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It was meant to be a warning.

Of sorts, yes. To Israel.

The first two paragraphs:

“Before reading my opening statement there will be many who will find fault with this paper. “What parable?” they will ask. Contrary to all the Scriptural proof that Luke 16:19-31 is indeed a classic example of a parable, there are many who deny this fact. The reason for so many desiring to take this parable literally is an attempt to add credence to the heretical teaching that God Almighty is going to torture the vast majority of all humanity who has ever lived by burning their flesh with real fire in a hellhole of insane pain for all eternity. But even if we take this parable literally, it still does not support such an absurd and evil teaching. When the truth is seen, the Rich man is overcome with great emotional torment by whatever “this flame” represents, but he is not physically being burned or barbecued in this flame..

“That the Rich man is in a most distressful situation, there is no argument. But he is not “burning in eternal hell fire.” That Lazarus is being comforted, there is also no argument, but neither is he presently basking in the sunshine of heaven. The two main figures in this parable represent whole nations of people who are either being shown the spiritual things of God or are being blinded to the spiritual things of God. The situation looks particularly grim and bleak for the Rich man, but certainly not hopeless as is taught in the pulpits of mainstream Christianity.”

RE: “That the Rich man is in a most distressful situation, there is no argument.

Good, then we agree that the torment is real and the place is real and the consciousness is real.

Since the DURATION of the rich man’s situation is not mentioned, I can’t garner anything from this particular teaching.

RE: But he is not “burning in eternal hell fire.”

We don’t know if it is eternal or not, so we can speculate one way or the other. So, the above, for me, is speculation.

RE: That Lazarus is being comforted, there is also no argument, but neither is he presently basking in the sunshine of heaven.

Again, speculation. Simply making a statement does not de facto make it correct.

RE: The two main figures in this parable represent whole nations of people

They might represent whole nations, but nations are still made up of people and Lazarus and the rich man are presented as INDIVIDUALS.

RE: The situation looks particularly grim and bleak for the Rich man, but certainly not hopeless as is taught in the pulpits of mainstream Christianity.”

Again we don’t know if it is hopeless or not. All we know is that his requests were all DENIED. Any attempts to determine whether the rich man’s situation is eternal or not is speculation.

We know these:

* The rich man is in torment.

* The place is called Hades.

* The rich man is conscious.

* His requests were all denied.