These people would how you think that these verses are literal.

QUORA ANSWER: Will false prophets try to deceive the elect of Christ?

There are two many things stated in these verses not to see exactly what is being said.

Jesus often used parables involving their modern-day constructs to build the points that He made throughout His ministry.

Here we read…

Luke 16:19-29 (KJV) -

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

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;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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.

25 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.

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.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

Verse 21: fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table

Why does that seem so similar to this direct encounter with Jesus?

Matthew 15:21-28 (KJV) -

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Let’s move forward to the next verse.

Verse 22: Abraham's bosom

I thought we went to Heaven immediately upon death. Am I incorrect?

Genesis 17:5 (KJV) - Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Or is Jesus using their position in Abraham to help them see the truth of what will be said?

Verse 23: seeth Abraham afar off

Are people suffering in the torment of hell going to be able to see those rejoicing in Heaven? The other way also? Would you be okay living in eternal peace while being able to look and see your loved ones being tormented in hell?

Perhaps someone should share these Scriptures with Jesus?

Malachi 4:1-3 (KJV) -

1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Let’s continue.

Verse 24A: Father Abraham

First, does Scripture and even Jesus Himself say anything about calling any human father?

Matthew 23:9 (KJV) - And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Why do you think he herein breaks His own counsel?

Might it be to show the duplicity of these people?

John 8:37-44 (KJV) -

37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.

38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

But that’s not all.

More in verse 24: dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue

Let me ask you.

If all of this is based on a literal construct then what is the logical possibility that in dipping one’s finger in water in Heaven and taking it to Hell that any moisture would be left for the rich man to consume by the time that finger got there?

Verse 25: “but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented”

Does this attitude represent the true character of Christ in any way or are these words put forth to show the utter horror of the mindset of Satan?

Here is an excellent exposition of the differences involved.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV) - In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

We move further forward.

Verse 26: “a great gulf fixed”

Do you really think there is a gulf between Heaven and Hell which can be communicated across but cannot be traversed? Would that not make Heaven, Hell? It would for me.

Verse 29: “They have Moses and the prophets”

Again with the attitude of superiority from Jesus.

What gives?

In actuality, this is the superiority that Jesus the Son of God brought forward.

Philippians 2:7-9 (KJV) -

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Truly none of these Scriptures make sense parabolically or literally.

What gives?

They do not reflect the heart of the Father or that of the Son.

They do not contain practical or possible constructs within their presentation.

They do not seem to bring much of anything at all to the Word of God.

Or do they?

What gives?

That is found in the very next two verses which are often ignored in favor of nonsense.

Luke 16:30-31 (KJV) -

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

All of these previous verses were brought forward to outline that Jesus would be soon to arise from the dead.

Matthew 28:6-7 (KJV) -

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

He in fact did rise from the dead.

They in fact did continue in disbelief and attempted to hide the truth which could not be done.

To the praise and glory of His Father God.