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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The term "Abraham's bosom" is found only once in the New Testament, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), in which Jesus was teaching about was the reality of heaven and hell. "...
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Donald Woody
Supporter
Abraham's Bosom is an Old Testament reference to the abode of the "Godly Dead". Many of the OT's Godly who passed away are there. It is equivalent to the palce Jesus describes in his account of Lazarus and the richman. Note this is a recounting of an actual event and not a parable which many of the people of Jesus' probably knew about excepting the events that took place after the 2 men departed the earth. Who would only know this but the one who put each of the men in their respected abodes. Abraham's Bosom in synonymous with saying "Absent from the body present with the Lord" concerning a godly person who has passed away. His physical reamains are still on earth but his soul and spirit are with Jesus.
George Delmindo
Supporter
Abraham's bosom is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible. Immortal soul advocates use this as reference to prove that man has an immortal soul which separates from the body at death. So death, according to them, is the separation of the soul and body. However, that definition is not found in the Bible! Nowhere in the Bible does it state that man is an immortal soul. Now, let's understand what this Abraham's bosom is. Jesus said, "There was a certain rich man, which, was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously everyday. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate full of sores, and desiring to be fed with crumbs which fell from the rich man's table : more over the dogs came and licked his sores. 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." (Luke 16:19-22). Here, Jesus said that both men died. The beggar was taken by the angels into Abraham's bosom. What is a bosom? Look in your dictionary, a "bosom" is the breast of a human being, with the arms as an enclosure : a loving embrace by the arms of one person about another : an intimate relationship. So Lazarus was carried into an intimate relationship with Abraham! Lazarus here is pictured as a person, perhaps even a Gentile, who received salvation. Do Gentiles, upon being converted, and becoming Christ's, enter into an intimate relationship to Abraham? They certainly do! To the Gentile-born Galatians, the scripture written by Paul say definitely : "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed [children], and heirs according to the promise" (Gal 3:29). Through Christ they become the children of Abraham. Through faith we all become the "children of Abraham (Gal 3:7). That is an intimate relationship with Abraham. That is being taken into Abraham's bosom! Now notice an important point. The beggar was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom - that is, by Bible explanation, he became one of Abraham's children, and therefore he became an heir to inherit what was promised by God to Abraham. The Bible tells us what God promised to Abraham (Gen 12, Heb 11:8-10). And in Heb 11:13, we read, "These all (including Abraham) died in faith, not having received the promises..." Abraham died, but has not to this day inherited the promises! We read in John 8:52, "Abraham is dead." At that time - centuries after he died - Abraham was not living on earth or in heaven or anywhere! He is still dead today. When, then, is he to inherit the promises? At the time of the resurrection of the just, of course! "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven... And the dead in Christ shall rise first " (1 Thes 4:16). Human mortals, in Christ, living and dead, receive eternal life - immortality - the promises God made to Abraham - at Christ's second coming. Now again let's get back to what Jesus said about Lazarus in Luke. Jesus said this beggar died. So like Abraham, he is still dead. But after Lazarus died, Jesus said he "was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." When do angels come down from heaven? In Matt 25:31, we read, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the Holy angels with him," - notice, this is the second coming of Christ - "then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory... Then" - and not until then - "shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world "(Matt 25:31-34). Jesus said Abraham would receive the promises, including eternal life, through the resurrection of the just on his return. This is the time when Lazarus would be resurrected to eternal life together with his father - Abraham, in a father-son relationship - in the kingdom of God.
Damith Attanayake
Supporter
Abraham's bosom is the place Old Testament saints were held before jesus' death (Not sinners). When Jesus descended and defeated Satan, Col 2:15, he freed these Old Testament saints and freed them and took them to heaven with them. Mat 27:52-53 And Eph 4:8. Hope this helps.☺️
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
We find “Abraham's bosom” being mentioned only one time in the Bible, in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). We know this is a parable because of the many allegoric images depicted in the story. The Bible doesn't tell us anything else about Abraham's bosom, although if we insist on a literal interpretation, it must be a mighty bosom considering that all the departed are resting there now, or were resting at same point. From Luke 16:14-15, we learn that Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, and He most likely used the image of Abraham's bosom because of Jews high regard for Abraham. The rich man symbolizes the Jews, rich in knowledge, but unwilling to share it with the Gentiles. Lazarus symbolizes the Gentiles, which although poor in knowledge were sincere in their belief and would be in Heaven. Jesus make a similar reference in Matthew 21:31 “…"Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
Victor Stoc
Supporter
Abraham bosom can be difficult to explain, but note it likely to refer to in union and faith with Abraham who is the father of the Jewish faith. We note in Luke 16 how Abraham who died spoke to the rich man but a similar thing took place with the soul under the alter in Revelation who had been slain during the tribulation period. Bosom peaks of close friendly intimate relationship with. Abraham Bosom being paradise no, rather a place of reservation where righteous soul go and wait for the resurrection
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
The Roman conquest of Judea in 63 BC, which incorporated that entire area into the Roman Empire, resulted in very difficult times for the Jews. Practicing their religion as they were enjoined to by Moses was not necessarily possible, and many simply tried to get along with the Romans as best they could. Some, even among the priests, lost sight of the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18). The pitiable condition of Lazarus was a disgrace for every Jew living then, especially the priests who should have treated him in accordance with the instructions given to Moses. In effect, the Jewish religion had failed Lazarus, a Jew himself. This is why he wasn't gathered to the Jewish people of Moses after death, but as a descendant of Abraham went to the bosom (or loving abode) of Abraham, a type of paradise. This is a spiritual realm for those who believed, but didn’t have fulfillment in their lifetime, as Abraham also did not, under the covenant of promise. Both Lazarus and the rich man experienced unusual conditions after death. The rich man went into torment, not because he was rich, but because he cared for no one other than himself, and so didn't alleviate the suffering of the poor under the harsh Roman rule, as Moses would require.
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