Parables Of Jesus Christ: Lazarus And The Rich Man
by Wayne Blank

See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

There are two unrelated men by the name of "Lazarus" (as transliterated into English) recorded in the New Testament (the name is also found in the Old Testament in its original Hebrew form i.e. Eleazar; the Greek "Lazarus" is pronounced lad-zar-oh-s, while the Hebrew "Eleazar" is pronounced ale-aw-zawr).

The first Lazarus, recorded only in John, was a close friend of Jesus Christ who died and was resurrected back to physical life (see The Lesson Of Lazarus). The other Lazarus, recorded only in Luke, was a character in the Messiah's parable of Lazarus and the rich man (the rich, arrogant man, to be more precise - as the parable explained; see also The Fall Of Satan's Financial Empire).

"16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores." (Luke 16:19-21 KJV)
"Remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented"

The parable is about the future time of resurrections, plural, and judgments, plural (see the Fact Finder question below). When righteous Lazarus died, he was placed in his grave (see Sheol and Hades); if he had been an actual person, he would still be in that grave now, awaiting his resurrection on the day of Christ's return i.e. "4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first" (1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV; see also Through The Gates Of Hell).

On the other hand, the rich, arrogant fool (he was evil because of his unrepentant arrogance, not his wealth - see No Class Struggles In Christianity) will remain in his grave until the later time of judgment i.e. "20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 20:5 KJV). The Fact Finder question below fully explains verse 22 of the parable:

Lazarus
"16:22 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" (Luke 16:22 KJV)
The parable then continues with the time after his judgment when the unrepentant arrogant man is about to be cast into the lake of fire which will immediately render all of those who refused to repent in due time to be obliterated into lifeless ash, not burn alive forever (see They Shall Be Ashes).

"16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 16:24 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.
16:25 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. 16:26 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." (Luke 16:23-26 KJV)

Repentance is made possible by the coming of the Holy Spirit (see The Cure For The Carnal Mind). From that point on, there are No U Turns On The Road To Life.

"16:27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:27-31 KJV)

Fact Finder: When are the times of Judgment? Why will some be resurrected to spirit on the day of Christ's return, while others will be resurrected back to physical life 1,000 years later?
See When Will You Be Judged? and Could Christ Return Tonight?; also Why Were Their Deaths Interrupted?