church of Christ at 26th and Connecticut
Joplin, Missouri

Phone
417-781-2326

1819 E 26th
Jopin, MO  64804

   Worship Schedule

Sunday
    Bible Class              9 am
    Morning Worship    10 am
    Evening Worship      6 pm

Wednesday
     Devotional & Class   7 pm

Upcoming Activities

WHERE ARE THE DEAD?

Today, a sister indicated that more teaching is needed on the question of, “Where are the dead?”  First, understand that death is the separation of the soul/spirit from the body.   James plainly says, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26 ESV).  Thus, we read this of Rachel: “And as her soul was departing (for she was dying)…” (Genesis 35:18 ESV).  Notice that “her soul was departing” is explained as “for she was dying.” 

The Body

We know what happens to dead bodies, don’t we.  Sometimes bodies are buried (Acts 5:9).  Sometimes they are eaten by birds and beasts (Deuteronomy 28:26).  Sometimes they are burned (1 Samuel 31:12).  Sometimes they are lost at sea (cf. Revelation 20:13).  In all cases, sooner or later, bodies turn back to dust (Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7).  But you don’t need a Bible to tell you any of this.  We know what happens to dead bodies.  What we’re more interested in is what happens to the soul.

The Soul

Many believe that the answer is found in Luke 16:19-31, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  The rich man died and his body was buried (verse 22).  But he went to Hades where he was tormented (verse 23).  He said, “I am in agony in this flame” (verse 24 NASB).  And he was there because he did not repent (verse 30).  In contrast, Lazarus, a poor man, “died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (verse 22 NASB).  There, he was comforted (verse 25).  A few chapters later in Luke, this place is called “Paradise” (Luke 23:43 NASB).

Is it a parable?

But it’s not that simple for everyone.  First of all, some people want to talk about whether or not the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable.  Is it?  Well, that depends on how “parable” is defined:

• Easton’s Bible Dictionary has the often-quoted definition of parable: “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.”  Based on this definition, I don’t know that you’d call the story of the rich man and Lazarus a parable.  Some of the story is earthly, but most of it takes place in Hades/Paradise.
• On the other hand, the concordance in the back of my New American Standard Bible defines “parable” simply as “story for illustration.”  Based on that definition, yes, the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable.  It is a story.  And it does illustrate.
• Likewise, our brother B.W. Johnson defined “parables” as “Narratives designed to convey spiritual instruction.”  Based on that definition, yes, the story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable.  It is a narrative.  And it  does convey spiritual instruction.

Is it trustworthy?

B.W. Johnson also noted that a parable is different from a fable.  A parable, he said, is “true to nature,” but a fable is not.  He also noted that a parable is different from a myth.  A parable, he said, is “undeceptive,” but a myth is not.  But some, it seems, would call the story of the rich man and Lazarus a fable or a myth.  Our brother J.W. McGarvey’s comments on the story of the rich man and Lazarus are worth noting here:

But it has been urged that the coloring and phraseology of this parable is derived from rabbinical teaching, that our Lord made use of a current but erroneous Jewish notion to teach a valuable lesson, and that therefore it is not safe to draw any interference from the narrative relative to the future state.  But it should be observed that the parables of Jesus never introduce fictitious conditions, nor do they anywhere violate the order and course of nature.

A little later, McGarvey pointed out:

Moreover, the teaching here differs from that of the rabbis, for, according to Lightfoot, a wall and not a gulf separated between the just and the unjust, and they were not “afar off” from each other, the distance being but a handbreadth.  The passage therefore confirms the doctrine that that the righteous are neither homeless nor unconscious during the period between death and the resurrection (Phil. 1:23).