The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
The Bible doesn’t give us much information about what we will be like in Heaven. However, in Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of two men who died which gives us some information about the spiritual realm which we will inhabit. This story is not prefaced with any designation, like “parable”, that would indicate it is anything but the truth.
In the story, the destitute and starving condition of a beggar named Lazarus is contrasted with the rich robes and luxurious lifestyle of a rich man at whose gate Lazarus is laid. When he dies, Lazarus is lovingly carried by angels into the “bosom of Abraham”. But when the rich man dies, he finds himself in hell.
Before Jesus was crucified, there appeared to be a different setting for those who had died than after. The Old Testament righteous were sent to Paradise, here indicated as “the bosom of Abraham”, and the wicked were sent to Sheol, or Hell. The context of Psalm 68:18, “Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive”, seems to point to a time (between His crucifixion and His resurrection) when Jesus led the righteous out of that temporary place into the New Testament Heaven..
Here is what Jesus’ story reveals about the afterlife:
1.We will be recognizable in the spiritual realm: “And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:23). We are not told whether the recognition is based on spiritually visible physical attributes or exclusively spiritual attributes.
2. The eternal torment of unbelievers in Hell: “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” (vs. 24). Seeing the comfort of Lazarus in Paradise is possibly part of the rich man’s torture, thirst, burning desire, and regret of hell. There is no other Scriptural indication that the occupants of Hell are able to see the inhabitants of the New Testament Heaven.
3. The contrast of our life on earth with our afterlife: “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things; and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented” (vs. 25). Mark 10:25 tells us that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” This is not to say that a wealthy person cannot be saved, but that the difficulty lies in an all-consuming focus on temporal treasure to the exclusion of spiritual and eternal concerns.
3. The uncrossable chasm between Heaven and Hell: “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” (vs. 26). There is no going back to earth for humans who have died. Note the exceptions, however, by God’s decree: Jesus in both His pre-incarnate (any time “the Angel of the LORD” appears in Scripture) and post-incarnate form; Moses and Elijah who appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration in Matt.17, Mark 9, and Luke 9; and the two witnesses/prophets of Revelation 11.
4. The rejection of salvation is irreversible when we die: “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them” (vss. 27-29). The rich man recognized the permanence of his position in asking for someone to return from the dead in order to preach to his brothers, instead of begging for entrance to the comfort of Abraham’s bosom for himself.
5. Nothing will change the hearts of those who have already rejected God’s Word: “And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” The Scriptural record is complete now, but at the time Jesus told this story, Moses and the prophets were the only Canon of Scriptural truth that was available to the people. Even the resurrection of a dead man to tell the story will not cause repentance in people who have rejected Scripture. Proof positive of this reality is found in the denial of Jesus’ resurrection and His message of redemption and life everlasting through repentant faith.
