And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast intohellfire.
Where is hell now ? ?
Proverbs 15:24
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart fromhellbeneath.
Hell was inlarged when Jesus Christ took out all the Saints in Paradise .
Luke 16:26
And beside all this, between us and you there is a greatgulffixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Apostle Paul was caught up in the spirit and saw paradise.
2 Corinthians 12:4
How that he was caught up intoparadise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Now we have to worry about death and hell being cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14
Anddeathandhellwere cast into the lake of fire. This is the seconddeath.
May we all believe that's there a hell in the center of earth where it's very hot .
Hi again Fuji. 1 Thessalonians 2:19. This ties in with 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come". And then to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10.
When we place all these Scriptures together, considering that Paul was addressing the same matter in the one epistle, we can learn that he is speaking about the coming of the Lord. The believers are not only to wait expectantly for the Lord's Coming, but to be careful in their Christian living until that day - that day when they would be transformed & forever to be with their Lord.
But what happens if Paul (or us) die first, before Jesus comes? Though our bodies lie in the grave (or, not even exist in any substantial form), our spirits do return to God Who gave it ( Ecclesiastes 12:7). And we read of people alive beyond the grave ( Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 17:1-3 as examples). But when Jesus returns in the clouds for us, the dead (believers' bodies) arise first to meet him in the air, & those believers still alive will be caught up (Latin, rapio (rapture); Greek, Harpazo) to join the others in this great moment of joy & fulfilment of our hopes & longings to be with our Savior forever. To this end, Paul (in 1 Thessalonians 2:19), is stating that when Jesus comes, he (Paul) will personally rejoice greatly to see his beloved Thessalonian believers also come into Christ's Presence, as his crown for his labors amongst them. Onto Page 2.
Hello Redray12. That's a great question that we all have probably given some serious thought. Unfortunately, there isn't a specific verse or teaching to answer that question completely. However, my sense is that there will be recognition of loved ones & others in Heaven.
And a couple of Scriptures to support this could be Matthew 17:1-3: the account of Moses & Elijah, now long dead, appeared with Jesus on the mount. Clearly, these men of old were recognizable & no doubt the whole scene of a transfigured Jesus & the faces & voices of these venerable men, would have held the disciples there in great awe & wonder.
And then we have Luke 16:19-31, where Jesus gives this account of Lazarus at Abraham's side & the rich man in great pain in Hades. The point being, that Jesus states that each of these men were able to see each other in the after-life, recognizing who they were, & also plead for help. Yet, there certainly is much mystery surrounding these revelations; for which we are not given any further information.
Hi Fuji. There is some division in the Christian camp about the ultimate end of those who die rejecting Christ's Gospel, i.e. whether they simply go to the grave & are no more, or, that there will be a resurrection from the dead & under judgement to face God's Wrath. And like all doctrines & teachings we find throughout the Bible, we need to consider all references to the subject matter & not focus on a single verse or two to form a judgement.
Therefore, if we had only John 3:16 to understand the afterlife (whether it exists or not), then we could well believe that 'perish' clearly means a complete cessation of life, as in someone (the body) who perishes in a house fire or perishes by drowning. But in relation to the Scriptures, we know that God has given us a spirit & that spirit is identifies who we are, given life by God, with an outer covering (a body) to house it, yet the spirit can never perish (die). Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1; Job 32:8; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ecclesiastes 3:21; Ecclesiastes 12:7.
And then we have the Judgement of God upon all, where those who belong in God's family, living a life consecrated to Him, are eternally secure from damnation, whereas all unbelievers (and their spirits can never be destroyed), suffer under God's condemnation. If only death was our final punishment for rejecting Christ, then we all still have to die as those in sinful, corrupt bodies; none can escape. This is a defective Gospel as most would prefer to cease to exist without any punishment & live life to the full, not answerable to God. But Christ's Sacrifice was to redeem lost sinful souls, not from death, but from God's eternal Punishment. Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49,50; Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9.
Just a few Scriptures to show the Truth of an Eternal suffering in Hell & not simply disappearing forever in the grave. Every spirit (of man) is accountable to God.
Q:In Re.14:10 we read that wine of wrath is poured out from heaven while in mid-air is cup of indignation. But the torment is felt on the earth with fire and brimstone. What does this signify"
A:The three divisions set forth in the covenant follow the will of God. " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness"(Ro.1:18). According to the command,"Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." These vials are seven in number, so the wrath of indignations cover up down and across. It just shows the cup of indignation is not severally administered to the disobedience but his entire volume, where instead of blessings he shall be tormented. The blessed are the first fruits following wherever the Lamb goes. They are with on mount Sion.(Re.14:1-4) Like Lazarus signifying "presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" we have the rich man in the Parable of Jesus in direct line of vision. "between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."( Luke 16:26) This is the mid-air.
As with fowls in air and beasts of the field each division has its own motif. The last twoverses, "and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God./And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs."(14:19-20) The command number Four tells the wine press has been trodden according to the word so 4x4x1000 gives it as the just desserts for the blood spilled by Israel since Abel. ("That upon you may come all the righteous blood"-Matt.23:35)
Mark 9:43-48 - And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (Read More...)
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
Hi Ronald. Thank you for those thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture. You asked whether the Luke 16:19-31 account was literal or simply a parable. I have tried to recall the many instances of Jesus' parables given us in the Gospels, & I find that in all of them, His parables are as you said, just "a simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson". So, even the Luke 16 account also fits that particular description: of a story with a lesson to be learned.
However, why I believe that this account does not entirely fit the description of a parable, is because Jesus is sharing very specifically of what takes place in the afterlife between certain people in a specified place. Apart from maybe Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan parable), where places are named (i.e. "from Jerusalem to Jericho"), I don't recall Jesus ever indicating where the events in His parables took place (e.g. concerning the lost coin, the sower in the field, ten virgins, the prodigal son, et al). And probably more importantly, in His parables, He never uses the names of people, as He did in Luke 16 (though the rich man's name was not given). Had he done so in any of His parables, His audience (specifically the religious leaders), could well have a good argument against Him as being a liar & a deceiver.
But here in Luke 16, Jesus takes the bold step to name the place (Hades), and the names of Lazarus & Abraham, something He correctly avoided in His other parables, which were, as you stated, just simple stories. Here, Jesus is giving sinners a glimpse into the afterlife (as pertaining to that point in time, pre-crucifixion/resurrection). I know nothing of Plato except what the Bible states & teaches, & to me, this place in Hades was certainly not a time & place of purification (purgatory), but of judgement, probably with those in-waiting for their judgement post-crucifixion. Onto Page 2.
Just some thoughts and questions we may study for understanding.
Jesus is speaking to, His disciples, publicans, and others but mainly to the Pharisees and scribes we see in Luke 16:14 that the Pharisees derided Him, they were ridiculing Him for what He said in Luke 16:1-18. In the context of Luke 16, the lesson was for the Pharisees and scribes about stewardship, love of riches, adultery, and no servant can serve two masters. The Pharisees were covetous, they flaunted their wealth and the seat of authority they had.
Is the same context continuing in Luke 16:19-31? Is this a literal story that happened to these two actual people? Is this a parable? The general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus many times in the Gospels.
The rich man and Lazarus had bodies and were both fully aware of their surroundings. Does Scripture support this? What lesson can we learn from Jesus's story here? Do we miss what is in Luke 16:31? Is this about Lazarus or is Jesus telling them they still will not be persuaded after He is resurrected?
Do we receive our rewards before or after we are judged? When are we judged, is it as soon as we die or after Jesus returns and we are resurrected? What is this great chasm, is it real and people can talk back and forth, or is it because of the hardness and unbelief of their heart after death that the way of repentance and salvation is unpassable?
Some believe in purgatory, is this not a revision of celestial Hades from the writings of Plato? Is this what we see here in Luke 16 the dead go to heaven or hell? Does Scripture support that? Ecclesiastes 12:7 is this for all that has lived, saints and the lost, or just the saints? What is this spirit that goes back to God? Is it us, who we are, or is it the breath of life given to all living beings?
"and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
The beast referred here is the same as the one mentioned in Re.11:7 "The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." He is associated with the martyrdom of the two witnesses, representing saints whose blood has been shed since Abel till the very end. They are also called prophets,(11:10) Prophecy was until John."The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."( Luke 16:16). So we may these saints were mentioned specifically as an umbrella for all those who died for righteousness. Jesus says, "Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:/That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar./Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." (Matt.23:34-36). He lays charge for their death on the doorstep of the nation. "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." (v.6) These witnesses are connected with the Word which went out of the mouth of God. By Law of Gradation they are graded, notwithstanding the successive generations from Adam onwards against the generation of Jesus Christ. On the other hand the beast arising out of the bottomless pit of from the sea(13:1) whether scarlet coloured or as the one mentioned in 13:1 are all sons of perdition whose power is derived from Satan.
Nation of Israel is the mystery, sins of Babylon are the sins of Israel, vice versa.
Hello Tdianne. Just to give you two further portions of Scripture to add to brother S. Spencer's reply, please look at Luke 23:42,43 and Luke 16:19-31. The first speaks about the criminal hanging next to Jesus on the Cross, who turned to Jesus for salvation. And Jesus' Word of assurance to him was that upon his death he would join Jesus in Heaven. The criminal's body would lie in a grave or be burned, but his spirit would return to God & an eternity in Heaven because of his faith.
And in Luke 16, Jesus gives a real account of what takes place in the after life, prior to His death on the Cross to pay for our sins. Both the rich man & the beggar Lazarus had died and both ended up in Hell, one in a place of eternal suffering & the other in a place of comfort & rest. Both were very much conscious of their surroundings, their pain & the reason for being where they were sent; with the plea by the rich man to have his five brothers alerted to this awful destiny, that they might repent before it was too late.
So both these accounts, even by the witness of Jesus Himself, shows us that our bodies might lie in the grave, or even not exist over the passage of time, but the real you (your spirit) which was once clothed in an ageing deteriorating body, moves instantly to a destiny appointed by God. If one is 'absent in the body' (i.e. our spirit has left they body), then that spirit, if saved through Jesus' shed Blood, goes immediately into the Lord's Presence. And that is why the Apostle Paul was assured in his spirit that the transition from death to his presence with the Lord was instantaneous ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). And he also told the Philippian believers ( Philippians 1:21-24) that he longed to be with Christ, but his work on Earth had not finished & also his care of the Church. But he was ready to go at any time the Lord called him, so even persecution & resulting death would mean an early entrance into Heaven. A great joy for him - and should be for us who believe.
Luke 16:23 - And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The word hell here is the word, Hades. There is actually only one place in the Bible that is actually Hell, and that's the lake of fire in the book of Revelation, the final destination. In fact, Hades will be emptied out into the lake of fire. Hades, the word Hades means the place of unseen spirits. No physical body, just spirits.
Luke 17:1 - Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Literally in the Greek, He's saying that it's impossible not to offend people. But woe unto him, through whom they come!
Even though it's impossible not to offend people, we are still responsible. Now the word offense is the word SCANDALON, where we get our word scandal from.
And it is the name of the trap string that holds up a box. If an animal comes in, you pull the trap string, and the box falls down on the animal and catches the animal. And it's called an offense.
That is to say when we do things to trap people or cause them to go down the wrong road, at least from a spiritual Christian standpoint, that's what He is talking about. It doesn't mean if you hurt my feelings or if you do something to rattle my nerves. That has nothing to do with offenses.
It has to do with allowing people to go down a trail where they will be trapped in, and it will be a road of destruction. For a Christian, it means that you guide people down the wrong road and into a trap, and it is not the road to Christ. It is not the truth.
Luke 16:14 - And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Where it says, "and they derided him," literally they scoffed at him. The Greek word means they turned up their nose at Him. That is a pretty good religious indignation, is it not? They were covetous and they heard the Lord say this and they were all upset because most of what they did was for money.
Luke 16:17 - And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Again, this is something we don't catch from out English text. The word "tittle" is a little horn. If you have ever seen Hebrew script, they put little art objects, little horns on the letters, and He is saying not one of these little end pieces are going to break off. Everything is going to happen of the law. It will not fail.
Luke 16:19 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and the term "clothed" is what is called the Imperfect Tense. He was continuously clothed in purple and fine linen.
Purple represented the most expensive clothing and fine linen. And he fared sumptuously every day: Literally "he partied according to the daytime." This went on all day long, everyday one big party.
Luke 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, a real person that actually lived. He was a beggar, in the lowest of human conditions. You have the rich man who is in the highest of conditions; and you have the beggar named Lazarus who is in the worst of conditions, which was laid at his gate.
The tense shows that this is a continuous habit every day, and he was full of sores. These are ulcerated sores or boils all over his body. So, he was laid at the gate of the rich man. He is full of sores.
Luke 15:15 - And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he went and joined himself. Now the term "himself" is a reflexive pronoun and that is not in the Greek text. It's literally a passive voice. He was joined up with.
In other words, he was the victim. He didn't do any joining, the world took him in. And the word for "joined" is the word for glue. Just to show you the bond that has been made between him and the world.
He went out and the world bonded itself to him to be a citizen of that country; What made it worse is that he went away to a faraway country to be a citizen of another country. This would be a Gentile.
Picture yourself as a Jewish person, a Jewish boy run away in rebellion, finding yourself in this condition, so some people take you in.
Now you are working for a Gentile, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. These are the worst of the unclean animals. Jewish people don't even like to touch pigs or hogs. He's been sent in to feed the swine.
Luke 16:9 - And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Mammon is from an Aramaic word, MAMMONA. Most translate it as having to do with money. But it literally has to do with everything in the physical world, including aspirations for what the physical world has to offer.
That includes if you have got dreams of a career, and you're putting that ahead of the things of the Lord. You are not seeking His will. Anything that has to do with this physical world is MAMMONA, and it is the MAMMONA of unrighteousness. Every single thing in this physical world is unrighteous.
"For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?/Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?/ Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?"
The Book of Job is a set of parables and in this chapter we are dealing with a parable which is the core value of the book. How do we place the sensory values of flesh and blood in terms of soul in terms of the redemption of our soul?. This parable follows twelve other parables.
"Moreover Job continued his parable"(27:1). The above text explains the dilemma of man whose heart is a spiritual space. Forgiving as the Parable of Jesus teaches in Matt.18 is not as personal as one may think. For man chosen before the worlds began and marked for blessings in his Son is a sign as much as God who called him is a sound. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."(1 Ti.6:7) Job puts it eloquently since he is a victim of his human condition, "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."( Job 1:21). God blessed his latter half, " also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." (42:10). We read that God gave same number of children since the children that he had before were already in the presence of God. This begs the question. Is not the fulness of Christ is also that of God which our natural eyes cannot take in? It is called the land of the living where God is the God of the living. "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,/I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."(Matt.22:31-32)
The unforgiving servant for an hundred pence would put his soul in jeopardy. His soul was cast out as was the rich man, "for I am tormented in this flame"( Luke 16:24)
We have the Parable of Jesus to indicate where the dead in Christ go to. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;/And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."( Luke 16:22-23). Abraham's bosom and the depths are alike in the heavenly places. In Job 41 we have a clue to the rich man's discomfort. "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron./His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth." (41:20-21) The place has another name 'bottomless pit' which is guarded by an angel Abbadon/Apollyon.(Re.9:11) As Abraham explains to the rich man in torment "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."( Luke 16:26) This fixity is like a door shut after the rapture. This is illustrated in the Parable of the Five Foolish Virgins' where the peril of negligence is very clear. "And the door was shut./Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us./But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."(Matt.25:10-12)
The direct line of vision does not ever change. While alive the beggar was in direct line of vision the rich man could see him at the gate. After death we find the rich man from his place could see Lazarus resting in the bosom of Abraham. There is another instance this direct line of vision is rather brought out indirectly. Moses brings people to meet God and when He descends the mountain quaked. "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because theLorddescended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."(Ex.19: 16-18) . The same smoke from the bottomless pit, "and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace"(v.2
"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth."
God chose inheritors in light before the foundation of the world. They are as stars.
God set the children of wrath also in heavenly places. The word of God forever settled in heaven can change their composition. Faith of man is what God seeks. "TheLordlooked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God."(Ps.14:2)
Light and darkness have their own configurations so principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, have their correspondence with spiritual wickedness in high places. For example Michael an archangel fighting with his angel have rulers of the darkness in the depths. Behemoth is one such. "He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him." ( Job 40:19). He is not to be confused with hippo or croc of the Nile. "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known." Just as God garnished the heavens with starry host the crooked serpent or behemoths are grouped under 'thy way'.(Ps.77.19). In the same discourse God tells Job, "Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth."(40:23)
The Single measurement which God has laid down where man and angel are composite realities on the Spirit that rules throughout His kingdom. What signifies a time, times and a half? Ministry of Jesus as the Spirit of Christ refer to the wonders he did is a time. For example the spiritual Rock,(1 Co.10:3-4) Times refer to the the slain Lamb-Re.13:8 and the Paschal Lamb heaven and earth and a half represents the gospel he preached in his Spirit to the souls in prison.
After rapture what is left of the earth are eternal habitations "that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."( Luke 16:9)
God separated waters on the second day which runs into eternity. It is the river of time. Everlasting blessing as promised under the covenant from everlasting to everlasting; on the other hand there is stream of fire that ends up at the lake of fire. Blessed is the man who is planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season."(Ps.1:3)
What is the heart of man where he is in the line of vision where the cloud of witnesses stand in attendance. So when Enoch and Noah walk with God, " and he was not; for God took him." (Ge.5:24). The Spirit does not have to mention concerning their vile bodies. Dust to dust is with regards to the outer man. The inner man was represented already as an angel in the presence of the Father. There is only single measurement in the world of the Spirit, man-angel. This speaks about the body God has prepared for the Son.(2 Co.5:1-3) So when Jesus Christ comes in glory with his holy angels they are right there. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:/ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:/ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:... Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?/And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt.25:34-40)
Who was Lazarus? He represented Christ. Since his atonement covered him the Rich man despised him. What shall we speak of present class wars? Are we not despising Christ on the basis colour or race when we make their faith and ministry invisible?
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
There is a shroud that makes the living despise the word of God even though spoken by God. This shroud is upon the worldly and when Abraham advised the rich man he spoke as one who was the most suited to inform him. Abraham was clear eyed to tell the King of Sodom, " That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." (Ge.14:23) Faith gave him a vision so his inner man knew where to look for his life and godliness. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (He.11:9-10)
The Parable sets Lazarus in the line of vision of the rich man. He is a beggar and every time he looked for guests to arrive in he might have looked but he is not seen? What kind of vision is it, if I look at my watch but do not know what hour is it? This is the kind of blindness the rich man had developed. "And the vail that is spread over all nations" is what Satan has cast since he made man fall. Like the rich fool in the parable his heart left no room for anything other than his self aggrandisement. On death the rich man is set down in a place from where he can see the same Lazarus now in bliss. What is the gulf? The river of time of course. It is unbroken from everlasting to everlasting; on the other hand there is stream of fire that ends up at the lake of fire. Daniel's night vision shows the fiery throne "And his wheels as burning fire./A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him."(Dan.7:9-10)
Everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels: ( Matt. 25:41) It is thus the heart of man has to reckon both worlds.
Consider for a moment someone who is kind and considerate all his life to friends; family and others but either doesn't believe or never shares the Gospel with them. Many would say "he is a good man"-and we are reminded of those who said that about Jesus or that He was a prophet but not recognized as God in the flesh.
Meanwhile consider someone else who is characteristically gruff; loudmouthed; opinionated and overall a pain to be around who takes the time to correctly explain the Gospel; but of course befitting his usual character doesn't show empathy or bothers to listen much to any responses or otherwise be very helpful even with practical needs that are obvious to others such as atheists who reach out.
Natural man; of course would hang out with the first person and be repulsed with the second; but in all fairness the second person is the one who gives a message in which eternity hangs in the balance. Such a case study of course isn't to justify such an approach to witnessing; but to also avoid what is far WORSE; that is showing all sorts of compassion to someone but WATERING down the Gospel; and not giving a clear warning of the deadly and eternal destruction which every unbeliever is about to face as life is as a vapor.
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Praise and highly esteeming a brother seems rare today but it can be edifying
Yes,certainly,as you said,GOD HIMSELF manifested himself to the Hebrews through the OT;which was written by the twenty-four elders,starting with Moses,understand?By the way,JESUS said GOD is Spirit- John 4:24-,what is the name of the invisible Spirit of GOD?Well,GOD had said in the beginning- Genesis 1:26(the beginning is JESUS,who is the LITERAL IMAGE of GOD,He is GOD)-, yes, GOD had said:"Let us make man in OUR image,after OUR likeness", then, both are One, and as we can see, since ancient times, since Genesis, GOD revealed He would be made flesh.
By the prophet Isaiah,who is one of the 24 elders,GOD again revealed He would be made flesh, and around 2000 years ago He LITERALLY fulfilled His promise- John 1:14-and what is the NAME that GOD chose for He Himself? The NAME that GOD chose for He Himself was/is JESUS - JOSHUA-. Luke 1:26-the angel GABRIEL was sent FROM GOD(the Word is GOD,GOD Himself,self-executing) unto a city of Galilee,named Nazareth,and said to Mary:behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a SON, and shalt call his NAME JESUS. He shall be great, and called the Son of the Highest: the Lord GOD(the Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing) shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.
Remember: The Jews said to JESUS: John 8:41-we have one Father, even God. And JESUS said to the Devil, father of the Jews-Yahweh:It is written,Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the MOUTH OF GOD-Mat.4:4.
Psalms 110:1combined with Hebrews 1:8(plus Matthew 25:11, James 2:1, Isaiah 49:14, Luke 20:42, 1 Corinthians 9:1) -
GOD said to the Lord JESUS:Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy Kingdom.
KJV Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 26:4 LORD=JEHOVAH; ->JEHOVAH is another esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist nickname of the father of the Jews.
Luke 16:5 lord=a King or one of authority,yes, see John 18:37.
Thanks you for explaining the difference and use of the name and by whom, Now I know the difference. I don't think Bible hub will burn as I was only translating Old Testament, and the Old Testament was given in Hebrew and was given to them as there laws in Hebrew.
In KJV there are 3 different uses of the name. LORD and Lord and lord. Psalms 110:1(A Psalm of David.) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. I think this explains it best.
KJV Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 , Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 26:4 LORD = GOD JEHOVAH, LORD GOD of Israel
KJV Psalms 110:1, Matthew 25:11, James 2:1, Isaiah 49:14, Luke 20:42, 1 Corinthians 9:1 Lord = Jesus
KJV 2 Samuel 24:3, Luke 16:5 lord = a King or one of authority
I actually found the Psalms answer on u-tube form someone studying the KJV 1611 he was proving the KJV is the true word of GOD and just so happened to answer my question at the same time. I added these verses I found because I didn't mention any books or verses in my original question because it is every translation in Old Testament I compared no matter which book or verse. And I also found this.
Yahweh is the name of Israel's God and the God who came to earth as Jesus Christ, Yahweh in the flesh. Matthew 1:21 says, "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." The name Jesus is from the Latin form of the Greek form of Yeshua, which literally means "Yahweh saves." So Yahweh will save His people from their sins, and simultaneously Jesus will save His people from their sins. This is just one of many instances where Jesus and Yahweh are equated.
It is true that it is surprizing also to me that the grk word "aion" (age/time) is used sometimes in the NT instead of the word "world" because in modern grk it means "century". So I have done a research and came up that in ancient grk it had the meaning apart from "a very long period of time", it also had the meaning of "the period of time a person lives".
So it was used in conjuction to people"s lives. And it seems that sometimes (but not always) the writers of the NT use it for the time that this world/humanity exists. And with that meaning it is used in Mat 28. With the same meaning it also used by Luke in Luke 16:8, by Paul in Rom 12:2 and Ephesians 6:12 where Paul talks about the "rulers of the darkness of this world" , where the word "age/time" is used for "world".
But in other verses the world "kosmos" which is the actual grk word for "world" is used, ie in John 18:20, also John 16:11 where John talks about "the prince of this world". (compare it with Ephesians 6:12 that talks about the same thing). So as a final conclusion those two words are interchanged for "world".
Spencer:
"Kosmos" in anc grk means "mankind, humanity". In mod grk it means everything, people, animals, plants. land.
"Oikoumene" means the places/land on earth where people are living.
Also the word "ktisis" is used for world, it means "creation".
Well this is enough with lessons in Greek. Confusing? We have to trust those scholars who have done a very good job in translating the NT. There isn't a perfect translation, all translations lack in some things, even modern greek can not match with ancient greek in meanings. As a conclusion all translations are more or less good. There is no actual error when other words are used as long as the meaning of the text is right. Some go word for word, others not, but there are more understandable than the former ones. Everybody has their favourite translation. We can always use 2 or more when we are not sure what it is meant. GBU
Walking in the Spirit-Study on how to see the Lord in others
Let us focus again on the Matthew 16 passage. 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
I am hammering home this concept because it is paramount in understanding who the Lord is; and needed to be understood if anyone is to grow as a true Disciple. Let us examine several problems here. The first problem would be considering that somehow the soul of one of these three prophets was living inside Christ which seems to be the concept here; a sort of "reincarnation"; except for the case of John the Baptist who it appears Herod thought had repossessed Christ after having him killed ( Matthew 14:1-2). The concept of the Holy Ghost manifesting in someone as He did with someone else isn't entirely wrong or unscriptural; we see for instance Elisha having a double portion of the Spirit that Elijah had ( 2 Kings 2:9). John the Baptist also was like Elijah in a way ( Matthew 17:12). This correct analogy of course is NOT what people are saying. This fits in also to those who would call Him teacher or Rabbi. Luke 16:15 warns us that what is honorable among men is an abomination to God. Names and titles mean nothing; neither does human pride. Let us once again examine this concept of exaltation of Pastors.
The easy point to make here is that we should never put men on a pedestal; or substitute worship for God alone to a man.
This doesn't change the fact that we should seek examples to emulate; as it is essential for discipleship.
My first time here. So forgive me if I ask in the wrong place etc.
Psalm 75:8 says "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; It is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: But the dregs thereof, All the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them."
In Luke 16:24 "24 And 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."
My question is does the Luke 16:24 in any way cancel out Psalm 75:8. I understand the rich man was still in the not so good part of Abraham's bosom.
However I've been told that Psalm 75:8 would not be possible since there is no water thus no moisture in hell. Even tho that to me is clearly not the full extent of hell yet. Thank for any replies, Lester
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
Continuing with conviction of the Spirit vs man made manipulation.
In light of John 16:8 it is hard to understand the concept of bending over backwards to have people feel comfortable and "fit in" to a church. In fact; I would even go so far as to say it wouldn't be a bad slogan for a church to say in their bulletin that people should "plan to feel UNcomfortable" in their services. How can the fear of the Lord be something which is entertaining to anyone?
How can to so called "hole in men's hearts that only God can fill" appeal to anyone who doesn't conceive their own hopelessness before a righteous and Holy God who they have offended and continue to do so as long as they are unregenerate? ( Psalm 7:11-13). God is angry with the wicked every day; and it is truly sad that many don't get that to appreaciate His love; mercy; and kindness that we have to understand who we are and what great cost it was that He had to send His only Son to die in our stead.
We need something powerful enough to stand against an intractable foe; who seeks to kill; steal and destroy. Let's be real; if a church wants to seek and save the lost they won't be focusing so much time on flashy entertainment; and expensive building projects but will focus on missionary efforts. Many have bought into either careless giving with unscrupulous ministries that are not biblically sound or doing a bunch of service projects without the MAIN priority being presenting the Gospel. We can't err on the other side either with resources; but I have found it is often individual efforts of laypersons on a consistant basis that have more effect than occasional outings where everything tends to be rather scripted. And of course there is the BIG issue of cult personalities where noteriety becomes a snare; sadly that seems to have occured with Billy Graham when he didn't protest having a star in hollywood with his name on a pavement. SEE LUKE 16:15. We don't need approval of politicians or the world.
You will receive different understandings of this. This is something you will need to pray and study for your own conscience. There are some things to question. Is Luke 16:19-31 a parable or is it something that truly happened? Study chapters 15 and 17 and consider what Jesus is teaching.
One thing that influences our understanding is the Greek philosophy of the immortal soul. When we die do we sleep in death until resurrection or do we go to heaven or go to a burning hell for eternity? What does scripture support? Does scripture say we are awake in death?
My understanding is we sleep in death until we are resurrected, and the gift of immortality is not given until resurrection to those chosen and faithful. Luke 16:19-31 is a parable, and the context of this chapter is the love of money and stewardship, Jesus was addressing this to the Pharisees who loved money, "No servant can serve two masters".
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. ( Rev. 21:8)
Unbelieving: The first verse that comes to mind here is the man with a son that had a demon possessed son who was being thrown into water; etc. That passage is Mark 9:24 and the whole incident is worth reading to understand further how there was rampant lack of faith as well as preparation for casting out the demon. REALIZING we have unbelief results from the Holy Spirit changing us; it is not what is often a false gospel of not having faith enough for a family member to be healed; or some power trip by a ministry more interested in notoriety and ultimately greedy for gain with someone given a title of "healer". We can say at the time of Christ it was indeed foolish not to believe He could work any miracles including bringing one back from death; because it was only rejecting His claim of Divinity that a person could reject Him which shows the depths of blindness of the Pharisees. The core issue which remains the same is the fact that we are all as "filthy rags" ( Isaiah 64:6) and this includes our so called "good deeds".
Abominable: Luke 16:15 shows what men hold as esteemed is an abomination before God. To esteem something shows a sort of prideful mentality; acclaim and praise is something Christ warned about in numerous passages (see Luke 6:26; another passage in this book as one example). Even calling Christ good implies that he as a mere man or prophet is good; and Christ makes it clear only God alone is good ( Mark 10:18). This is what is so dangerous about anyone who men praise; not only do they almost always practice false theology but we are convinced our own righteousness will justify us in the day of judgment.
No wonder Satan appearing as an angel of light fools lost souls ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Jesus Christ as the Lord is the Lord of heaven so he is heavenly. All the prophets until John served the Son as the double for Jesus Christ. "The law and the prophets were until John."( Luke 16:16)
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (He.1:1-3). It is of him Moses had warned,"The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."(De.18:15). Moses stood as a stand-in for him. So did every prophet. He is the heir so seven days in the covenant in which seven is a kangaroo word.
The Spirit gives us multiplying of loaves 8:7-9 "And he (Jesus) blessed, and commanded to set them also before them./So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets./And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away." Here we seven baskets of the broken meat which stands as the testimony of the Son to his Father. Generally speaking the command numbers are incorporated in the God document to distinguish which is which. Considering the manner imposter church has let them proliferate shows the enemy is within the house. Jesus would soon clear his house of the Canaanites. "and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of theLordof hosts."(Ze.14:21)
While studying the significance of the command numbers Twelve and Seven respectively their place in the body of Scriptures is to fix the role of the Son as the heir of all things and the Son of man who is the Word become flesh. It is in the latter role whose humanity sets the doctrine of God as the good news since he died and rose again. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."(He.2:9). So he appointed the twelve in obedience to the Word who was with God.( John 1:1). By healing two, where twelve years are a reminder of the word of God stated in Ge.6:3. As the Word become flesh he obeyed the word of God. Similarly when virtue went out Jesus it was the Spirit's way of reminding that he was anointed for his ministry. He was the Servant-Messiah, fulfilling what was spoken of him by the prophets, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."(Matt.8:17)
For this reason the Spirit gives us the number of baskets as twelve, which serves as a testimony to God. "And they did all eat, and were filled./And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."(vv.42-43)
The Holy Spirit tags the entities who made the everlasting covenant as the Father and the Son. Of the latter John says,"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made./In him was life; and the life was the light of men."(John1:3-4). Fulfilling the divine Will of the Father we have the tag Seven which is Perfect number. Seven provisions in the covenant therefore are seven days. Thus when the angel warns "for the hour of his judgment is come" the hour is set in heaven and it is not as we count earth time. Ministry of Jesus is from heaven so what role did all the prophets until John did? ( Luke 16:16)
Matthew 18:9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast intohellfire.
Where is hell now ? ?
Proverbs 15:24
The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart fromhellbeneath.
Hell was inlarged when Jesus Christ took out all the Saints in Paradise .
Luke 16:26
And beside all this, between us and you there is a greatgulffixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Apostle Paul was caught up in the spirit and saw paradise.
2 Corinthians 12:4
How that he was caught up intoparadise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Now we have to worry about death and hell being cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14
Anddeathandhellwere cast into the lake of fire. This is the seconddeath.
May we all believe that's there a hell in the center of earth where it's very hot .
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
The gospel saves us from hell
Hi again Fuji. 1 Thessalonians 2:19. This ties in with 1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come". And then to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10.
When we place all these Scriptures together, considering that Paul was addressing the same matter in the one epistle, we can learn that he is speaking about the coming of the Lord. The believers are not only to wait expectantly for the Lord's Coming, but to be careful in their Christian living until that day - that day when they would be transformed & forever to be with their Lord.
But what happens if Paul (or us) die first, before Jesus comes? Though our bodies lie in the grave (or, not even exist in any substantial form), our spirits do return to God Who gave it ( Ecclesiastes 12:7). And we read of people alive beyond the grave ( Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 17:1-3 as examples). But when Jesus returns in the clouds for us, the dead (believers' bodies) arise first to meet him in the air, & those believers still alive will be caught up (Latin, rapio (rapture); Greek, Harpazo) to join the others in this great moment of joy & fulfilment of our hopes & longings to be with our Savior forever. To this end, Paul (in 1 Thessalonians 2:19), is stating that when Jesus comes, he (Paul) will personally rejoice greatly to see his beloved Thessalonian believers also come into Christ's Presence, as his crown for his labors amongst them. Onto Page 2.
And a couple of Scriptures to support this could be Matthew 17:1-3: the account of Moses & Elijah, now long dead, appeared with Jesus on the mount. Clearly, these men of old were recognizable & no doubt the whole scene of a transfigured Jesus & the faces & voices of these venerable men, would have held the disciples there in great awe & wonder.
And then we have Luke 16:19-31, where Jesus gives this account of Lazarus at Abraham's side & the rich man in great pain in Hades. The point being, that Jesus states that each of these men were able to see each other in the after-life, recognizing who they were, & also plead for help. Yet, there certainly is much mystery surrounding these revelations; for which we are not given any further information.
Therefore, if we had only John 3:16 to understand the afterlife (whether it exists or not), then we could well believe that 'perish' clearly means a complete cessation of life, as in someone (the body) who perishes in a house fire or perishes by drowning. But in relation to the Scriptures, we know that God has given us a spirit & that spirit is identifies who we are, given life by God, with an outer covering (a body) to house it, yet the spirit can never perish (die). Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1; Job 32:8; 1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ecclesiastes 3:21; Ecclesiastes 12:7.
And then we have the Judgement of God upon all, where those who belong in God's family, living a life consecrated to Him, are eternally secure from damnation, whereas all unbelievers (and their spirits can never be destroyed), suffer under God's condemnation. If only death was our final punishment for rejecting Christ, then we all still have to die as those in sinful, corrupt bodies; none can escape. This is a defective Gospel as most would prefer to cease to exist without any punishment & live life to the full, not answerable to God. But Christ's Sacrifice was to redeem lost sinful souls, not from death, but from God's eternal Punishment. Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:49,50; Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:43; Luke 16:19-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9.
Just a few Scriptures to show the Truth of an Eternal suffering in Hell & not simply disappearing forever in the grave. Every spirit (of man) is accountable to God.
Q:In Re.14:10 we read that wine of wrath is poured out from heaven while in mid-air is cup of indignation. But the torment is felt on the earth with fire and brimstone. What does this signify"
A:The three divisions set forth in the covenant follow the will of God. " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness"(Ro.1:18). According to the command,"Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." These vials are seven in number, so the wrath of indignations cover up down and across. It just shows the cup of indignation is not severally administered to the disobedience but his entire volume, where instead of blessings he shall be tormented. The blessed are the first fruits following wherever the Lamb goes. They are with on mount Sion.(Re.14:1-4) Like Lazarus signifying "presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" we have the rich man in the Parable of Jesus in direct line of vision. "between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."( Luke 16:26) This is the mid-air.
As with fowls in air and beasts of the field each division has its own motif. The last twoverses, "and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God./And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs."(14:19-20) The command number Four tells the wine press has been trodden according to the word so 4x4x1000 gives it as the just desserts for the blood spilled by Israel since Abel. ("That upon you may come all the righteous blood"-Matt.23:35)
Matthew 13:50 - And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 - Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Psalms 145:20 - The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
Matthew 5:22 - But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Hebrews 10:26-31 - For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Read More...)
Revelation 14:11 - And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Luke 16:19-31 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Read More...)
Luke 12:5 - But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him
COME LORD JESUS
Hi Ronald. Thank you for those thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture. You asked whether the Luke 16:19-31 account was literal or simply a parable. I have tried to recall the many instances of Jesus' parables given us in the Gospels, & I find that in all of them, His parables are as you said, just "a simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson". So, even the Luke 16 account also fits that particular description: of a story with a lesson to be learned.
However, why I believe that this account does not entirely fit the description of a parable, is because Jesus is sharing very specifically of what takes place in the afterlife between certain people in a specified place. Apart from maybe Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan parable), where places are named (i.e. "from Jerusalem to Jericho"), I don't recall Jesus ever indicating where the events in His parables took place (e.g. concerning the lost coin, the sower in the field, ten virgins, the prodigal son, et al). And probably more importantly, in His parables, He never uses the names of people, as He did in Luke 16 (though the rich man's name was not given). Had he done so in any of His parables, His audience (specifically the religious leaders), could well have a good argument against Him as being a liar & a deceiver.
But here in Luke 16, Jesus takes the bold step to name the place (Hades), and the names of Lazarus & Abraham, something He correctly avoided in His other parables, which were, as you stated, just simple stories. Here, Jesus is giving sinners a glimpse into the afterlife (as pertaining to that point in time, pre-crucifixion/resurrection). I know nothing of Plato except what the Bible states & teaches, & to me, this place in Hades was certainly not a time & place of purification (purgatory), but of judgement, probably with those in-waiting for their judgement post-crucifixion. Onto Page 2.
Just some thoughts and questions we may study for understanding.
Jesus is speaking to, His disciples, publicans, and others but mainly to the Pharisees and scribes we see in Luke 16:14 that the Pharisees derided Him, they were ridiculing Him for what He said in Luke 16:1-18. In the context of Luke 16, the lesson was for the Pharisees and scribes about stewardship, love of riches, adultery, and no servant can serve two masters. The Pharisees were covetous, they flaunted their wealth and the seat of authority they had.
Is the same context continuing in Luke 16:19-31? Is this a literal story that happened to these two actual people? Is this a parable? The general definition of a parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus many times in the Gospels.
The rich man and Lazarus had bodies and were both fully aware of their surroundings. Does Scripture support this? What lesson can we learn from Jesus's story here? Do we miss what is in Luke 16:31? Is this about Lazarus or is Jesus telling them they still will not be persuaded after He is resurrected?
Do we receive our rewards before or after we are judged? When are we judged, is it as soon as we die or after Jesus returns and we are resurrected? What is this great chasm, is it real and people can talk back and forth, or is it because of the hardness and unbelief of their heart after death that the way of repentance and salvation is unpassable?
Some believe in purgatory, is this not a revision of celestial Hades from the writings of Plato? Is this what we see here in Luke 16 the dead go to heaven or hell? Does Scripture support that? Ecclesiastes 12:7 is this for all that has lived, saints and the lost, or just the saints? What is this spirit that goes back to God? Is it us, who we are, or is it the breath of life given to all living beings?
God bless,
RLW
"and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
The beast referred here is the same as the one mentioned in Re.11:7 "The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." He is associated with the martyrdom of the two witnesses, representing saints whose blood has been shed since Abel till the very end. They are also called prophets,(11:10) Prophecy was until John."The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."( Luke 16:16). So we may these saints were mentioned specifically as an umbrella for all those who died for righteousness. Jesus says, "Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:/That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar./Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." (Matt.23:34-36). He lays charge for their death on the doorstep of the nation. "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." (v.6) These witnesses are connected with the Word which went out of the mouth of God. By Law of Gradation they are graded, notwithstanding the successive generations from Adam onwards against the generation of Jesus Christ. On the other hand the beast arising out of the bottomless pit of from the sea(13:1) whether scarlet coloured or as the one mentioned in 13:1 are all sons of perdition whose power is derived from Satan.
Nation of Israel is the mystery, sins of Babylon are the sins of Israel, vice versa.
And in Luke 16, Jesus gives a real account of what takes place in the after life, prior to His death on the Cross to pay for our sins. Both the rich man & the beggar Lazarus had died and both ended up in Hell, one in a place of eternal suffering & the other in a place of comfort & rest. Both were very much conscious of their surroundings, their pain & the reason for being where they were sent; with the plea by the rich man to have his five brothers alerted to this awful destiny, that they might repent before it was too late.
So both these accounts, even by the witness of Jesus Himself, shows us that our bodies might lie in the grave, or even not exist over the passage of time, but the real you (your spirit) which was once clothed in an ageing deteriorating body, moves instantly to a destiny appointed by God. If one is 'absent in the body' (i.e. our spirit has left they body), then that spirit, if saved through Jesus' shed Blood, goes immediately into the Lord's Presence. And that is why the Apostle Paul was assured in his spirit that the transition from death to his presence with the Lord was instantaneous ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). And he also told the Philippian believers ( Philippians 1:21-24) that he longed to be with Christ, but his work on Earth had not finished & also his care of the Church. But he was ready to go at any time the Lord called him, so even persecution & resulting death would mean an early entrance into Heaven. A great joy for him - and should be for us who believe.
Luke 16:23 - And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
The word hell here is the word, Hades. There is actually only one place in the Bible that is actually Hell, and that's the lake of fire in the book of Revelation, the final destination. In fact, Hades will be emptied out into the lake of fire. Hades, the word Hades means the place of unseen spirits. No physical body, just spirits.
Luke 17:1 - Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Literally in the Greek, He's saying that it's impossible not to offend people. But woe unto him, through whom they come!
Even though it's impossible not to offend people, we are still responsible. Now the word offense is the word SCANDALON, where we get our word scandal from.
And it is the name of the trap string that holds up a box. If an animal comes in, you pull the trap string, and the box falls down on the animal and catches the animal. And it's called an offense.
That is to say when we do things to trap people or cause them to go down the wrong road, at least from a spiritual Christian standpoint, that's what He is talking about. It doesn't mean if you hurt my feelings or if you do something to rattle my nerves. That has nothing to do with offenses.
It has to do with allowing people to go down a trail where they will be trapped in, and it will be a road of destruction. For a Christian, it means that you guide people down the wrong road and into a trap, and it is not the road to Christ. It is not the truth.
Luke 16:14 - And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Where it says, "and they derided him," literally they scoffed at him. The Greek word means they turned up their nose at Him. That is a pretty good religious indignation, is it not? They were covetous and they heard the Lord say this and they were all upset because most of what they did was for money.
Luke 16:17 - And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Again, this is something we don't catch from out English text. The word "tittle" is a little horn. If you have ever seen Hebrew script, they put little art objects, little horns on the letters, and He is saying not one of these little end pieces are going to break off. Everything is going to happen of the law. It will not fail.
Luke 16:19 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and the term "clothed" is what is called the Imperfect Tense. He was continuously clothed in purple and fine linen.
Purple represented the most expensive clothing and fine linen. And he fared sumptuously every day: Literally "he partied according to the daytime." This went on all day long, everyday one big party.
Luke 16:20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, a real person that actually lived. He was a beggar, in the lowest of human conditions. You have the rich man who is in the highest of conditions; and you have the beggar named Lazarus who is in the worst of conditions, which was laid at his gate.
The tense shows that this is a continuous habit every day, and he was full of sores. These are ulcerated sores or boils all over his body. So, he was laid at the gate of the rich man. He is full of sores.
Luke 15:15 - And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he went and joined himself. Now the term "himself" is a reflexive pronoun and that is not in the Greek text. It's literally a passive voice. He was joined up with.
In other words, he was the victim. He didn't do any joining, the world took him in. And the word for "joined" is the word for glue. Just to show you the bond that has been made between him and the world.
He went out and the world bonded itself to him to be a citizen of that country; What made it worse is that he went away to a faraway country to be a citizen of another country. This would be a Gentile.
Picture yourself as a Jewish person, a Jewish boy run away in rebellion, finding yourself in this condition, so some people take you in.
Now you are working for a Gentile, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. These are the worst of the unclean animals. Jewish people don't even like to touch pigs or hogs. He's been sent in to feed the swine.
Luke 16:9 - And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Mammon is from an Aramaic word, MAMMONA. Most translate it as having to do with money. But it literally has to do with everything in the physical world, including aspirations for what the physical world has to offer.
That includes if you have got dreams of a career, and you're putting that ahead of the things of the Lord. You are not seeking His will. Anything that has to do with this physical world is MAMMONA, and it is the MAMMONA of unrighteousness. Every single thing in this physical world is unrighteous.
"For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?/Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?/ Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?"
The Book of Job is a set of parables and in this chapter we are dealing with a parable which is the core value of the book. How do we place the sensory values of flesh and blood in terms of soul in terms of the redemption of our soul?. This parable follows twelve other parables.
"Moreover Job continued his parable"(27:1). The above text explains the dilemma of man whose heart is a spiritual space. Forgiving as the Parable of Jesus teaches in Matt.18 is not as personal as one may think. For man chosen before the worlds began and marked for blessings in his Son is a sign as much as God who called him is a sound. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."(1 Ti.6:7) Job puts it eloquently since he is a victim of his human condition, "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."( Job 1:21). God blessed his latter half, " also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." (42:10). We read that God gave same number of children since the children that he had before were already in the presence of God. This begs the question. Is not the fulness of Christ is also that of God which our natural eyes cannot take in? It is called the land of the living where God is the God of the living. "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,/I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."(Matt.22:31-32)
The unforgiving servant for an hundred pence would put his soul in jeopardy. His soul was cast out as was the rich man, "for I am tormented in this flame"( Luke 16:24)
We have the Parable of Jesus to indicate where the dead in Christ go to. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;/And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."( Luke 16:22-23). Abraham's bosom and the depths are alike in the heavenly places. In Job 41 we have a clue to the rich man's discomfort. "Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron./His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth." (41:20-21) The place has another name 'bottomless pit' which is guarded by an angel Abbadon/Apollyon.(Re.9:11) As Abraham explains to the rich man in torment "Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence."( Luke 16:26) This fixity is like a door shut after the rapture. This is illustrated in the Parable of the Five Foolish Virgins' where the peril of negligence is very clear. "And the door was shut./Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us./But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not."(Matt.25:10-12)
The direct line of vision does not ever change. While alive the beggar was in direct line of vision the rich man could see him at the gate. After death we find the rich man from his place could see Lazarus resting in the bosom of Abraham. There is another instance this direct line of vision is rather brought out indirectly. Moses brings people to meet God and when He descends the mountain quaked. "And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because theLorddescended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."(Ex.19: 16-18) . The same smoke from the bottomless pit, "and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace"(v.2
"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth."
God chose inheritors in light before the foundation of the world. They are as stars.
God set the children of wrath also in heavenly places. The word of God forever settled in heaven can change their composition. Faith of man is what God seeks. "TheLordlooked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God."(Ps.14:2)
Light and darkness have their own configurations so principalities, powers and rulers of the darkness of this world, have their correspondence with spiritual wickedness in high places. For example Michael an archangel fighting with his angel have rulers of the darkness in the depths. Behemoth is one such. "He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him." ( Job 40:19). He is not to be confused with hippo or croc of the Nile. "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known." Just as God garnished the heavens with starry host the crooked serpent or behemoths are grouped under 'thy way'.(Ps.77.19). In the same discourse God tells Job, "Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth."(40:23)
The Single measurement which God has laid down where man and angel are composite realities on the Spirit that rules throughout His kingdom. What signifies a time, times and a half? Ministry of Jesus as the Spirit of Christ refer to the wonders he did is a time. For example the spiritual Rock,(1 Co.10:3-4) Times refer to the the slain Lamb-Re.13:8 and the Paschal Lamb heaven and earth and a half represents the gospel he preached in his Spirit to the souls in prison.
After rapture what is left of the earth are eternal habitations "that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations."( Luke 16:9)
God separated waters on the second day which runs into eternity. It is the river of time. Everlasting blessing as promised under the covenant from everlasting to everlasting; on the other hand there is stream of fire that ends up at the lake of fire. Blessed is the man who is planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season."(Ps.1:3)
What is the heart of man where he is in the line of vision where the cloud of witnesses stand in attendance. So when Enoch and Noah walk with God, " and he was not; for God took him." (Ge.5:24). The Spirit does not have to mention concerning their vile bodies. Dust to dust is with regards to the outer man. The inner man was represented already as an angel in the presence of the Father. There is only single measurement in the world of the Spirit, man-angel. This speaks about the body God has prepared for the Son.(2 Co.5:1-3) So when Jesus Christ comes in glory with his holy angels they are right there. "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:/ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:/ Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:... Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?/And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt.25:34-40)
Who was Lazarus? He represented Christ. Since his atonement covered him the Rich man despised him. What shall we speak of present class wars? Are we not despising Christ on the basis colour or race when we make their faith and ministry invisible?
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
There is a shroud that makes the living despise the word of God even though spoken by God. This shroud is upon the worldly and when Abraham advised the rich man he spoke as one who was the most suited to inform him. Abraham was clear eyed to tell the King of Sodom, " That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." (Ge.14:23) Faith gave him a vision so his inner man knew where to look for his life and godliness. "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:/For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (He.11:9-10)
The Parable sets Lazarus in the line of vision of the rich man. He is a beggar and every time he looked for guests to arrive in he might have looked but he is not seen? What kind of vision is it, if I look at my watch but do not know what hour is it? This is the kind of blindness the rich man had developed. "And the vail that is spread over all nations" is what Satan has cast since he made man fall. Like the rich fool in the parable his heart left no room for anything other than his self aggrandisement. On death the rich man is set down in a place from where he can see the same Lazarus now in bliss. What is the gulf? The river of time of course. It is unbroken from everlasting to everlasting; on the other hand there is stream of fire that ends up at the lake of fire. Daniel's night vision shows the fiery throne "And his wheels as burning fire./A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him."(Dan.7:9-10)
Everlasting fire is prepared for the devil and his angels: ( Matt. 25:41) It is thus the heart of man has to reckon both worlds.
Meanwhile consider someone else who is characteristically gruff; loudmouthed; opinionated and overall a pain to be around who takes the time to correctly explain the Gospel; but of course befitting his usual character doesn't show empathy or bothers to listen much to any responses or otherwise be very helpful even with practical needs that are obvious to others such as atheists who reach out.
Natural man; of course would hang out with the first person and be repulsed with the second; but in all fairness the second person is the one who gives a message in which eternity hangs in the balance. Such a case study of course isn't to justify such an approach to witnessing; but to also avoid what is far WORSE; that is showing all sorts of compassion to someone but WATERING down the Gospel; and not giving a clear warning of the deadly and eternal destruction which every unbeliever is about to face as life is as a vapor.
Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Praise and highly esteeming a brother seems rare today but it can be edifying
Yes,certainly,as you said,GOD HIMSELF manifested himself to the Hebrews through the OT;which was written by the twenty-four elders,starting with Moses,understand?By the way,JESUS said GOD is Spirit- John 4:24-,what is the name of the invisible Spirit of GOD?Well,GOD had said in the beginning- Genesis 1:26(the beginning is JESUS,who is the LITERAL IMAGE of GOD,He is GOD)-, yes, GOD had said:"Let us make man in OUR image,after OUR likeness", then, both are One, and as we can see, since ancient times, since Genesis, GOD revealed He would be made flesh.
By the prophet Isaiah,who is one of the 24 elders,GOD again revealed He would be made flesh, and around 2000 years ago He LITERALLY fulfilled His promise- John 1:14-and what is the NAME that GOD chose for He Himself? The NAME that GOD chose for He Himself was/is JESUS - JOSHUA-. Luke 1:26-the angel GABRIEL was sent FROM GOD(the Word is GOD,GOD Himself,self-executing) unto a city of Galilee,named Nazareth,and said to Mary:behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a SON, and shalt call his NAME JESUS. He shall be great, and called the Son of the Highest: the Lord GOD(the Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing) shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.
Remember: The Jews said to JESUS: John 8:41-we have one Father, even God. And JESUS said to the Devil, father of the Jews-Yahweh:It is written,Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the MOUTH OF GOD-Mat.4:4.
Psalms 110:1combined with Hebrews 1:8(plus Matthew 25:11, James 2:1, Isaiah 49:14, Luke 20:42, 1 Corinthians 9:1) -
GOD said to the Lord JESUS:Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy Kingdom.
KJV Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 12:2, Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 26:4 LORD=JEHOVAH; ->JEHOVAH is another esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist nickname of the father of the Jews.
Luke 16:5 lord=a King or one of authority,yes, see John 18:37.
In KJV there are 3 different uses of the name. LORD and Lord and lord. Psalms 110:1(A Psalm of David.) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. I think this explains it best.
KJV Psalms 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 , Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 26:4 LORD = GOD JEHOVAH, LORD GOD of Israel
KJV Psalms 110:1, Matthew 25:11, James 2:1, Isaiah 49:14, Luke 20:42, 1 Corinthians 9:1 Lord = Jesus
KJV 2 Samuel 24:3, Luke 16:5 lord = a King or one of authority
I actually found the Psalms answer on u-tube form someone studying the KJV 1611 he was proving the KJV is the true word of GOD and just so happened to answer my question at the same time. I added these verses I found because I didn't mention any books or verses in my original question because it is every translation in Old Testament I compared no matter which book or verse. And I also found this.
Yahweh is the name of Israel's God and the God who came to earth as Jesus Christ, Yahweh in the flesh. Matthew 1:21 says, "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." The name Jesus is from the Latin form of the Greek form of Yeshua, which literally means "Yahweh saves." So Yahweh will save His people from their sins, and simultaneously Jesus will save His people from their sins. This is just one of many instances where Jesus and Yahweh are equated.
It is true that it is surprizing also to me that the grk word "aion" (age/time) is used sometimes in the NT instead of the word "world" because in modern grk it means "century". So I have done a research and came up that in ancient grk it had the meaning apart from "a very long period of time", it also had the meaning of "the period of time a person lives".
So it was used in conjuction to people"s lives. And it seems that sometimes (but not always) the writers of the NT use it for the time that this world/humanity exists. And with that meaning it is used in Mat 28. With the same meaning it also used by Luke in Luke 16:8, by Paul in Rom 12:2 and Ephesians 6:12 where Paul talks about the "rulers of the darkness of this world" , where the word "age/time" is used for "world".
But in other verses the world "kosmos" which is the actual grk word for "world" is used, ie in John 18:20, also John 16:11 where John talks about "the prince of this world". (compare it with Ephesians 6:12 that talks about the same thing). So as a final conclusion those two words are interchanged for "world".
Spencer:
"Kosmos" in anc grk means "mankind, humanity". In mod grk it means everything, people, animals, plants. land.
"Oikoumene" means the places/land on earth where people are living.
Also the word "ktisis" is used for world, it means "creation".
Well this is enough with lessons in Greek. Confusing? We have to trust those scholars who have done a very good job in translating the NT. There isn't a perfect translation, all translations lack in some things, even modern greek can not match with ancient greek in meanings. As a conclusion all translations are more or less good. There is no actual error when other words are used as long as the meaning of the text is right. Some go word for word, others not, but there are more understandable than the former ones. Everybody has their favourite translation. We can always use 2 or more when we are not sure what it is meant. GBU
Let us focus again on the Matthew 16 passage. 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
I am hammering home this concept because it is paramount in understanding who the Lord is; and needed to be understood if anyone is to grow as a true Disciple. Let us examine several problems here. The first problem would be considering that somehow the soul of one of these three prophets was living inside Christ which seems to be the concept here; a sort of "reincarnation"; except for the case of John the Baptist who it appears Herod thought had repossessed Christ after having him killed ( Matthew 14:1-2). The concept of the Holy Ghost manifesting in someone as He did with someone else isn't entirely wrong or unscriptural; we see for instance Elisha having a double portion of the Spirit that Elijah had ( 2 Kings 2:9). John the Baptist also was like Elijah in a way ( Matthew 17:12). This correct analogy of course is NOT what people are saying. This fits in also to those who would call Him teacher or Rabbi. Luke 16:15 warns us that what is honorable among men is an abomination to God. Names and titles mean nothing; neither does human pride. Let us once again examine this concept of exaltation of Pastors.
The easy point to make here is that we should never put men on a pedestal; or substitute worship for God alone to a man.
This doesn't change the fact that we should seek examples to emulate; as it is essential for discipleship.
Psalm 75:8 says "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; It is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: But the dregs thereof, All the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them."
In Luke 16:24 "24 And 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."
My question is does the Luke 16:24 in any way cancel out Psalm 75:8. I understand the rich man was still in the not so good part of Abraham's bosom.
However I've been told that Psalm 75:8 would not be possible since there is no water thus no moisture in hell. Even tho that to me is clearly not the full extent of hell yet. Thank for any replies, Lester
Part 2.
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
See part 3.
In light of John 16:8 it is hard to understand the concept of bending over backwards to have people feel comfortable and "fit in" to a church. In fact; I would even go so far as to say it wouldn't be a bad slogan for a church to say in their bulletin that people should "plan to feel UNcomfortable" in their services. How can the fear of the Lord be something which is entertaining to anyone?
How can to so called "hole in men's hearts that only God can fill" appeal to anyone who doesn't conceive their own hopelessness before a righteous and Holy God who they have offended and continue to do so as long as they are unregenerate? ( Psalm 7:11-13). God is angry with the wicked every day; and it is truly sad that many don't get that to appreaciate His love; mercy; and kindness that we have to understand who we are and what great cost it was that He had to send His only Son to die in our stead.
We need something powerful enough to stand against an intractable foe; who seeks to kill; steal and destroy. Let's be real; if a church wants to seek and save the lost they won't be focusing so much time on flashy entertainment; and expensive building projects but will focus on missionary efforts. Many have bought into either careless giving with unscrupulous ministries that are not biblically sound or doing a bunch of service projects without the MAIN priority being presenting the Gospel. We can't err on the other side either with resources; but I have found it is often individual efforts of laypersons on a consistant basis that have more effect than occasional outings where everything tends to be rather scripted. And of course there is the BIG issue of cult personalities where noteriety becomes a snare; sadly that seems to have occured with Billy Graham when he didn't protest having a star in hollywood with his name on a pavement. SEE LUKE 16:15. We don't need approval of politicians or the world.
You will receive different understandings of this. This is something you will need to pray and study for your own conscience. There are some things to question. Is Luke 16:19-31 a parable or is it something that truly happened? Study chapters 15 and 17 and consider what Jesus is teaching.
One thing that influences our understanding is the Greek philosophy of the immortal soul. When we die do we sleep in death until resurrection or do we go to heaven or go to a burning hell for eternity? What does scripture support? Does scripture say we are awake in death?
My understanding is we sleep in death until we are resurrected, and the gift of immortality is not given until resurrection to those chosen and faithful. Luke 16:19-31 is a parable, and the context of this chapter is the love of money and stewardship, Jesus was addressing this to the Pharisees who loved money, "No servant can serve two masters".
God bless,
RLW
Unbelieving: The first verse that comes to mind here is the man with a son that had a demon possessed son who was being thrown into water; etc. That passage is Mark 9:24 and the whole incident is worth reading to understand further how there was rampant lack of faith as well as preparation for casting out the demon. REALIZING we have unbelief results from the Holy Spirit changing us; it is not what is often a false gospel of not having faith enough for a family member to be healed; or some power trip by a ministry more interested in notoriety and ultimately greedy for gain with someone given a title of "healer". We can say at the time of Christ it was indeed foolish not to believe He could work any miracles including bringing one back from death; because it was only rejecting His claim of Divinity that a person could reject Him which shows the depths of blindness of the Pharisees. The core issue which remains the same is the fact that we are all as "filthy rags" ( Isaiah 64:6) and this includes our so called "good deeds".
Abominable: Luke 16:15 shows what men hold as esteemed is an abomination before God. To esteem something shows a sort of prideful mentality; acclaim and praise is something Christ warned about in numerous passages (see Luke 6:26; another passage in this book as one example). Even calling Christ good implies that he as a mere man or prophet is good; and Christ makes it clear only God alone is good ( Mark 10:18). This is what is so dangerous about anyone who men praise; not only do they almost always practice false theology but we are convinced our own righteousness will justify us in the day of judgment.
No wonder Satan appearing as an angel of light fools lost souls ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Jesus Christ as the Lord is the Lord of heaven so he is heavenly. All the prophets until John served the Son as the double for Jesus Christ. "The law and the prophets were until John."( Luke 16:16)
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (He.1:1-3). It is of him Moses had warned,"The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."(De.18:15). Moses stood as a stand-in for him. So did every prophet. He is the heir so seven days in the covenant in which seven is a kangaroo word.
The Spirit gives us multiplying of loaves 8:7-9 "And he (Jesus) blessed, and commanded to set them also before them./So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets./And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away." Here we seven baskets of the broken meat which stands as the testimony of the Son to his Father. Generally speaking the command numbers are incorporated in the God document to distinguish which is which. Considering the manner imposter church has let them proliferate shows the enemy is within the house. Jesus would soon clear his house of the Canaanites. "and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of theLordof hosts."(Ze.14:21)
While studying the significance of the command numbers Twelve and Seven respectively their place in the body of Scriptures is to fix the role of the Son as the heir of all things and the Son of man who is the Word become flesh. It is in the latter role whose humanity sets the doctrine of God as the good news since he died and rose again. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."(He.2:9). So he appointed the twelve in obedience to the Word who was with God.( John 1:1). By healing two, where twelve years are a reminder of the word of God stated in Ge.6:3. As the Word become flesh he obeyed the word of God. Similarly when virtue went out Jesus it was the Spirit's way of reminding that he was anointed for his ministry. He was the Servant-Messiah, fulfilling what was spoken of him by the prophets, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."(Matt.8:17)
For this reason the Spirit gives us the number of baskets as twelve, which serves as a testimony to God. "And they did all eat, and were filled./And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."(vv.42-43)
The Holy Spirit tags the entities who made the everlasting covenant as the Father and the Son. Of the latter John says,"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made./In him was life; and the life was the light of men."(John1:3-4). Fulfilling the divine Will of the Father we have the tag Seven which is Perfect number. Seven provisions in the covenant therefore are seven days. Thus when the angel warns "for the hour of his judgment is come" the hour is set in heaven and it is not as we count earth time. Ministry of Jesus is from heaven so what role did all the prophets until John did? ( Luke 16:16)