It is interesting, of all the [FONT="]parables[/FONT] Jesus spoke, only one is commonly taught as being literal. What a wonder it is, that such a thing could go unnoticed for so long, and this in the ranks of intelligent people who claim they want the truth. That single parable has become a pervading factor in man's theology. It is a ruse that condemns the vast majority to a never ending realm of burning torment. That ill-applied parable, of course, is the one where [FONT="]"a certain beggar called LAZARUS, who, upon dying found himself in Abraham's bosom, and a certain RICH MAN in torment."[/FONT]
[FONT="]Luke 15:11-31[/FONT]...The [FONT="]firstborn son[/FONT] is typical of the [FONT="]Jewish [/FONT]nation, while [FONT="]the prodigal son[/FONT] is that of the [FONT="]Gentile [/FONT]nations. The [FONT="]Jews[/FONT] are envious of the [FONT="]repentant son [/FONT]who returns to the Father's house. The [FONT="]eldest son [/FONT]is supposed to receive the honor of the fatted calf, the signet ring of the Father's authority, the robe of royalty, and the Father's shoes to walk like Him, etc.; but [FONT="]the younger, the redeemed nations, [/FONT]receive all these things instead. We see the same scenario with [FONT="]Ishmael and [/FONT][FONT="]Isaac, [/FONT][FONT="]Esau and [/FONT][FONT="]Jacob[/FONT][FONT="],[/FONT]and also [FONT="]Joseph[/FONT][FONT="] and his elder brothers[/FONT][FONT="].[/FONT] In each case the younger receives the inheritance while the elder resentfully loses it. Hence, [FONT="]the elder son and [/FONT][FONT="]the prodigal son[/FONT].
[FONT="]Luke 16:1-13[/FONT] ...The [FONT="]unjust steward[/FONT] in these verses speak of the [FONT="]Jews[/FONT]. They wasted the Spiritual goods that God, the rich Master, had trusted to their care. They even wasted the most precious treasure He could have given them -- Jesus -- His own Son. This same parable, it appears, was told in Matthew about the certain rich Householder who planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen to care for. Each time He sent servants (the prophets) to see how things were going, they were killed. He then sent His own Son. Thinking they could seize His inheritance, He too was killed (Mat 21:33-42). Jesus concluded that particular parable with a strong proclamation: [FONT="]"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given [/FONT][FONT="]to a nation[/FONT][FONT="] bringing forth the fruits thereof"[/FONT] (Mat 21:43).
[FONT="]Luke 16:19-26[/FONT]...[FONT="]The rich man[/FONT] clothed in [FONT="]purple [/FONT]and [FONT="]fine linen [/FONT]is typical of [FONT="]the kings[/FONT] and [FONT="]priests of God -- Israel; while [/FONT][FONT="]Lazarus (whom God aids)[/FONT] represents [FONT="]the Gentiles.[/FONT]
In torment, the rich man cries out to his father Abraham. Notice that he does not cry to God, not to Yahweh, not to Jehovah, and certainly not to Jesus; but he cries out to Abraham -- the father of Israel. He begs for Lazarus to be sent with a drop of water to soothe his tongue
He yearns to have his 2,000 years of scorching pain eased; the pain of scorn and hatred he has suffered under God's hand of judgment. He is told, however, that the gulf is fixed, that neither side can go to the other. This in no way suggests an 'eternal' condition to never be changed. It simply states that those who 'would' cannot cross over on their own. It takes more than human desire for Israel to be relieved from centuries of torment. The Gentilesmust be brought in before the Jews as a whole can be released from judgment. Israel was rich in God, and fared sumptuously, but they squandered their wealth, killed the King's Son, and now they must wait until the proper season. Paul wrote so clearly concerning this:
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom. 11:25-26, 27-36).
Luke 16:27-31...Lastly, the rich man begged Lazarus to be sent to his brothers to warn them. He was told that they have Moses and the prophets; "Let them hear them." But in desperation he argued, "Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rose from the dead." And of course, they didn't repent. For One rose from the dead -- JESUS -- and they did not repent, even to this day.
They, therefore, remain in torment. The gulf has been fixed, and this isfor both the Gentiles and for Israel; but it is not forever.To the natural mind it would be the sensible thing to do, to hurry the process, to stop the suffering -- but it won't be. Until the appointed time Israel cannot span the wide chasm, and neither can the Gentiles in Christ cross that fixed gulf and save them. Regardless of how many missionaries are sent to the 'holy land', it will not happen before the time. The Jews are held in unbreakable chains of darkness, and this is by God's decree -- and man cannot circumvent or change it. They will remain locked in darkness until the Sons of God sound the trumpet of freedom, and they hear for the first time the Good News to return unto the Lord. Individuals may cross over as the Lord bids, which is a rarity, but not the nation. For "...Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible"; but praise God, He did not stop there. He then said, "WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE" (Mat. 19:26). God certainly "...turns man to destruction; and says, RETURN, YE CHILDREN OF MEN" (Psa. 90:3). Indeed, it is impossible for either the rich man or Lazarus to cross that fixed gulf; but the day will shortly dawn when God will make it possible. Get ready, O ye Sons of God, for your hour to sound the Word of liberty to those across the gulf draws nigh!