Raised From the Dead...From Where?

Bob,

First of all let me say thank you for your prison ministry.

That's not something that God has called me to, but I greatly admire people who do that.

I was always taught that Lazurus went to the Bosom of Abraham, or sheol, an intermediate place for those faithful who died before Christ's sacrifice.

I'm starting to doubt this, though, so I'm really not sure.

In other words, I don't know but don't have the good sense to just keep my mouth shut.

If anybody has any thoughts on this, I'd be interested in hearing it, too.

Mike

 

I think he went to Abraham's bosom, like in the parable. I don't think it would be unjust to call him back, and I don't think Lazarus minded serving the Lord's purpose.

 

This is one of those questions I have had for quite some time. I will be interested to see what people (who know much more than I) discuss here.

BTW. I am suprised that more catholics don't use this story as an argument in favor of purgatory. Seems like a natural connection to me (for them). Then again, I don't want to be given them ideas ....

In Christ,
jason

 

I have heard it said that it could be the real reason why Jesus wept. Lazarus had gone to Abraham's bosom where the other Lazarus went, and Jesus was grieved to bring him back with the crucifixion coming up.

Shalom

Alli

 

Since God was going to raise him up, perhaps he went nowhere. I think it would be a real downer for someone to go to heaven or paradise and then come back to this earth. Christ Jesus humbled Himself to come to earth from heaven, but it was necessary to save His people from sin.

Ken

[ September 09, 2002, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: Ken Hamilton ]

 

Context and culture, two ingredients employed in simple hermeneautics. Culturally, the Jews believed that a soul would remain in Abraham's bosom (wherever that was) for up to three days with the hope that it could return to the body. A fourth day was out of the question. It is interesting that our Lord waited for the fourth day to call Lazarus out of the tomb.
We are listening to a people with some knowledge and mostly tradition. They did not understand what Jesus was teaching about resurrection....they only saw it as the final resurrection.
It is an interesting study, and I notice that most commentaries, at least on my shelves, do not deal with the question about where Lazarus' soul went....and do not deal with the medical fact that decomposition of the human body happens very quickly after death given the right circumstances. (I am not a doctor, but my one daughter is a forensics pathologist amd she caught me up on this one).
Looking to see more responses to this question.

Cheers in Him.

Jim

 

I just wanted to say that being God, Jesus could limit the things he remembers of heaven. When Laz. was brought back to earth, God could have him remember the greatness of heaven and the desire to tell others of how wonderful paradise is. Like wise, God can heal any degeneration of the body, after all He created adam out of dust. He is all powerful.

 

So far I am liking Ken Hamilton's answer the best. The only thing I can see wrong with this view is an argument could be made that he was not really dead, but in a special sleep. And it might possibly be against what Jesus taught in Luke 16.

Also, unless I missed something, there were 5 other people raised from the dead in the bible. 3 in the OT 2 in the Gospels, and one in Acts (which would be after Jesus died).

Pastor Bob Might I commend you on such a good question, one I have always wondered, and on the fact that you didn't give the gentleman that asked a "quick" answer.

 

Actually I thought he was just asleep too. In my mind I pictured it a very deep sleep.

But the Bible specificly says he was dead. So Smoke_Eater, I am rambling too I guess.

Sherrie

 

Pastor Bob,
In correction to your last post, Paul (in 2 Cor. 5:8) states, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." This is a common mis-quote in our Church as well. Paul makes no doctrinal claim by this, but states taht he would prefer to be with Christ over being in his present body.
Paul also states in 1 Cor. 15, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed."
Multiple times Paul refers to Death as "sleep."
He then also discusses the final resurrection, "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality."
If you believe in a personal resurrection of every believer upon their death, then why does Paul refer to a sleep? I understand Paul to be discribing a corporate resurrection and the second coming of Christ, and we all will "sleep" until then.

Well, that really still doesn't get at the question (from where?) does it? Hey, just some food for thought in this discussion...

God Bless!

 

Ok, so what is 'Abraham's bosom' exactly?

This seems to be more in keeping with the Old Testament concept of 'Sheol'.

 

Ole "Laz" was in Glory when Glory called him back to Glory!! Just imagine! One minute "Laz" is facing Glory in Heaven--the next minute "Laz" is facing Glory on Earth!! A picture of the Believer's journey "from Glory to Glory!" Jesus, of course, is God's Glory!

That's Blackbird's view from his perch!! Purty good view of Jesus from the perch, I say!

 

Old time paradise or Abraham's bosom. This was a holding place for the old testament saints. This was done away with when Christ accended up to heaven and applied his shed blood to the mercy seat in heaven. Christ them took his place on the right side of the father.

 

I think the sleep also refers to death which all pre Christ people under God's grace and all non Christians shall be once they die. They die but are brought back to life along with all unsaved post Christ people at the White Throne Judgement.
The book of life will contain the names of those under God's grace, those not listed will be given a 2nd death via the deeds found in the 2nd book.

We Christians never die the first death. We go directly to heaven. We have everlasting life, there is no grave for us. Our bodies die, but we don't.