Julie, here are the scriptures to which you refer:
Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which
was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,
which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which
fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died,
and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s
bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
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 that thou in
thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and
likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there
is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would
pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they
pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father,
that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and
the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses
and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead.
Please notice that the rich man was not even on
earth. He was in hell. Also notice in verse 26
where Abraham says there is a great gulf fixed
between the rich man in hell, and Abraham and the
beggar who had suffered partly because the rich man ignored his needs.
My point is that the scripture account to which
you referred is not concerning communication
between heaven and earth. My dear mother and
father are in Heaven, and for all the years they
have been gone, and in which I have missed them
terribly, I wouldn't want them to know some of
the suffering that I have endured or the sins I
have committed since they have gone. And I don't
believe that they have known, else the suffering
they endured in this life would not be
ended. Sorry, Julie, I just don't believe that
those who have gone before are aware of what is
going on here on the earth they left behind.
In Jesus' Love,
Helen
Earlier you wrote:
>Helen,
>
>That's a good point. However, the passage in
>Revelation is talking about the New Jerusalem on
>Earth after the second coming. At that time,
>there certainly will be no more sorrow or pain forever.
>
>In the gospels, though, Jesus talks about the
>rich man and Lazerus being able to see and even
>communicate with each other on a limited basis,
>and that would seem to support those in heaven
>currently being able to glimpse those on
>Earth. Just my opinion but backed up with Scripture.
>
>
>
>JulieMelton
"My Life is not in what He gives me, but in Who He is."
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