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NASB | Luke 16:23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 16:23 "In Hades (the realm of the dead), being in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom (paradise). |
Subject: The Rich Man and Lazarus... |
Bible Note: In answer to your questions, I provide the following: What is it teaching? It is teaching that the Jews- represented by the Rich Man- to whom were committed the 'oracles of God' has a special place in God's eyes, as Amos stated, "Thee and thee only have I known of all the nations of the earth." Israel had enjoyed special covenant favor from God for several centuries, hence the royalty attributed to the "Rich Man", also, the poor man, named Lazurus, signified the Gentile nations who were poor and were 'without hope and without God in the world'- This whole parable teaches us that a change was soon to come, soon, the End of Daniel's 70th week would come to an end in 36 A.D. and the Gospel, the New Covenant, would go to the Gentiles and the Jews- The Rich Man- would loose his covenant favor with God and Lazarus- the Gentile nations would then be in Abraham's Bosom, or under Covenant Favor- under the Great Abrahamic Covenant- 'in thee and THY SEED shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.' Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees as they were present, and we know this to be a parable, for it reads in Matthew 13 34 "These things all taken together Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, without a parable He said nothing to them." Yes, and in Luke 16, the Pharisees are present and listening to Jesus' words as noted in these verses:14 Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things [taken together], and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him. 15But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. [I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.] Yes, this was a PARABLE, dealing with the forthcoming Pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles and their subsequently being 'grafted into' the 'tree' or house of Israel under the Abrahamic covenant. This is a PARABLE, speaking of an actual event to follow, namely, Israel's house being 'left to her desolate' and the calling of the Church going to the Gentile nations at the end of Daniel's 70th week, which ended in 36 A.D. I hope this helps. God bless, Good News Minister If hell fire is false and if self-awareness after death is also false, then Jesus is using false doctrines to teach a truth. Parables illustrate truth. If it is a parable what does the consciousness after death symbolize? Also, what does the agony in flame symbolize? Are they not real? |