Hades
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2. Is the fire of Hades figurative or literal? |
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The fire
of Hades is a literal fire, that is, a real fire (even though it is “a fire
not blown” - Job |
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We infer this from the story of the rich man
and Lazarus, which was told by Jesus: “There was a certain rich man who was
clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there
was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.
Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died,
and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and
was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then 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 in your lifetime you
received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is
comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you
there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you
cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' Then he said, 'I beg you
therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 'for I have
five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest
they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have
Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father
Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he
said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ (Luke 16:19-31 - NKJV). |
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As you can see, the rich man who was in Hades was tormented in a flame
and because of that torment he wished his tongue to be cooled by some water.
Therefore, since he said: ‘I am tormented in this flame’ that means that he
was enveloped by a real fire. That in Hades the souls of the wicked are tormented
by a real fire is confirmed by all those brothers whom God allowed to see this
place of torment. |