Chapter 17 THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

Scripture references are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless stated otherwise.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, as given in Luke 16:19-31, speaks about the mystery of the Kingdom of God. This parable is the most misunderstood parable of all of Jesus' parables. Unfortunately, many Christians read this parable as if it were a true literal account, and this is why they misapply and misunderstand the spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God conveyed by Jesus. This is despite a clear biblical statement made by Jesus telling us that He never spoke to the multitudes except in parables when conveying spiritual truths.

Matthew 13:10-11
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Notice that the Kingdom of Heaven, which means the same as the Kingdom of God, has mysteries, and only Christ's disciples are meant to understand them. Jesus Christ spoke in parables to hide the meaning of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God from unbelievers.

Matthew 13:34-35
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, 35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

Notice that the mysteries of the Kingdom of God were kept secret from people from the foundation of the world. Apostle Paul was one of the first among the early apostles to whom God clearly revealed all aspects of the mystery of the Kingdom of God hidden in Jesus' parables, including the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Ephesians 3:1-6
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which (the mystery) in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.

An important aspect of the mystery of the Kingdom of God is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs with the Israelites. Jews and especially the self-righteous Pharisees looked down on the Gentiles, considering them as cut off from the Kingdom of God. The truth that the Gentiles are fellow heirs with the Jews in the Kingdom of God was an important revelation to Paul, who had been a self-righteous Pharisee, before his conversion to Christianity.

Romans 11:25-27
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins".

This is a key scripture to understand the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Here, Apostle Paul urges us not to be ignorant of two important aspects of the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

Firstly, God has purposely blinded a part of Israel, actually most of Israel, from believing the gospel of Christ until the full number of Gentile Elect have come to Christ before they die.

Secondly, all Israel will be saved when the Deliverer will come to Jerusalem. This undoubtedly refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, when He returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom of God. All Israel means absolutely ALL Israel without exception, past, present and future. It is a shame that most Christians remain ignorant of this important aspect of the mystery of the Kingdom of God that God's purpose is ultimately to save ALL Israel. This is also good news for all Gentiles, because all Gentiles will also be saved by the Seed of Abraham, the King of the Jews, who is Jesus Christ.

Let us remind ourselves of how God will save all Israel. God will first save a remnant of Israel together with the full number of Gentile Elect at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. These are all those who have been called and chosen both from Israel and the Gentile nations, who are God's Elect and they will be raised up as the Bride of Christ when Jesus comes again. Then, in the Millennial Kingdom of God, all surviving Jews and all Jews born throughout the Millennial Age will be saved before they die. Finally, following the Millennial Age, during the Great White Throne Judgement Age, all remaining unbelieving Jews will be resurrected and saved, but as through fire in the Lake of Fire. This will fulfill God's covenant to save all Israel, thus taking away their sins.

Romans Chapters 11 is an important chapter where God reveals to Apostle Paul that all unbelieving Israelites are not permanently rejected by God and that His purpose is ultimately to save ALL Israel. This subject is covered in detail in Chapter 7 'God's Purpose for Israel'.

We are only able to understand the parable of the rich man and Lazarus once we have the revelation of the mystery of the Kingdom of God, as discussed above. Now let us study the parable.

Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 Then 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.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

27 Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'

The purpose of this parable is to confirm several aspects of the spiritual truths of the mystery of the Kingdom of God revealed elsewhere in the Bible. The first thing we need to understand is that the rich man and Lazarus are two fictitious characters who represent two groups of real people. It is important to identify who these two groups of people are.

The rich man calls Abraham, Father Abraham, and Abraham calls him son, in verses 24 and 25 above. It is clear that the rich man is an Israelite, a direct physical descendant of Abraham through the spiritually rich line of Isaac and Jacob. The rich man represents all unbelieving Israelites who are olive branches that have been temporarily cut off from their own natural spiritually rich and royal Holy Olive Tree of Israel. (Romans 11:16-17)

Let us now understand that Lazarus represents all of the Gentile Elect, who are naturally wild olive branches that are now grafted into the spiritually rich Holy Olive Tree of Israel. (Romans 11:19) The story of Jesus dealing with the Gentile Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28, gives us the revelation of the identity of Lazarus as a Gentile Elect.

Matthew 15:21-28
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This is not a parable, but a true story of a Canaanite woman who was a Gentile believer. She was one of God's Elect, and had great God given faith to believe as a true worshiper of Jesus Christ. She had an amazingly humble spirit, in great contrast to the self-righteous and proud Pharisees. Pharisees looked down upon Gentiles as dogs, and Jesus Christ used the same terminology to test the faith of this Gentile woman. She was willing to be a spiritual beggar and wanted every crumb of blessing she could get from Jesus, as she understood her total dependence upon Him, the Saviour of Israel, for her daughter's healing.

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus Christ used the name Lazarus to denote a Gentile believer. The name Lazarus is a form of the Hebrew name Eliezer as confirmed in Strong's number G2976. Eliezer was a Gentile faithful servant of Abraham, whom God used to get a bride for Isaac. (Genesis 15:2, 24:1-66)

The description and attitude of Lazarus in the parable resemble that of the Gentile Canaanite woman. Like her, Lazarus is associated with dogs, and he is also a spiritual beggar dependent on the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Lazarus also understood that his spiritual hunger could only be satisfied through the spiritually rich Abrahamic blessing given to the Jews, and ultimately through the Seed of Abraham, who is Jesus Christ Himself, the Bread of Life.

The first point to note from the parable of the rich man and Lazarus is the revelation of the spiritual truth that unbelieving Israelites have been temporarily broken off from their own spiritually rich natural Holy Olive Tree of Israel. This has happened in order to fulfill God's will to graft into the Holy Olive Tree of Israel, a set number of wild olive branches who are God's Gentile Elect. (Romans 11:16-20)

All unbelieving Israelites (the cut off natural olive branches) will miss out on the first phase of the Kingdom of God, which is the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ on this earth. However, Apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear in Romans Chapter 11 that God has not permanently rejected unbelieving Israelites, and ultimately His Plan is to save ALL Israel.

Luke 16:22
So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom...

In this verse, Lazarus after his death is pictured in Abraham's bosom. This is a beautiful spiritual picture of a Gentile believer grafted into the spiritually rich Holy Olive Tree of Israel represented by Abraham, the Father of the Jewish nation, to whom the Covenant to bless all the families of the earth was given. (Genesis 12:2-3)

Let us continue to understand the spiritual truths revealed in this parable.

Luke 16:22-23
22 ...The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments (basanos) in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

The verses above prove that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable and not a true factual account. It would be ridiculous to think that billions of dead unbelievers are able to lift up their eyes from their graves (hades) and see Abraham and believers like Lazarus in Abraham's bosom. The powerful truth of the Bible is that when a person dies, he 'sleeps' and remains unconscious until his resurrection.

Note that it does not say that Lazarus' spirit or his soul went to heaven nor does it say that the rich man's spirit or his soul went to hell. One cannot use the scripture above to prove that when a person dies, his soul is immediately judged by God to go to heaven or hell. In the previous chapter, Chapter 16, we have explained the biblical truth that people are not born with immortal souls, and after death, they remain in an unconscious 'sleep' until their resurrection.

Also, let us remind ourselves of the meaning of the Greek word basanos, which has been translated as torment in Luke 16:23 quoted above. According to Strong's number G931, the primary meaning of basanos is to test (metals) by the touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal. The use of the Greek word basanos indicates that there is a refining judgement awaiting the rich man after his resurrection and not eternal torment.

We know that nobody can be tormented in Hades (the grave), as the Bible is very clear about what happens when people die. The Bible says that all dead people remain in an unconscious 'sleep' in their graves until their resurrection. Please remember that the rich man and Lazarus story is a parable and not a true account. The purpose of this parable is to hide the mysteries of the Kingdom of God from unbelievers and it is not intended to be understood as an actual event.

Luke 16:24
Then 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.'

This powerful and wonderful verse proves that an unbelieving Jew, after his death, will repent and plead for God's mercy when he is judged in God's refining Lake of Fire, during the Great White Throne Judgement Age.

The rich man humbly accepts that it is Lazarus the Gentile, rather than him, who is connected into the spiritually rich Holy Olive Tree of Israel, and it is Lazarus who has access to the Living Water flowing from the Seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ Himself. The rich man further understands and knows that even one drop of water, given to him by Lazarus who has access to the Living Water of Life, is sufficient to satisfy his spiritual thirst.

Apostle Paul says that God's purpose to save the Gentile Elect before most of the Jews will provoke these unbelieving Jews to jealousy. (Romans 11:11) This will be holy jealousy provoking them to desire the same Living Water accessed by God's Gentile Elect. Apostle Paul further says that it is through the Gentile Elect that God will show mercy to the unbelieving Jews, and ultimately all Jews will receive God's mercy. (Romans 11:30-32)

The attitude of the rich man in Hades, after his death, wonderfully compares with the attitude of Lazarus in life, before his death.

Before death, all Gentile Elect believers, represented by Lazarus, will repent and humble themselves to become spiritual beggars. They will believe through God given faith and understand that even the crumbs, which fall from the rich man's table, are sufficient to satisfy their spiritual hunger, because these crumbs represent the Bread of Life promised to the Jewish nation through the Abrahamic Covenant. Of course, the Bread of Life is Jesus Christ Himself, who is the Seed of Abraham.

After death, all unbelieving Israelites, represented by the rich man, will humble themselves to become spiritual beggars just like Lazarus before he died. All unbelieving Israelites who are cut off from their Holy Olive Tree, and who will be resurrected at the Second Resurrection, will repent and plead for God's mercy in God's refining yet merciful Lake of Fire judgement. They will understand through God given faith that even a drop of Living Water from 'Lazarus' is sufficient to satisfy their spiritual thirst. They will know that this Living Water is Jesus Christ Himself, the Seed of Abraham.

Luke 16:24 above, makes complete nonsense of the traditional view of hell, which says that a dead unbeliever is permanently cut off from communicating with God and that he has no possibility of coming to genuine repentance.

Luke 16:25
But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.'

This verse refers to the spiritually false self-exalting view of unbelieving Israelites who consider themselves as spiritually rich and the Gentiles as spiritually poor. The truth of the matter is quite the opposite. It is unbelieving Israelites who are spiritually very poor because they are broken off from their rich Holy Olive Tree of Israel. It is the believing Gentiles who are spiritually very rich, as they are grafted into the Holy Olive Tree of Israel and have therefore benefited because of the broken off Jewish branches.

Again, this verse makes nonsense of the traditional view of hell, which says that God's love for unbelievers ends after death. Please note, that Abraham has a loving and caring approach towards the rich man shown by Abraham calling him son.

Luke 16:26
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

The great gulf spoken of in this verse is the great gulf of the thousand-year Millennial Kingdom Age. This verse is not speaking about a permanent eternal gulf of unbelief and separation between Lazarus and the rich man. The gulf will be bridged when the rich man is resurrected in his immortal body in the Second Resurrection, at the end of the thousand-year Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ. This is when he will face God's refining judgement in the Lake of Fire and repent and be saved.

Luke 16:27-30
27 Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' 30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

The rich man shows love and concern for his brothers, fellow Israelites who remain as unbelievers. Apostle Paul also had great love and concern for his fellow Israelites who remained unbelievers. The verses above also show that the rich man understands the importance of genuine repentance before death, in order for his fellow Israelites not to have to face God's refining judgement in the Lake of Fire.

Luke 16:31
But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'

This verse refers to the Law of Moses and to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jews cannot be saved through keeping the Law of Moses or even if they personally witness or hear of the miracle of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. This verse demonstrates the powerful truth of Election by Grace. Salvation is entirely a matter of God's Will. A person can only come to Jesus and be saved if the Father draws him to Jesus, and every person whom the Father draws will come to Jesus. (John 6:37, 44)

Ultimately, it is God's purpose to draw ALL people from darkness into the light of Jesus Christ. All Israel, as well as all Gentiles, will be saved in God's time and His order.

Corinthians 15:22-23
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order.

Conclusion

There are three important spiritual truths about the Kingdom of God hidden in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. We believe the time has come for God to clearly reveal these spiritual truths to His Elect, before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

These spiritual truths are:

After death and following the First Resurrection, Gentile believers, God's Elect represented by Lazarus, will be rewarded with the blessing of Abraham, which is to enter into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ because they are fully connected into the Holy Olive Tree of Israel.

After death and following the Second Resurrection, all unbelieving Israelites represented by the rich man, will go through God's refining, corrective judgement in the Lake of Fire, where they will repent and be grafted back into their natural Holy Olive Tree of Israel. This will fulfill God's covenant with Abraham to save all Israel.

The powerful truth of Election by Grace: No Jew can be saved through the Law of Moses or through the writings of the Old Testament prophets, or even through witnessing or hearing about the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is entirely a matter of God's Will, which He is carrying out in His own time and order. Ultimately, all people without exception, will be reconciled to God through God given gift of repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the whole world.

We are sure that God inspired us to write God’s Plan for All, and we ourselves are amazed to read its contents. There are many wonderful, powerful and eye-opening truths revealed in this book. Truths, clearly explained with plain biblical texts. There has been no such book written in the history of Christianity.

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