Many people believe that the spirits of loved ones continue to live on after death. Others believe in the natural immortality of the human soul, while others believe that we either go to heaven or hell at death, and there are others who believe in the doctrine of purgatory where a person at death goes through a transitory cleansing phase before being admitted into heaven.
There are also those who believe in re-incarnation, in which a dead person undergoes a metamorphosis of sorts, and comes back to life in a completely different form. All of these various beliefs are based on the same fundamental theory that a person continues to live on after death.
Even amongst many Christians and evangelicals, this belief has taken deep root in so much that it is now considered anathema to even suggest anything to the contrary in many religious circles.
Many Christians often cite various scriptures in support of their belief, and prominent among those references is the parable of Abraham and Lazarus.
In this particular parable, a rich man who fared well in this life did not share his bounties with a beggar named Lazarus, who sat at the gates of the wealthy man asking for alms.
However, in the process of time, both of them died, and as the parable goes, the rich man went to hell while, while Lazarus was transported by angels to heaven. And so the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell and saw Lazarus in heaven, in the bosom of Abraham, and then after recognizing him, a conversation apparently ensued, in which questions and answers were exchanged between the wealthy man and Abraham. Let’s read:
Luke 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence.
16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
This passage of scripture has often been used to certify the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul. However, before we proceed there are certain truths we should seek to understand before we try to interpret this parable, lest an incorrect exegesis of the passage in question inevitably be the result.
First of all, we should understand what a parable really is. A parable is an allegorical story, used to illustrate an important spiritual truth or truths, and therefore, by its very nature, cannot be interpreted literally. Let’s take for example, the parable of the sower. In this parable a farmer goes forth to sow his seed, and some of the seed apparently fell on different types of soil, with widely differing results.
Let’s read:
Matthew 13:3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
13:4 And when he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
13:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
13:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
13:8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
13:9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
No farmer in his right mind will ever cast precious grain on stony soil, or among thorns, for all intelligent agriculturalists will first diligently prepare their soil before sowing their grain, and therefore, the parable cannot be taken literally. Furthermore, Jesus gave the correct interpretation to the story so that none need be misled as to its true meaning. Let’s read:
Matthew 13:18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Christ tells us plainly in this verse that the “seed” represents the Gospel, which is “the word of the kingdom”, and the birds of prey represent the devil and his evil angels. The soil represents a certain type of person to which the gospel is preached, and therefore the parable had absolutely nothing to do with literal seeds, literal soils, literal farmers, nor literal birds. It was all an allegorical story, used to portray an important truth, and therefore must not be pressed to a literal meaning, lest violence be done to what Christ originally intended.
The same principle of interpretation must of necessity be applied to the parable of the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham. The Bible never contradicts itself, and so the methods of interpretation used for any parables should not create conflict or any inconsistencies with that which God has already made very plain in several other passages of scripture.
For instance, the Bible tells us explicitly that when a person dies they remain in their grave until God resurrects them at Christ’s coming. With the exception of those who the Bible specifically states were resurrected by Christ on a few occasions, all human beings remain in the tomb awaiting the last trump. This is what the Bible says and this is what it means. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
Furthermore, the Bible makes several specific statements on the state of the dead so that no honest seeker for truth need be misled. Let’s examine a few of them.
[1] The dead cannot speak. Absolutely no dead person has ever spoken and never ever will, this according to the scriptures. Let’s read:
Psalms 88:10 Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise [and] praise thee?
Psalms 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
[2] There is no such thing as purgatory. When a person dies that event closes their probation permanently with absolutely no second chances, this according to the scriptures. Let’s read:
Psalms 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? [or] thy faithfulness in destruction?
88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
[3] The dead never ever “return” to converse with, give advice, or sympathize with any of their living relatives, friends, or co-workers. This has never ever occurred and will never ever be. Any apparitions or semblances of departed relatives seen at séances or at other places, are none other than evil angels who without doubt have the ability to produce such representations. Let’s read:
Job 7:9 [As] the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no [more].
7:10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
[4] The dead do not possess any intelligence, knowledge, or emotions, neither do they have the ability to make decisions or predictions. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun.
[5] Both the wicked and the righteous dead remain in their tombs until the Son of God resurrects them. Let’s read:
Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
This special resurrection was predicted hundreds of years before so that the diligent student of the scripture could expect this special event. Let’s read:
Isaiah 26:19 Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
[6] There is absolutely no such thing as an immortal soul. Eternal life is a gift from God to be distributed to the obedient and faithful when Jesus comes. A “soul”, whatever that is, can die, and they often do according to the scriptures. Let’s read:
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
[6] A “soul” is not a distinct, separate, and intelligent entity that can exist apart from the body.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
And when man dies the breath of life goes back to God who gave it. It is the same breath that an animal has for there is no difference. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
That word “spirit” that is used in this and several other passages of scripture, is the Hebrew word “RUACH” which never ever pertains to an intelligent entity that can exist separately from the physical body. This word that is often used in the Hebrew to represent wind or breath, is the same word used to describe the breath of all living animals, according to the Bible. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.
3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
A cat does not have nine lives; that’s a doctrine of devils. Your cat has only one life to live and after that, Petsmart.
It is therefore obvious, that in the parable of the rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham, the Lord is definitely not teaching that life goes on after death for He made plain, the teachings of the Bible on this very point when He raised “Lazarus back to life. Let’s read:
John 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been [dead] four days.
11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
11:41 Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
If Lazarus’ soul was somewhere up in heaven, Jesus would have said “Lazarus come down”, but because his entire person was there buried, He said “Lazarus come forth”.
The conclusion that so may have erroneously drawn about life after death, cannot be substantiated by the scriptures. This doctrine has not only been obviously repudiated by the preceding scriptures, but it is also debunked by proven scientific laws.
In the parable of Lazarus and Abraham we observed that an extensive conversation was being carried on between the rich man and Abraham, the wealthy man being in hell and Abraham and Lazarus being in heaven. The very science of this parable tells us with certainty that it cannot be interpreted literally.
For instance if the conversation between the rich man and Abraham were to be taken literally, it would undoubtedly bring into question the proven science we know about the speed of sound.
Sound travels at approximately 1268 ft per second, with variables of temperature and air density etc. At 212 degrees Fahrenheit, this will work out to be 14.613 miles per minute or 876.78 miles per hour. Man has travelled to the moon on several different occasions and not a single astronaut has ever reported seeing either God or Abraham. The reason for this is because heaven where God dwells is obviously not within the reach of mortal man with the current modes of transportation that now exist.
So let’s just say for reasoning sake that heaven is located on the moon. If Abraham were just to say “Good morning” to the rich man, then using current scientific laws about sound, it would take approximately 11.353 days for the rich man to hear those two words, by which time his two ears would most likely be completely burnt off, given the fervent heat that is associated with a burning hell.
But let’s assume that he were, by some miraculous means, able to hear those two words, it would then take another 11 days for Abraham to receive a response, making it virtually impossible to carry on any meaningful conversation. Furthermore, using our current knowledge and science of combustion, it will be impossible for Lazarus to think in the blazing heat of hell, since according to the current processes of cremation, human bones, which include the skull are incinerated at approximately 1500 to 1900 degrees fahrenheit, a temperature that would be the equivalent of air conditioning when compared with the fire and brimstone that totally obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah, a faint shadow of the real hell that will be in the future. This according to the Bible. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
3:11 [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus was therefore given to highlight certain truths:
[1] That there are results and consequences to our choices and actions while living on this earth. Those who have done well, by accepting Christ and the principles of His kingdom, will be taken to heaven when Jesus comes again. On the contrary, those who persist in doing evil will be destroyed in the fires of hell. Let’s read:
John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
[2] That there is no such thing as purgatory or a second probationary period. When a person dies, that event brings to a permanent halt, the period in which a person has to decide for life or death. That’s why when the rich man in the allegory pleaded with Abraham for mercy, none was given him because his probation was already closed. Let’s read:
Luke 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[3] That in this life alone we have the opportunity to make our choices either for good or for evil. The rich man recognized this truth, that’s why he asked in the parable, that a warning be sent to his relatives so that they would not make the same fatal mistake he had made. Let’s read:
Luke 16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
And now friends, the time has fully come for the Bible to disclose the real source of the false doctrine of life after death. It proceeds directly from satan, the father of lies, and has sadly been adopted by billions of earth’s inhabitants although there is a preponderance of scriptural and scientific evidence to the contrary. Let’s read:
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
This is one of the cherished idols in our day that must be ratted out, for it consequently causes millions of sincere people to place their hopes and trust in a teaching that has no scriptural authority or endorsements whatsoever, and thus it sets up the multitudes for the greatest disappointment, when many will find out too late, that there was never ever any such thing as natural immortality.
With the scriptural evidences before our faces, the Lord is asking us to dial a certain number, namely 1800- ADMIT IT. It is high time that we admit that we were in the wrong all these years whilst we believed this soul-destroying doctrine.
He is asking us to admit that indeed we are to be held accountable for the deeds done in the body, and that based on this sacred and sobering truth, that we admit Jesus into our lives today so that immortality may be bestowed upon us when Christ comes again.
We will therefore end with a promise to all who by faith, accept the teachings of God’s word and appropriate them into our belief systems, interfacing truth with our daily experiences. Let’s read:
Job 19:25 For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the latter [day] upon the earth:
19:26 And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:
19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.
May God add his blessing to the study and acceptance of His every word. God bless! End.