Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 6 (Eternal Torment? Part 23: “Doctrine of the Pharisees”)

By admin On February 16th, 2021

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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – July 6

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Eternal Torment?

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Part 23:

“Doctrine of the Pharisees”

To read Part 1, click here…“September 8th (Eternal Torment?)”

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“And in Hell he (a rich man) lift up his eyes, being in torments,

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and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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And he cried and said, Father Abraham,

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have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,

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that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,

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and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

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But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou

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in thy lifetime received thy good things,

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and likewise Lazarus evil things:

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but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented…”

Luke 16:19-25 (abbreviated for brevity)

Rich Man & Lazarus Wikigallery Public Domain

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This above parable is merely a parable, in spite of popular opinion to the contrary.

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The reason we know it’s a parable is because it’s an obvious exaggeration on just about every point.

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For instance, where did the rich man get eyes in Hell?

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So, are we to suppose that lost souls in Hell have literal, physical bodies?

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Rich Man & Lazarus

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“ABRAHAM’S BOSOM”: A NETHERWORLD PARADISE!?!

But there are more absurdities in this parable!

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For instance, why was Lazarus sitting in Father Abraham’s bosom, as portrayed in this old painting?

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Ridiculous?

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(Now there are those who try to skirt around this obvious nonsensical exaggeration, by insisting Lazarus wasn’t actually sitting in Abraham’s bosom, but merely in a giant cavern called, “Abraham’s Bosom”. Oh really?! A giant cavern called “Abraham’s Bosom”?!).

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Rich Man & Lazarus – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“And Jesus said unto him (the dying thief), Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

Luke 23:43
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**This above verse from Luke 23:43, concerning the thief on the cross next to Jesus speaks of being in “paradise”.**

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And those who insist that the dead go straight to paradise, if they are saved…

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…try to insist that “paradise” is the same netherworld paradise deep in the bowels of the earth…

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…where Lazarus supposedly was, as he supposedly sat in Abraham’s bosom!

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But Paul says just the opposite…“How that he (Paul) was caught up into paradise…” 1st Corinthians 12:4

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And John the Revelator likewise pinpoints paradise as being in the “New Heaven and New Earth”…”To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

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**Here is one more very giant reason why “The Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus” must be a parable and not literal!**

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ONE TINY DROP!?!

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Next, are we to believe that Lazarus actually made a habit of eating crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table?

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And are we to believe that God withholds water from those who are suffering in flames of fire…for all eternity?!

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And are we to suppose that the rich man actually begged for one tiny drop of water!?

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell – James Tissot – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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“…for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Matthew 23:9

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And when the rich man begged “Father” Abraham for mercy, Abraham, in reality, would undoubtedly have torn his clothes in outrageous unbelief at being called “Father”!

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And Abraham would have sworn to the rich man that he, Abraham, was not the rich man’s father, nor was he the Giver of mercy, a gift that only our true heavenly Father can give to someone!

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In other words, this rich man was speaking to Abraham as if he, Abraham, was Almighty God.

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And so, Abraham would never have answered back in the way he did to the rich man, allowing that rich man to remain under such a false, blasphemous notion, that he, Abraham was his Father…

…”And call no man your father upon the earth:

for one is your Father,

which is in Heaven.”

Matthew 23:9

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But God put this obvious flaw into that parable to demonstrate the misguided thinking of the Pharisees of that day.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell

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COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEAVEN & HELL!?!

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And it is a complete stretch of reality, to imagine that people in Hell can actually talk with people in Heaven!

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The Bible says…“For the living know that they shall die:

but the dead know not any thing…

for the memory of them is forgotten.

Also their love, and their hatred,

and their envy, is now perished…”

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 (Condensed)

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This above passage reveals the true state of those who lie in their grave.

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Brooklyn Museum – The Bad Rich Man in Hell

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THIS PARABLE MUST BE AN ALLEGORY

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Well, if one spends time going through this parable, it might be soon concluded that it makes no literal sense for many other reasons.

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You see, Jesus was purposely making the various components in that parable so ridiculous…

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**…that nobody but an unlearned, and/or deceived teacher could make this parable out to be anything more than just a mere parable.**

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And this parable must be interpreted spiritually and allegorically to make any real sense.

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And one can read the Eternal Torment articles on this website, for a more complete explanation of this parable.

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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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But Jesus giving purposeful flaws in the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus is not the primary focus of this devotional.

And tomorrow’s devotional will provide another fact which will give this parable more contextual integrity.

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Magnifying Glass – Wikimedia – Share-alike License

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TO READ PART 24 CONTINUED, GO HERE…

“July 7 (Eternal Torment? Part 24: “Doctrine of the Pharisees” CONTINUED”

Brooklyn Museum – The Pharisees

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Let me not be given to a close-minded spirit. But help me to love truth, no matter if it means I will be hated by my own brethren…

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED SIGN

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“It (God’s Covenant) shall be established…

***for ever* *as the Moon…***

***and as a faithful witness in heaven.* *Selah.”***

Psalm 89:37.

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GOSPEL INSCRIBED ON THE MOON

The Bible states… “It (God’s Covenant) shall be established for ever as the Moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven (sky). Selah.” Psalm 89:37

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God’s Covenant (The Gospel) has been inscribed in the sky. In the night sky, predominantly. It has been established “as the Moon, and as a faithful witness…”.

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**There will be, “signs in the Sun… moon, and…stars” (Luke 21:25) just before the end, was a promise made by God.**

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But we didn’t know exactly what those signs would be (although many thought they knew).

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Nor did we realize that these signs would be pointing us to present Bible truths!

Moon – Lunar Eclipse by Jiyang Chen – cropped image – Wikipedia – share-alike-license

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“THE SCORNER (THE PHARISEE)”

Please tilt your head to the left.

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Do you see a man with a very long pointed nose? (Obviously, the sketch to the right is just an exaggeration in order to help you find the face in the photo to the left.)

Do you see an angry look? His right eyebrow is raised as if he is judging.

This second face in the Moon appears to be that of a combination of a man as well as a fox.

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Or maybe a wolf.

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Doesn’t he have a long narrow nose like a wolf or fox?

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Maybe even a dog.

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Nevertheless, the expression on his face, as he appears to look down upon the Earth, is that of scorn.

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**Unlike the first Moon-man’s sad shock and awe; this ‘man/fox/wolf/dog’ appears to be that of anger and scorn.**

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As if he is disgusted at the sinful planet below.

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He is very moral, you see!

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Moon – Public Domain – 2nd face Pharisee Scorner – by Cezar Popescu for Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain – cropped, highlighted & rotated photo

ABOVE PICTURE – Moon – 2nd Face – Pharisee Scorner

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TOMORROW…

July 7 (Eternal Torment? Part 24: “Doctrine of the Pharisees” CONTINUED

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<h3><strong><span style=”color: #cc99ff;”><a href=”https://theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/admin-ajax-8-e1499817833857.jpe”><img class=” wp-image-39718 alignleft” src=”https://theheavensdeclare.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/admin-ajax-8-e1499817833857.jpe” alt=”http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holy_bible.jpg” width=”96″ height=”161″ /></a></span></strong></h3>
<h2 style=”text-align: left;”><span style=”color: #9ea3d9;”><strong>90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM or BIBLE STUDY</strong></span></h2>
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<h3><strong><span style=”color: #cc99ff;”>ALL</span></strong><em><strong><span style=”color: #cc99ff;”>’NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) </span></strong></em><strong><span style=”color: #cc99ff;”>ARE ENCOURAGED TO LISTEN TO THIS BIBLE STUDY or 90-MINUTE OPEN FORUM, A QUESTION/ANSWER CALL-IN, TALK SHOW.</span></strong></h3>
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<h3><strong><span style=”color: #cc99ff;”>CLICK HERE TO LISTEN…<a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUvQFLhTKJE”>The Open Forum March 11, 2002 (youtube.com)</a></span></strong></h3>
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<span style=”color: #808080;”>ABOVE PICTURE: Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.

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