Luke 16 (NKJV)

Having in our previous posts taken a look at the first four verses of our parable (Verses 19-22) both from the literal perspective as well as the parabolic perspective we are now ready to examine Verses 23-26. Once again in order to prove that this is a parable we must first show that if interpreted literally it would be an absurdity, one which anyone in possession of “the spirit of a sound mind” would quickly denounce as utter nonsense.

“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.”

Verse 23-26 “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. 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.’”

Let us now for the moment, consider what the implication of these passages would be if they were taken literally.

First knowing that the Scriptures do not contradict themselves and having previous through a thorough study upon the subject determined that the word “Hell” (in Hebrew Sheol Strong’s # 7585) as well as its Greek counterpart “Hades” represents the abode of the dead, the “grave” or “pit” we must deduce that the word “Hades” as used in this instance is being used in a symbolic sense rather than a literal sense.

However for the sake of argument let us imagine it was being spoken of literally. It is stated that the rich man “in hell [Hades]” lifted up his eyes, “being in torments.”

It should be noted that this is THE ONLY passage in the Bible which suggest the possibility that there is thought, or feeling, in Hades, or Sheol. We cannot suppose, however, that this text is contradictory to the definition of sheol given us by the prophet when he declared that there is no knowledge (no consciousness, awareness), wisdom, nor device, but only oblivion, in sheol (Eccl 9:10). The Scriptures state that in death there is no remembrance (Psa. 6:5) that it is a land of forgetfulness (Psa. 88:11).

Nor can we suppose that Job made a mistake when he prayed to go there in order to escape his sufferings. (Job 14:13)

Ask yourself, why should Job pray to God to hide him in (Sheol) hell if as many are taught it is a place of eternal torment? Why would he want to go to a place like that? Would he then not suffer even more than he was in his present circumstances?

If you take a look at Gen 37:35 you will find that Jacob likewise expected to go to hell and that he believed his favorite son, Joseph was already there.

The Scriptures likewise tell us that Death is a place of darkness (Job 10:21) a land as dark as darkness itself, this seems a bit contrary to the thought of a place of fire and brimstone.

Doesn’t fire produce light?

If death is a place of darkness how was the rich man able to lift up his eyes and see through this darkness?

When we examine the details of the parable of which this statement is a part, we find that it could not possibly be a literal statement of fact. However seizing upon this parable as their best means of proving the torture theory, many have erroneously presented it as proof that the righteous go to heaven when they die, and that the wicked go to a place of eternal torment.

Actually, however if you carefully examine the parable you will note that it never says anything about either the wicked or the righteous, nor does it say anything about heaven.

There is a poor man and a rich man, but there is nothing said about their virtues or about their sins. They both die. The poor man is carried by the angels to “Abraham’s bosom,” NOT to heaven. Even if this were a literal statement of fact, it would not put the poor man in heaven, because Abraham is not in heaven. We know this because Jesus said, “No man hath ascended up to heaven.”—John 3:13

In death the rich man is said to see the poor man in Abraham’s bosom, and he begs him to send a drop of water to cool his tongue. Abraham’s literal bosom had turned to dust long centuries before this parable was ever given, hence the expression must be symbolic; and if it is symbolic, then the remainder of the account must also be a word-picture of something more than the experience of two men after they died.”

Nevertheless in our next post we will consider this to be the literal hell of fire and brimstone which so many would foolishly like to believe and that contrary to the divine testimony there is consciousness, awareness in death.