I guess I don’t understand what you are trying to say, CYC. The point of the article is that this generation has had a hard time grasping ultimate punishment for a variety of reasons. I fully understand that there are times when Hell means the grave, but in Jesus story of the rich man and Lazarus,(I don’t know if it was a parable ), Jesus revealed that Lazarus was in a place of torment, and “from hel”l he called upon Abraham. BTW, I usually write in series format and develop these themes over several messages.
Quite simply that what we teach must be accurate and according to the Scriptures. That the illustration or parable of Luke 16 was just that is evident from Jesus’ earlier comment to the money loving Pharisees who sneered at his words.
The rich man represented these Pharisees and a reversal of fortunes occurs. They no longer have a position of favor, the “bosom position”, with God. In fact, as Jesus later says, the kingdom is being taken away from them and being given to a nation producing it’s fruits.
Jesus said we must worship God in spirit and truth so we are obligated to search out and understand that truth.