The Last Judgement #19
19. The church too could have known from the Word that heaven and hell are from the human race. It could have made this part of its teaching, if it had allowed enlightenment from heaven to reach it, and had paid attention to the Lord's words to the robber, that he would be to-day in Paradise with Him (Luke 23:43). Also what the Lord said about the rich man and Lazarus, that the rich man went to hell, from where he talked with Abraham, and Lazarus went to heaven (Luke 16:19-31). Also what the Lord said to the Sadducees about resurrection, that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matthew 22:32). The same can be deduced from the general belief of all who lead good lives, especially their belief around the time of death, when they are withdrawn from worldly and bodily concerns, that they will go to heaven as soon as their bodily life departs. This is the dominant belief of all, provided the teaching of the church does not lead them to think of resurrection as happening at the time of the Last Judgment. Enquire whether this is not the case, and you will receive confirmation.
Luke 16:19-31
19
"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20
A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21
and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22
It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23
In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24
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 in anguish in this flame.'
25
"But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.
26
Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'
27
"He said, 'I ask 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, so they won't also come into this place of torment.'
29
"But Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
30
"He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31
"He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
