Where do believers go after death?
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You are right! The word "vision" IS in the text. However there are a score or so different Greek words used for the word "vision".
The usage here denotes that they saw an APPEARANCE. It is not a dream vision or any of the other type of Greek usages for "visions".
3706. horasis ►
Strong's Concordance
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: horasis
Phonetic Spelling: (hor'-as-is)
Short Definition: a sight, vision, appearance
Definition: a sight, vision, appearance.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from horaó
Definition
the act of seeing, a vision, appearance
NASB Translation
appearance (2), vision (1), visions (1).
horasis: the act of seeing, a vision, appearance
Original Word: ὅρασις, εως, ἡPart of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: horasis
Phonetic Spelling: (hor'-as-is)
Short Definition: a sight, vision, appearance
Definition: a sight, vision, appearance.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from horaó
Definition
the act of seeing, a vision, appearance
NASB Translation
appearance (2), vision (1), visions (1).
About to leave work. I'll address the rest of your post later.
The absence of proper names in parables isn't a rule; it's an observation.
Parables can be seen as fictitious and they still make their point without taking away from the credibility of the one telling them (Jesus). Are they not all "earthly stories (sower, coin, an attacked traveler, a wasteful son) with a heavenly meaning"? The characters in the parables are unnamed, were never mentioned before in the Bible, and never get mentioned again. They have no literal history attached to them.
But this story, with the inclusion of the historical "father Abraham", is a description of consciousness after death and before the resurrection of the body. Consciousness after death has no "parabolic" meaning. It doesn't symbolize anything. Much more had already been said about Abraham in the Bible at the time Jesus told this account, and more will be said about him in the NT epistles.
Parables can be seen as fictitious and they still make their point without taking away from the credibility of the one telling them (Jesus). Are they not all "earthly stories (sower, coin, an attacked traveler, a wasteful son) with a heavenly meaning"? The characters in the parables are unnamed, were never mentioned before in the Bible, and never get mentioned again. They have no literal history attached to them.
But this story, with the inclusion of the historical "father Abraham", is a description of consciousness after death and before the resurrection of the body. Consciousness after death has no "parabolic" meaning. It doesn't symbolize anything. Much more had already been said about Abraham in the Bible at the time Jesus told this account, and more will be said about him in the NT epistles.
An observation enforced by those who reject the telling of the story of the rich man and Lazarus as a parable, as if the enforcement of their assumption had any merit, when it does not. To say there is no literal history attached to any parable is incredibly erroneous to the point where you negate the fact that Jesus brings lost sheep into His fold, thereby negating the gospel message itself!
Jesus wasn't the one who brought the lost sheep into His fold. "A man" did that (Matt. 18:12) That's the parable - the earthly story.
"Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." That's NOT the parable; that's the meaning of the parable - the heavenly meaning.
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the sower who sowed seed in the 4 types of soil?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the woman who hid the leaven in three measures of meal?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the prodigal son?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the good Samaritan?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the man who found the treasure buried in the field?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the man who left the 99 sheep to find the 1 lost sheep?
Now try this one:
Outside of the story in Luke 16, what does the Bible tell us about Abraham?
"Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." That's NOT the parable; that's the meaning of the parable - the heavenly meaning.
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the sower who sowed seed in the 4 types of soil?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the woman who hid the leaven in three measures of meal?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the prodigal son?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the good Samaritan?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the man who found the treasure buried in the field?
Outside of the parable, what does the Bible tell us about the man who left the 99 sheep to find the 1 lost sheep?
Now try this one:
Outside of the story in Luke 16, what does the Bible tell us about Abraham?
Here is Jesus returning. The hymn about the dead in Christ shall rise and time shall be no more comes from this. 2 translations.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24 AMPC
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].
31 And He will send out His angels with a trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24 AMPC
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].
31 And He will send out His angels with a trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.
You miss the point completely. You say there is no literal history to any parable, yet there is. Think about it please, because what you say nullifies the gospel message as surely as you and I are breathing air. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We are not talking about just one parable here, but ANY parable. Parables have historical relevance whether people are named in them or not. Like you (or anybody else for that matter) have never lost money, searched for it, and rejoiced when it was found? Surely you jest 
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Lazzarus and the Rich man
First of all, IT IS A PARABLE. To whom was Christ speaking?
Luk 16:14-15
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth
your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
So Christ was speaking to the Pharisees. OK, how did He speak to them...
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables;
and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:
and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of
the tares of the field.
Christ only spoke plainly to the disciples.
Lazarus and the Rich Man is a PARABLE.
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The bible clearly says no man has seen the Father in Heaven but Christ,
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, where he dwells.
These verses where spoken well after Christ was raised from the dead.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Those who say people die and go to heaven, they go againest these bible verses,
and all the bible verses about sleeping in the grave, they throw out and dismiss.
First of all, IT IS A PARABLE. To whom was Christ speaking?
Luk 16:14-15
And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth
your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
So Christ was speaking to the Pharisees. OK, how did He speak to them...
Mat 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables;
and without a parable spake he not unto them:
Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:
and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of
the tares of the field.
Christ only spoke plainly to the disciples.
Lazarus and the Rich Man is a PARABLE.
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The bible clearly says no man has seen the Father in Heaven but Christ,
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, where he dwells.
These verses where spoken well after Christ was raised from the dead.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Those who say people die and go to heaven, they go againest these bible verses,
and all the bible verses about sleeping in the grave, they throw out and dismiss.
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Lazarus and the Rich Man is a PARABLE
Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man." Then there really was a certain rich man!
Jesus said definitely that this particular rich man "was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day." He really lived in luxury and splendor! (Luke 16:19)
Also, Jesus said, "there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid.......
Yes, there were many such beggars in Palestine when Jesus lived there.
"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." They both died.
Did Jesus say the beggar went to heaven? He certainly did not!
He said the beggar "was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom."
Lazarus was carried into an intimate relationship with Abraham.
Look in your dictionary. A "bosom" is the breast of a human being, with the arms
as an enclosure; a loving embrace by the arms of one person about another;
an intimate relationship.
Lazarus here is pictured as a Gentile, who received salvation. Do Gentiles, upon being
converted and becoming Christ's, enter into any intimate relationship to Abraham? yes
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed , and heirs according to the promise."
Thru Christ they become the children of Abraham. Thru faith we all become "the
children of Abraham." (Gal. 3:7.) That is an intimate relationship with Abraham.
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Now Abraham is an HEIR of God. God gave Abraham a PROMISE. (Gal. 3:29),
those who thru Christ become Abraham's children are heirs-- but heirs according to
the promise God made to Abraham! And The PROMISE Was Not Heaven!
"And Abram took Sarai his wife,...and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan;
and into the land of Canaan they came. ...And the Eternal appeared unto Abram, and
said, Unto thy seed I give THIS LAND." (Gen. 12:5-7.)
This beggar thru Christ became "Abraham's seed," Then God included this beggar
when He said, "Unto thy seed will I give THIS LAND ." "For all the LAND which
thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOREVER." (Gen. 13 :15.)
"In the same day the Eternal made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have
I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."
Gen. 15:18.
The PROMISE was not heaven. The promise was the land of Palestine, on this earth.
It was for ever, so the promise included eternal life, and eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:15.)
The PROMISE was ETERNAL LIFE ON THIS EARTH in THE PROMISED LAND
When was this beggar to inherit, to come into possession of eternal life in the promosed
land ?Jesus, in telling about Lazarus and the rich man, did not cover that point.
This beggar, carried into the intimate relationship of a son of Abraham,could not inherit either
eternal LIFE, or this LAND, prior to the time his father Abraham receives these promises.
Abraham died, but has not to this day inherited the promises! (Acts 7:1-5.)
...And He gave him none inheritance in it . . . yet He promised that he would
give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him." [forever]
Hebrews 11: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; . . . By faith he sojourned in the LAND of promise,
as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise: . . . These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Heb. 11:8-13.)
Abrahamhe has not, even yet in our day, inherited these promises!
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We read in John 8:52, "Abraham is dead". At that time-- centuries after he died,
Abraham WAS DEAD! He is still dead today. When, then, is he to inherit the promises?
At the time of the RESURRECTION of the just, of course! The Kingdom of God is the
government to be set up IN PALESTINE to rule all nations after the Second Coming of Christ.
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
(I Thes. 4:16.) Human mortals, in Christ, living and dead, receive eternal life-- immortality--
the PROMISES God made to Abraham at Christ's Second Coming. That is when they shall
put on immortality!
"Flesh and blood (human mortals) cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead (including Abraham and the beggar) shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
(I Cor. 15:50-53.)
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"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto
you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Mat. 22:31-32.)
Jesus did not say Abraham was then living. Yet the things God has promised are so certain
they may be counted as if already accomplished.
Jesus told the Pharisees they would see Abraham in the Kingdom (Luke 13:28),
because Abraham, now DEAD, will then be RESURRECTED from the dead!
Jesus said this beggar died. So, like Abraham, he is STILL DEAD !
But Jesus said that, after he died, "he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom."
When do the angels come down from heaven? Matthew 25:31
At the Second Coming of Christ-- at the time of the RESURRECTION!
Christ shall "send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
His elect from the four winds"-- out of their graves in a RESURRECTION. (Mat. 24:31.)
The TIME when the angels carry Lazarus and the saints into sharing the INHERITANCE
with Abraham-- into Abraham's bosom-- is the time of the RESURRECTION! Lazarus is
to be resurrected, and carried by the angels thru the air to meet Christ, at His return, and
to be with Abraham, in the intimate relationship of father and son!
-
the Bible uses the word "bosom." Turn to Isaiah 40:11. Here God will care for His people
as a shepherd does for his sheep, which He will carry "in His bosom." Jesus was "in the bosom"
of the Father (John 1:18), enjoying the Father's blessings and close relationship. Moses carried
the children of Israel in his bosom. To be in one's bosom is to have that one's love and protection,
and share his blessings and inheritance. So it will be AT THE RESURRECTION!
Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man." Then there really was a certain rich man!
Jesus said definitely that this particular rich man "was clothed in purple and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day." He really lived in luxury and splendor! (Luke 16:19)
Also, Jesus said, "there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid.......
Yes, there were many such beggars in Palestine when Jesus lived there.
"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." They both died.
Did Jesus say the beggar went to heaven? He certainly did not!
He said the beggar "was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom."
Lazarus was carried into an intimate relationship with Abraham.
Look in your dictionary. A "bosom" is the breast of a human being, with the arms
as an enclosure; a loving embrace by the arms of one person about another;
an intimate relationship.
Lazarus here is pictured as a Gentile, who received salvation. Do Gentiles, upon being
converted and becoming Christ's, enter into any intimate relationship to Abraham? yes
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed , and heirs according to the promise."
Thru Christ they become the children of Abraham. Thru faith we all become "the
children of Abraham." (Gal. 3:7.) That is an intimate relationship with Abraham.
-
Now Abraham is an HEIR of God. God gave Abraham a PROMISE. (Gal. 3:29),
those who thru Christ become Abraham's children are heirs-- but heirs according to
the promise God made to Abraham! And The PROMISE Was Not Heaven!
"And Abram took Sarai his wife,...and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan;
and into the land of Canaan they came. ...And the Eternal appeared unto Abram, and
said, Unto thy seed I give THIS LAND." (Gen. 12:5-7.)
This beggar thru Christ became "Abraham's seed," Then God included this beggar
when He said, "Unto thy seed will I give THIS LAND ." "For all the LAND which
thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOREVER." (Gen. 13 :15.)
"In the same day the Eternal made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have
I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."
Gen. 15:18.
The PROMISE was not heaven. The promise was the land of Palestine, on this earth.
It was for ever, so the promise included eternal life, and eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:15.)
The PROMISE was ETERNAL LIFE ON THIS EARTH in THE PROMISED LAND
When was this beggar to inherit, to come into possession of eternal life in the promosed
land ?Jesus, in telling about Lazarus and the rich man, did not cover that point.
This beggar, carried into the intimate relationship of a son of Abraham,could not inherit either
eternal LIFE, or this LAND, prior to the time his father Abraham receives these promises.
Abraham died, but has not to this day inherited the promises! (Acts 7:1-5.)
...And He gave him none inheritance in it . . . yet He promised that he would
give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him." [forever]
Hebrews 11: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; . . . By faith he sojourned in the LAND of promise,
as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise: . . . These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that
they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Heb. 11:8-13.)
Abrahamhe has not, even yet in our day, inherited these promises!
-
We read in John 8:52, "Abraham is dead". At that time-- centuries after he died,
Abraham WAS DEAD! He is still dead today. When, then, is he to inherit the promises?
At the time of the RESURRECTION of the just, of course! The Kingdom of God is the
government to be set up IN PALESTINE to rule all nations after the Second Coming of Christ.
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first."
(I Thes. 4:16.) Human mortals, in Christ, living and dead, receive eternal life-- immortality--
the PROMISES God made to Abraham at Christ's Second Coming. That is when they shall
put on immortality!
"Flesh and blood (human mortals) cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption
inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead (including Abraham and the beggar) shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."
(I Cor. 15:50-53.)
-
"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto
you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Mat. 22:31-32.)
Jesus did not say Abraham was then living. Yet the things God has promised are so certain
they may be counted as if already accomplished.
Jesus told the Pharisees they would see Abraham in the Kingdom (Luke 13:28),
because Abraham, now DEAD, will then be RESURRECTED from the dead!
Jesus said this beggar died. So, like Abraham, he is STILL DEAD !
But Jesus said that, after he died, "he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom."
When do the angels come down from heaven? Matthew 25:31
At the Second Coming of Christ-- at the time of the RESURRECTION!
Christ shall "send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together
His elect from the four winds"-- out of their graves in a RESURRECTION. (Mat. 24:31.)
The TIME when the angels carry Lazarus and the saints into sharing the INHERITANCE
with Abraham-- into Abraham's bosom-- is the time of the RESURRECTION! Lazarus is
to be resurrected, and carried by the angels thru the air to meet Christ, at His return, and
to be with Abraham, in the intimate relationship of father and son!
-
the Bible uses the word "bosom." Turn to Isaiah 40:11. Here God will care for His people
as a shepherd does for his sheep, which He will carry "in His bosom." Jesus was "in the bosom"
of the Father (John 1:18), enjoying the Father's blessings and close relationship. Moses carried
the children of Israel in his bosom. To be in one's bosom is to have that one's love and protection,
and share his blessings and inheritance. So it will be AT THE RESURRECTION!
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The Fate of the Rich Man
Jesus said of him: " . . . rich man also died, and was buried." (Luke 16:22.) Jesus did
not say the rich man was taken immediately at that time to an eternally burning hell.
Jesus said of him: " . . . the rich man also died, and was buried." (Luke 16:22.)
And "hades" means THE GRAVE--a place of BURIAL in the ground!
In the next verse, Jesus said, "And in hell he lifted up his eyes." (v. 23.)
And in this hell he "lifted up his eyes." His eyes had been closed, in death,
and now there came a time when they opened--he "lifted up his eyes!"
Jesus, too, died and was buried. And in "hell" He, too, lifted up His eyes--
WHEN HE WAS RESURRECTED!
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Daniel speaks of the resurrection of the just, and of the unjust: "And many of them
that sleep (their eyes closed) in the dust of the earth (their graves-- buried--in "hades"),
shall awake (lift up their eyes) some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt." (Dan. 12:2.)
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Jesus said: " . . . the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves (the original Greek
word Jesus used is "hades") shall hear His voice, and shall come forth: they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil (including the rich man),
unto the RESURRECTION of judgment." (John 5:28-29.)
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In Rev. 20:4 we read of the resurrection of those in Christ at His coming. But Rev. 20:5
says: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
So the resurrection of the rich man and all the unjust or unsaved will take place after the
millennium! It is pictured and described in Rev. 20:11-12.
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So, while Jesus in speaking about the rich man and Lazarus did not say when the rich man
will open his eyes and be resurrected out of his grave, other Scriptures do reveal that it will
be after the millennium!
He is resurrected MORTAL, just as he was before he died--not immortal like Lazarus!
Now, opening his eyes in his grave, this rich man SEES Abraham, and Lazarus in his "bosom"
-- his embrace! Yes, Jesus told the Pharisees that they would SEE Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the Kingdom and they themselves thrust out! This rich man sees them! He also sees this
awful flame of fire -- this LAKE OF FIRE which is about to destroy him forever! He is terrified!
Scripture everywhere describes the final fate of the wicked as being burned up by fire.
It is this "lake of fire," which is "the second death," from which there shall be no resurrection!
The PUNISHMENT is death by fire! They remain forever DEAD!
He said to these same Pharisees: "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. There shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth, They are to be THRUST OUT--into the LAKE OF FIRE
which shall consume them, leaving them neither root nor branch, as the Scriptures say!
This rich man cried out for help because of his mental and physical anguish--
KNOWING what was now to befall him!
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The gulf mentioned by Abraham which prevents the wicked from escaping death by hell-fire,
and which also keeps the righteous from being burned, is immortality. Those who are immortal
shall never die because they are born of God. (Rev. 20:6). But human beings who have not been
begotten and born by the Spirit of God are still flesh, subject to corruption and death.
They can be burned by fire.
Only the saved possess immortality as the gift of God (Rom. 2:7), but the wicked reap anguish
and wrath that shall devour the adversary--fiery indignation (Heb. 10:27). What happens when
a human body is being burned by a flame?
There is a period of torture during which the fire consumes the body before the person dies.
Jesus didn't say he was immortal, for if he were he would be spirit and flames do not burn spirit.
Fire is a physical process. It is combustion of matter.
Matthew 13:30 speaks of the wicked being gathered into bundles to be burned. What happens to
tares (weeds) when in fire? They burn up! Again in Matthew 3:12, John warned the Pharisees that
they would be burned up as chaff if they didn't repent. They are to be burned with unquenchable
fire, too. A fire so hot that no amount of water put on it could put it out, because the flames would
turn the water to steam.
When God punishes the wicked the fire will be unquenchable! But that doesn't say it won't burn
itself out when it has nothing more to burn. An unquenchable fire can't be put out, but it can burn
itself out when it has consumed everything.
Malachi 4:1,3 speaks of this fire that will burn the rich man: "For, behold, the day cometh, that
shall burn as an oven; and all t he proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the
day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root
nor branch. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be [ashes] under the soles of your
feet in the day that I shall do this."
That is the end of the wicked! They shall perish and not be any more.
"Into smoke shall they consume away." (Psalm 37:20).
The rich man then, being mortal flesh, is going to burn up after being tormented
in the flame. He is going to die the second death . (Rev. 20:14).
The wages of sin is death, not endless torment. (Rom. 6:23).
This death is for ALL ETERNITY-- ETERNAL PUNISHMENT--but is not eternal punishing!
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The rich man at last realized he was DOOMED! He now comprehended the gulf that existed
between him and those who had been made immortal. Abraham had made clear the utter
impossibility of the rich man crossing that gulf into immortality.
He gave one last cry to Abraham, begging him to send Lazarus to his father s house to plead
with his brothers, lest they come to his terrible fate. Abraham replied they had the writings of
Moses and the prophets. But the rich man realized they would not hear these Scriptures.
"Nay, Father Abraham," he screamed, "but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent!"
The rich man knew Lazarus was RAISED FROM THE DEAD! This one statement proves that
the whole experience of Lazarus and the rich man was given by Jesus to SHOW THE TRUTH
OF THE RESURRECTION--not to teach any immediate going to "heaven" or "hell" at the
instant of death.
Abraham replied, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one ROSE from the dead." (verse 31).
In plain language! The experience of Lazarus and the rich man shows the RESURRECTION
from the dead--not an instantaneous going to "heaven" or "hell." It is a resurrection from
THE DEAD--not from life. It shows MORTALITY which dies, and is DEAD not immortality
which never loses consciousness and lives forever in an eternal punishing of the imaginary "hell."
Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God--the NEW Testament Gospel.
He was showing salvation, the resurrection to eternal LIFE as the gift of God--
inheritance of the Kingdom of God on this earth.
Jesus said of him: " . . . rich man also died, and was buried." (Luke 16:22.) Jesus did
not say the rich man was taken immediately at that time to an eternally burning hell.
Jesus said of him: " . . . the rich man also died, and was buried." (Luke 16:22.)
And "hades" means THE GRAVE--a place of BURIAL in the ground!
In the next verse, Jesus said, "And in hell he lifted up his eyes." (v. 23.)
And in this hell he "lifted up his eyes." His eyes had been closed, in death,
and now there came a time when they opened--he "lifted up his eyes!"
Jesus, too, died and was buried. And in "hell" He, too, lifted up His eyes--
WHEN HE WAS RESURRECTED!
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Daniel speaks of the resurrection of the just, and of the unjust: "And many of them
that sleep (their eyes closed) in the dust of the earth (their graves-- buried--in "hades"),
shall awake (lift up their eyes) some to everlasting life, and some to shame and
everlasting contempt." (Dan. 12:2.)
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Jesus said: " . . . the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves (the original Greek
word Jesus used is "hades") shall hear His voice, and shall come forth: they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil (including the rich man),
unto the RESURRECTION of judgment." (John 5:28-29.)
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In Rev. 20:4 we read of the resurrection of those in Christ at His coming. But Rev. 20:5
says: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."
So the resurrection of the rich man and all the unjust or unsaved will take place after the
millennium! It is pictured and described in Rev. 20:11-12.
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So, while Jesus in speaking about the rich man and Lazarus did not say when the rich man
will open his eyes and be resurrected out of his grave, other Scriptures do reveal that it will
be after the millennium!
He is resurrected MORTAL, just as he was before he died--not immortal like Lazarus!
Now, opening his eyes in his grave, this rich man SEES Abraham, and Lazarus in his "bosom"
-- his embrace! Yes, Jesus told the Pharisees that they would SEE Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
in the Kingdom and they themselves thrust out! This rich man sees them! He also sees this
awful flame of fire -- this LAKE OF FIRE which is about to destroy him forever! He is terrified!
Scripture everywhere describes the final fate of the wicked as being burned up by fire.
It is this "lake of fire," which is "the second death," from which there shall be no resurrection!
The PUNISHMENT is death by fire! They remain forever DEAD!
He said to these same Pharisees: "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. There shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth, They are to be THRUST OUT--into the LAKE OF FIRE
which shall consume them, leaving them neither root nor branch, as the Scriptures say!
This rich man cried out for help because of his mental and physical anguish--
KNOWING what was now to befall him!
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The gulf mentioned by Abraham which prevents the wicked from escaping death by hell-fire,
and which also keeps the righteous from being burned, is immortality. Those who are immortal
shall never die because they are born of God. (Rev. 20:6). But human beings who have not been
begotten and born by the Spirit of God are still flesh, subject to corruption and death.
They can be burned by fire.
Only the saved possess immortality as the gift of God (Rom. 2:7), but the wicked reap anguish
and wrath that shall devour the adversary--fiery indignation (Heb. 10:27). What happens when
a human body is being burned by a flame?
There is a period of torture during which the fire consumes the body before the person dies.
Jesus didn't say he was immortal, for if he were he would be spirit and flames do not burn spirit.
Fire is a physical process. It is combustion of matter.
Matthew 13:30 speaks of the wicked being gathered into bundles to be burned. What happens to
tares (weeds) when in fire? They burn up! Again in Matthew 3:12, John warned the Pharisees that
they would be burned up as chaff if they didn't repent. They are to be burned with unquenchable
fire, too. A fire so hot that no amount of water put on it could put it out, because the flames would
turn the water to steam.
When God punishes the wicked the fire will be unquenchable! But that doesn't say it won't burn
itself out when it has nothing more to burn. An unquenchable fire can't be put out, but it can burn
itself out when it has consumed everything.
Malachi 4:1,3 speaks of this fire that will burn the rich man: "For, behold, the day cometh, that
shall burn as an oven; and all t he proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the
day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root
nor branch. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be [ashes] under the soles of your
feet in the day that I shall do this."
That is the end of the wicked! They shall perish and not be any more.
"Into smoke shall they consume away." (Psalm 37:20).
The rich man then, being mortal flesh, is going to burn up after being tormented
in the flame. He is going to die the second death . (Rev. 20:14).
The wages of sin is death, not endless torment. (Rom. 6:23).
This death is for ALL ETERNITY-- ETERNAL PUNISHMENT--but is not eternal punishing!
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The rich man at last realized he was DOOMED! He now comprehended the gulf that existed
between him and those who had been made immortal. Abraham had made clear the utter
impossibility of the rich man crossing that gulf into immortality.
He gave one last cry to Abraham, begging him to send Lazarus to his father s house to plead
with his brothers, lest they come to his terrible fate. Abraham replied they had the writings of
Moses and the prophets. But the rich man realized they would not hear these Scriptures.
"Nay, Father Abraham," he screamed, "but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent!"
The rich man knew Lazarus was RAISED FROM THE DEAD! This one statement proves that
the whole experience of Lazarus and the rich man was given by Jesus to SHOW THE TRUTH
OF THE RESURRECTION--not to teach any immediate going to "heaven" or "hell" at the
instant of death.
Abraham replied, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one ROSE from the dead." (verse 31).
In plain language! The experience of Lazarus and the rich man shows the RESURRECTION
from the dead--not an instantaneous going to "heaven" or "hell." It is a resurrection from
THE DEAD--not from life. It shows MORTALITY which dies, and is DEAD not immortality
which never loses consciousness and lives forever in an eternal punishing of the imaginary "hell."
Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God--the NEW Testament Gospel.
He was showing salvation, the resurrection to eternal LIFE as the gift of God--
inheritance of the Kingdom of God on this earth.
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1
- Show all
1. Is the New Jerusalem in Heaven and will it remain a heavenly body?
2. Is it a city which has 12 foundations?
3. Is the Builder and Maker of this city God?
4. Did Abraham receive a revelation of this city?
5. Did Abraham "look" for this city, meaning did He anticipate being in the New Jerusalem?
HEBREWS 11
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The people who are pushing the idea that no one is in Heaven are doing the Devil's mischief. Every false doctrine eventually comes from the Devil twisting the Word of God and planting foolish ideas in peoples' heads.
BEWARE THE CULTS WHICH TEACH SOUL SLEEP AND ANNIHILATIONISM.
2. Is it a city which has 12 foundations?
3. Is the Builder and Maker of this city God?
4. Did Abraham receive a revelation of this city?
5. Did Abraham "look" for this city, meaning did He anticipate being in the New Jerusalem?
HEBREWS 11
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The people who are pushing the idea that no one is in Heaven are doing the Devil's mischief. Every false doctrine eventually comes from the Devil twisting the Word of God and planting foolish ideas in peoples' heads.
BEWARE THE CULTS WHICH TEACH SOUL SLEEP AND ANNIHILATIONISM.
The new testament gospel is the good news of the coming kingdom of God to earth.
When Christ will rule the world with a rod of iron, that is at Jesus Christ returns.
Rev. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom,
and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
This clearly above has not happened yet, but still future,
When Christ returns and rules all mankind on earth.
When Christ will rule the world with a rod of iron, that is at Jesus Christ returns.
Rev. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom,
and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
This clearly above has not happened yet, but still future,
When Christ returns and rules all mankind on earth.
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1
- Show all
Yes you are correct, people do not sleep in heaven or hades.
But the bible does say people sleep in [the Grave] as being dead.
Maybe it is your miss understanding of the English word [hell].
15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I [King David] awake, with [thy likeness].
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The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes ... .
The phrase "in the grave he lifted up his eyes"
This phrase [is] a resurrection from the dead.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Why can we not see Christ as He really is, until after a resurrection ?
But the bible does say people sleep in [the Grave] as being dead.
Maybe it is your miss understanding of the English word [hell].
15As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I [King David] awake, with [thy likeness].
-
The rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes ... .
The phrase "in the grave he lifted up his eyes"
This phrase [is] a resurrection from the dead.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Why can we not see Christ as He really is, until after a resurrection ?
The bible says the New Jerusalem will come down to earth.
Not that man ever goes to the third heaven.
Revelation 3:12 (KJV)Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from
my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 21:2 (KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:10 (KJV) And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Again Abraham was never promised heaven, but land on earth.
Not that man ever goes to the third heaven.
Revelation 3:12 (KJV)Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from
my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 21:2 (KJV) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down
from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21:10 (KJV) And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain,
and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
Again Abraham was never promised heaven, but land on earth.
First where will Christ reign. This is answered in Isaiah. Second where are the dead. This is answered by Jesus.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Isaiah 24 AMPC
21 And in that day the Lord will visit and punish the host of the high ones on high [the host of heaven in heaven, celestial beings] and the kings of the earth on the earth.
22 And they will be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in a pit or dungeon; they will be shut up in prison, and after many days they will be visited, inspected, and punished or pardoned.
23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, when [they compare their ineffectual fire to the light of] the Lord of hosts, Who will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will show forth His glory.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24 AMPC
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].
31 And He will send out His angels with a trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Isaiah 24 AMPC
21 And in that day the Lord will visit and punish the host of the high ones on high [the host of heaven in heaven, celestial beings] and the kings of the earth on the earth.
22 And they will be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in a pit or dungeon; they will be shut up in prison, and after many days they will be visited, inspected, and punished or pardoned.
23 Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, when [they compare their ineffectual fire to the light of] the Lord of hosts, Who will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will show forth His glory.
Matthew 24 NIV
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Matthew 24 AMPC
30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and beat their breasts and lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor].
31 And He will send out His angels with a trumpet call, and they will gather His elect (His chosen ones) from the four winds, [even] from one end of the universe to the other.