Jesus Bridged The Chasm Between The Pit and Heaven

Many accept Luke’s description of the un-breachable chasm between the pit and heaven as an ongoing thing. Although the chasm was firmly established at the time of Luke’s writing, I believe that Jesus bridged this chasm! Let’s first look at Luke’s description of this chasm.

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

NLT Luke 16:19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.

22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.

24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’

27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Let’s look at verse 26 again in Young’s Liter Translation

YLT Luke 16:26and besides all these things, between us and you a great chasm is fixed, so that they who are willing to go over from hence unto you are not able, nor do they from thence to us pass through.

Verse 26 says that no one could cross over from the pit to heaven. While this was absolutely true when Luke wrote this, I don’t believe that it is still the case. Remember Jesus preached to the dead for 3 days after his crucifiction, yet he is now in Heaven! I believe that he paved a path for the spiritually dead to come to heaven. This passage tells us that the gospel was preached to the dead.

YLT 1 Peter 4:6For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The few who are truly called to offer their lives as a living sacrifice to their flocks are the 144,000. They are the folks who are truly offering their lives as a living sacrifice for the sheep – living in Christ. The rest of Christ’s witnesses are the believers in Christ. These folks are still new creations in Christ, but they have not heard the shepherd’s call, they have not embraced the stricter judgment due Christ’s leaders.  The true shepherd never taste death.This is fully developed here: Those Who Never Taste Death

The folks who embrace the role of Christ’s witnesses will taste death, but after a time [3.5 days] they hear the call to come up here.

KJV Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months. 3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth [the length of the Great Tribulation, the length of their earthly lives]. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.[This is where the devil is released for a little while after the thousand years - Rev 20:3] 8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. [After we pass into the land of the dead we are not honored] 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.[When the next Shepherd – liver in Christ – passes we hear too hear the call to “come up here”Rev 4:1] And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.[many in the pit see are call to heaven and join with us – finally willing to glorify God] 14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.[Once we are in heaven we are no longer tormented by the devil, his roles are limited to the realm of the earth].

I think the shepherd experiences the sequence described in Rev 4:1-12 and the witnesses experience the sequence of Rev 11 [see above].

Summary:

Christ spent 3 days in the pit, but after these three days he was resurrected. He paved the road to conquer death. We must all seek to find and stay on Christ’s narrow road. Some of us  are called to be witnesses. Some of us are called to be shepherds. Both path, both roles are supported by the God’s word. Our job remains simple; to seek God with all our heart, hear his call on our lives, and humbly obey!!!

May God Continue To Guide and Protect Us

Glenn

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Jesus Bridged The Chasm Between The Pit and Heaven

Jesus Bridged The Chasm Between The Pit and Heaven

Jesus Bridged The Chasm Between The Pit and Heaven

Jesus Bridged The Chasm Between The Pit and Heaven