Sunday, August 19, 2012

A PROPHETIC PARABLE

   There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
   And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
   And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:  moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
   And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom:  the rich man also died, and was buried;
   And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
   And 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.
   But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:  but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
   And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:  so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
   Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
   For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
   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 him, If they heard not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.  (Luke 16: 19-31)

   After Lazarus died and while his body was in a tomb for four days, his soul went to Abraham's bosom, the place where people, who believed in God, went and there remained until Christ had completed His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection from death; and there was a gulf between Abraham's bosom and hell.

After the resurrection of Lazarus:
   Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we do? for this man doeth many miracles.  If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him:  and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  And this speak he not of himself:  but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.  Then from that day forward they counsel together for to put him to death.  (John 11: 45-53).
Six days before the Passover, Jesus was in the house of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.
   Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he (Lazarus) was there:  and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.  But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. (John 12: 9-11).
   The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing?  behold, the world is gone after him. (John 12: 19)

  

  

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