Monsignor Pope Ping!
...One of the saddest facts about the souls in Hell is that they would not be happy in Heaven anyway. After all, Heaven is about being with God. It is about justice, love of the poor, chastity, the heavenly liturgy, the celebration of the truth, the praise of God. God is at the center rather than us. The fact is, many show by the way that they live that they do not want many of these things. Why would someone who has disliked, even hated, these things will suddenly become enamored of them at the moment of death? Someone who ignores or disdains God and considers His faithful to be hypocrites would hardly be happy in Heaven...
If you didn't want to walk with God here, why would you suddenly want to walk with him in Eternity?
This is another good piece by Charles Pope.
This parable is not about heaven or hell. The key is the five brothers.
Here is a very good rundown: http://www.hellhadesafterlife.com/rich-man-lazarus
It actually gets information from multiple scholars.
I love the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, especially when I understand this is an exquisite satire coming from the lips of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is necessary to consider the context and the audience for this Scripture passage. Many people believe He could never speak so unkindly about His hateful enemies, the Pharisees.
But, I have just a quick question. If conditions are reversed in the afterlife, why was Abraham on the good side of the gulf? When alive, he was one of the richest men on the planet. “Lazarus, who was poor, is now rich; and the rich man is now poor.” The great reversal?
Another question. Why is Lazarus considered to be such a righteous and holy person? I see nothing in the words of Jesus that he was. Further,
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Ps. 37:25 KJV)
Just wondering.
1) After you die there are no second chances....no purgatory. This is completely in line with the NT...And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, Heb 9:27 NASB
2) There is no communication between people in this world and those who've departed us. Else, the rich man would have contacted his family to warn them of Hades.