Dear Explorer,
Read Luke 16:19-31
Do you think Jesus is teaching that all poor people are going to Heaven and that all rich people are going to Hell?
So, what IS Jesus teaching?
Remember that Jesus was talking earlier about finances. One of their traditional beliefs needed to be addressed. They believed all rich people would go to Heaven because obviously God was blessing them. And they believed all poor people would go to Hell because God wasn't blessing them. So, Jesus intended to shock their thinking.
Now, did Jesus say that the beggar Lazarus was in Heaven?
Why not?
You can believe that “Abraham's Bosom” was just another way of saying, “Heaven.” Many scholars would agree with you. Other scholars believe that the Bible seems to teach that everyone who had trusted God to someday in the future send His Son (all the people who followed God from the Old Testament), would go to a place of waiting when they died. It wasn't Heaven, but it was a place of peace and comfort. It is sometimes called, “Paradise” and sometimes called “Abraham's Bosom” or “Abraham's Side”.
When Jesus died, He provided the way for all to enter Heaven. Those that were waiting for His coming and death and resurrection entered Heaven with Jesus after His death on the cross. I believe that Jesus led the way into Heaven with all the Old Testament prophets, Abraham, Moses, King David and all those who had looked forward and were waiting on the coming Messiah. Now that we live past the death and resurrection, His followers go directly into Heaven the very minute that they die.
This difference of opinion on whether there was a waiting place – or whether the Old Testament followers went directly to Heaven, is just that – a difference of opinion. Our opinion does not change the facts. And we don't know the facts. We can only look at the Scripture and guess. Why would God leave this unclear? Because it is not important. It's just something to note – we can ask when we get to Heaven!
Now, let's look at the rich man. Did he go to a place of waiting?
Apparently not! So, can we assume that people who refused God were sent to Hades (Hell) immediately upon death, even though it was before Jesus' arrival?
Some scholars believe that they, too, were sent to a place of waiting. They believe that once Jesus had died for their sins, He went there to tell them the Good News and give them a chance to accept Him. I don't know.
Those are details that really have no impact on our lives today. They are just points to discuss and ponder, but we won't know the answers until we are in Heaven.
What you need to know is that it is up to each individual to make a choice to accept or reject Jesus. That choice determines your eternal destination. Once you die – it's over. Final. Settled. Set. Done.
God wants us to encourage everyone to make their decision to follow Him early and enjoy the blessings. No one ever knows when time will be up for them.
I believe that Luke 16:31 is a foreshadowing to emphasize that even though Jesus would die and then raise from the dead – many would choose to reject His NEW WAY.
So, we summarize this section by saying: Use your finances wisely under God's direction, but don't put your trust in riches or believe that they are a sign of God's approval or blessings or salvation.
In His service, dale
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