Two Men, Two Destinies

Luke 16:19- 31

  1. There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. 
  2. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who lay at his gate.
  3. Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table.
  4. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
  5. And being in torment in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
  6. Then 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.” 
  7. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise, Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
  8. And besides, all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to   pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.
  9. Then he said, I beg you; therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house.
  10. For I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” 
  11. Abraham said to him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
  12. And he said, No father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 
  13. But he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Many would have you believe that this passage of scripture is a fairy tale or fable.  But Jesus said, “there was a certain rich man that went to hell”, (a place prepared for the devil and his angels). Please do not take this out of context. It doesn’t mean all rich people are going to hell. Only those who do not accept Christ as their Savior.  The beggar died and as soon as he departed his earthly life, the angels immediately carried his spirit to a place called Abraham’s bosom, the place of the righteous dead at that time which is now in the heavens. His body was on earth in the grave, but his spirit was with God. “Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.”  (Luke 16:21), notice this verse says the angels took him.

Request # 1
Notice verse 24 says, “The rich man recognized he was being tormented in a flames.”  He was informed by Abraham to think back during his lifetime. Remember he is dead, but his spirit is somewhere else and he is having a dialogue with Father Abraham. This verse also stated that he thirst for water.  His appetite was alive. He requested Lazarus dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue.  Notice verse 25 says, “the rich man memory was intact. But Abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things and Lazarus evil.” 

Request # 2
The rich man request was for Lazarus to go back to earth and testify to his five brothers and tell them not to come to this place.

I pray thee send Lazarus to my Father’s house. I have five brethren that (he) may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Requests denied Luke 16:29-31
Abraham saith unto him. They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.  And he said, nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent.

And he said unto the rich man, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, either will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. Now, my friend, God does not want you to disturb the dead in any way, especially through séance, in order to obtain any kind of guidance. God stated in (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

“ Let no one be found among you … who practices divination (black magic or white), or sorcery, interprets omens (one who call on the evil spirit for aid), engages in witchcraft (fortune teller, sorcerer), or casts spell, or who is a medium, spiritist (consults with spirits) or necromancer (consult the dead) anyone who does these things are detestable to the Lord (NIV).

Beloved, no one knows the way to  heaven or hell; therefore, when we die an angel will come and escort us to our destination.