by RUSSELL BURRILL
Evangelist

One passage used most often by the proponents of an eternally burning hell is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. On the basis of this parable, it has been asserted that those who are consigned to the fiery torments of hell will never stop burning throughout all of eternity. But is this what the parable teaches? Lets examine it and see. It is found in Luke 16:20-31:

And there was a certain begger named Lazarus, which was laid at this gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 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. 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. 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. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my fathers house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one arose from the dead.

There are two alternatives available to us in interpreting this passage: (1) that this is a literal story and all the details are actual happenings, or (2) that this is a parable, a story devised to teach one main truth, in which details that may not describe actual happenings are only props for the story. The props make the story interesting, but the only truth the Bible is teaching through the parable is the one main theme.

Those who wish to teach eternal torment assume that it is a literal story and not a parable; whereas those who hold to the Biblical picture of the destruction of the wicked believe that it is a parable.

Lets assume that this is a literal story. Therefore, each part of the story must be understood and interpreted literally. Lets notice what happens:

1. The beggar died and was carried to Abrahams bosom (verse 22). If it is literal, then we must assume that all the saints are in Abrahams literal bosom. Of course, that is absurd.

2. The rich man was able to look up out of hell and see Lazarus in Abrahams bosom (verse 23). If it is a literal story, then we must assume that those in heaven and hell can see each other. Naturally, that is preposterous.

3. The rich man and Lazarus are able to communicate in heaven (verse 24). Are we then to assume that the righteous and wicked can even communicate with one another? Who could enjoy heaven, if he had to listen to the complaints of the wicked in hell?

4. Lazarus has a finger and the rich man has a tongue (verse 24). These are organs of a real physical body. Those who believe that the wicked are burning in hell now, say that only the soul is there. The body is buried in the ground. Yet, if this is a literal story, then somehow the body must be taken out of the ground and brought to hell, for here it clearly indicates that they have bodies. Consequently, if it is literal, there is a big contradiction.

5. Lazarus would be able to cool the rich mans tongue with just one dip of his finger in water. It must be very cold water to give much relief! And remember it is not even his whole finger dipped in water, but just the tip of his finger!

Obviously, from just these few examples, it is easy to see that it is virtually impossible to interpret this as an actual occurrence. Rather, it is an analogy, a parable, a story told for the purpose of teaching one main truth. The obvious point of this story is in verse 31: "... if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." The decisions made in this life affect our eternal destiny, and there is no changing of our decisions after death. This was the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach. He was not giving a discourse on hell fire. These were only props of a story that Jesus used to teach his one main truth. Even the name Lazarus is symbolic, for Jesus was soon to raise Lazarus from the dead, and the Pharisees still wouldnt believe.

This is not an isolated instance in Scripture where analogy is used to teach one main truth. Notice a couple of other examples that are very obvious:

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. Isaiah 14:8.

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Judges 9:8-9.

In both of these instances, the Bible says that the trees were talking. Are we then to assume that the trees talk? No, obviously these are used as analogies to teach a truth. The same is true for the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. In fact, Jesus story of the rich man and Lazarus is very similar to a story told by the Pharisees of Jesus day, with one exception -- the Pharisees had the rich man in Abrahams bosom and the beggar in the other place. Here then is an example of Jesus taking a familiar story of the Pharisees, reversing the characters and driving home His point very clearly through this familiar illustration.

But lets examine the parable of the rich man and Lazarus even closer. So much is assumed about this parable that we must examine it and see what it actually says. Many claim, on the basis of this parable, that the wicked will continually burn in hell-fire, but notice that nowhere in the parable does it mention how long the rich man will be in torment. That is NOT the issue in the parable. It is NOT even mentioned. The truth on HOW LONG the wicked burn must be gathered from other texts of the Bible, such as Malachi 3:1,4.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that corneth shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

Thus even if the parable were literal, it still does not answer the question as to HOW LONG hell will last.

The other issue is whether or not hell-fire is going on right now. Again, lets notice the parable. Verse 22 states that the beggar died, and then was carried to Abrahams bosom (which is an obvious symbol for heaven). Notice that the parable does not say WHEN the beggar was taken to heaven. Other Bible texts must supply the answer:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. -- Matt. 24:30,31.

Thus the clear testimony of Scripture is that the elect are gathered to Abrahams bosom at the second corning of Christ. Since the parable does not state when the beggar went to Abrahams bosom, we must assume, on the basis of other Scriptures, that it is at the same time that the rest of the saints go to heaven: namely, at the second Advent.

But what about the rich man? Notice verse 22, 23:

the rich man also died, and was buried: and in hell (Hades) he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Clearly then the rich man died and was buried in the ground, as all men are. The word translated "hell" is the Greek word Hades meaning "grave". It is not the word: Gehenna which is the other word translated "hell" in the Bible, and means "a place of burning". Thus, it does NOT say that the rich man was in a place of burning but IN THE GRAVE. Obviously, it is impossible for this conversation to take place from the grave. No one living at the time, in their wildest imagination would have taken Jesus literally. It would have been easier to assume that there is a place of burning going on right now if Jesus had used the word: Gehenna, but Jesus used Hades, meaning "grave", so no one would take Him literally. Jesus was merely telling a story in order that the Pharisees would get the point -- they were not listening to the truth and no amount of evidence would convince them, even the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. All these details are merely props to make the story interesting and penetrating to the minds of the Pharisees.

The parable does not teach that the wicked are suffering in hell NOW. If it did, it would contradict not only our sense ofjustice, but also the plainly revealed Word of God. Notice these clear texts:

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.II Peter 2:9.

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire: so shall it be in the end of the world.

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:40-42.

The clear testimony of Scripture is that the wicked are RESERVED until the day of Judgment to be punished. And Jesus declares that this day of Judgment, when the wicked are burned up, is the END OF THE WORLD.

Again we see that when understood correctly, the parable is in perfect harmony with the Word of God. And even though it is a parable, and not an actual happening, still Jesus did not contradict Himself or other Bible writers by even mentioning an ever-burning hell or that the wicked are now in a fiery hell. Scripture is always in complete agreement. Remember that an obscure text that could be understood in two different ways, such as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, must always be interpreted in harmony with other clear texts. We must not build a doctrine that contradicts the rest of the Bible on one or two isolated, obscure texts, especially when they can be understood in such a way that they are in perfect agreement with the whole tenor of Scripture.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES

In spite of the fact that millions of sincere Christians have believed that the fires of hell will never go out, the Bible boldly declares that sin will have an end. In Romans 6:23, God states that "the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE." Here the two alternatives are clearly pointed out: those who accept Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice will LIVE FOREVER; whereas those who do not accept Jesus will die. However, if the wicked lived in an eternally burning hell, they would receive the gift of God, which is eternal life, and they WOULD NEVER DIE.

Furthermore in I John 5:11,12 we read: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." Only those who accept Jesus Christ will LIVE FOREVER.

But if eternal torment is true, then it makes no difference whether a person is righteous or wicked, he still lives forever. The overwhelming argument of Scripture is that ETERNAL LIFE IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO THOSE WHO ACCEPT JESUS. If an individual fails to surrender his heart completely to Christ, then he will die; he shall NOT live.

Through eternal torment the devil is trying to say that an individual can have eternal life without Christ. Thus a person has eternal life whether he is righteous or wicked. He doesnt need Jesus and His death upon the cross to receive everlasting life. He can get it without Christ. It may not be a very pleasant life, but it is still life without Christ. This very thought shows clearly that the doctrine of eternal torment has been inspired by the great father of lies to cast reproach on the character of God and to make men think that they can get everlasting life without Christ.

Other clear texts of Scripture also clearly show that the wicked will be destroyed by fire and cease to exist, and that they shall not burn throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity:

Psalm 37:20: But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Psalm 37:35,36: I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not; yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Psalm 37:10: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

Malachi 4:1: For, behold the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Malachi 4:3: And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

These are just a few of the texts that the Bible uses to describe the destruction of the wicked, but we notice that the Scriptures choose the strongest possible words to describe the complete annihilation of the wicked. In no possible way could these clear words be misunderstood by one who honestly desires to know truth.

There will be a fire that destroys the wicked, a fire so hot that it will completely destroy all who are engulfed by it. When the fire has done its work it will go out. But you need not suffer in the fires of hell that destroy the wicked, if you give your life to Christ right now. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish (cease to exist), but have everlasting life.-- John 3:16.

You need not perish in the flames of hell. Choose Jesus right now and have everlasting life.

For those desiring to do further study, many of the texts that refer to the destruction of the wicked as complete annihilation are listed below. The evidence is overwhelming. There are 182 texts: 98 in the Old Testament and 84 in the New Testament that speak of the destruction of the wicked as complete destruction. Remember, a doctrine must be built on all of Scripture, not just on one or two obscure texts. Glance through all the Biblical evidence -- the overwhelming Biblical conclusion is that the wicked are annihilated in the fires of hell.

98 Old Testament Texts

Exodus 22:20 - he shall be utterly destroyed.

Deuteronomy 29:20 - shall blot out his name from under heaven.

I Chronicles 28:9 - if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.

Job 18:5 - the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

Job 18:6 - his candle shall be put out with him.

Job 18:16 - his roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

Job 20:7 - Yet he shall perish forever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

Job 20:9- neither shall his place any more behold him.

Job 21:17 - How oft is the candle of the wicked put out and oft cometh their destruction?

Job 22:20 - the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

Job 34:24 - shall break in pieces mighty men without number.

Psalm 1:4 - The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Psalm 2:9 - Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potters vessel.

Psalm 9:5 - thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name forever and ever.

Psalm 9:17 - The wicked shall be turned into hell. (Hebrew -- Sheol -- grave)

Psalm 11:6 - Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest.

Psalm 21:9 - Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven ... and the fire shall devour them.

Psalm 21:10 - their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth.

Psalm 34:16 - Them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Psalm 34:21 - Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Psalm 36:12 - There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Psalm 37:2 - For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Psalm 37:9 - evildoers shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:10 - And the wicked shall not be.

Psalm 37:20 - the wicked shall perish.

Psalm 37:20 - the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume into smoke.

Psalm 37:22 - they that be cursed shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:28 - The seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:34 - when the wicked are cut off.

Psalm 37:35-36 - Yet he passed away, and lo, he wast not: yea, I sought him; but he could not be found.

Psalm 37:38 - Transgressors shall be destroyed together.

Psalm 37:38 - The end of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 49:20 - like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 50:3 - a fire shall devour.

Psalm 50:22 - lest I tear you in pieces.

Psalm 52:5 - God shall likewise destroy thee forever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out ... and root thee out of the land of the living.

Psalm 55:23 - God shall bring them down into the pit of destruction.

Psalm 58:7 - Let them melt away as waters.

Psalm 58:7 - let them be cut in pieces.

Psalm 59:13 - Consume them, that they may not be.

Psalm 60:12 - shall tread down our enemies.

Psalm 62:3 - Ye shall be slain, all of you.

Psalm 68:2 - As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord.

Psalm 69:28 - let them be blotted out of the book of the living.

Psalm 73:17 - then understood I their end.

Psalm 73:18 - thou castedst them down into destruction

Psalm 75:3 - all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved.

Psalm 92:7 - they shall be destroyed forever.

Psalm 92:9 - thine enemies shall perish.

Psalm 94:23 - shall cut them off in their own wickedness.

Psalm 94:23 - the Lord our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 104:35 - Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth.

Psalm 104:35 - Let the wicked be no more.

Psalm 118:12 - they are quenched as the fire of thorns.

Psalm 118:12 - I will destroy them.

Psalm 119:119 - Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross.

Psalm 139:19 - Surely thou wilt slay the wicked.

Psalm 145:20 - All the wicked will he destroy.

Proverbs 2:22 - The wicked shall be cut off from the earth.

Proverbs 2:22 - transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 10:25 - so is the wicked no more.

Proverbs 12:7 - the wicked are overthrown, and are not.

Proverbs 13:9 - lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

Proverbs 13:13 - whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 24:20 - candle of the wicked shall be put out.

Isaiah 1:31 - They shall both burn together.

Isaiah 5:24 - As the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be rotteness. and their blossom shall go up as dust.

Isaiah 11:4 - with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isaiah 29:20 - The scorner is consumed.

Isaiah 29:20 - all that watch for iniquity are cut off.

Isaiah 33:12 - And the people shall be as the burnings of lime.

Isaiah 33:12 - as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.

Isaiah 40:24 - they shall wither and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

Isaiah 41:11 - they shall be as nothing.

Isaiah 41:11 - They that strive with thee shall perish!

Isaiah 41:12 - they that war against thee shall be as nothing.

Isaiah 41:12 - Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them.

Isaiah 43:17 - they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Isaiah 47: 14 - they shall be as stubble.

Isaiah 47: 14 - the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver them from the power of the flame.

Isaiah 47: 14 - There shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before.

Isaiah 51:8 - The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall cut them like wool.

Ezekiel 18:4,20 - the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Ezekiel 28:18 - I will bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee.

Ezekiel 28:18 - I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth.

Ezekiel 28:19 - thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Daniel 2:35 - the wind carried them away.

Daniel 2:35 - became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors.

Daniel 2:35 - No place was found for them.

Obadiah 16 - they shall be as though they had not been.

Nahum 1:9 - He will make an utter end.

Nahum 1:9 - affliction shall not rise up the second time.

Nahum 1:10 - they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

Nahum 1:15 - for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Malachi 4:1 - all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.

Malachi 4:1 - shall burn them up.

Malachi 4:1 - leave them neither root nor branch.

Malachi 4:3 - for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.

84 New Testament Texts That Speak of
the Destruction of the Wicked

Matthew 3:10 - fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 3:12 - But he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 7:13 - broad is the way that leadeth to destruction.

Matthew 7:19 - is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 8:12 - cast out into outer darkness.

Matthew 10:28 - which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 13:30 - tares and bind them in bundles to burn them.

Matthew 13:42 - cast them into a furnace of fire.

Matthew 13:40 - as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

Matthew 13:48 - but cast the bad away.

Matthew 13:50 - and shall cast them into the furnace of fire.

Matthew 15:13 - shall be rooted up.

Matthew 21:41 - He will miserably destroy those wicked men.

Matthew 21:44 - it will grind him to powder.

Matthew 22:7 - destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Matthew 22:13 - cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.

Matthew 24:51 - shall cut him assunder.

Matthew 25:30 - cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.

Mark 12:9 - he will come and destroy the husband-men.

Luke 13:3 - ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:5 - ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:7 - cut it down.

Luke 13:9 - thou shalt cut it down.

Luke 17:27 - and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:29 - it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Luke 19:27 - slay them before me.

Luke 20:18 - it will grind him to powder.

John 3:16 - should not perish.

John 3:36 - shall not see life.

John 5:24 - passed from death unto life.

John 5:40 - Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 6:50 - and not die.

John 8:24 - ye shall die in your sins.

John 10:10 - Thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy.

John 15:2 - that beareth not fruit he taketh away.

John 15:6 - he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Acts 3:23 - shall be destroyed from among the people.

Acts 8:20 - thy money perish with thee.

Romans 6:6 - That body of sin might be destroyed.

Romans 6:21 - the end of those things is death.

Romans 6:23 - the wages of sin is death.

Romans 7:5 - Bring forth fruit unto death.

Romans 8:13 - ye shall die.

Romans 9:22 - vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

I Corinthians 1: 19 - I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.

I Corinthians 3:17 - him shall God destroy.

I Corinthians 15:22 - As in Adam all die.

I Corinthians 15:54 - Death is swallowed up in victory.

II Corinthians 10:8 - and not for your destruction.

II Corinthians 13:10 - and not to destruction.

Galations 6:8 - shall of the flesh reap corruption.

Philippians 3:19 - Whose end is destruction.

I Thessalonians 5:3 - then sudden destruction cometh upon them.

IIThessalonians 1:9 - punished with everlasting destruction.

II Thessalonians 2:8 - shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

I Timothy 6:9 - which drown men in destruction and perdition.

II Timothy 1:10 - hath abolished death.

Hebrews 2:14 - he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Hebrews 10:27 - which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a consuming fire.

I Peter 5:8 - seeking whom he may devour.

II Peter 2:1 - bring upon themselves swift destruction.

II Peter 2:12 - made to be taken and destroyed.

II Peter 2:12 - shall utterly perish.

II Peter 3:7 - heaven and earth ... kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

II Peter 3:10 - earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

II Peter 3:11 - shall be dissolved.

II Peter 3:12 - heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

II Peter 3:16 - unto their own destruction.

I John 3:8 - that he might destroy the works of the devil.

I John 3:15 - no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

I John 5:12 - he that hath the Son hath life; and he that hat not the Son of God, hath not life.

Jude 7 - Even as Sodom and Gomorrha. . .are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Revelation 2:23 - And I will kill her children with death.

Revelation 3:5 - I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.

Revelation 11:5 - if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner, be killed.

Revelation 11:18 - shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 17:8 - Go into perdition.

Revelation 17:11 - goeth into perdition.

Revelation 18:18 - she shall be utterly burned with fire.

Revelation 18:21 - shall be found no more at all.

Revelation 20:9 - and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them."

Revelation 21:4 - for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:8 - Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

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