| ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ( A ) LUKE 16:20-26 Did Jesus descend into Abraham�s bosom, ( sometimes called paradise ), after His death on the cross? Did any of the Old Testament saints descend into Abraham�s bosom, ( paradise ), after their deaths? What scripture passages irrefutably prove that the Old Testament saints entered into a section of hell called, Abraham�s bosom or as it is sometimes called, paradise? Is there scriptural proof that Jesus descended into Abraham�s bosom or paradise? What specific scripture passages state that paradise is a place into which spirits of the saints of God descend rather than ascend? What scripture specifically equates paradise and Abraham�s bosom as a place which is one and the same section in hell? Or is there any scriptural proof which undeniably shows that they had been two different sections of hell? Which scripture specifically proves that Abraham�s bosom had ever truly been a compartment or section in hell? Where are the specific scriptural evidences which clearly write and thus irrefuteably prove that at one time the paradise in the third heaven was placed by God in some section of hell and then after some time later was returned back to its� place in the third heaven? Let us review the scripture in Luke concerning Abraham�s bosom and hell; 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. - Luke 16:20-26 It is error to assume that the words in verse 22, � Abraham�s bosom �, is speaking about a place of locale like some area or room in which beings or persons exist and occupy. Moreover, the bosom of Abraham is not a region or an area of environment such as a mountainous or wilderness area. In this 16th chapter of Lukes� gospel, Luke was not writing the words � Abraham�s bosom � as an indication of some section or compartment in hell in which beings or persons, occupy, exist or dwell. The words � Abraham�s bosom � , of verse 22, is believed and supported by certain Christians in an erroneous attempt to make those words sound like a title name which would designate a place of locale in the manner of such similar examples as the Grand Canyon; the Great Wall of China; Dallas; Minneapolis; London; Giza and so on and so forth. Abraham�s bosom is not a place of locale in the manner that hell and paradise are places and locations in which persons and beings occupy, exist and dwell. Abraham�s bosom is just what it is. The bosom of Abraham is his chest. A place on his body. In the same manner that Abraham�s left arm is his left arm. Abraham�s right leg is his right leg. The bosom of Abraham in Luke 16 does not designate an area or locale in which other persons and beings exist, occupy and dwell. Luke is simply writing about the part of Abraham�s body to which Lazarus was carried. This means that Abraham, as written of in Luke 16, is only a person just as is Lazarus and just as the rich man is a person. Moreover, the person ( not the place ) of Abraham and the person of Lazarus were in the location, the area, the place which is called the paradise of God. Abraham himself and Lazarus were not in a place in hell called Abraham�s bosom. Let us look at another use of the word, bosom, in scripture; 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? - John 13:23-25 The disciple was leaning on the bosom, the breast ( chest ), of Jesus. Lazarus was taken by the angel and given to the bosom, the chest, of Abraham. Luke is not writing the words, � Abraham�s bosom � in verse 22 to designate a title name which would signify and indicate a locale, place or a regional area. But rather, Luke writes about a part of Abraham�s body. Therefore, because Abraham�s bosom is not a location or place then the only true regional places in regard to Luke chapter 16 are hell and paradise. The rich man occupying the region of hell and Abraham and Lazarus both occupying the region of paradise. Based upon further study of hell and paradise in scripture it is obvious to understand that hell is a place in which beings and persons occupy and exist and dwell. Hell is a environmental locale where other beings exist and dwell. This also is true for the word, paradise. Whereas the word, bosom, only speaks in regard to a part of Abraham�s body rather than it being a location or region in which other persons and beings exist and dwell. One other bit of evidence which proves that Abraham�s bosom in Luke chapter 16 is not speaking about a compartment in hell is due to the fact that Abraham is having a discussion with the rich man. Abraham in Luke 16 is a person who is talking with another person and therefore clearly shows that Abraham in that context of scripture is a person, not a compartment in hell. Compartments in hell do not have discussions with the people in hell. It is not a compartment of hell which is having a discussion with the rich man but it is in fact a person called Abraham who is having that discussion. Therefore, as has just been shared, the bosom of Abraham has nothing to do with being a compartment in hell. But rather, the bosom of Abraham is part of the body of the person called Abraham. Abraham is a person having a discussion with the person known as the rich man. With these things in mind then let us look at some of the scriptural evidences which differentiate between hell and paradise in order to scripturally prove that paradise has never occupied any section in hell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
 |
 |
 |
 |