RE: What does the Bible say about the dead? - Part 1
The Bible is clear that the dead are conscious in heaven or hell. You left out the verses that don't support what you seem to believe.
(Luke 16:19-31 NIV) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. {20} At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores {21} and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. {24} So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' {25} "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. {26} And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' {27} "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, {28} for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' {29} "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' {30} "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' {31} "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Thanks for the comment, you brought up a common issue people run into when reading the Bible. In this case, it would appear that the Bible is saying that the dead know nothing, have no feelings and cannot speak, and then in Luke, it seems to say they DO feel, think and speak. In this case, you must ask yourself the simple question. Can the Bible contradict itself on something this big?
You only have two options.
After studying the short story of Luke 16:19-31 it becomes clear that this is not intended to be a depiction of what heaven is like. If that was a description of what heaven was like, then this would contradict how the Bible describes heaven (Rev 21) as a city of Gold. Is it a city of gold or is it Abrahams boosm? Furthermore, Luke 13:28 says we're going to actually meet Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets. How are we meeting Abraham if we're all walking around on him? I don't think Abraham wanted to be everyone's doormat.
The short story in Luke 16 is nothing more than a parable. An allegorical story designed to convey a truth or moral lesson. This parable uses the typical symbolic imagery and figurative expressions.
The Old Testament writers weren't told about hell. They were talking about death based on their own human knowledge. You can't reject what Jesus said and accept what the Old Testament says.
You can't say it's a parable. Luke doesn't say it's a parable. Jesus has no explanation for what it means. You have to accept what it says: that the righteous are in heaven and the unrighteous are in hell and they're suffering. The bottom line is that you refuse to accept the truth. That's dangerous for anyone.
If it's a parable then what does it mean???
Luke 16:19-31 does not prove that people go to heaven when then die. We need to ask ourselves some simple questions:
This was a parable given by Jesus and not a literal account of real people. Even though it does not say it is a parable within the verse, only 11 out of the 26 parables in Luke are actually called parables.
Also Abraham is unquestionably dead and without his reward Heb. 11:8, 13, 39, 40.
What the verse is actually saying is subject for debate (not whether people go heaven or not) about who he is referring to, for instance _"...dressed in purple and fine linen..." may be referring to the priests. Purple in scripture is used for the priestly garments Ex.39:2, 24, 29; royal clothing (Judges 8:26; Esther 8:15) and wealth (Rev 18:16). Fine linen was also used in the priestly attire: ephod, robe, mitre, bonnet; and wealth (Rev 18:16)
In Israel, the high priest was clothed in purple and fine linen everyday... so he could be referring to Caiaphas as the unnamed rich man. Following the context chapter will help to greater understand what Jesus was actually saying.
Yes the poor man is named lazarus but does that mean that THE lazarus literally went to heaven when he died? And just because lazarus is mentioned does not mean that it definitely is not a parable.
What is the purpose of resurrection when the dead are already in bliss or in torment? That would mean they are judged already, and as a result, the coming judgement when Christ returns will be null and void.
The poor man is named Lazarus. Nobody is named in any of the parables. If it's a parable what does it mean besides the fact that the evil dead are in hell and the righteous dead are in heaven?