"They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them."

 

Many people have told me the book of Genesis is an allegory. I am not “educated enough” to understand it’s “higher meaning,” its true “moral purpose.”

Luke 16 records Lazarus and “a certain rich man” dying. In the torments of hell, the rich man was able to speak to Abraham. He asked Abraham to send someone back from the dead to keep his brothers from coming to hell.

“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 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 16:29-31

The heresy of those who do not believe in Hell claims that is this is nothing more than an allegory, a story. What they mean by an allegory is that this was not an actual, historic event. The problem with this idea of  “a higher truth” is that you are judging God and His Word, instead of allowing God to judge you. Anyone is capable of coming up with any “interpretation” they want. What Jesus said was clear. Abraham said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.”

A man named Lazarus (the same Lazarus? We do not know.) was raised from the dead. Jesus was raised from the dead. So was Jairus’ daughter, and Dorcas or Tabitha in Acts, and many saints on the day Christ was crucified. How much influence have these resurrections had?

Is it possible to reject the God of the Old Testament by re-forming Him to fit your own imagination and still be a believer in Christ?

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40.