Monday, May 5, 2025

I went

 

to my Scofield Reference Bible my friend had given me

 to see if there was any exposition offered about 

the "Little Ones" in

Luke 17:2


It were better for him 

that a millstone were hanged about his neck, 

and he cast into the sea, 

than that he should offend 

one of these little ones.


and there wasn't anything. 


But I did come across:


Luke 16:23

23 And in hades he lift up his eyes, 

being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, 

and Lazarus in his bosom. 


2 (16:23) The Greek word hades, like its Hebrew equivalent, sheol, is used in two ways:

(1) To indicate the condition of the unsaved between death and the great White Throne judgement (Rev 20:11-15). Luke 16:23-24 shows that the lost in hades are conscious, posses full use of their facilities, memory etc, and are in torment. This continues until the final judgement of the lost (2 Peter 2:9, ASV), when all the unsaved, and Hades itself, will be cast unto the lake of fire (Rev. 20:13-15).


(2) To indicate, in general, the condition of all departed human spirits between death and the resurrection. This usage is found occasionally in the O.T., but rarely, if ever in the N.T. (cp. Gen. 37:35, 44:29,31). It should not lead anyone to think that there is a possibility of change from one state to another after death for v 23 shows that when the unsaved man who was in hades saw Abraham and Lazarus, they were "afar off" and v.26 states that between the two places there is a great gulf fixed, so that no one can pass from one to the other.

Some interpreters think that Eph 4:8-10  indicates that a change in the place of the departed believers occurred at the resurrection of Christ. It is certain that all who are saved go at once into the presence of Christ (2 Cor.5:8; Phil 1:23). Jesus told the penitent thief:"Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Paul was "caught up to the third heaven..."into paradise" (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). Paradise is a great place of joy and bliss, but this bliss is not complete until the spirit is reunited with a glorified body at the resurrection of the just. (1 Cor.15:51-54, 1 Th.4:16-17). Though both sheol and hades are sometimes translated "grave" (cp. Gen:37:35, 1 Cor 15:55, they never indicate a burial place but, rather at he state of the spirit after death. See also Hab.2:5, note.



Try explaining that to:

"Church people".

Good luck.


















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