Luke 16:19 – 31

Bible Q&A – “Will We Know One Another in Heaven?”

First, this is a true story! We know that because JESUS is the Author of this story! (By the way, this is not a parable, but even if it was parables are also true.)

Second, these are real people! (In none of the parables is anyone named by name.)

– The rich man. “Dives?”

– Lazarus.

– The Angels.

– Abraham.

– The Rich Man’s Five Brothers.

Third, this is a real place!

“hades” The Greek word here is “hade” (haw-dace) It means “the abode of the dead.”

The Hebrew word for this place is “Sheol.”

Theological Note: Hades was divided into two parts “Paradise” where Abraham and Lazarus were, and “Hell” where the rich man was. There was a gulf between them that could not be crossed.

(Luke 16:26) “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

When Jesus died, HE went to Paradise! (Luke 23:43) “Today you will be with ME in Paradise” and when HE died, HE took Paradise itself and the saints in it up to the Third heaven!

(Ephesians 4:7-10) (7) “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (8) Therefore, it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”

(9) (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? (10) He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Then the gulf dissipated, and hell was enlarged.

(Isaiah 5:14) “Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.”

Hell is a temporary holding place of the unsaved dead until the final judgment when hell itself and everyone there will be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire!

Revelation 20:11-15 (11) “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. (14) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

TWO MORE BIBLE FACTS!

When Jesus was transfigured on the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John recognized Moses who had been dead for over 1400 years before they were born, and Elijah who had been dead for over 850 years before they were born!

Matthew 17:1-4 (1) “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (2) And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. (3) And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.   

(4) And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Finally, when we go to Heaven, we will KNOW MORE THERE than we do now, NOT LESS!

1^ST Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”