The cultic origins of Annihilationism

[Ahwatukee]

I don't believe this and apparently you hve not read very many of my posts. This is simply a parable, it is not reality. Why did Christ speak in parables?

The rich man and Lazarus does not read anything like a parable. Parables use symbolism to represent what is literal, while the rich man and Lazarus refers to Abraham, Lazarus, Moses and the literal location of Hades. It is deemed to be a parable because it destroys those who believe in soul-sleep and annihilation, ergo, they erroneously change it to be a parable.

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
Mat 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Mat 13:12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Mat 13:13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

He spoke in parables to hide the truth from those not being called at this time.

I get tired of people attempting to use this to support their cause, as though believers in Christ can't know what the word of God has to say, which is not the case at all. If you will look at the scripture that you provided, you will see that the question was "Why do you speak to them in parables?" The "them" in the scripture is referring to that generation of Israel and not the church. If you will notice in the same context which I have highlighted in red, that Jesus makes a distinction between that generation of Israel and those who have faith. To those who have faith Jesus says "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."

Furthermore, you left out one of the most important parts of the scripture, which identifies that generation of Israel as those to whom He was speaking parables to:

"This is why I speak to them in parables:

‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’

In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Obviously Jesus is referring to that generation of Israel, for it is in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah regarding that generation. Now look at what the Lord says to His disciples and therefore all believers:

"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

There is no hell as portrayed by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy but unfortunately that is where the belief comes from for most.

Don't care about Dante and his stories. What is important is what the word of God has to say regarding this or any other Biblical subject and the word of God says plenty. It is ridiculous to even suggest there is no Sheol/Hades or lake of fire, because their existence is made very clear throughout scripture.

 

[preston39]

Parables do not change the intent of G-d's word...it reinforces His intent.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Parables do not change the intent of G-d's word...it reinforces His intent.

True, but these people attempt to turn the event of the rich man and Lazarus into a parable in order to get rid of the content, which is that the bodies of two men who died, but their spirits were conscious and aware. The spirit of the rich man was in torment in flame, while Lazarus and Abraham were in that place of comfort. Also, that once there, their are no second chances and no coming back. It is the annihilationist and those who believe in soul-sleep who attempt to change the rich man and Lazarus into a parable. If they would just read it in the plain literal view, then they would understand it. The problem is that they have adopted a false teaching and not they protect it tooth and nail.

 

[shrume]

True, but these people attempt to turn the event of the rich man and Lazarus into a parable in order to get rid of the content, which is that the bodies of two men who died, but their spirits were conscious and aware. The spirit of the rich man was in torment in flame, while Lazarus and Abraham were in that place of comfort. Also, that once there, their are no second chances and no coming back. It is the annihilationist and those who believe in soul-sleep who attempt to change the rich man and Lazarus into a parable. If they would just read it in the plain literal view, then they would understand it. The problem is that they have adopted a false teaching and not they protect it tooth and nail.

True, but these people attempt to turn the event of the rich man and Lazarus into a literal event in order to get rid of the point of the parable, which is that even if someone was to come back from the dead, people would still not believe (verse 31). People do not understand that during the time of Christ, the Greek belief of the "immortal soul" had crept into Judiasm, and the Pharisees had adopted this belief. Jesus Christ "met them where they were", so-to-speak, and told them a parable that would have pricked their ears, got their attention. Also, people who think the parable is literal have to ignore dozens of OT scriptures that explain what happens when a person dies. It is the person who has over 40 years invested in studying the Bible and has adopted the same belief the Pharisees had who attempt to change the parable of the rich man and Lazarus into a true event. If they would just read the old testament records that explain what death is, and believe them as they are written without inserting the word "body" into them, then they would understand that it is in fact a parable. The problem is that they have adopted a false teaching and now they protect it tooth and nail.

 

[garee]

True, but these people attempt to turn the event of the rich man and Lazarus into a parable in order to get rid of the content, which is that the bodies of two men who died, but their spirits were conscious and aware. The spirit of the rich man was in torment in flame, while Lazarus and Abraham were in that place of comfort. Also, that once there, their are no second chances and no coming back. It is the annihilationist and those who believe in soul-sleep who attempt to change the rich man and Lazarus into a parable. If they would just read it in the plain literal view, then they would understand it. The problem is that they have adopted a false teaching and not they protect it tooth and nail.

There is nothing in that parable that would give a person the idea of a literal interpretation as in, if the literal makes sense don't search for the spiritual understanding, There is no such prescription for interpreting the word of God


Dead people do not have a tongue and thirst for water .and neither do they have eyes that can see through dirt.

Hell is described as a living suffering. the dead know nothing .the moment there spirt leaves their body it eternal Alzheimer's

When a person dies their spirit returns to where it came from just as their flesh returns to the dust.