There is an Old Testament precedent for a non-literal afterlife allegory. Isaiah 14 presents a remarkably similar story of reversal of fortunes, and a clearly figurative fable of dead bodies in the gravedom of Hell.
Talking trees and dead kings rising from their thrones enhance this enchanted Lord of the Rings type macabre tale, furnishing an illuminating template on how to interpret the rich man and Lazarus.
It should be abundantly obvious that neither of these stories are newspaper type accounts.
Comparisons: | Isaiah 14: | Luke 16: |
The condition of the righteous in this life | 3: thy sorrow, and... thy fear, and… hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve | 20: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus… laid at his gate, full of sores 21: And desiring to be fed with crumbs… the dogs came and licked his sores |
The condition of the wicked in this life | 2: oppressors 4: oppressor 11: pomp… the noise of thy viols 16: the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms | 19: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day |
The future reverse condition of the righteous | 3: it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage | 25: likewise Lazarus (receivedst) evil things: but now he is comforted |
The future reverse condition of the wicked | 11: Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee... | 25: But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things... but now... thou art tormented |
The death of the wicked | 4: How hath the oppressor ceased! 5: The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. | 22: the rich man also died |
The burial of the wicked | 8: Since thou art laid down 19: But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch | 22: and was buried
|
The wicked in Hell | 9: Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming 15: Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit | 23: And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments |
The figurative nature of the story | Talking Trees: 8: Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us | Lazarus in Abraham’s Bosom: 23: in hell he... seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom
|
“The dead” | 9: it stirreth up the dead for thee 11: Thy pomp is brought down to the grave… the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee | 22: the rich man also died, and was buried 30: Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead 31: though one rose from the dead |
The talking dead | 9: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10: All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us | 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 |
Comments
Post a Comment
Thoughts?