WHERE ARE THE DEAD?: THE RICH MAN & LAZARUS
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Where Are The Dead?
a) Where are the Dead, and in what state are their souls? The Bible answers the question clearly, though not in detail. We will answer that question as far as the revealed word of God will allow.
2. The Rich Man And Lazarus
a) The story of the rich man and Lazarus takes place in Hades (Luke 16:19-31). Some think that we can learn what Hades is like from the descriptions in this story.
b) However (and it's a pretty significant however) our Lord pictures people in Hades as having bodies, when in fact the dead have lost their natural bodies, and do not yet have their immortal bodies. This raises speculation about how literal a picture Jesus intended to give us in the setting he provided for the story.
Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house — 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
c) The point of telling the story, is not to answer the question, “Where are the Dead?” nor to inform us about what it is like to be dead, or what Hades looks like. Rather, the point of the story is that this life is the time to hear, believe, and obey God's word. In Hades there is no opportunity to change your eternal destiny (Revelation 20:11-15).
d) Everyone who dies goes to Hades, but there is a difference. Those who have heeded God’s word, and have a faith like Abraham’s, will be in a blessed state. Those who won't listen to God will be in a state of condemnation. And in Hades no change can be made.
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
The End ...
1. Where Are The Dead?a) Where are the Dead, and in what state are their souls? The Bible answers the question clearly, though not in detail. We will answer that question as far as the revealed word of God will allow.
2. The Rich Man And Lazarus
a) The story of the rich man and Lazarus takes place in Hades (Luke 16:19-31). Some think that we can learn what Hades is like from the descriptions in this story.
b) However (and it's a pretty significant however) our Lord pictures people in Hades as having bodies, when in fact the dead have lost their natural bodies, and do not yet have their immortal bodies. This raises speculation about how literal a picture Jesus intended to give us in the setting he provided for the story.
Luke 16:19-31
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house — 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
c) The point of telling the story, is not to answer the question, “Where are the Dead?” nor to inform us about what it is like to be dead, or what Hades looks like. Rather, the point of the story is that this life is the time to hear, believe, and obey God's word. In Hades there is no opportunity to change your eternal destiny (Revelation 20:11-15).
d) Everyone who dies goes to Hades, but there is a difference. Those who have heeded God’s word, and have a faith like Abraham’s, will be in a blessed state. Those who won't listen to God will be in a state of condemnation. And in Hades no change can be made.
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
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