DEATH AND BEYOND

so first of all the story must be examined to see whether it is a parable or if it is factual. It is argued that this story is not prefaced by a verse saying, ‘he spake by a parable’ as happens, for example, when the story of the sower of the good seed is recounted in Luke 8:4-15, or many other parables. This story begins only with, ‘There was a certain rich man …’ But it is worth noting that the story in the previous chapter begins in exactly the same way. ‘There was a certain rich man …’ In the previous chapter there are examples of other stories which begin, ‘A certain man made a great supper and …’, ‘A certain man had two sons …’

There is no question that these stories are parables. Therefore it is distorting the Scriptures to make the story in question into a source of doctrinal facts.
If this story is teaching doctrinal arguments, consider the things that it does teach and see that it does not make sense, let alone give Bible truth.

Rich people go to hellfire.
Poor people go to a place of blessedness.
Disembodied spirits have bosoms, fingers, tongues, eyes, and physical sensations such as thirst.
The place of bliss of the saved, and the place of torment for the wicked is so close that each can see the other. They are so near that the saved and the lost can speak to one another easily.
Abraham himself is the source of bliss, and those that are will be saved are carried by the angels to his bosom.
Abraham is made to appear as the keeper of those that are saved.

None of these conclusions can be substantiated, or given further understanding by another single Bible verse. Doctrines cannot be based on just one passage.
Here is an example of where this was done falsely. In the time of the Inquisition, the five Bible words, ‘Compel (show the necessity for) them to come in’ Luke 14:23 were used as a reason to apply force and torture to enter the Catholic church, to those who would not comply, whereas in the Bible story it is clearly an invitation to all showing the necessity of responding to Jesus’, when there were no guests at the wedding. A doctrine was taken out of just five words.
Unless Scripture is compared with Scripture to discover a full picture, conflicting interpretations can be made by as many different students as read the words. This is why there are so many churches groups and fellowships today.
In Luke 14:14 Jesus said ‘For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.’ But in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus there has been no resurrection yet both men have their reward. They were seemingly taken to their places as soon as they died. Jesus told the parable but yet at the same time He clearly taught – ‘Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28,29.

From research, it would seem that this was a similar story to some of those told by the rabbis, as there are parallels in Rabbinical literature. The ancient Jewish historian, Josephus describes precisely the same scenario. He explained that on death one went to the underworld. Special angels had responsibility for the work involved in this subterranean world. The good, like Lazarus, the beggar were taken to Abraham’s bosom where all was light. The evil were taken to a dark place near hell where its sights and sounds could be heard and seen, and brought terror to those that

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