Can we go to heaven yet?

3AngelsMom · Jul 21, 2003

Originally posted by Frank:
Kelly:
The acount of the Rich Man and Lazarus is not a parable. This account employs the use of names of people. Parables do not name individuals(i.e. Lazarus, Abraham). Parables employ general descriptions of individuals in the account. For example in Mat. 25: 14, the Bible says, for the kingdom of heaven is as a man ( general reference) traveling to a far country ( general reference) who called his servants( general reference) and delivered his goods.

Parables, by definiton, are devices that set a side a story, The account of the Rich Man and Lazarus has a declared and direct meaning. It does not lay a side any story.

If this were a parable, the two men would either pursue a course of action or they would be acted upon by others. The account simply says both of them died. Luke 16:22. There is no symbolic meaning suggested by their deaths. Just the fact, they died, as all men do. There is no hidden meaning in this account which is common among parables.

The account must be literal as the knowledge of the Hadean realm is not derived from human experience. Parables always use human experiences in them.

This is a literal explanation of what takes place at death. If one desires a parable on this he should read the vineyard parable.
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Thanks for the reply Frank,

I have a question. Do you believe that the 'story' of the CERTAIN Rich Man and Lazarus is about anyone in the Bible?

God Bless,
Kelly

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