Hints of Heaven:
Reflections on the Realm of the Righteous—
#4 The Great Contrast (Luke 16:19-31)
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013
Reflections on the Realm of the Righteous—
#4 The Great Contrast (Luke 16:19-31)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013
Are you indecisive? Do you have trouble making up your mind? Are you afraid of commitment? Rather than taking a stand, do you prefer straddling the fence?
The next installment in our series, Hints of Heaven, is "The Great Contrast," which illustrates that there are only two sides in the cosmic conflict and there is no neutral ground, no fence on which to sit.2
First, I will address a question our last message raised, about recognizing those who have gone before us and are now part of "The Great Company" in heaven.
As we noted last time, John saw "a great multitude that no one could count" (Rev 7:9). These are saints in heaven during the period before Jesus returns to "reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10b) and before the resurrection of the righteous. This scene is during the Great Tribulation, an event in the distant future to John and in the undetermined future to us. Given the vast number of people he describes, if we join them during the intermediate state, before Jesus returns, will we know anyone? Will we recognize family and friends? Now, we generally rely on physical features to identify people: height, build, hair color. If, before the resurrection of our bodies, we meet people in heaven we knew on earth, how will we recognize them?3 ...I suspect we will recognize non-physical features, perhaps personality traits. What about those we did not know on earth? Given our limited number of acquaintances now, will we spend eternity introducing ourselves to others? Will there be a welcoming committee and an orientation session for newcomers to heaven? When we see Peter at the pearly gates, will he give each of us a name tag?
The experience of others in the Bible suggests that identification will not be a problem, even if people do not yet have their new bodies. Just as passages that indicate those in this intermediate state are awake and not asleep, so those passages also indicate that people do not need name tags.4
In Luke 16, Jesus tells a story about the rich man and Lazarus.7 Some think this is a parable, which it may be (so Marshall 1978:632). Luke does record more parables than any other gospel writer, and this chapter opens with a parable ("The Shrewd Manager" vv. 1-15). Nevertheless, Luke also records stories Jesus relates that are obviously actual events,8 and there is no indication that this story continues the thought of the opening parable.9 Moreover, this particular story differs from parables in at least one respect: It names one of the characters, as if he was a common figure, someone those in Jesus' audience would have known.10 Parables do not need to be that specific.
Again, those who die before Jesus' return enter the intermediate state, where they await their new bodies. This story, even if it is a parable, offers an instructive description of that stage in the afterlife when there will be only two groups, existing in...
IV. The Great Contrast (Luke 16:19-3 1)
Does that mean we will not remember those life experiences, as if leaving this world severs all recollection of it? ...No, we will remember, and we will even have some sense of what is happening here in our absence. In hell, the rich man expresses concern over surviving family members who do not appreciate what they will face after death.17 Similarly, John records that in heaven, prior to Jesus' return, "those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained" during the Great Tribulation will want to know,
Did you notice that Jesus mentions no one else with the rich man. The beggar is in heaven with Abraham; the rich man is in hell... apparently alone. The rich man is not actually alone; there are plenty of others in hell with him, and he probably knows that—he certainly knows his brothers will join him if they do not turn to God—yet his own predicament is what concerns him most. There will be other occupants,21 but the personal torments of hell will so absorb their individual attention that they will not necessarily be aware of anyone else there. Those in heaven will be enjoying company with other saints, while those in hell will be enduring loneliness.22
In addition to our being separate from suffering, the second contrast is that...
In all these passages, Jesus mentions only two places. There is no half-way house, no purgatory by which an individual not pure enough for heaven—and under such a scheme, no one is ever pure enough for heaven26—there is no provision by which such a person might have purged whatever character defects remain from this life after he enters the next.27 This 15th century doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, if true, should have applied to Lazarus, yet it did not.28 Instead of being in a pool of not-quite-perfect people, undergoing the unpleasant process of soul scrubbing, he went directly to heaven and to a most pleasant state of comfort. In the afterlife, there are only two groups of people, saints and unrepentant sinners, and God has prepared only two places for them. Moreover, those in heaven will have no contact with the lost, with those in hell (Abraham's conversation with the rich man not withstanding). Those in heaven will also have...
In this life, God expects us to demonstrate a genuine burden for the lost, a care that translates into action, not the least of which involves communicating the good news of salvation and praying for their repentance. Paul's burden for Israel is a case in point.31 Writing to the church in Rome, he states...
Much about God and His purposes we do not yet understand, because our view into the spiritual realm is limited. As Paul says, "we see but a poor reflection" (1 Cor 13:12a). That will change radically when we are with God, for then "we shall see face to face" (1 Cor 13:12b). In other words, "Now [we] know in part; then [we] shall know fully" (1 Cor 13:12c). That knowledge will include an appreciation, a true understanding of two things.
In this life, we are properly burdened for those who do not know God, because they will suffer terribly in the end. If we do not care that unbelieving family members and friends are facing an eternity apart from God, then we need to think more seriously about what He has done for us and about what that means.
We should have a burden for the lost, because there is the possibility in this life of altering their eternal destiny. In the next life, our relationship to them changes, for we can do no more. They have made their decision, God has confirmed it, and we will recognize that His verdict is both final and just. If, after death, the righteous were still troubled by the suffering of the unrighteous, there would continue to be tears and sorrow.33 However cruel and unfeeling it may seem to us now, God will relieve us of this burden so that those in heaven will have no concern for those in hell.
What can you expect when you pass from this life to the next? One of the Hints of Heaven in scripture is "The Great Contrast" that will exist between your future state and the future state of those who have rejected God. Now, the wicked and the righteous live in close proximity. There is no separation between them and often no apparent recompense for their life choices. One day, God will alter the current situation. So...
A large group of people gathered in the 'no man's land' of the hereafter, between heaven and hell. On one side stood Jesus, and on the other side stood Satan. Separating Jesus and Satan was a fence. Jesus and Satan began calling to people in the group and, one by one, each having made up his own mind, they went either to Jesus' side of the fence or to Satan's side of the fence. Eventually, the whole group had divided, moving to one side or the other. Jesus took his group to heaven, and Satan took his group to hell. One man, however, joined neither group. He climbed the fence and sat on it. Soon, Satan returned. "Have you forgotten something?" the man on the fence asked. "Nope," Satan said, "Come with me." The man objected, "I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor him." "That's what you think," Satan replied.... "I own the fence."Contrary to popular mythology, Satan is not in charge of hell. Remember: hell is not the devil's playground; it is (or, will be) his prison.1 Nevertheless, he does to some extent "own the fence," which is what Jesus meant when he said, "He who is not with me is against me" (Matt 12:30a).
The next installment in our series, Hints of Heaven, is "The Great Contrast," which illustrates that there are only two sides in the cosmic conflict and there is no neutral ground, no fence on which to sit.2
* * * * * * * * * *
First, I will address a question our last message raised, about recognizing those who have gone before us and are now part of "The Great Company" in heaven.
Will We Know Each Other in Heaven before the Resurrection?
As we noted last time, John saw "a great multitude that no one could count" (Rev 7:9). These are saints in heaven during the period before Jesus returns to "reign on the earth" (Rev 5:10b) and before the resurrection of the righteous. This scene is during the Great Tribulation, an event in the distant future to John and in the undetermined future to us. Given the vast number of people he describes, if we join them during the intermediate state, before Jesus returns, will we know anyone? Will we recognize family and friends? Now, we generally rely on physical features to identify people: height, build, hair color. If, before the resurrection of our bodies, we meet people in heaven we knew on earth, how will we recognize them?3 ...I suspect we will recognize non-physical features, perhaps personality traits. What about those we did not know on earth? Given our limited number of acquaintances now, will we spend eternity introducing ourselves to others? Will there be a welcoming committee and an orientation session for newcomers to heaven? When we see Peter at the pearly gates, will he give each of us a name tag?
The experience of others in the Bible suggests that identification will not be a problem, even if people do not yet have their new bodies. Just as passages that indicate those in this intermediate state are awake and not asleep, so those passages also indicate that people do not need name tags.4
- In Luke 16, the rich man and Lazarus are in the intermediate state, in different locations yet within sight of each other.
- The rich man (in hell) recognizes Lazarus (in heaven), who was someone he knew on earth.5
- The rich man (in hell) also recognizes Abraham (in heaven), addressing him by name, although they had never met.
- In Matt 17, Moses and Elijah are in the intermediate state, yet visiting with Jesus on earth (at his transfiguration).
If we die before Jesus returns to raise the saints, and we enter the intermediate state, how will we know people we have never met? It cannot have anything to do with their physical form, since it will happen before they have physical form, and it will not be by their name tags. How we will know people we have never met is a mystery to me, but we will know people, even those we have never met. That is something to anticipate, when we all get to heaven.6
- The disciples recognize these Old Testament figures, identifying them by name, although they had never met.
* * * * * * * * * *
In Luke 16, Jesus tells a story about the rich man and Lazarus.7 Some think this is a parable, which it may be (so Marshall 1978:632). Luke does record more parables than any other gospel writer, and this chapter opens with a parable ("The Shrewd Manager" vv. 1-15). Nevertheless, Luke also records stories Jesus relates that are obviously actual events,8 and there is no indication that this story continues the thought of the opening parable.9 Moreover, this particular story differs from parables in at least one respect: It names one of the characters, as if he was a common figure, someone those in Jesus' audience would have known.10 Parables do not need to be that specific.
Again, those who die before Jesus' return enter the intermediate state, where they await their new bodies. This story, even if it is a parable, offers an instructive description of that stage in the afterlife when there will be only two groups, existing in...
IV. The Great Contrast (Luke 16:19-3 1)
Luke 16:19 There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was [alone!] in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 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.' 25 "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. 26 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.' 27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 30 "No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "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."The first contrast to note here is that in heaven...
A. We will be separate from suffering.Lazarus's life on earth was not a pleasant one. In fact, he had a miserable existence, knowing only the suffering of poverty and infirmity.11 Unlike the rich man, Lazarus may not even have received a decent burial. Nevertheless, he had apparently loved God and served Him as best he could. In death, Lazarus's circumstances change dramatically, for there he receives "good things" and is...
The rich man, who apparently did not love God or serve Him,13 pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus with the most minimal relief: a few drops of water from "the tip of his finger" (v. 24).14 Lazarus, on the other hand, has no such need. As John says of the saved in his Revelation,151. Enjoying comfort instead of enduring torment12
Rev 7:16a ...never again will they thirst.... 17 For the Lamb...will lead them to springs of living water.Whether this thirst is literal or metaphorical, the point is that those in heaven will be satisfied while those in hell will be suffering. John further says about the saved that...16
Rev 7:17b ...God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.Whatever sorrow or pain we may have had in this life, God will relieve in eternity.
Does that mean we will not remember those life experiences, as if leaving this world severs all recollection of it? ...No, we will remember, and we will even have some sense of what is happening here in our absence. In hell, the rich man expresses concern over surviving family members who do not appreciate what they will face after death.17 Similarly, John records that in heaven, prior to Jesus' return, "those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained" during the Great Tribulation will want to know,
Rev 6:10 "How long, Sovereign Lord [will it be] until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"The difference after death is that those in heaven are enjoying comfort while those in hell are enduring torment. Those in heaven will also be...
Jesus says that upon death, angels carried Lazarus "to Abraham's side."18 Here, we see that with eternal life comes the opportunity to be with the great saints of God.19 Elsewhere, Jesus states that...2. Enjoying company instead of enduring loneliness
Matt 8:11 ...many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.People may have shunned Lazarus on earth, but he is welcomed in heaven20 and associates with the most revered members of God's family. As we saw last time, those who enter heaven become part of "The Great Company" of believers.
Did you notice that Jesus mentions no one else with the rich man. The beggar is in heaven with Abraham; the rich man is in hell... apparently alone. The rich man is not actually alone; there are plenty of others in hell with him, and he probably knows that—he certainly knows his brothers will join him if they do not turn to God—yet his own predicament is what concerns him most. There will be other occupants,21 but the personal torments of hell will so absorb their individual attention that they will not necessarily be aware of anyone else there. Those in heaven will be enjoying company with other saints, while those in hell will be enduring loneliness.22
In addition to our being separate from suffering, the second contrast is that...
B. We will be separate from sinners.In answer to the rich man's request for relief, Abraham replies that between heaven and hell "a great chasm has been fixed."23 Unlike this world, in the world to come, the righteous will not reside with the unrighteous. Lazarus no longer has to endure the corrupting influence or the demeaning ridicule of those who reject God. He will have...
This division is a recurring theme in Jesus' teaching.24 He states that those who do not have a place...1. No contact with the lost
Matt 8:11 ...at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in...heaven. 12 ...will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.In the last days,
Matt 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.To those who serve God, he will say,
Matt 25:21d ...'Well done, good and faithful servant! ...Come and share your master's happiness!'But those who serve themselves, he will...
Matt 25:30 ...throw...outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."There is a way to stay out of hell, but [as Abraham says here, there is] no way to get out" (emphasis added McKenzie 1980:234).25
In all these passages, Jesus mentions only two places. There is no half-way house, no purgatory by which an individual not pure enough for heaven—and under such a scheme, no one is ever pure enough for heaven26—there is no provision by which such a person might have purged whatever character defects remain from this life after he enters the next.27 This 15th century doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, if true, should have applied to Lazarus, yet it did not.28 Instead of being in a pool of not-quite-perfect people, undergoing the unpleasant process of soul scrubbing, he went directly to heaven and to a most pleasant state of comfort. In the afterlife, there are only two groups of people, saints and unrepentant sinners, and God has prepared only two places for them. Moreover, those in heaven will have no contact with the lost, with those in hell (Abraham's conversation with the rich man not withstanding). Those in heaven will also have...
Abraham's conversation with the rich man suggests that those in heaven may be aware of the agony those in hell are experiencing,29 but there is no evidence, in this passage or others, that those in heaven are troubled by it.302. No concern for the lost
In this life, God expects us to demonstrate a genuine burden for the lost, a care that translates into action, not the least of which involves communicating the good news of salvation and praying for their repentance. Paul's burden for Israel is a case in point.31 Writing to the church in Rome, he states...
Rom 9:2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers...Our concern for those who do not know God should be similar. In the next life, though, saints display no compassion for those in hell and no particular interest in their plight. Why is that?
Much about God and His purposes we do not yet understand, because our view into the spiritual realm is limited. As Paul says, "we see but a poor reflection" (1 Cor 13:12a). That will change radically when we are with God, for then "we shall see face to face" (1 Cor 13:12b). In other words, "Now [we] know in part; then [we] shall know fully" (1 Cor 13:12c). That knowledge will include an appreciation, a true understanding of two things.
The author of Hebrews writes, "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb 9:27). Some find this too harsh a doctrine and believe that those who missed the opportunity in life will have an opportunity following death to trust in God (see Sanders 1992:177-178). After all, what about those who have never heard about God? Should they not have a chance to make an informed decision? ...The destiny of the unevangelized is a complex issue, one that requires more attention than we can give here. Suffice it to say that a post-mortem change of venue appears nowhere in scripture.32 In Luke 16, it was the rich man's life that sealed his fate, and there was no altering it after he died. It may be difficult to accept now, but in eternity we will understand the finality of man's death. Moreover...a. We will understand the finality of man's death (Heb 9:27).
Peter says that the "Father...judges each man's work impartially" (1 Pet 1:17a). Paul states that "God's judgment against those who [sin] is based on truth" (Rom 2:1). However unfair that judgment may appear from our current vantage point, in heaven we will recognize the absolute equity of His final decision. We may even be surprised that many people we thought might be condemned were actually saved, and many people might be just as surprised to see us there (McKenzie 1980:234). Either way, in heaven, we will acknowledge the impartiality of God's judgment and will not be troubled by the outcome.b. We will understand is the impartiality of God's judgment (1 Pet 1:17).
In this life, we are properly burdened for those who do not know God, because they will suffer terribly in the end. If we do not care that unbelieving family members and friends are facing an eternity apart from God, then we need to think more seriously about what He has done for us and about what that means.
We should have a burden for the lost, because there is the possibility in this life of altering their eternal destiny. In the next life, our relationship to them changes, for we can do no more. They have made their decision, God has confirmed it, and we will recognize that His verdict is both final and just. If, after death, the righteous were still troubled by the suffering of the unrighteous, there would continue to be tears and sorrow.33 However cruel and unfeeling it may seem to us now, God will relieve us of this burden so that those in heaven will have no concern for those in hell.
What can you expect when you pass from this life to the next? One of the Hints of Heaven in scripture is "The Great Contrast" that will exist between your future state and the future state of those who have rejected God. Now, the wicked and the righteous live in close proximity. There is no separation between them and often no apparent recompense for their life choices. One day, God will alter the current situation. So...
- The next time you endure chronic back pain or a migraine headache, some unpleasant condition that returns repeatedly to plague you, give thanks that one day you will be enjoying comfort which is both undiminished and unending.
- The next time you are alone and sad because there is no one to talk to or confide in or just to be with you, be glad that one day you will be enjoying company which is both pleasant and permanent.
- The next time you are shocked and enraged by the senseless cruelty or utter depravity of the wicked, those who threaten innocent lives, rest assured that one day you will have no contact with them, because they will suffer the recompense of their evil deeds.
- The next time you agonize over the fate of family or friends who stubbornly refuse to repent and wonder if your heart will always ache, take note that one day you will have no concern for them, because you will see the justice of their punishment.
For the Bibliography and the Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs