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Bible story of lazarus in hell5/11/2024 The lake of fire totally destroys, for forever, what is thrown in it. The punishment of the wicked is to die a second time - for all eternity. Is this, then, the Hell where people suffer forever? No! Its purpose is also to punish the incorrigible wicked by having them face their judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire. The purpose of the second resurrection is not just to offer all mankind a first real chance at salvation. When is he brought back to life? In the second resurrection, which occurs during the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11 - 15). Why was the rich man tormented in the grave? It is because he saw a lake of fire before him and realized the time of his judgment before God has arrived. The Bible clearly states, however, the first resurrection of the dead is a yet future event that occurs after the Great Tribulation (see Revelation 20:4 - 6). If we take verse 22 and 23 literally, it would mean the resurrection of the dead has already taken place! Both the rich man and Lazarus are shown to be alive after they died. We also find proof in verse 23 that this parable is not meant to be taken literally in every last detail. "And in the GRAVE he lifted up his eyes and was in torment, for he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." (Luke 16:23, HBFV, see also Acts 2:27, Revelation 1:18, 20:13). Both hades and sheol mean the GRAVE, as the following translation shows. This Greek word is the exact equivalent of the Hebrew word sheol (#H7585). The word translated in the NKJV, NASB, NRSV and other Bibles as "Hades" in verse 23 and "Hell" in the KJV and NIV translations comes from the Greek word hades (Strong's Concordance #G86). We now come to the verse that, because of an erroneous translation of one word, has led countless people who study the Bible to believe in a fiery Hell where sinners suffer forever. The beggar is allowed entrance into God's kingdom (but it doesn't state when this occurs). Likewise Lazarus is carried into a close relationship with Abraham (who represents faith in God and salvation). One of the definitions of "bosom" at says the word represents something intimate or close, like a relationship. The verse says the beggar is carried to "Abraham's bosom." But what does this phrase mean? It also does not say the rich man, immediately upon death, was tossed into some eternal Hell. Now note what verse 22 does NOT say! It does NOT state that the beggar went to heaven. Lazarus is "helped by God" to Abraham while the well-off man is still buried and lies in his grave. In time both the beggar and the wealthy man die. And the rich man also died and was buried (verse 22). Now it came to pass that the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom. He, however, is so callused regarding the human condition that he won't even let the beggar eat his trash! In stark contrast we have a rich man (symbolic of the Pharisees) whose house Lazarus is placed in front of. Lazarus, because of the depth of his plight, was willing to eat food trash since the wealthy person of the parable would not help him AT ALL. Note that Lazarus was in so desperate a need that he desired to eat (but did NOT get) the food scraps that fell on the floor (Luke 16:21). He is portrayed as having no one that could or would help him - he was entirely on his own and had nothing. This beggar was what we today would call a street person who had become terminally ill. The irony here is that those who truly believed they served and represented God would not help someone "whom God helps." They disdained someone whom God accepted. They also despised others, especially sinners and tax collectors (see Luke 18:9 - 14). The Pharisees prided themselves on their righteousness through strict obedience to their interpretation of God's law. Why did Christ refer to this poor beggar as Lazarus? The meaning of his name is "assistance of God" or "whom God helps."
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