JW's: A question about Lazarus and the rich man...?
Born again, here. Not J.W. I am giving your questiona star. very perceptive! Anyway, The only time Jesus used actual names of people is in this account. These were actual people that were know to the listeners. They had seen Lazarus at the rich man's gate. Jesus was telling an actual happening, not a made up story. Any time jesus used names of people it is not a parable. Jesus was teaching that the rich man was in torment in hell. Hell is a real place. Jesus created it for Satan and his demons. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that "Hell is the grave". That is not what Jesus taught. At the dump, (Gehenna), the fire never went out, so Jesus compared hell to Gehenna. Matthew 5:22 "whosoever sayeth "Thou fool shall be in danger of hellfire" Matthew5:29 "body should be cast into hell" Matthew 10:28 "destroy both body and soul in hell" Mathew 11:23 "shall be brought down to hell" Matthew 16:18 "gates of hell" Matthew 23:15 "child of hell" Matthew 23:33 "the damnation of hell" Luke 16:23 "In hell he lifted up his eyes" These are all quotes of Jesus, His very words. "Gehenna" is not the ONLY word that is translated "hell". I only looked up this one word..
What do Jehovah's Witnesses say about Lazarus and the rich man?
General, wouldn't you say that a pre trib view is a little different than "there is no such thing as a literal hell?" Please don't let your position on that matter be a cause of division among bible believing christians.
In terms of interpreting the Bible, which is logical?
Most Christians do not follow every word of the Bible, as rules such as commanding death for breaking the Sabbath or disobeying your parents are seen as outdated and not meant for today's society. Now, what is the system that determines how to interpret the Bible? What can we take from the Old Testament, if basic laws such as the ones above and slavery being commanded are not valid anymore? Why is it that the interpretation of the Bible will vary depending on the person, and conform to fit what they believe? With so many different interpretations and understandings, which is logical: to assume the entirety of the Bible is valid and God inspired, or that none of it is?
Does the account of the "rich man and Lazarus" at Luke 16:19–31 prove there is an afterlife?
Does the account of the "rich man and Lazarus" at Luke 16:19–31 prove there is an afterlife?Yes that is one conclusion. What it does prove is that hell cannot be eternal.Because the way its told, the rich man is in hell right now. So he must have had a “judgement”? Or if the judgement is still to come, why is he already in hell? And if he has to go to judgement, then he has to get out of hell? Ergo its not eternal. You can’t get out of eternity. Its either eternal, or its not. And as that story tells us, its not.And so in fact it tells you a lot. Yes that guy is in hell right now. And he did not need a day of judgement to get there. Wow that blows a huge hole in the dogma that is Christianity. A hole caused by truth.Now you should wonder: “Is there really a Day of Judgement?” And if there is, what is it about? Because its not about sending people to hell. It is a separation of the tares from the wheat. It sorts the folks who actually achieved the new birth from those who did not so choose.
What's the best way to explain this parable, ‘It is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, than for a camel to go through the eye the needle’?
The simple explanation is that it is impossible for a rich man to enter heaven.There are some important verses in the surrounding context however that need to be examined as well. These verses come before, in Matthew 19:16–22.The Rich Young ManAnd behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.The reason Jesus specified the rich is because this man just came to Jesus. The disciples had great respect for the rich because their extensive resources allowed them to donate to the temple, the poor, and to keep the whole law down to the finest details. If anyone would be saved, surely it would be the rich!Unfortunately, this man’s heart was always with his money first and not with God. As Jesus preached earlier in The Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 6:24.“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.Jesus’ questions were meant to bring this truth to light. Christians can be rich, but their riches must ultimately belong to God first. After that text, we get additional clarification, in Matthew 19:25–26.When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”Even though Jesus declared earlier that it was impossible for the rich man to be saved, that really meant that he couldn’t save himself. That man could still be saved through the power of God to change his heart.While this passage is about the rich man, other passages apply these principles to all people. Without God, it is impossible for anyone to come to salvation.