LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN
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The parable of Lazarus and the rich man gives a chilling warning to members of Gods church. I will print the full parable and add comments and other scriptures. Luk 16:19 There was a certain
rich man,
which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every
day:
Lazarus was unconverted. He was begging for food, and Gods people don’t beg. Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Luk 16:22 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; Lazarus died and was buried, and some time later was resurrected to physical life. [Abraham had been resurrected with the firstfruits, a thousand years earlier] Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. The rich man also died. Luk 16:22 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;
Luk 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you will see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrust out. The rich man died and was buried in hell [the grave] and was also resurrected to flesh, to be cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. The torment is the time between being resurrected and being killed in the lake of fire. Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Both the rich man and the beggar died the first death, and both were resurrected back to flesh. Luk 16:24 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. The rich man was converted and had Gods Holy Spirit. We cannot
blaspheme
Gods spirit until we have it. Mat 12:31 Therefore I say to you, All kinds of
sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but the blasphemy against
the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to men. Herein lies the reason for the rich man being cast into the
lake of
fire. The full account is in Mat. 25 v 34 to 46. I will just quote a
few
scriptures from the account. If we don’t do good; when it is in our
power
to do so; we will go into the lake of fire. Mat 25:41 Then He also shall say to those on the
left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared
for the Devil and his angels.
Luk 16:26 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. There is no second chance, once we get Gods Holy Spirit of
life. Luk 16:27 And he said, I beg
you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, The parable of Lazarus and the rich man shows that it is
absolutely
imperative that Gods people do good when it is in their power to do so.
The rich man blasphemed Gods Spirit, by not doing good when it was in
his
power to do so. The following scriptures show that the principle
applies
to us all. There is always someone worse off then we are. Jas 4:17 Therefore to
him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin. 1Jn 3:17 But whoever
has this world's goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up
his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? Pro 3:27 Do not
withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of
your hand to do it. GOD IS NOT MOCKED: we will eventually reap as we sow. Doing good is one of the keys of the kingdom, and as such it
is absolutely
imperative that we do good to others; even our enemies. Rom 12:20 Therefore if
your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so
doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head.
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