Main Thesis
Part 2 argues that the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16) is a parable filled with symbolism regarding the shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, rather than a literal description of the afterlife or Hell.
Key Points:
- The Nature of Sheol/Hades: Lenny contends that the Hebrew Sheol (translated as Hades in Greek) simply refers to the grave or the state of death where there is no consciousness. Citing Ecclesiastes and Psalms, the text argues that the dead "know nothing" and are "sleeping" until the resurrection, meaning a literal reading of the conscious torment in Luke 16 would contradict the rest of Scripture.
- Luke 16 is a Parable, Not History: The text asserts that Jesus was using a story to target the Pharisees (lovers of money). It suggests Jesus utilized the Pharisees' own erroneous, pagan-influenced views of the afterlife (borrowed from the Greek) to construct a parable against them, rather than validating those views as theological truth.
- Symbolic Interpretation:
- The Rich Man: Represents the Jewish religious leaders (Pharisees) and apostate Israel, who were "rich" in God’s favor and law but rejected the Messiah.
- Lazarus: Represents the Gentiles, who were previously spiritual "beggars" outside the covenant but are now accepted into "Abraham’s Bosom" (the faith/promise of Abraham).
- The Torment: Represents the national judgment and anguish coming upon Israel during the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
- Eternal Punishment vs. Eternal Torment: Lenny reiterates that "eternal punishment" refers to "eternal death"—a punishment that is irreversible in consequence —rather than a punishing process that continues forever. The "wages of sin" is defined strictly as death, not eternal torture.
Episode Page: https://wakinguptograce.com/eternal-torture-is-not-found-in-scripture-part-2/
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