INTERMEDIATE STATE OF THE SOUL #6 (The Rich Man Is Conscious in Hell)

Excerpted from the authors book "Biblical Anthropology."
Estimated reading time: 3.5 minutes.

The Evangelist Luke records the Jesus-narrative of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man in that stage of the afterlife which we call the intermediate state: that time between the death of the body and its resurrection (Luke 16:19-31). Though I have mentioned this accounting at different places in this writing, I will slow down a bit and consider the narrative in more detail at this point.

Here, Jesus states His case.

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of 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. 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; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.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. 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.27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 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.

Those who do not subscribe to the substance dualism of man, and therefore deny the continuity of life, to say nothing of consciousness, beyond the death of the body, will object to this Jesus-narrative being introduced, by claiming it to be a parable. 

My response?

“What does it matter if it is a parable or not?” Jesus’ stories represented truths. To use an illustration that has no application in reality destroys the purpose of the parable. Actually, a parable may be an accounting of a real event that has a spiritual application, or it may be a made up narrative that has a spiritual application; it is normally this second type that we consider a parable. Either way it is an illustration of truth. A lie can never represent truth.

That being stated, however, I disagree that the account before us is a made up story. I, reasonably, contend that the event related by Christ in Luke chapter 16, verses 19 through 31, actual happen just the way Jesus narrated it. The main reason I contend this is that Jesus introduces a personal name into his story (which He never did in any parable), giving it the very air of reality. When Jesus introduces the beggar as Lazarus, this account is instantly elevated into a category above an invented parable told only to fit a particular spiritual lesson. The hearers of Jesus’ story are given the sense of a real person, whom Jesus named. It is reasonable, then, to assume the story of Lazarus and the rich man to be as real as the story of the Galilaeans Pilate slew as they were offering sacrifice, or the mention of the Tower of Siloam and the eighteen person killed when it collapsed (Luke 13:1-5).

The doctrines of the mortality of the soul and soul sleep are dispelled by this Jesus-narrative as surely and completely as a snowflake in the presence of an atomic blast.

The truth is there for all to see and believe: 

1. Lazarus died and was carried (his soul, not his body) by angels to Abraham’s bosom, a metaphor for Paradise;  

2. The rich man (Dives is simply the Latin for 'a rich man,' legend gives him the name "Nimeusis") died and was buried, and in hades (the lake of fire is not to be understood here, it is a compartment of the unseen state of the dead which holds those wicked souls awaiting the general resurrection and judgement) he is conscious, tormented and praying; 

3. Lazarus the beggar was at peace and secure; 
4. The souls of the rich man and the beggar have existence in the afterlife contemporaneously with people living in the physical realm.

Nothing more, really, need be said.

Apostolically Speaking,

☩☩ Jerry L Hayes

Read more epistles from the Bishop on the subject of The Intermediate State of the Soul at the links provided here:

The Intermediate State of the soul, Part One; An Examination of Soul Sleep, aka Christian Mortalism
https://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-intermediate-state-of-soul-part-one.html

Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/substance-dualism-and-immortal-soul.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #2)
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #3)
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance_15.html

Intermediate State of the Soul (Substance Dualism and the Immortal Soul #4) Jesus Preaches to Spirits in Prison
http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-substance_16.html

INTERMEDIATE STATE OF THE SOUL #5 (THEOLOGY OF PAUL THE APOSTLE)

http://bishopjerrylhayes.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-intermediate-state-theology-of-paul.html

This essay is excerpted from the Bishop's book "Biblical anthropology."
Biblical Anthropology is a study in what the Bible teaches concerning the origin, nature (ontology), history and destiny of mankind. Reviewed in this work is the debate over whether or not the human being is bipartite—such as only body and soul, or tripartite—such as body, soul and spirit. Biblical Anthropology addresses the question of whether or not the soul is mortal or immortal; that is, does the soul have existence apart from the body.  What, exactly happens at death? Will there be a resurrection of the body, and if so what nature will the resurrected body take?  These are important questions addressed in this book. Bishop Jerry L Hayes presents a very orthodox view of Christian biblical anthropology which relies heavily on holy Scripture with a generous sprinkling of quotes from the ancient churchmen such as Athenagoras, Tertullian, and Augustine to name a few. 
Order your personal copy of this classic work on biblical anthropology by clicking the link provided here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1703392698/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Bishop+Jerry+Hayes%2C+Biblical+anthropology&qid=1572374388&s=books&sr=1-1&fbclid=IwAR3TaRUBLqYEIj2lC1GYgNzYf_E5yAomZHRcaKnBmFj0zJfy9mURNCb_wbM

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY PURCHASING MY BOOKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY. -JLH