Interpreting the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: It's Really Good News!

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
Moses was resurrected...y'know, when Michael was disputing the devil over the body of Moses, and the Lord told Satan to shut up?

If they're fighting over the body, and then Moses shows up years later, it's safe to assume God raised him from the dead.
Where does it say God rose Moses at that time?
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,221
1,584
113
68
Brighton, MI
1Chr 10:13: "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;"

You just implicated that God used forbidden and sinful practices, that God Himself forbid.

Exo 22:18: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

Deu 18:10: "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,"

1Sam 15:23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

Gal 5:20: "Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,"

Etc.

1Sam 28:6: "And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."

God refused to answer by the right conduits, what makes you think God used the witch?

Saul knew God wasn't talking to him anymore. He didn't seek God:

1Sam 28:7: "Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."

Lev 19:31: "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."

You are greatly self deceived.
1 Chronicles 10:7-11:7
7 When all the Israelites living in the valley saw that their own army had run away and that Saul and his sons were dead, they left their towns and ran away. Then the Philistines came into the towns and lived in them.

8 The next day, the Philistines came to take valuable things from the dead bodies. They found Saul’s body and the bodies of his sons on Mount Gilboa. 9 The Philistines took things from Saul’s body. They took Saul’s head and armor. They sent messengers through all their country to tell the news to their false gods and to their people. 10 The Philistines put Saul’s armor in the temple of their false gods. They hung Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon.

11 All the people living in the town of Jabesh Gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul. 12 All the brave men from Jabesh Gilead went to get the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought them back to Jabesh Gilead. They buried the bones of Saul and his sons under the large tree in Jabesh. Then they showed their sadness and fasted for seven days.

13 Saul died because he was not faithful to the Lord. He did not obey the Lord’s word. Saul also went to a medium and asked her for advice 14 instead of asking the Lord. That is why the Lord killed Saul and gave the kingdom to Jesse’s son David.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
Did He not use Balaam?
Balaam is parallel to Judas, not the witch. You are self deceived.

Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had apostatized, and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still professed to be a servant of the Most High. He was not ignorant of God's work in behalf of Israel.

The NT (2 Pet. 2:16) calls Balaam, "προφήτου" (prophetou; prophet), though he fell into apostasy through covetousness, which led him to be called later (Joshua 13:22) "soothsayer" (one who prophesies for money). Just as Judas was an "Apostle", but later called the one who "betrayed" Jesus and fell by transgression as did Balaam.

The Bible directly says the LORD spoke through Balaam. The scripture says no such thing about the witch or familiar spirit which controlled her.

It was not Samuel, but a "familiar spirit" (devil) masquerading as Samuel, see 2 Cor. 11:14.

Even the 'prophecy' given by this "familiar spirit" is only partially true, but also carried error that was not true. Details upon request.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
Jesus Christ is THE TRUTH - He is never lying, even when He gives parables.
So calling Luke 16 in no way whatsoever makes what Christ describes innaccurate.
Strawman. Jesus in Luke 16 spoke a parable, using symbols, to describe true things in a conditional scenario. The problem is you make the words to be natural, when they are speaking of things spiritual. You are in the same condition as those Jews which misunderstand spiritual things for natural things. Serveral examples may be provided to you.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,162
3,699
113
Indeed the devil had possession of her. Saul saw nothing. He only took the word of the deceived (witch).
If you do not believe it was Samuel the prophet brought up but an evil spirit, explain how this evil spirit spoke truth on behalf of the Lord and foretold the future as the Lord said?

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,950
13,615
113
Strawman. Jesus in Luke 16 spoke a parable, using symbols, to describe true things in a conditional scenario.
in a lying scenario that amounts to presenting a doctrine of demons as though it is the correct worldview?
or in an accurate paradigm as if it is the truth?



see it does not matter if you call it a parable insofar as whether He is a teacher of lies or not.
if you do not believe what He is presenting in Luke 16 is an accurate portrayal of reality, you are effectively calling Him a liar.

not withstanding parable or actual events.
i don't think that point has been stressed enough, because several are still going on as though they believe Jesus teaches demonic worldviews and 'that's OK to call God an evil liar because parable'

that's frankly a profoundly unsupportable argument on your part.
it's wickedness.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,950
13,615
113
Balaam is parallel to Judas, not the witch. You are self deceived.
which part of the verse you brought up calling it a parable is false?
which part is deceitful antichrist wickedness?


let me quote it for you a second time, so you can easily point out for all of us what's evil about what Balaam says, and justify what you are accusing me of in front of the whole assembly of CC:


Then the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
So he returned to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab.
And he took up his oracle and said:
“Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram,
From the mountains of the east.
‘Come, curse Jacob for me,
And come, denounce Israel!’
“How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?
And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
For from the top of the rocks I see him,
And from the hills I behold him;
There! A people dwelling alone,
Not reckoning itself among the nations.
“Who can count the dust of Jacob,
Or number one-fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
And let my end be like his!”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!”
So he answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?”
(Numbers 23:12)
now, is this the Word of the LORD as the scripture says it is?
or are you correct? is it Satanic blasphemy?
please explain your position in light of what is written.
 
Feb 7, 2022
646
75
28
If you do not believe it was Samuel the prophet brought up but an evil spirit, explain how this evil spirit spoke truth on behalf of the Lord and foretold the future as the Lord said?

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
Let's start with:

Did Ishbosheth die the next day?

2Sam 2:8: "But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;"

2Sam 2:10: "Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David."