Lazarus, the Rich Man and The Third Resurrection

I would like to begin today with a story that I never forgot as a young Catholic. My mother once told me about a division in Fatima, Portugal. Three young children back in 1917 who had a vision of what they thought was the Virgin Mary speaking to them. And that the Virgin Mary showed them the fires of hell at that time. And that they could see people being burnt up in this huge fire. And believe me, that got my attention. It scared me to death. I decided to go to Mass every Sunday after that. I have to move a little bit to the right because I can't see. Okay. Let's see everybody. Yes, now I can. So that left an impression on me. And basically I was going to church because I was scared of that hellfire. I was so glad that I learned when I studied the Bible that this was not true. Things like this have tormented people and led to terrible views of God as a cruel being who has people burning forever for their sins. You would never imagine somebody being cruel to have people just constantly being burnt. And just in this type of thing for even a day or two, just hearing people yelling that way. So I'm thankful to know through the scriptures and God's Spirit in us that that was not true. It was a great relief. As Isaiah eight verses 19 through 20, it's one of the key scriptures in the Bible. Isaiah 19 verse 20. Someone was saying here, and when they say to you, to Isaiah, seek those who are mediums and wizards who whisper and mutter. They're trying to interpret some type of vision or some type of talk from God.

God says, should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead? Should you be consulting dead people, including somebody supposedly the Virgin Mary and no one in the Bible says that she rose up into heaven. She died a faithful life. She will be resurrected in the future, but she's not alive right now. You can put a reference John three thirteen says nobody has ascended to heaven except the son of man who is in heaven. So here we have the scripture saying the only one who rose up to heaven was Jesus Christ, not Moses.

They were still all waiting for their resurrection. It goes on to say, should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? What does God answer to the law and to the testimony talking about the scriptures? If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. It's false. The Bible is true. Man's interpretation that contradicts the Bible is false.

And so I would like to give you an example of this today. I'd like to go to the Bible to show what is the truth about the fate of the wicked. That's something that people have asked through time. Not what the world believes. It's such a great relief. We don't have to believe all of these other types of wives tales and see how God of both love and justice will carry out judgment. In an absolutely fair and loving way. His character is that way. He's not going to burn up 95% of all human beings and sort of keep this little group.

No, it's not that way at all. So we're going to look at the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, which is a key explanation about the fate of the wicked and also about the just. And how it describes what we see in the Bible as the third resurrection.

Because that's not something you learn. Everybody thinks it's just going to be one general resurrection. It's not the case as we will see. And through this parable of Lazarus and the rich man, you have an example of Christ describing what is going to happen in the future. So, first of all, just like you should always do, check the background and the context where this story is inserted.

See what's what's behind and in front of it. In Luke chapter 16, let's go there. Luke chapter 16 verse 14. What a relief it was for me when I learned about this in the Bible. I came to the church and had this properly explained. And I hope you just keep an open mind and and see how the Bible does not contradict itself. It interprets itself. You just have to find each piece that's in the Bible to come up with a Bible truth.

In Luke chapter 16 verse 14 through 16, it starts here with a background. Who was Jesus speaking to? He was speaking primarily to the Pharisees. It says in Luke 16 verse 14. Now, the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things and they derided him, which means they ridiculed him, discredited him, made fun of what he was saying. They didn't take it seriously. And he said to them, you are those who justify yourselves before men. But God knows your hearts for what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. So what the Pharisees were doing was an abomination to God.

And Jesus Christ was revealing that they look so pious and righteous, but inside they were unconverted. They were self-righteous. They were greedy. They love money. And they did just about anything that they could to get more of it.

And then it mentions in verse 19 about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. So Christ was comparing the Pharisees to that rich man who looked like he was so successful, but inside was a very wicked and self-centered person. Notice a couple more scriptures as we get this background.

Notice what it says in Luke 11 verse 39, just a few chapters before where Jesus Christ is talking about the faults of these Pharisees. Luke 11 verse 39. Then the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Christ could read hearts. He knew what was in their hearts. And although they look very religious and pious inside, again, the love of money, the love of being important was very vital and also wickedness because they were going to kill Jesus Christ one day.

And so they showed the envy they had for him, the hate, because he was teaching the truth. Just like in the first message talking about how if we're going to one day be deemed worthy and we can't be worthy without God's grace, right? But God's grace doesn't do everything either. You have to do our part, but with the grace of God and us doing our part to love and obey him, those are good combination.

In Matthew 21, notice the description of, again, the inner heart of these Pharisees. And by the way, many of these religious leaders who know the truth, they hide it from the brethren because they want to keep their salaries, keep what they're doing and making a lot of money. But some of them know what is the truth, but they know they'll lose their jobs, lose their credibility.

And so they compromise. In Matthew 21, verse 31, Christ says of them, talking about the parable of the two sons, one who said, oh, I don't want to go to the work today. And the other one said, yes, I'm going to go. The one who said, yes, I'm going to go didn't go. And the other son felt bad about that and went. So he said, who is the one that did the father's will? Well, the reluctant one who went ahead and carried it out.

And so he says, verse 31, which of the two did the will of did the will of the father? They said to him the first, Jesus said to them, as sure surely I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him. See, they didn't change. They faced the truth of God and they closed their eyes to it and attacked Jesus Christ for it. One last scripture in Matthew 12, 24.

Matthew 12, verse 24. Again, talking about the Pharisees, he said, now, when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out demons except by Belzebub, which is Satan, the ruler of the of the demons. So here these Pharisees, because they wanted to keep their position, they wanted to keep their wealth, were willing to lie about the power of Jesus Christ, which was holy, came from God. They said, no, he's casting out demons through the head of the demons, Satan.

And then Christ said, but Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

And if I cast out demons by Belzebub, which is another name for Satan, by whom do your sons cast them out?

Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds a strong man?

Christ is stronger than Satan. And then he will plunder his house.

He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. But the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the son of man, it will be forgiven him. They just attacked Jesus Christ as a person.

But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, talking about what Christ was doing and saying, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the age to come. So here in this background, you see the gravity. Christ was trying to tell the Pharisees, you are headed to that lake of fire in the future.

And he gives them a parable to remind them of this about Lazarus and the rich man. So let's go now to Luke 16. Enter here in the text of this story.

Luke 16 and verse 19.

It says, there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

This was the man that today would be called a multimillionaire.

He had more money than he knew what to use. And so he would have a banquet every day with his friends like the contemporary.

The common English Bible version says there was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen and who feasted luxuriously every day.

Now, few people could do this.

To have basically a banquet, eat it, fatted calves every day.

Only kings in Israel could do that at the time.

He said Herod the grip of the second was that way. He would have banquets every day.

Well, here's this man who was so rich. And by the way, the Pharisees thought that if you are very rich, that means that you had a good standing before God.

And so Christ wanted to undermine that argument. You could have outwardly impress others, but inwardly, this person was wicked.

He was heartless.

Totally selfish.

And so it goes on to say here in verse 21 and 22.

But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus full of sores who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.

Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.

Apparently, this man was a cripple because it says they had to lay him down.

And all he could do was beg for food.

People thought surely an extravagantly rich man that was banqueting all day long could give him some scraps of food to keep the man alive.

But that rich man didn't pay any attention to the person's pleas.

He wasn't asking, give me what you were banqueting. Just give me the garbage, what falls from the table, the scraps that you got to throw away anyways. Nope. That man was so heartless.

He was embarrassed by that poor man and just refused to acknowledge his needs. And his servants couldn't intervene either or else they'd be out of there. And so everybody acted like that beggar didn't exist.

And then in verse 22, it tells us, So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.

The rich man also died and was buried.

We don't know. Lazarus was in such bad shape.

He had sores all over him. And the dogs in those days were considered like rats today.

And they weren't nice domestic dogs. Talk about those that went into the garbage and just wild dogs types. And I don't know if you've seen them, but they like to lick sores.

And that was kind of the ultimate humiliation. The only ones who paid attention to Lazarus were dogs.

And so we read about the fate of both of these men.

One made it to the king to God's kingdom. That was Lazarus.

Now, Christ uses the term here of bosom of Abraham, talking about receiving the same blessings as Abraham.

Notice in Luke 13, just a couple of chapters back, Luke 13 verse 20, he says, Do I have this right?

28. Yeah. 1328.

It says, Let's see, I've still got...

The chapter, right? He says here, Christ said to them, Depart from me all you workers of iniquity, those who thought they were in good standing with God. Verse 28. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and yourselves thrust out.

There will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south and all, and sit down in the kingdom of God. This is that resurrection. Talk about that first resurrection of the just.

And we also heard in the first message.

So here, Lazarus made it into God's kingdom.

Now, we don't know.

Exactly. If he was part of the first resurrection or part of the second resurrection.

Because in the first resurrection, that's the first fruits of mankind. When Christ comes back, it's called the first resurrection. The people who have followed God, who have the truth, who have been faithful, they're going to be part of that first resurrection.

So was Lazarus able to be converted at that time and be part of that first resurrection? It's a possibility.

Let's go to Revelation 20, verse 6. You see, we don't speculate about things. We don't tell you what some priest, some place or some authority. No, let's go to the Bible, because the Bible interprets itself.

Revelation 20, it says here about the first resurrection.

Revelation 20 in verse 6.

When Christ returns, it says, blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. That's what Lincoln was talking about. That's what we all have been called to be part of. That we can be part of that group, along with Moses, Abraham, the apostles, that Jesus Christ is going to have his government on this earth, and that we can be part of that government when he returns. It says, blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power. So once you're resurrected, you will live forever. You will never have to worry about having a weak body that deteriorates. You will have an eternal body. You will have powers that are similar to the family of God. We're going to be brothers and sisters of our elder brother, Jesus Christ.

So it says here, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. So this is the first group that gets called at this time with this knowledge. So Lazarus did make it to the kingdom, whether the first resurrection or it could be, and it's most likely the second resurrection, because it goes on to say here, Revelation 20, in verse seven, it says, now when the thousand years have expired, and there's a moment here, a short period of time where Satan is released, and then after that you have what is called the second resurrection. We call it that because it says here in verse 11, after those thousand years, then I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, talk about Christ, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and they were found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great standing before God. So here you see that's a second resurrection. It's not the one when Christ comes and people get resurrected into his kingdom and reign with him for a thousand years. But now after that period comes this second resurrection, which has to do with a great majority of mankind who have never been called to the knowledge of the truth, who have been deceived by Satan. And believe me, that's probably about 95% of all. If you think of all the Chinese, all the Africans, all the people that have lived through the ages that Satan has deceived through false religions. And yet this is something that they did not consciously choose. This is part of what they learned. Like I said, if I would have been born in Africa, I would have learned African religion. And that's what I would have been judged for. I would have been in India. I would have been with the Hindus because I didn't know any better. Live and die within wherever you go. And so these people, it says they came in Chapter 20. It says the dead, small and great, from the littlest baby to the greatest people that have been kings or rulers or whatever, standing before God. So now they're resurrected. They had been dead and books were open. Here's the term, biblia is used. The Bible is open to them to understand the truths of God. And another book was open, which is the Book of Life. Once you understand the books, once you start obeying God and following his way of life, then upon baptism and the laying on of hands, if the person is sincere, if they are fully committed, they will receive God's Spirit and your name will be inscribed. In the Book of Life, which is the right to that first resurrection. But it's not only limited to the first because here now our parents, all the generations in the past, they'll come up at this time. And if you're part of the first resurrection, you're going to be able to teach your grandparents and your great grandparents and all the people.

Because you've had a thousand years of training under Jesus Christ. He's been our mentor. And so these people will be judged. And so many people have not had a chance in this life to truly be able to know God's way. We're talking about like, okay, the publicans. They were the ones that were the tax collectors and they lived a life working for the government.

But they didn't come to the knowledge of truth. How about harlots, maybe 12, 13, 14 year old girls that are taken, abducted, and then put into prostitution. And that's the way they live and die. What chance did they have to know the truth? So this is what we call the second resurrection. And because Lazarus looked like he was just a beggar and he was very sick, I don't think he was called at that time, but now he is resurrected, healed fully, but in physical form.

And now he gets to know the truth and choose whether he wants to be part of God's kingdom or not. So most of the people will make it into the kingdom because Satan was very clever.

He multiplied religions. He multiplied all of these other things, even people that are atheists. They just said, well, I don't believe in God and they live and they die. But it doesn't mean they came to the knowledge of the truth.

And so this is a great majority of people. And so let's go back to Luke 16. Now we're going to see what happened to the rich man. We know that Lazarus did make it. And how many other poor people that lived out here, they're going to have a chance in the second resurrection, these people that are homeless. Many of them had problems with drug addiction and basically messed up their minds.

Or people that were born with their minds already and incapable of understanding, reasoning well. See, all of that is just this first stage. They're going to have the first real chance. So it's not a second chance because they didn't have one at the beginning. This is the first real chance to become converted. So in Luke 16, after we see that Lazarus was in the kingdom, it goes on to say, the rich man also died and was buried. And here now we see the resurrection of the rich man.

What resurrection is he going to be in? And being in torments, and here that term can be mental anguish. Here he wakes up. He's resurrected, but you see he's not part of the first. He's not part of the second. Now he's resurrected to face judgment and the lake of fire is in front of him. And so there's mental anguish, emotional anguish. And so he is facing what is called the third resurrection. This Greek word for torment, once it's basanos and the second and third time, it's used three times, kudanau can mean mental anguish and sorrow.

Notice in Luke 13, verse 28, what are they going to feel like when they wake up and boy, they lived a fantastic life here. They had everything they wanted to. Now they wake up and they have nothing. And it says here in Luke 13, verse 28. Well, he says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That's what torment is. When you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and yourselves thrust out.

And so, yes, there is what it's called the resurrection of condemnation. Notice in 1 Timothy 4, verse 1, what happened to them? How did they get to this date? First Timothy chapter 4, verse 1 and 2. It says now the spirit expressly says that in the latter times, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. And there are going to be appearances of, you know, Virgin Mary and others to really try to persuade people to follow the wrong way. Satan is very powerful. He has apparitions. But if you check with the Bible, you know, Mary is still dead because it says that these all died in Hebrews 11.

It doesn't say minus her. And it says, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. So you can't destroy your own conscience. If you have ever had a hot iron, burn your skin to the point where you lose sensibility because the nerve endings have been burnt.

Well, here it talks about your conscience being to the point where you no longer have any feeling. You never have any regrets. Your conscience has been destroyed. And that can happen. Notice in Revelation chapter 20, how these three resurrections appear. So let's start here in verse 12 of Revelation 20. We've already seen the first resurrection in the first from four to six. It talks about blessed who's going to be in the first resurrection.

The second resurrection is the one that we're going to see here. Verse 12, I saw the dead, small and great standing before God. I explained to you about the Biblia being open to them, the Book of Life, the opportunity. And they were judged according to their works by the things which were written in the book. So they'll have a chance to show God whether they really want to obey him or not. This includes all the ignorant Africans, Chinese who've never had a chance, and many others, of course, the great majority of mankind.

And so they were judged. And then in the third resurrection, these people were judged. And this verse 13, after that judgment comes the third judgment. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death in Hades. Hades is the tomb. Delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged according to his works. See, the Book of Life is not open to them. The Bible is not open. These people are called the incorrigibly wicked. There's nothing that you can resurrect of their conscience.

And this is what the rich man was looking at, the fate of the incorrigibly wicked. And apparently some of these Pharisees were very close to doing this. And they showed no repentance, some knowing the truth completely went against it. And despised Christ's sacrifice, despised the truth. And so we see the condition, these attitudes, which will have a person end in that lake of fire. Notice in Hebrews chapter 10, Hebrews chapter 10, verse 26 through 31. And as you can tell, this isn't because somebody has some sin that they haven't been able to overcome. And now we're talking about somebody that has just completely hardened their hearts. They don't want forgiveness from God.

You have to really go to an extreme to be part of that third resurrection. Notice in verse 26 of Hebrews 10, there are three terrible attitudes that are shown here. It says, for if we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, you have to know the knowledge of the truth. If you're still in the ignorant masses, this doesn't apply to you. But if we sin willfully after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

In the amplified Bible, it says, for if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice to atone for our sins.

That is no further offering to anticipate.

He says, but a fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, that's the lake of fire, which will devour the adversaries. That's what happened to this rich man in the story. He was judged and thrown in the lake of fire.

Anyone who has rejected Moses law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. That's the Old Testament law.

He says, of how much more worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God under foot?

So here, this first attitude is that the person doesn't want Christ's sacrifice.

They just step on it. They don't care about it.

Counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing. So a person has Christ's sacrifice applied to him.

That's the blood of Christ that covers our sins. And now you don't consider that worthy. You don't consider it valuable. A common thing is something detestable.

And the third attitude, an insulted the spirit of grace.

God's presence, God's relationship, you completely throw it out of your life.

And so this is not talking about somebody in the church that sort of drifts off someplace.

Most of the people never were truly converted.

That spirit was really not connected at that time.

And so they just drifted back into the world.

They'll have a chance.

It has to be somebody with the knowledge of the truth that you really are committed. And then you turn your back on it and then you abhor it. You detest it.

And you know what?

I don't know if I've ever seen anybody that comes to that point.

That I can say, you know, this person, he was really part of the church and now he's persecuting and he wants to kill all of us. And he hates God.

I've never seen that much of an extreme.

I think some of the Pharisees that will wake up when they come and they say you have to accept Christ because of their self-righteousness and no, no, I can't do that. See, but they'll never really be in the church. They will reject that opportunity in the second resurrection.

Or if they've destroyed their conscience, they'll end up just like the rich man.

God knows the hearts.

He is the perfect judge.

God does not make mistakes like humans do.

So his judgments are perfect. Here's another translation, easy reading version. Says, so think how much more punishment people deserve who show their hate for the Son of God, people who show they have no respect for the blood sacrifice that began the new agreement and once made them holy or who insult the spirit of grace.

So again, it can happen, but it's very rare.

So now we go to finalize this.

What happened when the rich man realized what he was facing?

He had a chance to show just a little mercy during his life.

Just care for others instead of yourself.

He amassed all of this and he never thought about that little poor man.

If he was had any type of conscience, he would have least let his servants give him something to eat.

But his heart had hardened to the point where it was gone.

It was lost. So verses twenty four through thirty one.

And so reading it here in Luke sixteen.

So it says, verse twenty three, and being in tournaments in Hades, that's the tomb when he woke up and all of a sudden he's facing this judgment.

He lifted up his eyes.

They had been he'd been asleep.

And saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.

So he saw people in the kingdom of God there there as witnesses.

Then he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he might dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.

For I am tormented in this flame.

And Brad talks about that there's going to be weeping and gnashing.

I mean, his saliva just completely.

Was lost.

He just wanted something to wet his mouth.

Not that he was in a fire because then he would have buckets of water.

He would ask for.

No, he just wanted to wet his lips.

And then.

Verse twenty five, but Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things.

And likewise, Lazarus evil things.

But now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Again, Lazarus was able to accept God's way of life and.

Most probably in the second resurrection when he didn't have any problems with his body or mind.

He says, and besides all this between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed.

So those who want to pass from here to you cannot nor can those from there pass to us.

So the kingdom of God is separate.

This is the third resurrection. We're going to witness some of the most heinous people.

On earth through history, those who just massacred people with no compunction.

We're talking about the incorrigibly wicked.

That means people that cannot be corrected.

They became so evil or religiously became so proud that they don't want God's or Christ's forgiveness. And so it says, then he said, I beg you, therefore, Father, that you would send him, talk about Lazarus, to my father's house.

See, he has no idea what period of time he's in because this is the third resurrection.

It's just to present the people, judge them and then throw them in the lake of fire. He says, for I have five brothers that they may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.

And up in this lake of fire, Abraham said to him, they have Moses and the prophets.

See, that's where our authority is.

The Bible. Let them hear them. And he said, no, Father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.

But he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rise from the dead.

And so it's not going to change a person.

If the person wants that type of life and just think of himself all the time, forget about the rest. It's interesting that there's another Lazarus that was resurrected from the dead by Jesus Christ.

And we read there in John chapter 12 that the Pharisees wanted to kill Lazarus because he was an example of Christ's power.

Instead of glorifying God from raising a person from the dead, it says they sought to kill Lazarus.

So that's how sick a mentality can be.

So we have here an example of a person by all indications who wakes up from his grave and is part of the third resurrection.

He will be judged and sentenced to the second death.

Notice Revelation 21. Revelation 21, 6 through 8, who are going to make it into the kingdom and who are not.

Revelation 21, 6 through 8, it says, and he said to me, it is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

I will give of the fountain of life freely to those who thirst. Talk about eternal life.

He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my God, my son.

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, so the rich man qualifies for this.

Murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

That is the permanent death.

So God is not going to have a forever burning hell for people.

No, it is going to be a second death and they are just going to be resurrected so they will have to face what they did with the witness of all the glorified saints at that time which will be there watching what God's judgment is upon them.

In verse 24, it continues to say, and the nations of those who are saved, this talk about all the people that have been part of the first resurrection, those in the second resurrection that accept God and have their names written in the book of life, shall walk in its light.

And the kings of the earth, not talking about the kings today, talking about those that are going to be saints, God's people that are going to be kings under Jesus Christ, will bring glory and honor into it.

Its gaze shall not be shut all day. There shall be no night there and there shall bring the glory and the honor of nations into it.

But there shall be by no means enter in anything that defiles or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. So we have seen how the Bible does not contradict itself, but shows God's ways are just, loving, holy, and good.