIEVE..... (A) That the dialogue, with its parabolic personification, was wholly imaginary. And I believe not merely that it did not happen, but that it could never happen, between the saved and lost. (B) That the time is likewise fictitious. Not only is the dialogue invented, but the time is antedated. (Men are not to be rewarded, or to receive retribution, until the resurrection) but here they are pictured allegorically as before the resurrection. (C) This is the only place in Scripture where "hades" does not mean "the grave." But Christ, for the purpose of a parable, and utilizing current concepts, here antedates and portrays Dives and Lazarus and Abraham as alive in hades before the resurrection, just as Isaiah raises up his dead King in hades. According to the teachings of Jesus in other parables, the recompense is at the resurrection of the just — the "time of the harvest" and the "end of the world," when God's people are gathered into His garner, and the wicked, as tares, are bundled for burning. {Matthew 13:30, 49; Luke 14:14}. In this parable, Christ was meeting the people on their own ground. The doctrine of a conscious state of existence between death and the resurrection was held by many of those who were listening to Christ's words. The Saviour knew of their ideas, and He framed His parable so as to inculcate important truths through these preconceived opinions. He held up before His hearers a mirror wherein they might see themselves in their true relation to God. He used the prevailing opinion to convey the idea He wished to make prominent to all — that no man is valued for his possessions; for all he has belongs to him only as lent by the LORD. A misuse of these gifts will place him below the poorest and most afflicted man who loves God and trusts in Him. It was brought to this group of critics, then, not to condone their errors but to illustrate from their own teachings, the unsoundness of their position. Our entrance into the kingdom of God is by grace, and grace alone; but once in the kingdom we are to live as citizens of the kingdom, according to the principles of that kingdom, as revealed in Scripture. If men turn from this clear revelation of God in His Word, they would not believe though one were to rise from the dead. A supernatural event, or even an accumulation of such events, will not suffice to convince those who reject the Word of God.
Therefore I cannot accept that this parable is an actual, literal, real
event for the following reasons:- 1. The state of the dead, both the righteous and the wicked, as set forth in Scripture. 2. The final and total destruction of the wicked, as set forth in Scripture. 3. The non-immortality of the soul: "The soul that sinneth it shall die" Ezekiel 18:4. 4.
The rewards of both the righteous and the wicked, given to all after the
resurrection at the second coming of Christ, as set forth in Scripture.
"Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every man
according as his work shall be." Revelation
22:11. Nowhere in the sacred Scriptures is found the statement that the righteous go to their reward or the wicked to their punishment at death. The patriarchs and the prophets have left no such assurance. Christ and His apostles have given no such hint of it. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead do not go immediately to heaven. If so, who is resurrected at the second coming ?? 1 Thessalonians 4:16. They are represented as sleeping until the resurrection. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Job 14:10-12. In the very day when the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl broken ( Ecclesiastes 12:6), mans thoughts perish. They that go down to the grave are in silence, Psalms 115:17: they know no more any of that which is done under the sun, Ecclesiates 9:6. Blessed rest for the weary righteous. Time, be it long or short, is but a moment to them. they sleep; but Jesus comes to wake them out of their sleep, with the trump of God to glorious immortality. "For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible... so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:52-54. If death were no more than a change from Earth to Heaven, why is it an enemy that needs to be destroyed, especially for the Christian?? We would go straight to heaven at point of death, so why fear it? No, as Jesus Himself has said, death is a sleep. And for those who fall asleep in Christ, it is a sleep that will not be eternal. As they will be called forth from their deep slumber, they will begin to think just where they ceased. The last sensation was the pang of death; the last thought, that they were falling beneath the power of the grave, will be their first thought when woken up by Christ. But, when they see that they are awakened from their sleep, their first glad thought will be echoed in the triumphal shout: "O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? o GRAVE WHERE IS THY VICTORY?!" ********************************* WHY
IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY? The doctrine of natural immortality, has supplanted the truth so plainly taught in Scripture, that "the dead know not anything." The doctrine of man's consciousness in death, especially the belief that spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has prepared the way for modern spiritualism. If the dead are admitted to the presence of God and the holy angels, and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they before possessed, why should they not return to Earth to enlighten and instruct the living? Here is a channel regarded as sacred, through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels who do his bidding, appear as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercised his bewitching influence upon their minds.
He has the power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvellous distinctness. Many are comforted with the assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven, and without suspicion of danger, they give an ear "to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. When they have been led to believe that the dead actually return to communicate with them, Satan causes those to appear who went down into the grave unprepared. They claim to be happy in heaven and even to occupy exalted positions there, and thus the error is widely taught that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked. These pretended visitants from the world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present doctrines that directly undermine faith in the Scriptures. With an appearance of deep interest in the well-being of their friends on earth, they insinuate the most dangerous errors. The fact that they state some truths, and are able to foretell future events, gives to their statements the appearance of reliability; and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as readily, and believed as implicitly, as if they were the most sacred truths of the Bible. Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God, begun in heaven and for nearly six thousand years continued upon earth. Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is merely human trickery or cunning; but when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God. These persons overlook the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the wonders wrought by Satan and his agents. Paul testifies that before the second coming of Christ there will be great manifestations of satanic power. The coming of the LORD is to be preceded by "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10. And the apostle John, describing the miracle working power that will be manifested in the last days, declares: "He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth, by the means of those miracles which he had the power to do." Revelation 13:13. No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan's agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do. But none need be deceived by the lying claims of spiritualism. God has given the world sufficient light to enable them to discover the snare. As already shown, the theory which forms the very foundation of spiritualism is at war with the plainest statements of Scripture. The Bible declares that the dead know not anything, that their thoughts have perished, that they have no part in anything that is done under the sun; they know nothing of the joys or sorrows of those who were dearest to them on earth. Furthermore, God has expressly forbidden all pretended communication with departed spirits. In the days of the Hebrews there was a class of people who claimed, as do the spiritualists of today, to hold communication with the dead. But the "familiar spirits," as these visitants from other worlds were called, are declared by the Bible to be "the spirits of devils." [Compare Numbers 25:1-3; Psalms 106:28; 1 Corinthians 10:20; Revelation 16:14]. The work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the LORD, and was solemnly forbidden under penalty of death. {Leviticus 19:31; 20:27}. There are few who have any just conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits' control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive. It is impossible, in their own strength, to break away from the bewitching, alluring spell. Nothing but the power of God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these ensnared souls. Marvellous beyond expression is the blindness of the people of this generation. Thousands reject the Word of God as unworthy of belief and with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan. Nothing can arouse their fears. So fully have they yielded to the tempter, so closely are they united with him, and so thoroughly imbued with his spirit, that they have no power and no inclination to break away from his snare. Satan has long been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden: "Ye shall not surely die," "In the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4, 5. Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time. Says the prophet: "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs...... they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Revelation 16:13, 14. The people are fast being lulled into a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God. Then, it will be too late. Only those who have fortified their minds with the Word of God will then be able to stand. The rest of the world will be swept into the ranks of this horrible delusion. Is it important for us to understand the Bible truth on this topic then? Oh yes! What
says the Bible, the blessed Bible? This
my only question be. The
ideas of men so often confuse us, What
says the Bible to me? Yours in the Master's Service, Peter Hitchens Psalms 23. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Waiting for the Master's call to eternal life.
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