Question:  Hello, Mr. Albrecht,

            My question is about what we know of God’s plan for those who reject him.  Many Christians hold the view that all unbelievers will suffer eternal torment after God establishes his kingdom.  After reading the Gospels (Matthew-John) it seems that the only thing Jesus said that can be interpreted this way is the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke.

            What are some resources to help me understand this parable?  It seems that the important part of it is the fact that the rich man’s brothers already have ample evidence and testimony from the living, and this emphasizes the fact that it’s not through our own understanding or hearing or reason that we’re saved, but by God’s grace.

            The troublesome part is the fact that the rich man speaks of his torment in flames.  How are we to understand this parable?

            Thank you,

            Tony

Answer:  Hello Tony,

            Several comments might help:

1.      You might find a number of questions and answers on this topic that we have posted to be of help – click on the category “Heaven/Hell”.

2.      Given the background you/we have had, two books would be extremely helpful:

a.       “Two Views of Hell”, published by Intervarsity Press.

b.      “Four Views on Hell”, published by Zondervan.

Christian bookstores would stock or order them.  I’ve recommended the “Four Views” for several years, and just received a review copy of “Two Views” from Intervarsity – it is also excellent.

3.      Specifically – you asked about Lazarus and the rich man.  First, this is a parable.  Parables teach one or two major lessons, but as a teaching and literary device, are not intended to be a precise blueprint, with all details of the parable corresponding to literal reality.  The point of the parable is not in the specifics, but the lesson.  What is the lesson?  The immediate context of Luke 16 (vs. 1-13) deals with covetousness and greed.  The rich man selfishly neglects Lazarus.  Jesus reminds the Pharisees that God knows their hearts and that God does not agree with their values.  Then comes the parable, in vs. 19-31.  Was there a reason for the immediate context?  Where does this parable “come from”?  We can see clearly that the immediate context is not the specifics of judgment, hell, lake of fire, how long and how hot the torment might be.  Any teaching that we glean along those lines must be inferred – but is not the main point at all.

If we take this parable literally – all of it – then we have problems.  We would have the saved and the lost conversing with each other after death – at close range.  Few Christians would believe that – but a literal reading of the parable would suggest that.  We would also have to interpret literal tongues burning with literal fire that cannot be quenched or cooled by literal water – in addition to the idea that literal bodies are being burned with a fire that somehow torments them but does not burn them up/extinguish them.

            We can say that this parable teaches that torment is possible in the afterlife – but we don’t know what kind or in what part of the afterlife.  The duration of time after the death of the body that awaits the resurrection is called the intermediate state – and it is quite possible that this parable is speaking of that period of time, not the final judgment about the final destiny of those who are outside of God’s grace.  We don’t know – but the possibility is there.

            Hope some of these thoughts help, Tony.  May God bless you – hope you enjoy our web site.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht