The Rich man and the Poor Lazarus: A few truths to know                                  

                                                                                             

This parable may appear to be real to many because it is evidenced with their false teachings but the scriptures clearly explained that it was an illusion...not real life story.

Bible Texts (Concordant Version of the Old Testament and Concordant Literal New Testament with keywords Concordance-CLNT (Luke 16:19-31; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalm 115:17; Hebrews 9:27)

Now, a certain man was rich and he dressed in purple and cambric, daily making merry splendidly. Now there was a certain poor man named Lazarus, who had been cast at his portal, having ulcers, and yearning to be satisfied from the scraps which are falling from the rich man's table...

Now, the poor man came to die and he is carried away by the messengers into Abraham's bosom. Now the rich man also died, and was entombed. And in the unseen (i.e. Hades), lifting up his eyes, existing in torments, he is seeing Abraham from afar and Lazarus in his bosom....(Luke 16:19-31).

For the living know nothing whatsoever; There is no further reward for them; Indeed remembrance of them is forgotten (Ecclesiastes 9:5).

The dead cannot praise Yah, Nor all those descending into stillness (i.e. Hades) Psalm 115:17.

And, in as much as it is reserved to the men to be dying once, yet after this a judging. (Hebrews 9:27).

            It may interest you that the scriptures mentioned above are somehow contradicting. However, they are not. Some may have concluded that this story establishes the fact that good people who had died are in Heaven while bad people that had died are burning in Hell Fire. Some may have also concluded that poor people that died like Lazarus would go straight to Abraham's bosom but rich people who had died will not have that chance like the rich man in Jesus's parable.  So, some people believe it's good to die poor to make heaven and it's bad to die rich and go to Hell Fire. All these among many theories are not true. This parable was an illusion. It does not represent how people live. It does not also depict life after death. It is just a parable to illustrate Yeshua's teachings. I pray that you understand the truth about this parable today.

Here are some truths for you to hold dear to your heart on this issue:

ü  The story about the Rich man and the Poor man named Lazarus was not real. It was a parable used to make illustrations of why people need to understand that nothing lasts forever. It also teaches us to be generous with the blessings we have because no condition is permanent. The Rich and Poor Lazarus's conditions did not remain forever. They both died. Death was the common denominator of every living thing. So, nothing lasts forever.

ü  This parable was one of many parables Yeshua used to illustrate the kingdom of his father (Yahweh). It implicates that every act is not forgotten by Yahweh and he will judge at the right time. Some other parables are 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13; parable of 2 sons (Matthew 21:28-31); parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 1-9); the Prodigal son (Luke 15:20-24) etc. They are not real but they were used by Yeshua to make his points. 

ü  Understand that the Rich man did not go into unseen because he was rich and Lazarus did not go to Abraham's bosom because he was poor. This has to do with their deeds while on earth. There are many rich people with good deeds and many poor people with bad deeds as well. So, it depends on people's acts/deeds. Remember that Revelations 20:11-15 established that people will be judged according to their deeds. Not according to whether they were rich or poor. This also does not have to do with whether they accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as their Lord and savior or not. It is not about their faith but about their deeds.

ü  Understand that both men died. Ecclesiastes 9:5 established that the dead knows nothing. Psalm 115:17 also points that the dead cannot praise Yahweh. From the conversation Yeshua had with Martha in John 11: 21-27, the dead are sleeping (I may speak on this more in the future blog). Daniel 12:2 also tells us that dead people will be awakened. Some to the eonian life and some to eonian reproach repulsion. All these show that Abraham is currently sleeping. So, Lazarus was not presently at Abraham's bosom. All people you may remember that have died irrespective of their deeds are currently sleeping. None of them is either in Paradise; Heaven or burning in Hell Fire.

ü  Paul Apostle let us know that it is reserved for men (people) to die once before they are judged. In other words, people will be judged after their death to determine whether they will be moved to Heaven or be cast into the Lake of Fire. So, no judgment has been passed on dead people yet. Please, do not be deceived.

            In conclusion, whenever you study the scripture about the Rich man and the Poor Lazarus, understand that it was a parable. It is not a real life story. The torment the Rich man underwent and the blossom of Abraham Lazarus are not real. Yeshua used this story to teach good moral to all of us. People can make up stories that will captivate their audience's hearts and it would enable those who tell the story to drive their messages home. These parables were meant to buttress Yeshua's messages to his audience. That is why Yeshua was called, Rabbi/Master/Teacher.

I hope you have been blessed with this week's blog.

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Shalom!

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