Table of Contents

Beyond Today Program - The Rich Man and Lazarus

Introduction

The truth about the Rich Man and Lazarus

No one has ascended to Heaven*

Was the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus a Real Story?

The state of the dead

The rich man in mental torment

The wicked will be completely burned up

Live a life of righteousness now

If You Would Like to Know More...

Beyond Today Program - "The Rich Man and Lazarus"

In His parable did Jesus really say people have immortal souls that go to heaven or hell at death? Hear the real truth.

Watch the Beyond Today program - http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/heaven-and-hell/rich-man-and-lazarus

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Transcript - "The Rich Man and Lazarus"

[Steve] What do you think happens after you die?

> Well, speaking for myself, I was in a car accident where I was in a coma for two weeks…and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I'm going to be in heaven.

>> I think there's something out there. I think there's something else, yes.

> This is going to sound really weird but maybe there's like a higher dimension you go to if you led a good life.

>> I believe that everybody should get a chance to go to heaven.

[Steve] Paradise in heaven sounds so reassuring and comforting, doesn't it? But many believe they'll be able to look down upon others, even their loved ones who didn't make it to heaven. Imagine that scene. Hearing them from heaven—frantically screaming for help that you can't give them. Seeing them writhe in pain and indescribable agony, in flames of unending torture.

Now, what do you believe? What does the Bible teach? Stay tuned to Beyond Today as we investigate heaven and hell by examining the thought-provoking parable of Jesus: "The Rich Man and Lazarus."

[Announcer] Join our host Steve Myers, and his guests, as they help you understand your future on Beyond Today!

[Steve] Heaven or hell? The mystery of what happens after you die disturbs even some of the best of Christians. There are so many conflicting ideas. Now, we all know we're going to die, but most think they have an immortal soul that continues on.

Do you have an immortal soul? Does it go on living in heaven if you're good—or if you're wicked, will you suffer agony in hell forever?

On today's program, we'll examine Jesus' parable about the rich man and Lazarus. We'll see that the Bible teaches you do not have an immortal soul and that believing you go to heaven or hell immediately at death is not a teaching of Christ.

Now many believe that parable that's in Luke 16 proves there's an immediate reward or punishment. But does it really?

[Steve] What do you think happens after you die?

> I went to Catholic school, and if you read the catechism about all the ways you can go to hell and what happens there—if you ever read Dante's Inferno, it's some pretty gruesome stuff.

>> I believe you got to answer, and you have to believe in Christ, you're saved, you're going to heaven. If you don't, well, then you can make all kinds of things up. "Yeah, I'm going to be down there in that dark room," or "I'm going to be on those coals of fire," or whatever you want to call it.

> If you want to take the Calvinist view, you're either born with grace or not, which case, it's a big gamble when you die. I don't know. I take the Woody Allen version and try not to worry about it, you know? You'll go crazy.

[Steve] But is it something what we should worry about? What does God's Word say? What about the rich man and poor Lazarus? Is it really a story about their actual experience in the afterlife? Sadly, many misunderstand the story—and as a result, they overlook its critical message. But most importantly—what does Jesus want us to understand from His parable?

Let' s notice what it says:

"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 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" (Luke 16:19-21).

Now that's a disgusting thing. Jesus begins the story about a man who had everything, everything he needed and wanted. Yet, outside the door was a sick, starving, destitute man. The rich man wouldn't even help! Wouldn't even lift a finger to help that man.

Did you know that the story doesn't even really begin here? If this parable is going to make sense, we need to understand what led up to this example—what's the back-story?

Well just before this Bible parable, is another story about an unjust steward. That parable also begins with the phrase "there was a certain rich man." So as Jesus told His disciples that parable, the Jewish teachers, the Pharisees, those religious leaders were also listening. "Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him" (Luke 16:14). You see, the Pharisees sneered at Him because they knew He was talking about them.

This wasn't the first time Jesus took them to task for their selfish greed and corruption. So we see the context of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus involves a person's responsibility to use money and wealth properly—which includes caring for the needs of other people. It doesn't focus on heaven and hell but instead love and concern—those were the lessons the Jewish leaders needed to learn.

Now with that background, let's see what happens next:

"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. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:22-23).

Now many disagree—whether Jesus' words are intended to be understood literally or as a parable to illustrate a lesson. Some feel that in this story, Jesus gives an actual glimpse of the afterlife.

But wait. I'd like to challenge you today. Do you have a true biblical understanding of heaven and hell? What do you believe? Did you know there are numerous passages of Scripture that contradict the traditional religious teachings of going to heaven or hell at death? Jesus was actually teaching an altogether different kind of lesson.

Many gave their interpretation on the Yahoo Answers website. Let's listen to what they said:

"It means rich horrible nasty people who don't help others will burn in hell."

"It's nothing more than an ancient myth."

"It means that hell is a very real place."

"How could someone in heaven see someone in the center of the earth? Burning in molten lava? Then carry on a conversation?"

"Jesus is telling of what happens to people after they die."

[Steve] But is that true? Is this story literal? Now we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions. So let's ask the obvious question. Does being carried to Abraham's bosom mean going to heaven when you die like most people assume?

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary states that the human bosom or breast is "the seat of the emotions and intimate feelings." It can also mean that a person or thing is cherished or embraced. The word points to a close, intimate relationship.

So when Lazarus is carried "to Abraham's bosom" it's telling us that he has a deep, personal connection to that righteous man Abraham who "was called the friend of God." Now on the other hand, the rich man—he was too worried about himself and his possessions to have a relationship with God.

Now that brings up a question: Where is that? Where will Abraham be when Lazarus is carried to him?

Heaven right? No. Many assume that. But that's not the case. That would mean that Abraham must be in heaven right now looking down on the rich man and us for that matter.

But is that true? I'd like to help you understand with our free study aid, The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Discover what God has to say. The surprising truth about heaven and hell is so different from what most have been taught and possibly different from what you've always believed.

To request your free copy, call us toll free: 1-888-886-8632. That's 1-888-886-8632. Or go online to BeyondToday.tv to read or download, The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus.

You really need this eye-opening free study aid. It will help you base your beliefs on the rock-solid truth of the Bible. So, be sure to call us: 1-888-886-8632 or go online to BeyondToday.tv to request, The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus.

Now we've found that Jesus parable shouldn't be taken literally. Being taken to Abraham's bosom does not mean Lazarus was carried immediately to heaven and now can look down from paradise on others. Too many believe this false notion.

If you go to heaven, what do you think it's like to look down on your family or friends on earth?

> I kid my kids. I tell them, "I'm going to be nudging you, you know, so you better be doing the right thing, I tease them."

>> They see that in advertising, they see it in movies, they see it on TV, prevailing thought. "Well, my dad's looking down on me," or, "My mom, or my grandfather," or whatever.

[Steve] It can seem very comforting to think that our loved ones are looking down on us, but it's not a biblical teaching. While so many imagine a paradise in heaven, they haven't thought about looking down and seeing all the tragedy, starvation, natural disasters, the misery, affliction and suffering. What kind of paradise is that?

Well in a moment, we'll see the Bible promises something so much better.

Now here's the truth: "no one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." Those are Jesus own words! (John 3:13). Even King "David did not ascend into the heavens" (Acts 2:34).

Now that may take you by surprise but the Bible actually teaches that people do not have an immortal soul that goes to heaven or hell when they die. Our dead relatives are not looking down on us.

Now that should challenge you. Do you believe the teachings of Jesus? He warned the religious leaders of the day, "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" (Luke 13:28).

In the parable about Lazarus going to Abraham's bosom, He's talking about being in the Kingdom of God. Abraham will be in God's Kingdom!

Now many confuse things by thinking the Kingdom of God is the same as heaven. But the Bible plainly explains that God's Kingdom will be established on earth at Jesus Christ's second coming. "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'" (Revelation 11:15, ESV). You see all that time, the resurrected faithful believers, including Abraham, will reign with Christ as kings and priests on earth (Revelation 5:10).

So we find the Word of God—Jesus Himself taught that no one has gone to heaven except the resurrected Christ. He said that Lazarus died and was later resurrected into the Kingdom of God.

So let's go back to the part that says, "The rich man also died and was buried" (Luke 16:22).

What's the significance of that statement? Let's allow the Word of God to teach us the facts. So we have to ask: What about the dead and buried? What does the Bible reveal about them?

"For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing… For there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The dead are unconscious. Completely! They're not aware of anything. So when a person dies, all of his thoughts, knowledge, feelings, they come completely to a halt. Absolutely no awareness or consciousness continues anywhere—not in another location, not in some other state of being. They are not cognizant of anything.

The Holy Word of God compares death to sleep (Job 7:21; Job 14:10-12). Sleeping in the dust of the earth (Daniel 12:2). They will awaken later in a resurrection (Isaiah 26:19).

So let's notice how that applies back in the parable:

"And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 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" (Luke 16:23-25).

Now before you say, Aha! I knew there was an ever-burning hell. Let's step back for just a moment. Don't presume that the rich man died and went to be tormented forever in hellfire. That's incorrect—it's not stated here or anywhere else in the Bible for that matter.

Here's why. In some Bible versions the word hades is misinterpreted as "an ever burning hell." It can be confusing unless we recognize that the word hades means "the grave." It doesn't mean burning fire; it means a burial place for the dead, a burial place for the dead—the grave.

Now the pagan Greek world misunderstood the Biblical concept of the grave and the truth of how people await the resurrection after death.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary (vol. 8, p. 992) states: "In the New Testament Hades is never used of the destiny of the believer."

Now back to the parable: Just how could the rich man lift up his eyes after he died? The Bible reveals that the only way this can happen—is through a resurrection.

Jesus taught that the dead can be raised in two ways: immortal—eternal life or to physical life. So remember that Jesus raised another man named Lazarus to mortal life, back to physical (John 12:17). And at the crucifixion many faithful followers who had died were raised right back to physical life (Matthew 27:50-53).

Now that tells us in Jesus' parable that the rich man would be raised from the dead as a mortal man—physical, just as he was before he died.

Now Abraham and the other faithful people, including Lazarus, at the return of Christ would have been raised as immortal spirit beings many generations earlier. Proof of that is found in Revelation 20 that God's spirit-begotten children will be resurrected to eternal life at Jesus' second coming and "they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4-5).

Verse 5 continues: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." So the rich man's resurrection would be to physical life occurring after that thousand-year period.

Because the dead know nothing, here' s the interesting part. The rich man would be resurrected at the end of that thousand-year time span as a physical man. But it would seem to him as though it's the very next moment after he died. Like waking up after a nap or coming out of a coma. He would know absolutely nothing about the centuries that had passed since his death.

Now so far, we've seen that the Bible compares death to sleep and that we rest in the grave until a resurrection. We don't have an immortal soul that goes up or down at death. We are buried in Hades—the grave and we rest—knowing nothing. And then at Jesus return, Abraham and all the faithful believers will be resurrected as spirit beings. Those like the rich man, well they'll have to wait till the thousand years are over to be resurrected as physical beings.

The New Bible Dictionary is correct when it states that Jesus' story "is a parable which made use of certain Jewish thinking and is not intended to teach anything about the state of the dead" (New Bible Dictionary p. 388).

It would be impossible, literally to have that conversation. How awful would it be to misunderstand and imagine watching others in agony?

How do you think you'd feel if you could look down from heaven to people in hell?

> That would make you feel sad…

>> Yeah, I struggle with that. I don't know how that would be.

> I wouldn't even really wish my worst enemy, you know, eternal hell.

>> You have family and friends down there, being able to watch over them, and see them and not be able to really help them or intervene in the way that we think of it, that actually sounds like hell, almost.

[Steve] That would be miserable. Have you considered that kind of paradise that most believe in? It wouldn't be heavenly and it's not biblical.

These teachings of Jesus may be unfamiliar to you. They may sound so different from what you've come to believe. I'd like to help you understand what your Bible really teaches. Order our free Bible study aid, The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus. There's more you need know.

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Now we've found that Jesus story was not about heaven and hell. That the dead know nothing in the grave, but await a resurrection. In the story, Lazarus, Abraham and all the faithful are resurrected spirit beings. So next, we see the rich man resurrected back to physical life.

So he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:24).

Now if the rich man were already burning in the inferno of hell, wouldn't he want a bucket of water dumped on him, rather than just a few drops on his tongue?

Well Abraham replies, "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. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us" (Luke 16:25-26).

This is not a description of punishment of the wicked immediately after death. Instead, the rich man becomes aware of the flames of the lake of fire where he will soon be thrown. Revelation states that "anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

The New American Standard New Testament Greek Lexicon explains that the word for "torment" can describe intense pain but also mental anguish or distress. So we see the rich man is not in a hell fire but experiences tremendous mental anguish to the point that now he has a dry mouth.

And no wonder the rich man is in extreme mental distress. He now realizes his fate is to be utterly burned up. He might even remember Malachi 4 where it states, "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts?" (Malachi 4:1)

Christ uses this story to warn the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, that those who are unrepentant will lose their opportunity for eternal life in God's Kingdom, not tortured forever in hell; but burned up and forgotten. Jesus also compared the wicked people to tares—weeds that are gathered up into bundles at harvest time and are totally burned up (Matthew 13:30).

Here the rich man now realizes his fate is to be burned up in the lake of fire. So his final thoughts turn to some of his family members.

Without realizing that time has passed he says, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send [Lazarus] to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'" (Luke 16:27-31)

Abraham replies, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

You see the Pharisees thought that they followed Moses and the prophets, but in reality, they rejected them. Christ told them earlier: "if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:46-47). They didn't believe Jesus and they faced a difficult fate.

There even was a real man named Lazarus that Jesus did resurrect back to physical life—and yet they still didn't believe Jesus.

So what can we learn from Jesus' parable?

Well first, we've found that it's a mistaken idea to think that you have an immortal soul that goes to heaven or hell when you die.

We've also discovered the truth about the resurrection of the dead. The dead know nothing and await a resurrection. The wicked—they will be resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire and burned up. But most importantly, we've learned that how a person lives today is what matters the most.

Because the rich man wouldn't repent and wouldn't change from his love of money and pleasure, he neglected other human beings and destroyed his relationship with God.

So we are all warned, "But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen (Isaiah 59:2, HCSB).

So what should you do?

> We're supposed to make choices and do the right things and do what we can every day to help each other.

>> You know, that's just like you said, that's just something we need to think about while we're here. Make changes in our lives if we are doing wrong so that won't even be a situation at hand.

[Steve] The most important point Jesus was making to the Pharisees and to all of us should be very clear. It's not too late to change.

Let's ask ourselves:

Am I consumed with my own personal interests?

Am I distracted by all the entertainment, and pleasures that surround me?

Am I preoccupied with only my own concerns?

We cannot afford to ignore those who need encouragement, those who need support, those who need a helping hand. There is time.

There is a time of judgment though that's coming for everyone. Let's take to heart the message of the rich man and Lazarus and begin to change now.

So many are ingrained by incorrect ideas about heaven and hell. So I'd like to help you in your spiritual journey with our free study aid: The Truth About the Rich Man and Lazarus. It will help you uncover the details of Jesus teaching.

Be sure and order your free subscription as well to our magazine—The Good News. It will help you understand how the Bible applies to what's going on in your world with articles that are relevant to your life.

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It's easy to misunderstand the parable of the rich man and Lazarus if you lose sight of Jesus' main point.

It is important to understand the facts about what happens after death—but it's even more critical that we examine our own attitudes and our own actions.

Don't be like that rich man. He chose to ignore the desperate needs of others while he lived a self-centered life.

Even though he had every opportunity to help and to serve and to change, he ignored other's hardship and suffering. And so, it destroyed his relationship with God and in the end—He realized it was too late for him to change.

But The Good News is: it's not too late to change, if you start now. Begin today by letting God lead you to deeper understanding through His Holy Bible.

You can change! Dedicating yourself today—get to know God. Really know Him and understand Him personally and learn His ways thoroughly.

Now is the time to listen to Him and to make every effort to be like Him—preparing for eternal life in God's future Kingdom.

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to tell your family and friends about Beyond Today and tune in again next week and join us in praying, "Thy Kingdom come." For Beyond Today, I'm Steve Myers. Thanks for watching.

[Announcer] For the free literature offered on today's program, go online to BeyondToday.tv. Please join us again next week on Beyond Today!

Introduction

The tale of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus is one of Jesus' most well known parables. It's also one of the most misunderstood sections of the Bible. What was Jesus trying to tell us through this parable? Was He explaining heaven and hell and the afterlife? Or was He trying to teach us something about how to live godly, generous lives? Read to find the answer!

Read this amazing story: One day a rich man and a poor man both die. Instantly, they both awaken—but to find themselves in very different circumstances.

The poor man opens his eyes and sees paradise spread before him. Legendary heroes of faith like Abraham are there to welcome him and bring him into their warm embrace. The years of hardship and rejection on earth have been worth it—he is in heaven, enjoying the promise of God.

The rich man now opens his eyes to see a much different scene. He is deep within the heart of the earth, in a terrifying pit of torment and despair. Evil creatures lurk just out of eyesight, and his flesh is boiled by flame. His life of selfishness and disdain has caught up with him—he is in hell, paying the eternal price for his sins.

It's a horrifying story for those who live selfishly like the rich man, but a hopeful one for those like Lazarus, the poor beggar who found his reward in heaven. Is this what you believe when you read the story of Lazarus and the rich man in your Bible? And most importantly, is this what Jesus wants you to understand from this parable?

The truth about the Rich Man and Lazarus

The most common interpretation of Jesus' parable of Lazarus and the rich man is that we all have immortal souls that go to either heaven or hell immediately at death. But does this parable really say that?

Let's begin by reviewing the definition and purpose of a parable. Merriam Webster's defines a parable as "a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson." Jesus often used parables in His teachings. His disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables. He answered, "'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given'" (Matthew 13:10-11, emphasis added throughout). Jesus' parables contain moral lessons that most listeners can understand to a limited degree. However, they're not designed to make the deeper meaning clear to everyone. Spiritual comprehension is given only to those whom God has granted His gift of divine insight (Matthew 13:18-23).

Understanding the parable's context

An important principle to remember in studying the Bible is to always consider the context of any verse, chapter or book. In the case of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, it's important to understand the historical and biblical context of this parable.

Jesus presents the following story: "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 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" (Luke 16:19-21).

Here we learn about a rich man who had everything he needed and wanted. Outside the door of his home lay a poor, sick, starving beggar named Lazarus. The rich man wouldn't even lift a finger to help him. To grasp the spiritual significance of this story we need to understand the biblical context in which it was presented.

Just prior to the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16 is another parable about the "unjust steward," which begins with the phrase "there was a certain rich man." As Jesus relayed that parable to his disciples, the Jewish teachers, the Pharisees, were listening. "Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him" (Luke 16:14). These religious leaders sneered at Jesus because they knew they were the direct object of His words.

This was not the first time Jesus took these men to task for their self-absorbed greed, corruption and exploitation. For example in Matthew 23:14 Christ declared they were "devouring widow's houses." Also in verse 25 he declared they were "full of extortion and self-indulgence." So the context in which the parable of Lazarus and the rich man can be understood involves a person's responsibility to use money and wealth properly—which includes caring for the needs of other people.

Carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom

Let's now move on to the next verse in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. "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" (Luke 16:22).

We must be careful not to jump to conclusions as to what we just read. Let's pause to ask what may seem like an obvious question. What's the definition of "bosom?" Webster's New World Dictionary notes that the human bosom or breast is "the source of feelings or the seat of inmost thoughts." Being in a person's bosom can also mean that a person or thing is embraced or cherished. For example in Deuteronomy 13:6 a man's wife is spoken of as "the wife of your bosom," which signifies a close, intimate relationship.

Therefore, when Lazarus is carried "to Abraham's bosom" it indicates he has a deep, personal connection to that righteous man who "was called the friend of God" (James 2:23). The rich man, on the other hand, was too worried about himself and his possessions to have a relationship with God.

But where will Abraham be when Lazarus is carried to him? Jesus told the religious leaders of his day, "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" (Luke 13:28). So Abraham will be in God's Kingdom!

It's often believed the Kingdom of God refers to heaven. But the Bible explains that God's Kingdom will be established on earth at Jesus Christ's second coming: "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever'" (Revelation 11:15, English Standard Version). Also, the resurrected saints (including Abraham) will reign with Christ as kings and priests "on the earth" (Revelation 5:10). For much more information on this important subject please read our free Bible study aid booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom.

No one has ascended to Heaven*

*That is, except Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven (John 3:13). But when you read in Luke 16:22 that "the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom," it's easy to assume this means Lazarus was taken to heaven.

Likewise, Luke wrote in Acts 2:34 that "David did not ascend into the heavens." So the Bible actually says that people do not go consciously to heaven when they die. (For additional information on this topic please read our free Bible study aid booklet Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach?)

Even if Jesus were talking about a real event and not just a story, when would Lazarus be taken to Abraham's bosom? This will occur at the time of the first resurrection. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matthew 24:31).

If Lazarus were to be resurrected from the grave he will be escorted by angels to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds at His second coming. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Arising in a resurrection

Jesus certainly knew Abraham and other faithful individuals were dead in their graves and would be raised in a resurrection (John 8:52-56). "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). Also the prophet Daniel wrote, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:2).

It's important to note that Jesus and Daniel are speaking about two separate resurrections. First, the righteous will be raised from the dead at Jesus' return to earth. Then, more than 1,000 years later, there will be a resurrection of the "rest of the dead" (Revelation 20:5). Some of these people will ultimately be judged to be unrighteous—those who, knowing the truth, refuse to repent. "For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power" (1 Corinthians 15:22-24, Complete Jewish Bible).

Was the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus a Real Story?

One of the most important questions to consider about the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is whether or not the story is based on actual events. Some argue that, since Jesus specifically mentions Lazarus' name and talks about his and the rich man's fate, it must be a true account with a literal meaning.

However, we must understand that this is a parable—"an imaginary story…to illustrate and inculcate some higher spiritual truth" (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "parable"). If we take its lesson at face value, it's in complete harmony with the rest of the Bible. Jesus' straightforward point is that it's too late to change one's behavior and character after death. His point is that we must live in a godly manner when we are alive, just as the man Lazarus did in the story.

The New Bible Dictionary is correct when it states that Jesus' story "is a parable which made use of certain Jewish thinking and is not intended to teach anything about the state of the dead" (The New Bible Dictionary p. 388).

One of the most important principles of effective Bible study is that you must derive meanings based upon the greater context of the Bible. Many other scriptures point to the fact that the dead are unconscious, awaiting a resurrection at a later time. Therefore it's clear that this parable was never meant to be taken literally—it's simply a captivating story meant to make a point about repentance and judgment.

The state of the dead

Let's go back over the second part of Luke 16:22, which states, "The rich man also died and was buried." Let's pause once again to ask a fundamental question. What does the Bible reveal about the state of the dead? "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing…For there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10).

The dead are completely unconscious. They are not cognizant of anything. When a person dies, all of his thoughts, knowledge and feelings come to a complete halt. Absolutely no awareness or consciousness continues in another location or state of being. The Bible likens death to sleep (Job 7:21; 14:10-12). Daniel 12:2 describes dead individuals as "those who sleep in the dust of the earth." They will awaken later in a resurrection (Isaiah 26:19). For much more information on this subject read the Bible study aid What Happens After Death?

Three different words for hell

We can now explore Luke 16:23. Speaking about the rich man it reads, "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." Again, we must be careful not to presume the story means that the rich man died and went to an ever-burning hellfire. This is an incorrect assumption and not stated in this passage. It directly contradicts other biblical teaching on the matter. Jesus used the Greek word Hades ("hell" in the King James Version), which simply means "the grave." The Expositor's Bible Commentary (vol. 8, p. 992) states: "In the New Testament Hades is never used of the destiny of the believer. Neither is it identified with Gehenna, which is usually connected with fiery judgment as in Matthew 5:22, 29-30; Luke 12:5)."

It's important to also understand that in the Greek language, there are two other words in the Bible often translated "hell." One is tartaroo, which is used only once and refers to the present condition of restraint or imprisonment of fallen angels or demons (2 Peter 2:4). The other word is Gehenna, which is derived from the Hebrew expression Gai-Hinnom, or the Valley of Hinnom. This valley bordered Jerusalem on the south. One Jewish source relates that, in Christ's day, it was used as the city's garbage dump. When Jesus spoke of Gehenna His listeners understood that this "hell" was a destroying fire in which trash and even the bodies of criminals were reduced to ashes. He warned that this kind of fire would be the ultimate fate of those who remain unrepentant (Matthew 13:41). "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell [Gehenna, or Valley of Hinnom]; yes, I say to you, fear Him" (Luke 12:5).

The rich man awakens from death

Continuing in Luke 16:23 we read about the rich man: "And being in torments in Hades [the grave], he lifted up his eyes." Once again we must be alert to read exactly what the passage says. Just how could the rich man have "lifted up his eyes" after he died? The Bible reveals the only way this can happen is through a resurrection. It explains that the dead can be raised to either immortal (Luke 20:35-36; Romans 8:13) or mortal (physical) life.

For example, Jesus raised another man named Lazarus to mortal life (John 12:17). Also, immediately after Jesus died on the cross many of His faithful followers who had died were raised to physical life (Matthew 27:50-53). In the case of the parable we are studying, the rich man would be raised from the dead as a mortal man, just as he was before he died. Revelation 20:4 explains that God's spirit-begotten children will be resurrected to immortal life at Christ's second coming. However, verse 5 continues by stating, "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished." So the rich man's resurrection to physical life would occur after that thousand year period (Revelation 20:11-15).

Abraham and the other faithful individuals, including Lazarus, would have been raised as immortal spirit beings at the return of Jesus Christ. Since the rich man would be resurrected near the end of the thousand year timespan as a physical man, it would seem to him as if it is the very next second after he died. He would know absolutely nothing of the vast number of years since his death.

When the rich man "lifted up" or opened his eyes, he immediately "saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom" (Luke 16:23). According to Bible language expert Dr. Lawrence Richards, writing in The Victor Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Jesus employed contemporary Jewish thought about the afterlife in this parable (which by this time was influenced by pagan mythology).

Dr. Richards wrote that Hades, the abode of the dead, was "thought to be divided into two compartments" and "conversations could be held between persons" in the abode of the righteous and those in the abode of the unrighteous. The New Bible Dictionary (p. 388) says, "Probably the story of Dives [meaning 'rich' {man} in Latin] and Lazarus (Luke 16), like the story of the unjust steward (Luke 16:1-9), is a parable which made use of certain Jewish thinking and is not intended to teach anything about the state of the dead."

The rich man in mental torment

What did the rich man do next? "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame'" (Luke 16:24).

Again let's be careful not to assume the rich man in the story is already engulfed in an unbiblical ever-burning hellfire. If this were a genuine description of the punishment of the wicked after death, he could not actually be burning yet (see "The wicked will be completely burned up"). Rather, he would be aware of approaching flames of the lake of fire into which, he realizes, he would soon be cast. "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

Facing imminent death he cries out to Abraham to "send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water" to cool his tongue. If he were already burning in a searing inferno wouldn't he really want pails of water to put out the flames, rather than just a few drops on his tongue? So the rich man is not in a fire but is, rather, beset by tremendous mental anguish to the point where his mouth has become nearly dry.

The rich man then says, "I am tormented in this flame" (Luke 16:24). The word "tormented" is translated from the Greek word odunao. The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon explains that this word can describe not only intense pain but also mental anguish or distress. The NAS Exhaustive Concordance states the word "in" here in Greek is en which can mean being "in" or "on," but it can also mean "at, by, with." If a real portrayal of going to the lake of fire, the rich man would be in extreme mental distress as he realizes his fate is to be utterly burned up.

It's vital to grasp Christ's warning here to the Pharisees—that those who were unrepentant would be "weeping and gnashing" their teeth after realizing they are excluded from God's Kingdom (Luke 13:28).

The infinite gulf between mortal and immortal life

After the rich man pleads with Abraham to have Lazarus cool his tongue with a few drops of water Abraham replies to him, "'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. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us'" (Luke 16:25-26).

This great gulf would include the infinite distance between mortal and immortal life (1 Corinthians 15:50-54). Faithful, obedient believers who are made immortal will never die (Luke 20:34-36; John 11:26; Revelation 20:6). However, human beings who refuse to repent of their sins lose their opportunity for everlasting life. "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26-27).

Because of his unrepentance over his love of money and pleasure to the neglect of another human being the rich man had destroyed his relationship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2). He knew what was about to happen to him. He realized his fate was sealed and he would die shortly in the lake of fire. As a result, the rich man's last thoughts turned to some of his family members.

Without awareness of time having passed and assuming his five brothers were still alive, he implored Abraham to have Lazarus encourage them to repent lest they too would be punished. "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent'" (Luke 16:27-30).

Finally, Abraham replies, "'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead'" (Luke 16:31). Why did Jesus include this statement in His parable? Because even though the Pharisees felt they followed Moses and the prophets, they in fact rejected them. Speaking to the Pharisees at an earlier time Jesus said, "For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words" (John 5:46-47)?

Jesus advised His disciples that the prophets' message about Him had everything to do with loving God and fellow human beings (John 1:45; Matthew 22:37-40).

The wicked will be completely burned up

It's essential to understand the truth about the lake of fire.

It's not a place of merciless, unending torture where a person burns and burns and yet never burns up. This fire will in fact consume the wicked completely and turn them into ashes. They will then be dead forever with no further hope of resurrection. Even the memory of them will perish (Isaiah 26:14). "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, 'that will leave them neither root nor branch'" (Malachi 4:1). Also verse 3 states, "'You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,' says the Lord of hosts."

John the Baptist warned the Pharisees that if they did not repent they would be burned up as chaff or rubbish: "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10). Furthermore, verse 12 declares, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

In Matthew 13:30 Jesus likened wicked people to tares—weeds that are gathered in bundles at the time of the harvest and are totally burned up. Psalm 37:20 says: "But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away." Our merciful God will quickly end the lives of sinful, unrepentant individuals. They will not live on forever burning in torment and agony (Revelation 20:14, Romans 6:23).

Live a life of righteousness now

What have we learned about Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the rich man? We discovered the biblical truth about the resurrection of the dead and the fallacy of an immortal soul going to heaven or an ever-burning hell at the time of death.

Most importantly, we found that how a person lives today is what truly matters. The rich man chose to ignore the desperate needs of Lazarus while he personally lived a self-indulgent life. Even though he knew he should have helped Lazarus, and had every chance to do so, he simply ignored the beggar's hardship and suffering. As a result, the rich man passed up his opportunity for eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The vital point Jesus was making in this parable to the Pharisees and to all of us should be clear, if we have "ears to hear" (Luke 16:14; Matthew 11:15). Are we consumed with our personal interests, concerns and pleasures? Do we ignore those who need encouragement, support and a helping hand? "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17-18).

The apostle James mirrored Jesus' comment when he wrote, "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" (James 2:15-16). A time of judgment is coming for every person who has had his eyes opened to the genuine truth of the Bible (2 Peter 3:7). As Peter asked, "What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?" (2 Peter 3:11-12).

Examining our personal attitudes and actions

It's easy to misunderstand the parable of Lazarus and the rich man if you lose sight of the main point of Jesus' message. When you look at it in the context of one of Jesus' main messages, which is to be concerned about the need of others, the real meaning becomes clear.

Although it's important to understand the real facts about the afterlife, it's even more vital that we carefully examine our personal attitudes and actions. Are we in sync with what God wants from us? Are our priorities in sync with God's priorities?

Jesus used the story of the rich man and Lazarus as a strong verbal and visual lesson to his disciples—to us. It shows us the importance God places on kindness and being outward-focused instead of inward-focused. To be sure, how we care for others is the dynamic spiritual lesson Jesus wants us to learn through this parable (James 1:27). We need to avoid being like the rich man who, in the end, realized it was too late to change.

The good news is that it's not too late to change. Change can begin today by letting God lead you to more understanding through study of His Holy Bible. It can begin today by dedicating yourself in prayer to get to know God more intimately.

Let's listen to God's Word now and make a diligent effort to prepare for eternal life in God's future Kingdom.

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