Interpreting the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: It's Really Good News!

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Jul 23, 2018
12,199
2,775
113
I had a good reason for asking if you are JW. JW's also deny the "everlasting fire". I'm not Catholic. I'm a Bible believer. Why would you ask if I'm Catholic?
he may be sda.
Not sure.
Seems like they could answer a simple question
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
Do you think Jesus will have patience on you for calling Him a liar and hellmonger?
Matthew 25:41 (NKJV)
41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
Revelation 20:10 (NKJV)
10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And
they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
I don’t speak for Jesus, but I know Him. He’s probably disappointed you’re so divisive and accusing the brethren of blasphemy. For someone who clearly exhibits no fruits of the Holy Spirit, I’m not that surprised, but I have a sour taste in my mouth that you walk among us claiming to be a Christian. I hope you figure it out one day Ducky.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
he may be sda.
Not sure.
Seems like they could answer a simple question
I’m not a SDA either. I consider myself a non-denominational Bible-believing Christian.

I think what seems to separate me from most others is that I take a strict approach to Bible interpretation that aims to harmonize scripture in a tightly-knit interwoven tapestry free of the contradictions that plague denominations.

I am a genuine seeker of truth and God is my witness for that. The truth is clearly not very popular these days, but that fits the prophecy. People have itching ears and are blinded by their traditions being unable to separate traditions from scriptures.
 
Jul 23, 2018
12,199
2,775
113
I’m not a SDA either. I consider myself a non-denominational Bible-believing Christian.

I think what seems to separate me from most others is that I take a strict approach to Bible interpretation that aims to harmonize scripture in a tightly-knit interwoven tapestry free of the contradictions that plague denominations.

I am a genuine seeker of truth and God is my witness for that. The truth is clearly not very popular these days, but that fits the prophecy. People have itching ears and are blinded by their traditions being unable to separate traditions from scriptures.
Ok thanks runningman
 
Jul 24, 2021
494
78
28
you know there is death, and a second death. why would it be called the second death if it is identical to the first death?
then it would just be 'death' twice.
there are two Adams, and they are not identical. one is a foreshadow of the others - and is not Adam found in Christ? as he that is in Christ will be glorified in Christ, so death will be brought to ruin in the second death.
Ok. So 2 hells, not just one. I was a bit shocked at how easily a hellmonger would contort and twist and land on his two tongues.
So posthuman, shall we continue because I have a lot of conforming to do. I want to go over every verse that you just for one hell now must accommodate 2 hells. Would you like to pause and gather some milk or just take some time get your stories straight? Know that every hellmonger I will dispute from now, I will require they justify 2 hells as per this conversation to avoid wasting any time.
 
Jul 24, 2021
494
78
28
Your comment is meant for Jesus. I quoted Him.
My comment is for you. The basic lessons of long sufferance and patience seems to elude you. Can you even speak for Jesus? Go back and drink some milk while you can, you seem a bit thirsty.
Romans 2: 23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “ God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
Ok. So 2 hells, not just one. I was a bit shocked at how easily a hellmonger would contort and twist and land on his two tongues.
So posthuman, shall we continue because I have a lot of conforming to do. I want to go over every verse that you just for one hell now must accommodate 2 hells. Would you like to pause and gather some milk or just take some time get your stories straight? Know that every hellmonger I will dispute from now, I will require they justify 2 hells as per this conversation to avoid wasting any time.
Hades, gehenna, tartaroo

What are these?
 
Jul 24, 2021
494
78
28
Hades, gehenna, tartaroo

What are these?
I hope you are not saying there are 3 hells. :)
Very well. Let us see what wonderful fantastic mysteries we have in store.

hades - grave, death, sheol
gehenna - valley of hinnom, garbage dump, (place of idolatry) child sacrifices to molech, (place of destruction) abaddon
tartarus - prison for the titans (greek mythology), abyss, mountain on top of their heads

No hell. All stated in the bible (except for the greek mythology)

Speaking from your perspective, Luke 16 of the OP, which hell is Luke 16:19-31 elucidating and why was it not specified. Proselytize plainly. Don't make me look up extrabiblical info, please.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
Speaking from your perspective,
Stop making up what you think is my perspective.

I've only said, there are at least two deaths explicitly in Scripture, and that in more than a few passages there are clearly multiple meanings of 'death' being used, such that we need to be aware of these things otherwise we will come up with pretty poor misinterpretation.

Apart from that I haven't spoken about hell at all here.

I think it should be abundantly clear that I believe in the persistence of the soul beyond the decomposition of the body into dust. I haven't been cryptic about that.
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,193
1,577
113
68
Brighton, MI
I guess you are just asking what the difference is between sheep and goats? I feel like I am oversimplifying that, though. What do you mean by DNA?
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA). Mitochondria are structures within cells that convert the energy from food into a form that cells can use.

The information in DNA is stored as a code made up of four chemical bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases, and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in all people. The order, or sequence, of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism, similar to the way in which letters of the alphabet appear in a certain order to form words and sentences.

DNA bases pair up with each other, A with T and C with G, to form units called base pairs. Each base is also attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule. Together, a base, sugar, and phosphate are called a nucleotide. Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix. The structure of the double helix is somewhat like a ladder, with the base pairs forming the ladder’s rungs and the sugar and phosphate molecules forming the vertical sidepieces of the ladder.
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/basics/dna/
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,193
1,577
113
68
Brighton, MI
I’m not a SDA either. I consider myself a non-denominational Bible-believing Christian.

I think what seems to separate me from most others is that I take a strict approach to Bible interpretation that aims to harmonize scripture in a tightly-knit interwoven tapestry free of the contradictions that plague denominations.

I am a genuine seeker of truth and God is my witness for that. The truth is clearly not very popular these days, but that fits the prophecy. People have itching ears and are blinded by their traditions being unable to separate traditions from scriptures.
Exactly what church do you go to? Have you been influenced by someone from Seventh Day Adventists, International Bible Students, Christadelphians, World Wide Church of God, Arian Pentecostal Churches, Arian historical Churches or what?
 

TheLearner

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2019
8,193
1,577
113
68
Brighton, MI
This is the issue.
Yes.
What are they getting from the "parable"....what "truth"?
I don't see how it is missed that Jesus explains a parable to his disciples every time. He never explained Luke 16 to them. At verse 14 Jesus went from using parables to direct teaching. He continues direct teaching after Luke 16.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,130
3,689
113
I hope you are not saying there are 3 hells. :)
Very well. Let us see what wonderful fantastic mysteries we have in store.

hades - grave, death, sheol
gehenna - valley of hinnom, garbage dump, (place of idolatry) child sacrifices to molech, (place of destruction) abaddon
tartarus - prison for the titans (greek mythology), abyss, mountain on top of their heads

No hell. All stated in the bible (except for the greek mythology)

Speaking from your perspective, Luke 16 of the OP, which hell is Luke 16:19-31 elucidating and why was it not specified. Proselytize plainly. Don't make me look up extrabiblical info, please.
I would suggest to get a King James Bible and stick with it. Hell is for real. Hell is hot. Hell is a place of torture. Hell is located in the heart of the earth. Hell will be cast into the lake of fire. Hell cools off in the new versions.
 
Jul 24, 2021
494
78
28
Stop making up what you think is my perspective.

I've only said, there are at least two deaths explicitly in Scripture, and that in more than a few passages there are clearly multiple meanings of 'death' being used, such that we need to be aware of these things otherwise we will come up with pretty poor misinterpretation.

Apart from that I haven't spoken about hell at all here.

I think it should be abundantly clear that I believe in the persistence of the soul beyond the decomposition of the body into dust. I haven't been cryptic about that.
I apologize. Not seeing the trees because of the forest.

You know I believe the natural state of man is non-existence. We are contingent in this life and the next. Death is just one state that is achieved by the Absence of God. Life is another state that is achieved in the Presence of God. We persist as static information in sheol till Judgement. Our information is permitted dynamic interaction and growth in Salvation. The information deemed unworthy are destroyed as words on a page in a book, ashes scattered by the winds of forgetfulness.

1 Timothy 6:16 , Ecclesiastes 12:7, 2 Corinthians 9:15, Psalm 145:9

The disagreement are from the concepts of Creation.
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
Matthew 25:46 says it is. And, why bother torture in the grave?
Mt.25:46 is equal to 2Thes.1:9 and since,

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. Psa.139:7-8

the unsaved won't exist after the final judgement.

Wow, you just made the case of purgatory.
There is no repentance after death. Therefore your doctrine of eternal suffering bears false witness of God.
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
It is not so much as the self attestations as how much the love Jesus and God , but how they speak of their doctrines. The logic of their doctrines imply thing about the Character of God. Instead of pausing and be mindful of the Person's Feelings, they contort the His Very Words to defend their logic of the world. Defending the doctrine in honour of their synagogue of worldly folk at the cost of insulting God.
That is why the admonishment is "Fear God", as they have no love/respect of Him.
Again my friend, I wouldn't say peopl ewho believe in eternal torment have no love for God. It is an unloving thing to say about God though. It's very difficult when people have been misled for a long time about the character of God to see the truth of what the scriptures say about him.
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
It is torment day and night for ever and ever...and that means eternity...not just the equivalent of a lifetime.
It's torment for the sins people committed day and night in their lives. The term "forever" may mean eternal, or mean ones whole life. Pray and ask God.
 

Journeyman

Well-known member
Jan 10, 2019
2,107
763
113
What? lol
The rich man died. But he was still alive. That isn't the afterlife?
Yes, but that's not the moral of the story. I've never heard one preacher explain why our Lord told that story.

You are totally evading what Jesus said about "everlasting fire".
No I'm not. I've shown n a number of posts how all the points of the rich man and Lazarus story are no different from the GWTJ, the judgement seat of Christ, etc. The fact that our Savior will come as a consuming fire shows how the LOF isn't really a place. It's an event.

So tell me something my sincere friend. What's the difference between Rev.19:20 and 2Thes.2:8?