BY CORRECTLY CONCLUDING that the story of Rich Man and Lazarus is a parable, we maintain Scriptural harmony, discern a valuable lesson from its interpretation, and put an end to its illegitimate use as a "proof text" for the doctrine of Eternal Torment - because any Bible scholar worth his salt knows we can't substantiate a doctrine on an uninterpreted parable.
This was a story from Jesus. Not a parable..why not...for every parable that Jesus told His Apostles, He did not want the pharasees, etc to hear. In addition, Jesus also called each one a parable. Thirdly, none of the parables contained a Proper Noun (i.e. Lazarus). This is a story with real people and real names, Below I will try to explain why Jesus did this.
Here are 14 irresolvable contradictions which result from attempts to make the passage literal:
Rem, Jesus/God is the author of every word in the Bible. There are no contradictions.
1. DISEMBODIED BODIES?
The Eternal Torment crowd claims when a person dies his body is buried, but “his disembodied soul" leaves this world to points beyond without a body - so, why do the Rich Man, Lazarus, and Abraham have eyes, fingers, tongues, bosoms, legs to carry a warning, etc.? Obviously, "disembodied souls" by definition do not have bodies, and thus can't have eyes, tongues, fingers, bosoms, etc
Were not the demons that Jesus put into pigs not have eyes, could speak, hear and have knowledge..Yes, they knew who Jesus was and knew that He could have sent them back to Hell. As a Demon body is spirit in nature, it appears they have to have a fleshly body to live on this earth. You are mistaken, as our souls contain all of us. It is what will be tormented for eternity in the Lake of Fire. No contradiction here.
Now, before anyone jumps to any conclusions, we need to remember that 2 Corinthians 5:1 KJV plainly identifies only two types of bodies - the mortal and the resurrection - and that's the only two types of bodies God's Bible knows about. There's no mention in Scripture of any third type “interim body” for the dead prior to the resurrection, so extra-Biblical ideas about a "disembodied body" or "ghost body" or "temporary body" are pure fiction and warrant no consideration whatsoever.
The Bible does speak of our Soul and our Spirit.. An extra one, I will let you research a little. The two types of Bodies you are speaking about are : Mortal bodies are those we are born with. They are simply containers that carry the soul and spirit around while we are on this earth. To the people of earth, they are you...thus when they bury you they mourn you. Yet, they are a bucket, a sack, a complex container that will return to dust. The Soul /spirit will reside in one of two places once they die. Heaven or Hell...Jesus tell us that to be out of the body is to be with Him. Not a contradiction here?
2. ABRAHAM'S LITERAL BOSOM?
Lazarus was carried “into Abraham's bosom" - are we to believe all the righteous dead up until that time have been carried into Abraham's literal bosom? How big can Abraham's bosom be?
Abraham's bosom is located in the same place that Hades is at. According to the Rich Man and Lazarus tells us there are two places here each separated from the other by a great chasm. We also find that in Isaiah 5:14, "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure:.....". Rem also that Abraham is one of the fathers of all peoples. No contradiction here!
Now, those who claim “Abraham's Bosom” is a literal, actual name for “heaven” or “paradise” need to read Luke 16:23 KJV which says the Rich Man sees Abraham afar off and Lazarus "in his bosom” - in the bosom of the man himself - which is physiological, not geographical.
The Area was all Abaham's Bosom, the Rich man and Lazarus tells us that of two areas , not a physical bosom where the damned and the saved of the OT have been kept. They that are Damned will be kept here until the Great White Throne Judgement...Jesus was here for three days and nights preaching to all...When He left, he took all in Abraham's Bosom with Him to Paradise (i.e. in heaven) and there they await the Rapture which will free their earthly bodies from the grave to reunite with them in the clouds...there their Bodies will be transfigured, like that of Jesus ready for Heaven. No contradiction here.
3. LYING EYES?
The Rich Man is able to see “Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom” aka “place of comfort” aka “the kingdom” - but Jesus Himself said the wicked won't see the righteous in the kingdom until the end, in the Judgment, when the wicked are told to “depart”. Yet, here we find Lazarus and Abraham in full view of the Rich Man.
Abram's Bosom was not the Kingdom( so the wicked did not see the Kingdom) but rather a holding place for those who had died in belief of God (the Father). (Jesus was not known in the Old Testament)
it is interesting that the Rich Man had all of His capacities he carried while on earth. He could feel, taste, see,hear,think (i.e knew He was in pain and torment). He also remembered His family and never once did the Rich Man say He was not suppose to be where He was at..He knew He had sinned and had not repented (turned away from sin). There was something else...No one was around Him like there was with Lazarus...Jesus tells us the Damned will go to their own place. There will be no parties in Gehennah (lake of Fire and Brimstone). There are no contradictions here!
Now, for those who claim these dead guys are actually in some supposed “holding chamber” next door to hell called “paradise” (now that we've seen “Abraham's Bosom” is a purely fictitious place), we must remember that “paradise” is easily shown from the Scriptures themselves to be where God is up there, not anywhere near hell down here.
Jesus tells us this story, yet you say it is false. How can you believe in Jesus Christ totally if you cannot believe in ALL of HIS WORDs. No contradictions here!
4. THE DEAD KNOW NOT ANYTHING
(Ecclesiastes 9:5 KJV; Job 14:21 KJV; Psalm 146:4 KJV)
These dead guys sure seem to know a whole lot for people who aren't supposed to know anything.
5. THE DEAD DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING
(Psalms 6:5 KJV; Ecclesiastes 9:5 KJV; Psalms 88:12 KJV)
These dead guys are sure able to remember a whole lot for people who aren't supposed to remember anything.
6. THE DEAD DON'T HAVE EMOTIONS
(Ecclesiastes 9:6 KJV; Proverbs 10:28 KJV)
These dead guys do a great job of demonstrating loving concern and also condescending disdain for people who aren't supposed to be able to have emotions.
7. THE DEAD DON'T PERFORM WORK
(Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV; John 9:4 KJV)
The dead Rich Man mustn't have gotten the memo that Lazarus had finished his shift and clocked out - permanently.
8. THE DEAD DON'T DEVISE ANYTHING
(Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV)
The dead Rich Man was well able to devise a plan to warn his brothers for someone unable to do so.
9. THE DEAD DON'T HAVE WISDOM
(Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV; Proverbs 2:6 KJV)
Dead Abraham was well able give wise testimony about the convicting power of the Word of God for someone unable to do so.
10. THE DEAD DON'T PRAISE GOD
(Isaiah 38:18 KJV; Psalms 115:17 KJV; Psalms 88:11 KJV)
Dead Abraham sure spoke highly of God's Word for someone unable to do so.
11. THE DEAD ARE IN DARKNESS
(Psalms 88:12 KJV; Job 10:21-22 KJV)
These dead guys must all have been wearing night vision goggles to see through all that darkness.
12. THE DEAD ARE IN SILENCE
(Psalms 115:17 KJV; Psalm 31:17 KJV)
These dead guys were loud enough to wake the rest of the dead what with all that shouting back and forth at each other across that great gulf.
13. THE DEAD ARE ASLEEP
(Psalms 13:3 KJV; Ephesians 5:14 KJV; John 11:11-14 KJV)
These dead guys are fully awake and aware of their surroundings, especially the thirsty guy whose completely engulfed in flames of torment.
14. THE DEAD ARE RESERVED FOR FUTURE TORMENT
(2 Peter 2:9 KJV; Revelation 20:10 KJV)
The dead Rich Man must have been pretty bad to find himself immediately in flames of torment since God Himself says He's “reserved the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished”.
Our containers, our body do die and will go into the grave. They do not according to the abovve scriptures know or can do anything. These dead bodies were simply a container of an eternal Soul/spirit. While the dead do not know anything as the above scriptures describe, the Soul is eternal and does not die, thus is not subject to the above verses.
I find no Contradictions in any of the above statements that you have made against GOD! Would be very careful not to damn yourself to Hell by your unbelief and wild accusations of the eternal Soul. The one that GOD gave you when He gave you that first breath from His Nostrils.
