Subject: Is Hell Burning Today? |
Bible Note: EdB, Thank you for sharing all that you have with me on this leangthy subject. I truly understand were your coming from now. I feel I know enough on this subject to chose which one I feel fits the Bible the best now. You don't have to reply to this last comment of mine If you don't want. Another dilemma that arises with a literal interpretation of this story could be called "the mystery of the empty graves." If this is taken literally, apparently neither of the two leading characters spent very long in the grave--both being whisked away rather quickly to their respective places of reward. Their BODIES obviously came along, for we find the rich man lifting up his eyes, and desiring to have his tongue cooled by a drop of water from the finger of Lazarus who was resting, as we have seen, in Abraham's bosom. Enough graves have been exhumed in recent years to know that the BODIES of the deceased are carried neither to heaven or hell after burial. They finally turn to dust and await the resurrection. From these few examples, we begin to see that in this parable, Jesus was not trying to explain the PHYSICAL realities of the afterlife. Instead, He was referring to the unfaithfulness of the Jews regarding their assigned responsibility. As stewards of the special message of truth, they utterly failed to share it with the Gentiles, who were eager to hear it. In fact, the ENTIRE CHAPTER of Luke 16 is DEVOTED to the subject of STEWARDSHIP. And the other thing about this parable describing Hell and the after-life is that Sheol only means the grave. It never refurs to hell fire,or lake of fire."GAHENNA"however does.Which is not used in this parable. I can see what your saying about what Jewish writings have always said and beleived on this subject. It's just that they also thought they new when the Messiah would come to. Please don't take that last statement offensively. Thanks for helping in my groath,may your reward be in heaven for all the nuggets you have given me. Your friend, Matt |