Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 8

This is the eighth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.

His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the second of which is b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here )
Under the b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead heading Dr Arnold claims that the unbelieving dead are seen in a fixed state that cannot be altered and then quotes numerous texts from the New Testament hoping to illustrate his assertion.

(i) The Matthew texts were discussed in a previous post.

(ii) The Rich Man and Lazarus parable from Luke's gospel which is presumed to show the fixed state of "hell".
Dr Arnold uses this story to point out that the rich man could not pass from his place in Hell to Lazarus in Abraham's bosom; there was no crossing the line, and no future opportunity to do so, thus demonstrating a fixed state that cannot be altered.

I won't list the lengthy parable here, so please read it in your Bible - Luke 16 : 19 - 31.

First of all, let me note that a correct Greek to English translation would use Hades instead of Hell to describe the rich man's position. In any case, apart from being a poor translation, the word "hell" has some grisly connotations derived from centuries of fear-mongering, church teaching and is best avoided in serious Bible study.

Hades is the unseen realm of departed spirits - nothing more; nothing less. (Sheol is the Hebrew equivalent.)
Before the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, this was the resting place for all who died.

Second, Hades could hardly be describing a fixed state as there are at least two resurrections to occur subsequent to this age, making Hades only a temporary place of residence.

Do not be amazed at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear his voice, and those who have done good things will come forth into a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil things into a resurrection of judgement.
[John 5 : 28  DBH]

Although the gulf between the rich man and Lazarus is not able to be crossed at the time of the telling of this parable, it will be irrelevant at the time of the resurrections.

Third, some people conflate the Hades of this parable with the Lake of Fire described in Revelation 20, assuming that both are a description of the "hell of eternal torment" that has been taught relentlessly as the future for unbelievers.

However the Lake of Fire is called the Second Death in the Bible and, since death is to be abolished at the end of the ages, the Lake of Fire can't be permanent either.

Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, and the last enemy he destroys will be death.
[1 Cor 15 : 25 - 26  CEV]

So the conflation is not helpful (as well as being ill-conceived).

Fourth, using this parable to produce an eternal doctrine is also inappropriate.
Let's remember that parables are stories that use familiar earthly ingredients to illustrate spiritual principles or realities.
Let's also remember that Jesus was only sent to Israel for his earthly ministry,

"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel"
[Matthew 15 : 26  NIV]
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."
[Matthew 10 : 5 - 6  NIV]

and the only two ages that Israel was concerned with were their current age and the Messianic KIngdom Age, which Christians often call the Millennium.

"As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'"
[Matthew 10 : 7  NIV]
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
[Matthew 6 : 33  HCSB]

They didn't conceive of an eternity at all, and Jesus never addressed eternity with them, even though many English Bible translators put the word "eternal" in Jesus' mouth. (If you're not sure about that, check out a literal translation of the New Testament like Young's or Hart's or Rotherham's or the Concordant Version. You'll find that Jesus did not use the word "eternal" or "eternity" or "everlasting" or "forever" at all.)

So Jesus' parables were designed to convey spiritual meanings about the kingdom of God, the Messianic Age promised by Israel's prophets.
They had nothing to do with the eternal realm on which many Christians are focused.

Dr Arnold's opposition dissolves in the face of the kingdom circumstances of this parable - there is nothing in it that even hints of a permanence that extends into eternity.

We'll discuss the texts from John's gospel in the next part.
Blessings, Barry

Note 1
I have addressed Dr Arnold's objection using his assumption that the parable is being used to describe conditions in "hell" (Hades).
Many commentators agree with that assumption.
However, I think the parable is telling his Jewish audience something quite different and much more relevant to them at that time.
I could write a post describing my interpretation, if you're interested.
Let me know if you are and I'll get a separate post written in the new year.

Note 2
As an aside, I think that Jesus' audience would have had difficulty visualising this parable as a description of "hell" as their view had "hell" populated by people who were asleep and unable to speak or debate.

For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, ... (this verse is the most frequently cited)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
[Ecclesiastes 9 : 5, 10]
So man lies down and does not rise.
Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.
[Job 14 : 12]
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
[Daniel 12 : 2]

These verses from the Hebrew Scriptures demonstrate their view that the dead know and do nothing because they are asleep and therefore unconscious until the resurrection.
So a parable describing inhabitants conversing and debating ... is unlikely to be interpreted by Jesus' audience in the way many Christian commentators do.