Subject: where did Jesus go after dieing? |
Bible Note: Your right in your analyze of sheol or hades to a point you take it but there is more you need to consider. The Jews believed and accepted the concept of a ever living soul. This is documented in many external references. Their view of Hades your quite right is a common grave but not as we view a grave but rather as a place where the souls of men are sent to await the judgement and/or the Messiah. This again is well documented in external Jewish writings. How the concept was conceived I have no idea but in light of Luke 16 I believe it was orally transmitted by one of God’s prophets and either was never recorded or got dropped from scripture. Therefore when Jesus began his discourse in Luke 16 he was merely reciting what the Jews already believed. Now some say this is a parable and as such shouldn’t be taken literally. There is two differences first in this story Jesus named names something he never had done before in any other parable. Secondly Jesus was confirming a belief the Jews already held, thus by doing so if the belief was wrong he was actually adding credence to a false story. Again Jesus never told a false parable. Therefore I think in this case this is more than a parable but is an actual picture of Hades. One side paradise or Abraham’s bosom holding those that awaited the Messiah, from which Jesus then lead them into heaven Eph 4:8. And the other side a hot dry place of those awaiting the white throne of Judgement Rev 21. EdB |