Most have heard the Bible story of the rich man and Lazarus
and how the rich man died and went to hell. But do you really understand
the true meaning of what Jesus taught?
Do you believe you would enjoy a life in heaven if you were able to
look back down on earth and see friends and loved ones being eternally
tormented in hell – having no rest but ever crying out in agony?
Yet, as terrifying as this picture is, millions believe this is what
the account of Lazarus and the rich man depicts; they believe that upon
death, the wicked or the unjust immediately goes to hell to eternally
suffer. But is this what Jesus actually taught or said? Remember, God’s
Word is truth (John 17:17); and if we are to know the truth, we must
always rely upon what God’s Word says. And for our part here, let us
primarily deal with the subject of the rich man being sent to hell; let
us use the Bible to understand.
What Jesus said
Jesus said: “There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple
and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day” (Luke 16:19). So, here
was this certain rich man – who was apparently living a life of luxury,
ease, and who probably set his heart upon his riches – being disobedient
to God and is here pictured as one of the unrighteous who has lost out
on salvation. The account continues with the rich man having died. Luke
16:22, says, “… the rich man also died, and was buried.”
So, we see that the rich man eventually came to the end of his life;
he died and was buried or placed in the grave. But notice what Jesus
went on to say: “And in hell he lift up his eyes being in torment …”
(verse23). Well, did this mean the rich man suddenly died and then found
himself in the burning hell fire? This is what most professing
Christians appear to believe.
But carefully notice what Jesus said: He said the rich man died and
was buried. Jesus did not say the rich man died and immediately went to
hell, but that he was buried in the grave. The Bible teaches that when a
person dies, they are no longer conscious or aware of anything anymore.
For example, Ecclesiastes 9:5: “For the living know that they shall
die: but the dead know not anything …” Also, Psalm 146:4: “His breath
goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts
perish. When God created Adam, God told him the same thing; God said, “…
for dust thou art, unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen 3:19). So, we see
death means the end of consciousness or awareness – meaning when the
rich man died and was buried, he was no longer conscious or aware of
anything anymore. This is what death is; it is the absence of life or
consciousness; the Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans
6:23); wages are what a person earns for doing something, and in this
case, a sinful God rejecting life earns death – as it is the wages a
person earns for being disobedient to God.
But notice what Jesus went on to say about the rich man: “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment …” (Luke 16:23).
The rich man had died but in hell he now lifted up his eyes and being
in torment. But when did you suppose the rich man lifted up his eyes?
And what kind of hell was he in? Remember again, Jesus did not say the
rich man died and immediately went to hell; this is what millions appear
to believe, but just because the majority believes a thing does not
necessarily make it true; it is only God’s Word that reveals truth and
speaks the truth that you can stake your very life on.
What is the Hell Where the Rich man was?
The hell that the rich man went to and eventually opened up his eyes
was none other than the grave; the hell that Jesus spoke of comes from
the Greek word hades; hades mean the grave and it was the same grave (or
hell) that Jesus was buried. If you go to Acts 2:17, you will see it
speaking of the death of Christ – saying: “Because thou wilt not leave
my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see
corruption.” Jesus died and was buried – placed in hell – which is the
grave; and since God would not allow his body to see corruption or to
decompose, Christ was therefore raised from the dead on the third day –
coming up out of his grave alive by a resurrection.
So, the rich man died and was in the grave, but there came a time
when the rich man - who had lost all track of time – because he was dead
– no longer conscious or aware of anything - now suddenly, lifted up
his eyes in hell. This meant that the rich man has suddenly come back to
life at a certain point after having been dead for some time. Jesus,
who was also dead for three days and three nights, also lifted up his
eyes in the grave (hell) by a resurrection from the dead. The point is
that the rich man would have only been able to lift up his eyes in the
grave (hell) at the time when the wicked or those who are lost - would
be resurrected to be judged. If you read Daniel 12:2, it speaks of this
time saying: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting
contempt.” Jesus pictured the rich man as being one of the wicked or one
that is lost; so, the rich man will be one of those to be awakened from
death – by a resurrection to contempt. But when do you suppose the rich
man will lift up his eyes from the grave in this resurrection and be
sentenced?
Rich Man will Lift up his eyes after the Millennium
Notice John 5:28,29: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in
which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice, and shall come
forth; they have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that
have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” Here Jesus speaks
of more than one resurrection but of two different or separate
resurrections. Quoted above are Scriptures showing that the “dead in
Christ” are to be resurrected at his second coming. 1 Thessalonians
4:16,17 shows the righteous servants of Christ or true Christians are to
be first resurrected from the dead at the second coming of Christ-where
it says, “… the dead in Christ shall rise first …” The rich man will
not be in this first resurrection but will be in the resurrection where
the wicked will be judged and sentenced by God to the lake of fire. 1
Corinthians 15:23 makes known that there is a time order of
resurrections to come; it says, “But every man in his own order.
Now notice when the rich man will come up in his order of
resurrection: “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished …” (Revelation 20:5). Jesus Christ will be
ruling on earth during the millennium and it is after this 1000, years
rule of Christ that the rich man will lift up his eyes in the grave
(hell) and realize the fate that awaits him. If you notice Revelation
20, it pictures a time when all those that have lived and died will all
live again and they are going to be judged by God, and those – like the
rich man – who had their opportunity in this life, but through
wickedness and evil forfeited the opportunity for eternal life - will be
cast into the lake of fire; Revelation 20:14 says, “And death and hell
were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” The rich man
had died the first death – being buried in his grave, but the second
death is the loss of eternal life from which there shall be no
resurrection. This is why Jesus warned the people of his day saying, “…
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Will The Rich Man Eternally Suffer in the Lake of Fire?
Perhaps you reading this has possibly held the belief that the wicked
are currently in hell -constantly suffering – never having any relief
from the fires of hell. After all. Does the bible not say the rich man
was in torment (Luke 16:23)? But what exactly is this torment? Was the
rich man already suffering in the lake of fire? Is he in the fire now
burning and burning but never finding relief?
Having died and coming back to life, the rich man, will now realize
that he has been dead in his grave all this time or that he had been
asleep in death for so long; to him, his consciousness (or resurrection)
will almost seem like an instant from the time he was dead to the
moment he wakes up or lifted up his eyes in the grave (hell). Now, in
this state of coming back to life, the rich man will now learn his fate;
he will come to understand that he has forfeited life in the kingdom of
God or that he has been shut out; and now suddenly, he becomes troubled
in mind – being mentally tormented at the prospect his dire future –
knowing the lake of fire awaits – especially when he saw Abraham and
Lazarus afar off; this greatly troubled and tormented him -as he was in
the state of panic and fear. Remember Jesus warned the Pharisees that
there would be weeping and wailing when they would see Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but they themselves
thrust out (Luke 13:28); this is a terrifying moment.
Now notice Luke 16:24: “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.” Many take
this to believe the rich man was now in the lake of fire burning and
suffering. But do you not find it strange that the rich man only asked
that Lazarus dip his finger in water to simply cool only the tongue of a
man who was already burning and suffering in a great fire? How could
just a tip of water on the tongue bring relief from all this flame? Have
you ever asked yourself this question?
Notice again, the rich man said, “… I am tormented in this flame.”
The word “In” this flame comes from a Greek word which can also be
translated as “IN” or “BY,” or “AT.” This same Greek word is used in 1
Thessalonians 4:15 – which says, “For we say unto you by the word of the
Lord …” In other words, the rich man knew he was going to be cast into
the lake of fire and was mentally tormented by the flames that he saw;
he was tormented by what he saw and feared it. Also notice that the word
“tormented” means to grieve or to have sorrow; the rich man was in deep
mental distress; and if you notice why, the scripture says it was in
hell – the grave that the rich man was in torment – meaning he was in
torment before he was cast into the lake of fire (Luke16:23); he was in
mental anguish and torment when he came back from the dead or the grave
to now face the lake of fire and to realize he lost out on salvation.
Notice again that the rich man asked that his tongue be cooled; he
asked not for his whole body to be cooled but just his tongue; a person
burning in a fire is not going to ask for water just to cool his or her
tongue – as such makes no sense when your entire body is on fire. The
reason why Jesus mentioned the tongue was because He wanted to show that
people who are going to be shut out of the kingdom are going to
experience tremendous mental pain and anguish - so as to warn them of
this terrible time. It is common knowledge that when a person is in
distress – facing something as death or other forms of anxieties - their
tongue or mouth can become very dry; and this is what happened to the
rich man – as he is in condition of weeping and gnashing of teeth – just
before being cast into the lake of fire. This is why he asked for his
tongue to be cooled by just the fingertip of Lazarus dipped in water.
But what of the rich man’s fate in the lake of fire? Will he
eternally burn and burn for all of eternity – ever burning – but never
coming to his end? Well, if such had happened then you could say the
rich man was resurrected to immortal life – to live on forever in the
lake of fire. But please remember again that God’s word says the wages
of sin brings death and not eternal life -meaning man is mortal –
subject to decay and death. – hence, we can only have immortal life as
gift from God through Jesus Christ – who said, “… because I live, ye
shall live also” (John 14:19). There is only one way a man can live
forever is by the atoning sacrifice of Christ and Christ would never
taint that perfect sacrifice by allowing humans to forever live and
suffer in a never - ending fire; Christ did not give his life for that
purpose; this also dismisses the belief that man has an immortal soul.
You can read Ezekiel 18:4 and see that the soul is mortal and does die;
it says, “… the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The soul of the rich
man will also perish in the lake of fire; he will die because he sinned.
Please carefully think about that.
A man cannot forever exist in fire that will never consume his
physical body - as such it not possible. Yes, all things are possible
with God; it is possible God could create a fire that forever tortures
someone while not consuming the body, but the Bible teaches no such
thing. Furthermore, God is not of the character to let humans eternally
suffer in this manner. What the bible teaches is that the wicked will be
burned out of existence – becoming nothing but ashes; Malachi 4 speaks
of their fate – saying, “… the day cometh shall burn as an oven; and all
the proud (like the rich man) … all that do wickedly, shall be stubble;
and the day that cometh shall burn them up … that is shall leave them
neither root nor branch” (verse 1); verse 3 says the wicked will become
ashes.
Christ spoke of unquenchable fire or the fire which shall not be
quenched (Mark 9:44). This lake of fire is pictured by the Gehenna fire
that existed on the southern side of Jerusalem – where waste - such as
garbage and even dead bodies of both people and animals were thrown;
this Gehenna fires continues to burn and burn as it devoured the things
that were thrown into it; even so the lake of fire will burn and burn –
not quenched till the time comes when all the wicked will be no more.
The fire facing the wicked will be so hot and unquenchable that no
amount of water will be able to put it out, but it does not mean he lake
of fire will eternally exist to forever punish the wicked. Unquenchable
fire only means it will burn and burn until it has done its job. For
example, Jeremiah 17:27, God said He would send a fire in Jerusalem: “… I
will kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palace
of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” So here God speak of a
fire that would not be quenched. Well, is there a fire eternally burning
in Jerusalem to this day? Of course, not; no fire is burning there -
thus, proving that the unquenchable fire means the fire will never go
out until all the wicked will be consumed or burnt out of existence and
the earth will be free from wickedness and evil forever. And when all
evil and wicked is done what will happen? Notice the answer: “The cometh
the end], when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and
power. For he (Christ) must reign, till he shall have put all enemies
under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:24,25).
So, we see that Christ will subdue and bring all wickedness to an end
on earth - so when the Father comes down to earth to dwell with us
there will be no longer any evil doers. If you notice Revelation 21:1,
it shows God the Father will come down to earth with a new heaven and a
new earth because the first earth that had the lake of fire – burning up
the wicked or burning them out of existence will be no more. If you
read 2 Peter 3:12,13 it says, “… wherein the heavens being on fire shall
be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise look for new heavens and a new
earth …” Just prior to God the Father coming down to earth with the new
earth, this whole planet is going to become one gigantic ball of fire
with possible enormous earth-wide explosion being heard that would by
far – eclipse all the nuclear power the nations of the world could
possibly unleash. This mean that even the lake of fire will no longer
exist; it will be gone -as all the wicked will have been burnt to ashes –
now making place for this new heaven and earth.
The fact that there is going to be new earth proves that the lake of
fire will come to an end and that people are not to forever suffer in an
ever - burning hell fire. The fate of all the wicked – including the
rich man is eternal death and not eternal suffering or torment in the
lake of fire.
So, in conclusion here let me say again, the account of rich man is a
picture of the future of all those unrepentant wicked who have lived
and died and will come up in a resurrection to face their ultimate fate;
and that fate is the lake of fire which will end their lives; Christ
spoke of this fate – saying, “… but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12). Notice Jesus said the chaff - meaning
the wicked, “will burn up.” Burn up means to destroy or bring to an end;
it does not mean eternal punishing in the lake of fire.
(Just adding an unrelated point here to the reader that the world
continues to be an ever- growing dangerous place and the signs of the
times indicate the world is going to erupt in global and national
troubles for the people of the United States; we are living in
frightening times, and our people and nations are going to be greatly
distressed by national troubles of epic proportion - just as Jesus
Christ is about to return. I have written in the past stating we are a
nation already in trouble; and indeed, we are in trouble; just look at
the state of divisiveness in the nation; we are being set on the course
of a great fall as national troubles and turmoil is going to persist.
Drought, famine, disease epidemic - along with great changes in the
weather pattern is going to be brought to bear upon our people because
of our national sins; our people are modern day descendants of the
ancient people of Israel, and they do not know it, and neither does it
seem they are willing to understand; they will only begin to understand
when it is too late)
