A great gulf between Lazarus and the rich man.
Luke 16:19 "There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:"
This is starting a new parable to tell us what heaven and hell is actually like. This rich man in the parable had all the wealth that he needed, and he had everything that his mind could think of.
Luke 16:20 "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,"
Lazarus was sitting daily at the beggars gate, seeking enough money to buy food to eat. He had nothing, and his body was full of sores from wrong diet, and the beggars life.
Luke 16:21 "And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: more over the dogs came and licked his sores."
This verse is telling us that this man was treated worse than the dogs, for even the dogs get fed by their masters. This rich man had showed no compassion to this poor man in life, as they lived here in the flesh. Even the dogs showed more compassion for Lazarus than that rich man, for they came and licked the sores of Lazarus.
Lazarus in the Greek is the same as Eleazar in the Hebrew tongue. Eleazar was the son of Aaron, who was the first man to qualify as an honest priest of God. Eleazar had two other brothers that violated everything that God had directed the priest to do. They took the fire of the stove back home to light the altar fire, that went against the instructions that God gave to Aaron. They did not take the things of God serious, but fit God and their duties into their personal life scheduling. Their religion was what they wanted to make it to be, not what God instructed the priesthood to be. In due time after they messed with God's altar, God struck both of them dead. Then Eleazar became the priest, and set the example for the priesthood.
This is why Jesus is using the parable of Lazarus the poor man here on earth, and is being elevated to the bosom of Abraham, and present by Christ before God. So this verse shows us the lack of compassion that the rich man had. When Jesus raised Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, from the dead, Jesus was trying to show that the priesthood of Eleazar lives again.
Luke 16:22 "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom the rich man also died, and was buried;"
Lazarus was carried into heaven by the angels of God, while the rich man's body was buried in the ground and his soul went to Hades, the holding place before being destroyed by hell fire.
Luke 16:23 "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."
This is a parable about two men that actually lived, and when both died, the rich man could see Lazarus in heaven with Abraham. He could look across that great gulf that stood between them, but could not go there. Our Heavenly Father is the Father of the living and not the dead. Thus to be absent from this physical body of the flesh is to be present with the Lord. The soul does not go to the grave as the flesh does, but goes immediate to heaven. Those that did not overcome cannot be with those that overcame in this earth age, for they are separated. All souls can actually see the throne of God from where they are. Those that are on the rich man's side are being held for that great judgment day.
Luke 16:24 "And he cried and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' "
There is no flame there yet, but there will be after Judgment day. God doesn't burn anybody until after judgment day. This rich man had everything that he wanted, but here in heaven, he can't even afford one drop of water. The role is switched here in heaven, for now Lazarus has the comfort of heaven, and the rich man has nothing, not even comfort.
Editor's Note: These are good examples and they help us, with the limitations of our flesh minds to understand the differences in situations. But, remember what is being done here, I believe, is the use of a physical example to help us see, in our mind's eye, a spiritual happening or occurrence. God is described in the Bible as a consuming fire. The end of Satan's and your soul, if you are not saved, is to be cast into "The Lake of Fire". I believe we are not looking at literal fire, as we conceive it to be. But, we are looking at a fearsome God who has the ability to cause us, i.e. our souls, to no longer exist, just the same as if something physical was to be burned up in a fire. Same as the example given in verse 24 saying "have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." I believe that was a physical example used to help us understand a spiritual happening. Remember when Jesus offered the Samaritan women some living water so she would never thirst. Well the rich man in verse 24 did not have Christ's living water; therefore, he was tormented in the "spiritual" flame.
Does what I just said make any sense to you? If not maybe you need to have Christ spit in your eyes like the man from Bethsaida.
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Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
Life has it's payday, and this is the rich man's time.
Luke 16:26 "And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.' "
"Between us that over came, and you that did not overcome, there is a great gulf fixed." That gulf is so fixed that even though one side can see the other side, there is no way to pass between. We can't go your way and you can't come our way. Luke is making the entire clear that you set your course in this life of the flesh, and when your soul passes into the next life, there is no changing what you have done in this life. This gulf or chasm is from the Greek "Chasma"; It means "an impassable interval". The interval is of time and space. This is telling us that if you die hell bound and enter into that other dimension, there is no way that you can reenter back into this dimension again. What ever side of the gulf you are on when you die, that is the side you stay until judgment day. This space is talked about by the prophet Ezra, or in the Greek "Esdras" in the Apocrypha, in the II Esdras 7:78-87. Though it is rejected in our Bibles today, it was in the original king James version of 1611, until the American and British Bible societies removed it. It interfered with some of their traditions, and thus had to go. But it was revealed to Ezra by God.
II Esdras 7:78-80 "For about death, the teaching is: When the final sentence goes forth from the Most High that a man is to die, when the soul departs from the body to return again to him who gave it, first of all it prays to the glory of the Most High; if it was one of those who scorned and did not observe the way of the Most High, and of those who have despised his law, and of those who hate those who fear God, such spirits shall not enter dwellings but wander about thence forth in torment, always grieving and sad, in seven ways."
This means that when you first get to heaven and see the throne of God, it draws praise and glorifying the name of God. But to those that were like the rich man in Jesus parable, after they see what they have done while in their flesh body, it will send them directly to this place of torments, where there is nothing but grief and sadness on the other side of the gulf. So now it gives the seven ways to get to this place of grief.
II Esdras 7:81-87 "The first way is that they have scorned the Law of the Most High. The second way is that they can no longer make a good repentance, so that they may live. the third way is that they will see the reward destined for those who have believed the agreements of the Most High. The fourth way is that they will consider the torment destined for them in the last days. The fifth way is that they will see that the dwelling-places of the others are guarded by angels in profound silence. The sixth way is that they will see that some of them will pass over to be tormented henceforth. The seventh way way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned, is that they will waste away in shame and be consumed in disgrace, and wither with fear, at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they lived, and before whom they are destined to be judged in the last times."
These are the seven ways and seven things that will be observed and cannot be changed prior to the judgment, and final destruction of those soul that reject our heavenly Father, the "Most High". So is there a burning hell? Yes, that burning hell does not consume thought until after the great white throne judgment, at the end of the Millennium age following the seventh trump. Many of those across the gulf at this time, did not have a chance to hear the Word of God, because there were not teachers of the truth. Some were taken in innocence, or for one reason or another did not have the chance to repent. Those souls will be taught in the Millennium age. However until that time comes, and this day of grace still exists, it is impossible to travel across this gulf spoken of in this verse. Nobody is sleeping in the ground at death, but they all are very much in God's presence in heaven.
Luke 16:27 "Then he said, `I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:"
This is the rich man speaking to Abraham, asking him to send Lazarus back to earth, to witness to his brothers, father and mother.
Luke 16:28 "For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' "
This rich man is saying that if you will not help me, then at least help my five brothers. I don't want them to end up like I am. The torment is not from a fire, but from shame and disgrace. The fact that you are a complete failure and bound for hell fire.
Luke 16:29 "Abraham saith unto him, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' "
Abraham is telling this rich man that your brothers have the Word of God from the prophets, let them listen to them. That is all they are going to get. That's all your are going to get also, the words by the prophets of God, and the written word that you are studying now. If you believe it or not, that's up to you, but if you reject it, and refuse the only way provided, by repentance through the blood of Christ, you will end up exactly where this rich man is. You make the choice for yourself.
Luke 16:30 "And he said, `Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.' "
The sad news is that even Christ went to them, and they refused Him, so why would they listen to Lazarus? Jesus knows that they won't. Remember that Christ had not died at the time of this parable, but Jesus went to this man also after He died on the cross, and many at that time did repent and come out of the tomb. Many people today after hearing the truths still will not repent and accept Him, but continue in their evil ways of self-righteousness. Jesus is telling us that the priesthood of Eleazar lives, and this is the position of heaven and hell up until the day of judgment, when those that will not accept Christ will be completely destroyed. Even in the minds of their loved ones, God will erase that soul from all minds, and it will be as if that person had never been created in the first place.
Luke 16:31 "And he said unto him, `If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.' "
I won't judge these five brothers, but if they would not believe the prophets, and Jesus came to them, from the shame of the cross, why would they take His Word and listen to Jesus at that time. Sure many did, but most will not. However if they would listen and repent, they could be saved and not go to the place their their rich brother went to. Even though it was to late for this rich man, he still though of his brothers and wanted the best for them. Is there hope for him in the Millennium age, if these is, it will be not by grace as we have it today, but by works completely. By obedience completely to the Laws of God, and discipline for that entire thousand year period. Salvation in the millennium age is judged by works alone.
Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and Him That sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."
This great white throne judgment is after the Millennium age, for souls are saved in this earth age by grace, faith and repentance through the blood of Christ. But after the great white throne there is no heaven age, or no earth age as it was before, for those souls will all be gone; not even a history on them left.
Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in those books, according to their works."
Those that died before the seventh trump and have repented of their sins in this age of grace receive their rewards at death or at the seventh trumpet, if they were still alive in the flesh at the seventh trump. In this other book that was opened, the book of life, the only thing that is listed are the names of the souls that are saved and under the blood of Christ. They have given Christ all the glory, and that is all that is necessary for them to pass one into their rewards in the eternity.
However the rich man, and those that refused Christ will be judged by their works during the Millennium age.
Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works."
Every soul that has not received eternal life under the shed blood of Christ will be present at this time. and can only be spared hell fire by their works during the Millennium.
Revelation 20:14 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
They were cast into the lake of fire by their own choice, for this second death is the death of their very soul.
Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
God does not burn anyone until after the Millennium age, and the great white throne judgment. Jesus uses hell in His parables because in the flesh, you can feel and imagine the flames of fire consuming your flesh body. But, in the spiritual body in which Lazarus and the rich man were in, fire, as we invision it, would have no effect. It is their souls which God will consume, These men were already in their spiritual bodies in heaven, waiting for the Millennium age to start, and then judgment.