Why could the rich man in hell communicate with Abraham? Hell can speak to Heaven?

Answer 1

Before Jesus died on the cross and made atonement for sins, all departed souls went to a place called Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek) - same place, different words. In Luke 16:19-31 we get a glimpse into Sheol/Hades, and see that it was divided into two sections - one, a place of comfort, which Jesus called Abraham's bosom. The other was a place of torment. When Jesus died He descended in spirit into Hades and did two things - He proclaimed His victory over Satan who had held sinners in bondage by their guilt, having made expiation for their guilt, and He proclaimed the Gospel to those who died in faith, waiting until God would redeem them from their sins. These ascended with Him when He rose from the dead and went with Him as He ascended into Heaven.

"Therefore it says,
"WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN."

9(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) "
Ephesians 4:8-10

Answer 2

The story is a parable and should not be taken literally. However the lesson of this parable is that there wwill be people in heaven who had very little knowledge of the truth but they obeyed and shared what they knew. On the other hand, there will also be people in hell that had a lot of truth but did not do anything with it. That is all the parable is saying. People in hell will not be able to communicate with people in heaven, and hell will not burn forever. The wages of sin is death not eternal life in hell fire (Romans 6:23).

Answer 3

That's a real good question. Unfortunately, I don't know. It's something I've never even considered before.

When we get to heaven, we can ask God about that one. That's one MORE question I have for Him.

Not understanding is not a sin. Challenging God's authority IS.

Faith is kinda like going to elementary school learning arithmatic. The teacher may know calculus while you're still learning addition and subtraction. You have faith that the teacher knows enough math to teach you what you need to know, but the things you do NOT know, you can learn later.

One additional comment:
I just thought of something - this "event" took place before Jesus was crucified and resurrected, so the structure of hell and the grave may have been different back then. Remember that the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His Kingdom, and Jesus said "I tell you this day you shall be with me in paradise", which isn't heaven OR His eternal Kingdom. Perhaps things changed AFTER the resurrection?

Answer 4

The Rich man was in Gehenna
Lazarus was in Sheol (Abraham's Bosom)

The whole place is referred to as Hades.

When Jesus Christ set the captives free at the end of the Sabbath when he preached in Sheol, Hell enlarged itself and Sheol no longer exists.

Now Paul writes to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

PS. It is not a parable. Jesus as God was relating something that He as the Omniscient God personally witnessed. It has too many names and details for it to be a generalized parable.

Answer 5

It seems they were on the same plain separated by a great divide. If it is more than a parable it is very interesting that Heaven and Hell are in the same place..or at least Hell and Abraham's bosom. Some have said this is because it was before Jesus died on the cross and set the "dead" free.

Answer 6

Well, the first person must not have read your question. The rich man was in "torments in Hades" and Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom:

>>>>>>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[d] 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.’” (New King James Version)<<<<<<

Now to answer your question, I don't really know. But the I do know that this was a parable, a story told by Jesus to make a point, therefore not every part needs to be taken literally. Jesus' point was, that if people could not convinced to follow God based on the His Word, then they would not be convinced no matter how many miracles they witnessed. This was proved when some people witnessed Jesus risen from the dead, and yet continued to deny Him.

Answer 7

Those in Hell will be able to see the saved being pampered and living in the mansions He has prepared for us. They will not be able to span the chasm that separates them from God and everything good for all eternity.

That's why it is so important for them to read the Holy Bible and find out how to stay out of hell, while they are still breathing, once they take their last breath it will be too late.

Answer 8

The place you refer to is hell/paradise/purgatory. Those people were those who died before the Crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus went there(as did the thief) and preached to all, those who believed ascended to heaven with Jesus 40 days after His resurrection

Answer 9

Inside trading?...LOL, Abraham gave his tithes$ to Melchezidek ...a High Priest of the Order...not to Levi-ites pharisees ,who normally receive the tithes$. God spoke to His angel Satan in the book of Job, sort of a wager on his faith.

Answer 10

Apparently so. For details on that story see http://www.bcbsr.com/survey/pbl36.html