Posted on 01/18/2020 8:13:24 PM PST by beaversmom
Good video.
Yes, it is literally true. It is NOT an allegory. There are no words that would indicate this is an allegory -- no "like" or "as". Nor is it a metaphor , since there are no linking verbs ("am", "is", "are" ...) equating one thing with another.
Nor is it a parable. Parables are introduced as such (Matthew 21:33ff) In parables Jesus provides the interpretation of the parable. See the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18).
So, here in Luke 16 we have neither allegory, extended metaphor or parable. It is a vivid account using documentary language -- "there was a certain rich man", not "a" rich man but a specific, certain rich man. No "like" or "as". No parable introduction. It is a true account of an actual event, which an omniscient God can call up at any time to bolster his preaching.
Further, the Bible consistently teaches immediate immediate joy for the saved, as we see in Luke w.r.t the beggar Lazarus. And in 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul echoes that -- to be absent from the body (dead) is to be present with the Lord. The believing thief on the cross next to Christ was told by Jesus that he would be with him in paradise that day (i.e. immediately after death).
No punishment until the judgement. God is just.
You didn't get this non sequitur from the Bible. The unbelieving are condemned already and are already under God's wrath.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Later at the end of the world (Rev 20), the unbelieving dead who have been tormented in Hell (Hades) all this time are given their eternal bodies, only to stand before God at his great white throne. Imagine their terror when they realize that they have not been given a reprieve, but are facing the final judgment and then cast into the Lake of Fire, originally intended for Satan and his fallen angels. Their torment will rise up forever.
God is just to punish those who refuse the gift of salvation any time he pleases.
Eternal torment is the horrifying future that awaits all the dead who have not believed the gospel. The heavy weight of God's wrath abides on them right now. At the 1st death they immediately awaken in Hell, experiencing the torments Jesus describes factually in Luke 16. These are so painful that the rich man wants to warn his brothers about their fate, if they continue as he did. But Jesus soberly explains that even if someone were to rise from the dead, they would not believe. This illustrates the sad plight of Israel who has rejected their messiah and all others who look to another means of salvation (i.e. their own works).
Door knob or anything else as a higher power just Jesus is not allowed.
“Wondering about eternity isn’t putting one’s head in the sand- infact it’s just the opposite- Again- Satan can and does cause fear in even solid Christians- That’s His primary objective- to cause doubt- not everyone has the Christian maturity to not succumb to that and fear eternity thinking perhaps they ‘did something wrong’ regarding salvation- That isn’t sticking one’s head in the sand at all- That is normal doubt and wonder-
Again- you’ve found peace- and that’s great- but telling people to ‘just believe and everything will be fine’ doesn’t solve the issue- and really is an insult to struggling
Christians- Many truly try to believe, but Satan still manages to shake them about death because there are no do overs-”
I think you misunderstand my comments. I’m not telling anyone to “just believe....” All I am saying is YOU WILL DIE and you can not avoid it. Your best choice for peace, while you are here, is to accept it and prepare for it — for your own sake and the sake of those that you love and care about. I have chosen to believe strongly in the words in the Bible and believe in a better existence after this life. How I reached that conclusion may be quite different from how you or others make that decision (if you do make that same decision). You get to make your own choice. I am not telling you what choice to make. I am only pointing out the inevitable (just as certain as the Sun rises every morning). You will face death sooner or later and you don’t get to pick the time or place (unless you take matters into your own hands).
[[I’m not telling anyone to “just believe....”]]
Yeah you are- You are saying ‘accept your fate, ‘because you can’t avoid it’ and you’ll be fine’
“Your best choice for peace, while you are here, is to accept it and prepare for it”
Again- the fear isn’t over whether or not we will die- obviously we will- however, one can’t just will up ‘peace’ when they are afraid that they may have somehow ‘missed the mark’, and will end up in eternity in hell because there are no do overs-
[[I have chosen to believe strongly in the words in the Bible]]
That’s fine- you have peace- but again- just because you do doesn’t mean that people can just work up a peace when Satan is attacking- not everyone is spiritually mature-
The whole point of this argument is that Christians face Satan’s onslaught of doubt, and not everyone can overcome the fear that they may have ‘not been serious enough’ when they got saved, or that ‘maybe they didn’t’ really mean it’ when they accepted Christ-
“Just accept that we will die’, and ‘just believe’ isn’t a recipe for peace—
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