Put on your study cap, as they used to say.
Luke 16:19-31: I believe the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus to be the telling of actual events that took place. The story tells of actual people, Lazarus and a ‘rich man’, though the rich man is unnamed. Second, a parable is a spiritual truth using earthly representations. Third, the story is never referenced as a parable, like Luke 8:4 and 12:16, among others in the book of Luke. The story is about the afterlife. IMHO, the bottom line is that the unrighteous go to ‘one part of paradise’ considered to be a holding realm or prison until judgment. The righteous go to Abraham’s bosom. [ You might be asking, why do the unrighteous receive a spiritual body after death? The answer is that flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom of God, and a person, whether righteous or righteous, has to stand for judgment either at the *Bema seat, or the *Great White Throne Judgment, they can only do this in a spiritual body.] If the story is not real ( as held by some), it is realistic. I would also like to add that it seems to me that people who do not want the story to be true may have an ulterior motive. Perhaps they don’t want the story to be true because they don’t want to be accountable. Note: *The Bema seat of judgment is for Christians, the issue is not salvation but rewards done in each person’s Christian life. The Bema judgment seat occurs at the beginning of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ out of THE NEW HOLY CITY of JERUSALEM. *The Great White Throne Judgment happens at the end of the millennium, it is for those rejecting Christ, you do not want to find yourself at this Judgment.
Harry Potter is considered to be a Christian allegory. Harry is compared to the chosen one of both the old and new testaments. He is also compared to Moses, who delivered his people, as Harry can be seen as delivering his friends. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political allegory, referencing the Russian revolution.
Now that you have a background in Luke 16: 19-31 let’s actually look at the scripture. You decide if it’s an actual account or not, but be careful, examine your motives.
A summary of Luke 16: 19-31. The story is about two men who die and go to paradise. Now you must understand that paradise has two parts to it. One is more like a prison. Across the uncrossable gulf is the second part, which is Abraham’s bosom. The rich man enjoyed all the luxuries of life. Lazarus, the poor man was not so “well to do.”
Continuing, The rich man is in torment and can look across the gulf and see Lazarus in the comfort of Abraham’s bosom. He realizes that he cannot cross over and it is too late spiritually for him. He pleads to Abraham for water. He also pleads to Abraham to allow him to return to his earthly life and warn his family of this horrible place and what is to come if they don’t change their ways. But it is too late, his request is denied. Please read Luke 16 in its entirety for clarity and understanding. Frankie The Earthman.
Frankie The Earthman 