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Gospel of Luke 16:19-31
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house― for I have five brothers―so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets,neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
There is without a doubt that Michael Jackson was one of the most gifted individuals of my lifetime. He changed music, dance, and other forms of art. There was never a new video that he released that you just did not have the feeling of ‘wow’ after you watched it.
I will let the media over the next few days and weeks share how gifted Michael Jackson truly was.
But what is next?
What about when the truly gifted means the Supreme Giver? The Bible teaches that all gifts are from God, used through God, and are meant to be used back to God. (Romans 11).
But on a day when the King of Pop meets the King of Kings what takes place? The gifted encountering the Giver. Let’s discuss this issue further:
Let’s clear up what the media and other worldly voices will be sharing over the next few weeks and months to come. The world offers three views when it comes to the death of someone. They are predictable, contain no source of verifiable truth, and are empty.
1. Reincarnation: This belief states that once your life ends you immediately start another life and you will climb the stairs to attain oneness with the universe.
2. Annihilation: This belief states that there is nothing beyond this life and once it is over there is no more existence.
3. Universalism: This belief states that God will allow everyone into heaven no matter how they have lived their lives because He is good.
The belief that you will hear the most shared during the passing of Michael will be the third. The belief of Universalism.
But here is what the Bible teaches:
Hebrews 9:27
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment
Right now let’s look at 3 facts from the words of Jesus that happen with Michael Jackson and all of us as we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
As Michael Jackson Meets The King of Kings…
1. All Earthly Prosperity and Earthly Suffering Cease
Luke 16:19-21
There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
Jesus shares with us two men of died around the same time. One is known as the Rich Man and the poor man is named Lazarus. The Rich Man is extremely wealthy. He has the finest clothing and the finest of everything. He had a huge home which had a huge gate around his entire property.
Lazarus was a poor man who sat outside that gate every day. Lazarus became a beggar and only ate if something was given to him that day. He ate the broken and discarded pieces of bread that existed from outside the Rich Man’s table. Lazarus was not only poor but was deeply sick. His body was covered in sores that caused him much pain. In fact Jesus shares that Lazarus was so weak he was unable to stop the dogs from licking his sores.
The name Lazarus means ‘God is my helper’. Even though Lazarus’ final days were of poverty and sickness, he was still blessed in one key way. He knew God and thus Jesus shares with us the name of Lazarus. The Rich man was blessed in many ways except one. He had no relationship with God and as a result the rich man’s name is not even mentioned.
As Michael Jackson meets the King of Kings all of his earthly prosperity ended as well as any earthly suffering he was going through as well.
As Michael Jackson meets the King of Kings,
2. Michael Jackson’s Eternity Began.
Luke 16:22-23
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
The very moment we die there is no lapse in time. The very moment we die we experience our eternal positions. It happens instantly. There is no second chances after we die. Our eternal destination is sealed.
The rich man no doubt had a traditional week long funeral. People from all over traveled to pay their final respects. I’m sure great speeches were given in his honor. I’m sure a large monument/tomb was constructed. He was buried with the best flowers and oils. He was probably paraded through the town. None of that impressed God. The story just says….oh yeah the rich man died and was buried. He was not known by God.
When Lazarus dies his spirit is carried to heaven by the angels. There was no waiting for Lazarus, he was taken to heaven quickly. Lazarus lived on after he died. Death was not the end for him and there was a life that was waiting for him to enter. Lazarus carried on his new life with the comfort of heaven.
Many people prepare for their funeral but fail to prepare for their death.
As Michael Jackson meets the King of Kings,
3. Michael Jackson’s Eternity Was Set.
As we talk about Eternity I firmly believe there is Eternity with Jesus and an Eternity without Jesus. This is the difference between Heaven and Hell.
Characteristic of Hell – Eternity Without Jesus
Often the Church is way too silent on the doctrine of Hell. Part of the reason is it is just difficult to talk about. I will be the first to admit that. When I come across a preacher that finds it easy to preach and teach about Hell even I become a bit uncomfortable, as I should. When I encounter a preacher who enjoys preaching about it there is also something Biblically wrong with that person. The teaching of hell must be done with strong warning but amazing gentleness.
It is easy to believe that Hell is reserved for the utmost wicked and evil. They are for the evil dictators of the world and mass murderers. However no such description is given to the Rich Man in the text. The truth is Hell is filled with those that are not known by God. The Rich Man went to hell because He did not believe and as a result was not changed to be righteous with his riches; instead he was not saved and thus unrighteous with his riches.
What To Expect In Hell?
1. Hell is a literal and physical place of eternal suffering.
The rich man begs for a drop of water to be placed on his tongue because he was in agony in the fire. This does not sound like a pleasant experience and it would be one that is experienced for eternity.
2. Hell is an eternal place of emotional suffering.
- The rich man was remembering his former life and saw the foolishness of the way he lived and he had forever to dwell on it.
- The rich man had the desire to warn those he loved of the suffering that he was experiencing but the opportunity for him to do so was over.
· The rich man was now separated from God for all eternity and there was nothing he could do to change it.
3. Hell is a place of eternal spiritual suffering.
The Rich man was clearly able to see the glory of all of Heaven and would never have the joy of sharing in it or experiencing it. He now knows the truth and nothing can be changed.
What To Expect In Heaven?
1. Heaven will be an eternal place of physical peace.
- Lazarus was plagued with sores and sickness that is gone when he enters heaven.
- Lazarus was living in need but in heaven has all he needs
2. Heaven will be an eternal place of emotional peace
- Lazarus is focused on his new life not the former one because there is a peace
3. Heaven will be an eternal place of spiritual peace
- Lazarus will be with God and Christ for all of eternity
As Michael Jackson Meets the King of Kings only two destinations are available to him. This discussion was not meant to share where of those two destinations Michael is now in but to discuss what the Bible teaches about what happens after we die and why all individuals will end up in one or the other.
I will not rely on the Oprah’s of the world to share with me or influence me what happens to us someone when they die. I only trust and believe in the One whom I will stand before to give an account of my life after I die. I trust the ONLY ONE who is the Living Son of God who died for my sins and gave me Eternal Life. I trust the one who died and rose again and now prepares a place for me as I wait to be home with the Lord.
Let me share some words from Christ:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. John 6:51
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. – John 8:12
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. – John 10:9
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. - John 11:25-26
“I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
Right now, be honest with yourself, where will you spend your eternity? If you died right now where would you spend your eternity?
My prayer for you is that you would believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him.
For His Glory,
GatorWade
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5 Responses to “The King of Pop Meets The King of Kings”
Need to come back to read this in fullness, but very thorough and helpful even through a skim!
Sorry to sound judgemental, but I don't know how you can build a belief on a parable. The dead do not know anything (Eccl. 9:5). No one goes to heave until Jesus returns, and the wages of sin is death, not everlasting life in hell (John 3:16). The Catholic church introduced this belief into Christianity. It was a pagan belief, especially of the Egyptians. They built caverns under the pyramids. Read John 11 and see what happens at death. Lazarus was dead 4 days when our Lord resurrected him. Was he in heaven or hell?
I appreciate the comment Mark. I'd like to correct a few statements though.
1. Where in Luke 16 does it say that Jesus is giving a parable?
2. Ecclesiastes 9:5 in context is talking about the 'dead' know nothing about worldly affairs any longer. This is mentioned again in Job 14 and Isaiah 63.
3. The statement that nobody is in heaven until Christ returns I'd like to know where you find that.
One of the many verses found in scripture teach that after the death of a believer we are in the presence of Christ. (2 Cor. 5:8). Paul says a literal moment separation from our body and we are in Heaven.
4. Also I'm not sure what you mean by wages of sin is death, not everlasting life in hell. You quoted John 3:16 but the verse you started to quote is Romans 6:23. Are you denying a literal hell and that all are saved? Not sure what to make of that. The concept of hell was not invented by Catholics and adopted by Egyptians. It came from the very mouth of Jesus Christ on dozens of occasion. In fact the entire chapter of Matthew 25 is mostly the focus of the reality of a literal hell and place of eternal torment for those who did not make Jesus Christ Lord and Savior.
5. John 11 says nothing about what happened to Lazarus during his four days of death. So i will not answer that. But the fact that Jesus calls to Lazarus proves he did not know 'nothing' as someone dead.
6. Back to the belief that Luke 16 is a parable. First the Lazarus mentioned there and Lazarus in John 11 are two different Lazarus'. Jesus' close friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were actually well to do and the Lazarus in Luke 16 is clearly poor.
On another note even though I do not believe Lazarus and the Rich Man is a parable, but since you do let me suggest a few questions. To suggest that this is a parable and to believe that neither consciousness after death exists or that hell is real as you have implied then you are strongly suggesting that Jesus is teaching false doctrine to teach a truth. If you assume this is a parable (which i do not) you also though have to suggest that Jesus told parable to tell truth. Jesus is incapable of teaching false truth, which would be a lie.
I do just disagree. I believe Luke 16 happened. The dead are fully aware of where they are after they die. The redeemed of the Lord do go to heaven after death and the unsaved face an eternity in a literal hell.
I would say that I was not 100% sure what you were 'suggesting' on a few statements and if I misrepresented what you were saying on those points I apologize.
I believe in Hell, as the Bible teaches four different words for Hell. Sheol and Hades are the same (Hebrew/Greek respectively) ~ this is where the rich man went and is today; the deepest abyss of Hades is Tartaroos where the angels who sinned in the days of Noah are incarcerated, and thus the demons called Legion begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss. The final Hell, for the beast, false prophet, Satan and all whose names are not written in the Lamb's Book of Life is Geenna, the Lake of Fire. The definition of Geenna and the Biblical verses pertaining to it are where the worm does not die and there is no rest day or night, and the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever. This is known as the second death; and all those in the second resurrection are destined for Geenna. Scripture references available upon request. God bless you, brother. What a post ~