WHERE ARE THE DEAD?
LUKE 16:19-31
Key vs:22-23, “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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
Introduction:
This passage of the Word of God is not a parable!! It is the account of something that really happened and Jesus Christ is relating it to His hearers.
Also it does not teach that the poor go to Heaven and the rich go to Hell. That has nothing to do with the destiny of a person. A person goes to Hell because he has not trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Now where are the dead? Let look at our text in the Word of God:
I. THE SITUATION OF THESE TWO MEN, vs. 19-21.
A. The Rich Man, v. 19, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”
1. Well dressed.
2. Fared well every day.
3. He had no worries.
B. The Beggar (a poor man) was called Lazarus, vs. 20-21, “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 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.”
1. His clothes were ragged without doubt.
2. His health was bad.
3. He ate the crumbs from the rich man’s table.
4. The dogs even licked his sores.
II. THE DEATH OF THESE MEN, vs. 22-26.
A. The death of Lazarus, the poor man, v. 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;”
1. Lazarus was “carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom,” that is, to Heaven.
a. He was in the presence of Abraham, the father of the Hebrew people, the Israelites.
b. Abraham was in Heaven, Romans 4:3 says, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” And Lazarus was there with him.
c. Lazarus did not go by way of Purgatory because it never exited then nor does it exits today.
2. Lazarus was a believer in Jesus Christ for the Bible says in John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
B. The death of the Rich Man, vs. 22-26, “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; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And 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. 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. 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.”
1. The rich man was buried, and without doubt it was a big fancy funeral, v. 22.
2. He opened his eyes in Hell, vs. 23-26.
a. He was in torment in the flames of Hell, vs. 23-24b.
b. He saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom there in Heaven, the paradise of God, v. 23.
3. He begged for mercy of Abraham, v. 24.
a. Just a little water.
b. Only a little to refresh his tongue.
4. The petition was denied, vs. 25-26.
a. “Remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things.”
b. The great gulf between Hell and Heaven that could not be spanned, v. 26.
(a) Purgatory does not exist because salvation is of this life.
(b) It is not possible to get out of Hell or any place of punishment for Hell is forever.
III. THE FINAL REQUEST OF THE RICH MAN, vs. 27-31.
A. I have five brothers that will come to this place, vs. 27-28.
B. Raise Lazarus “that he may testify unto them…,” v. 27.
1. “They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” v. 29.
2. If they will not believe the Word of God, “neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” vs. 30-31.
CONCLUSION:
Where are the dead? Believers like Larazus are in Heaven. Unbelievers, those without Christ as their Saviour, are in Hell with that rich man.
You do not need anything else other than the Word of God to show you the way to Heaven.