We have spent a lot of time looking at what Jesus said about hell, and sometimes questions come up about different parts of the Bible and what they say on the subject. The Epistle of Jude came up, and I made the comment that some of the sources that Jude used in his Epistle were not part of the canon as we know it. This led to a discussion I was not prepared to continue, so I told them I would put this on the blog, for them to look at at their convenience. The sources that Jude quoted
are part of the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, and the actual sources are 1 Enoch, and the Assumption of Moses. These sources were written between 50 - 100 B.C., the writer of the source is unknown and there is no way to prove that what is said in these sources can be tied to the people who are the titles of these sources. Enoch lived before the flood, Genesis Chapter 5 tells us all we know about Enoch. Genesis does not say anything about him being a prophet, or what he may or may not have written. Some part of these sources quoted by Jude still exist, however, the actual parts that Jude quoted from are not there. This has been a source of discussion to whether or not Jude should be part of the canon at all. Jude was the half brother of Jesus Christ, along with James. Jude should remain part of the canon, because it does not say anything that would cause someone reading Jude not to believe the Bible. Jude is telling the truth and should stay in the Bible as the Word of God, because it helps us understand God's Truth. I hope this makes things clear.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
161st Post Jesus Said on Hell Con't. Luke 16: 29 - 31
uke 16: 29 - 31 The Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus Continued.
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Abraham is very stern in his rebuke of the rich man here, if they don't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won't listen to someone else. This is exactly correct, Moses and the Prophets give you hope in the resurrection of the dead. It is here that you receive hope concerning this, not from the world. The world does not believe, and tries to destroy your belief. If someone does not believe Moses or the Prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone comes to them who is dead. Jesus is using this parable to prophecy about His own up coming death. Jesus will die! And Rise, and people do not believe that He did, nor will they listen to His Words!! Jesus rose from the dead is a fact, we used to mark it as a fact, those of you who are over 50 years old should remember these B.C and A.D. B.C. meant before Christ's Birth, and A.D. meant in the year of or Lord, meaning after Jesus birth. Today books will use this terminology B.C.E and C.E. meaning Before Common Era, and Common Era. This is supposed to be politically correct. The fact remains that Jesus was a real Man and was God, that is why He could allow Himself to Die and then Raise Himself from the Dead. This is the truth, people will try to deny it, but it will always Be The Truth!!
"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'if they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Abraham is very stern in his rebuke of the rich man here, if they don't listen to Moses and the Prophets, they won't listen to someone else. This is exactly correct, Moses and the Prophets give you hope in the resurrection of the dead. It is here that you receive hope concerning this, not from the world. The world does not believe, and tries to destroy your belief. If someone does not believe Moses or the Prophets, they will not be convinced, even if someone comes to them who is dead. Jesus is using this parable to prophecy about His own up coming death. Jesus will die! And Rise, and people do not believe that He did, nor will they listen to His Words!! Jesus rose from the dead is a fact, we used to mark it as a fact, those of you who are over 50 years old should remember these B.C and A.D. B.C. meant before Christ's Birth, and A.D. meant in the year of or Lord, meaning after Jesus birth. Today books will use this terminology B.C.E and C.E. meaning Before Common Era, and Common Era. This is supposed to be politically correct. The fact remains that Jesus was a real Man and was God, that is why He could allow Himself to Die and then Raise Himself from the Dead. This is the truth, people will try to deny it, but it will always Be The Truth!!
160th Post Jesus Said on Hell Con't. - Luke 16: 27 - 28
Luke 16: 27 - 28 Parable of Rich man and Lazarus Continued.
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to plead for a change in their life, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. Isn't that interesting, in life the rich man never gave one thought about anybody else, but himself. Now in death, he starts thinking about others and their welfare. The rich man says that his brothers will believe someone back from the dead. If that was true, we would have more Christians in this world than we do now. They did not believe Jesus! He is God!! If they did not believe Him, what makes you think they would believe a poor beggar brought back to life to tell them? Jesus was using this parable to give us an idea of what heaven and hell are like. You have to remember that Jesus is not of this world, so when He was living here as a man He had seen Heaven and because He was God, He also knew about hell and Sheol because He made it. There is a lot of teaching out there, that says that the living can change the position of people who have died. Jesus here seems to say otherwise. Being that Jesus is the Son of God, I would put more weight into what He said, than some other person. Jesus was unique because he was alive and had seen Heaven. Jesus gave us a true picture, I would listen to Him. How about you??
"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to plead for a change in their life, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. Isn't that interesting, in life the rich man never gave one thought about anybody else, but himself. Now in death, he starts thinking about others and their welfare. The rich man says that his brothers will believe someone back from the dead. If that was true, we would have more Christians in this world than we do now. They did not believe Jesus! He is God!! If they did not believe Him, what makes you think they would believe a poor beggar brought back to life to tell them? Jesus was using this parable to give us an idea of what heaven and hell are like. You have to remember that Jesus is not of this world, so when He was living here as a man He had seen Heaven and because He was God, He also knew about hell and Sheol because He made it. There is a lot of teaching out there, that says that the living can change the position of people who have died. Jesus here seems to say otherwise. Being that Jesus is the Son of God, I would put more weight into what He said, than some other person. Jesus was unique because he was alive and had seen Heaven. Jesus gave us a true picture, I would listen to Him. How about you??
Friday, October 8, 2010
159th Post Jesus Said on Hell Con't. - Luke 16: 25 & 26
Luke 16: 25 & 26 Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus Continued.
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us'.
Abraham reminded the rich man that all through his life he had received good things, while Lazarus had received bad things. The rich man could have shown Lazarus compassion, and relieved his suffering. The rich man chose not to do so. Now the rich man is paying for his lack of compassion, and he does not like it. Abraham reminds the rich man that even if Lazarus wanted to show him the compassion that the rich man didn't show him. Lazarus could not do so, because of the great chasm that separates the two places. Notice that how much time the rich man spent at the Temple is not an issue here. Jesus was trying to tell us that there is more to living for God than just spending a few hours a week in the Temple or the Church. We are to be compassionate to all people. We are commanded to be living sacrifices, and as the sacrifice does not die, so our commitment to serve should not cease, or become hardly at all.
"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us'.
Abraham reminded the rich man that all through his life he had received good things, while Lazarus had received bad things. The rich man could have shown Lazarus compassion, and relieved his suffering. The rich man chose not to do so. Now the rich man is paying for his lack of compassion, and he does not like it. Abraham reminds the rich man that even if Lazarus wanted to show him the compassion that the rich man didn't show him. Lazarus could not do so, because of the great chasm that separates the two places. Notice that how much time the rich man spent at the Temple is not an issue here. Jesus was trying to tell us that there is more to living for God than just spending a few hours a week in the Temple or the Church. We are to be compassionate to all people. We are commanded to be living sacrifices, and as the sacrifice does not die, so our commitment to serve should not cease, or become hardly at all.
158th Post Jesus on Hell Con't. - Luke 16: 22 - 24.
Luke 16: 22 - 24 Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus Continued.
"The time came when the beggar dies and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."
Lazarus dies and the angels come and carry him to Abraham's side. This is in Sheol (Hades) of the Old Testament, the place of the dead. Hades is the Greek form, and is interesting that in the Septuigint Hades meant place for both good and bad, but in the New Testament it means hell only.
The reason the word changed is because when Jesus was on the cross and He said to the thief "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus meant Heaven, with God, not Sheol with Abraham.
Back to the rich man, notice that when he sees Father Abraham and Lazarus, he asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus to him to cool his tongue. An act of Kindness, that the rich man did not show Lazarus when he was alive. Send Lazarus to minister unto me. Isn't that interesting. In Sheol the good and bad were separated by a large crevasse, they could not reach each other. The parable will continue next post.
"The time came when the beggar dies and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."
Lazarus dies and the angels come and carry him to Abraham's side. This is in Sheol (Hades) of the Old Testament, the place of the dead. Hades is the Greek form, and is interesting that in the Septuigint Hades meant place for both good and bad, but in the New Testament it means hell only.
The reason the word changed is because when Jesus was on the cross and He said to the thief "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus meant Heaven, with God, not Sheol with Abraham.
Back to the rich man, notice that when he sees Father Abraham and Lazarus, he asks Father Abraham to send Lazarus to him to cool his tongue. An act of Kindness, that the rich man did not show Lazarus when he was alive. Send Lazarus to minister unto me. Isn't that interesting. In Sheol the good and bad were separated by a large crevasse, they could not reach each other. The parable will continue next post.
157th Post Jesus on Hell Con't. - Luke 16: 19 - 21.
Luke 16: 19 - 21. The Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores. and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."
This was spoken by Jesus toward the middle of his earthly ministry. Jesus is telling the story to show people the difference between heaven and hell in Sheol (Hades). I will explain this later in this parable. The rich man lived in luxury but did not share it with anyone. He believed his wealth was his to spend as he wanted to. His ability to make money was given by God, his brain etc. But the rich man did not share his wealth as God would have liked. The beggar is given a name "Lazarus" (not to be confused with the Lazarus that lived in Bethany, Jesus' friend), he was poor, and could not afford food nor medical attention. The Bible names certain people, based on their character, some are good and some are bad. Most of the people named in the Bible are good, though. Lazarus had no chair to sit on so he had to lay by the gate. Only the dogs seemed to care for Lazarus. When dogs are mentioned in the Bible, they are usually bad. Jesus did not say, but it could be that these dogs were owned by the rich man, and that is why they were around and not driven off as if they were in a pack of wild dogs. Isn't it interesting, that the dogs could see Lazarus' condition and had compassion on him. The rich man could have helped Lazarus, but refused. He was only interested in his own comfort and well being.
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores. and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores."
This was spoken by Jesus toward the middle of his earthly ministry. Jesus is telling the story to show people the difference between heaven and hell in Sheol (Hades). I will explain this later in this parable. The rich man lived in luxury but did not share it with anyone. He believed his wealth was his to spend as he wanted to. His ability to make money was given by God, his brain etc. But the rich man did not share his wealth as God would have liked. The beggar is given a name "Lazarus" (not to be confused with the Lazarus that lived in Bethany, Jesus' friend), he was poor, and could not afford food nor medical attention. The Bible names certain people, based on their character, some are good and some are bad. Most of the people named in the Bible are good, though. Lazarus had no chair to sit on so he had to lay by the gate. Only the dogs seemed to care for Lazarus. When dogs are mentioned in the Bible, they are usually bad. Jesus did not say, but it could be that these dogs were owned by the rich man, and that is why they were around and not driven off as if they were in a pack of wild dogs. Isn't it interesting, that the dogs could see Lazarus' condition and had compassion on him. The rich man could have helped Lazarus, but refused. He was only interested in his own comfort and well being.
156th Post Jesus Said on Hell Con't. - Luke 12: 4 -5
Luke 12: 4 -5
"I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him."
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. The people of Jesus time lived in a dangerous world, the Romans were in charge and they had the power to kill, thieves and robbers also had the power to kill, and Satan also had this power. You probably looked at the previous sentence and agreed with all but Satan, right! The devil is more subtle than just killing you outright. Paul says the "Wages of sin is death". Satan causes you to sin. You say, but not all the time, that is true also. If you showed a drunk at the time of his first drink, that he would end his life on a dirty street all alone; he probably would not continue to drink. But that is not the picture Satan shows you. He tells you you will be popular, women will go crazy over you, you will be successful. In truth, you will lose all these things if you had them, or you would never be able to attain them. By getting you more involved with the world, this is how Satan works. The deeper you are in the world, the less time you have for God, and the next thing you know, you are dead. If you have not received Jesus Christ before you have died, then it too late! Are you ready to have a personal relationship with Jesus yet? If you are reading this, it is not too late! Tell your Pastor you are ready to make the commitment, or find a Church and ask them.
"I tell you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him."
This was spoken by Jesus about 1.1/2 years into His earthly ministry. The people of Jesus time lived in a dangerous world, the Romans were in charge and they had the power to kill, thieves and robbers also had the power to kill, and Satan also had this power. You probably looked at the previous sentence and agreed with all but Satan, right! The devil is more subtle than just killing you outright. Paul says the "Wages of sin is death". Satan causes you to sin. You say, but not all the time, that is true also. If you showed a drunk at the time of his first drink, that he would end his life on a dirty street all alone; he probably would not continue to drink. But that is not the picture Satan shows you. He tells you you will be popular, women will go crazy over you, you will be successful. In truth, you will lose all these things if you had them, or you would never be able to attain them. By getting you more involved with the world, this is how Satan works. The deeper you are in the world, the less time you have for God, and the next thing you know, you are dead. If you have not received Jesus Christ before you have died, then it too late! Are you ready to have a personal relationship with Jesus yet? If you are reading this, it is not too late! Tell your Pastor you are ready to make the commitment, or find a Church and ask them.
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