Help me, I’m in Hell!

Posted 15 Apr 2026

Just been re-reading Luke 16:19-31 which is Jesus’ story about the rich man and Lazarus (see below). What a powerful story that is! And it really illustrates what someone who doesn’t believe in God and Heaven and Hell thinks. Like the rich man in the narrative, a non-believer doesn’t think there IS a Heaven or Hell, and so doesn’t believe they will go to one or the other once they physically die here on earth.

But what if that non-believer is wrong? Suppose we REALLY DO go to one or the other place, what then?

In the narrative Jesus points out the reasonable, logical argument that someone in Hell would think, i.e. 1) Please reduce my torment and suffering. The unfortunate, unavoidable answer to that request is, that no-one can cross over from Heaven to Hell to ease that suffering (verses 25-26 in the story).

2) The rich man accepts that by effectively saying “OK, so I can’t be helped at all here in Hell, but my relatives who are still alive on earth can be. So please (Abraham) send someone to warn them of this dreadful place, so that when they die, they won’t come here”.

The answer to that logical, reasonable, and VERY HUMANE REQUEST is that no-one who is either currently in Hell or Heaven can go back to Earth to warn someone there. And, as Abraham explains (verse 29 in Jesus’ story), everyone who has read the Bible, or heard the Gospel accounts about Jesus, has already been sufficiently warned against not believing what is written there. We all have no excuse, we either believe what the Bible says and live (in heaven) or else we reject the Bible and Jesus’ offer of eternal life with Him in Heaven, with the unavoidable consequence of going to hell for all eternity, once we physically die.

3) The rich man reasonably argues that if his brothers see Lazarus back on earth, raised from the dead, then they will believe his testimony and agree with the Bible, turn from their wrong-doing, and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, thus avoiding going to Hell, and going to Heaven instead.

But Abraham replies that if the rich man’s brothers don’t read the Bible and believe it’s life-saving message, then nor will they see and believe a resurrected man (in this case Lazarus) who suddenly appears before them, warning them of the dangers of Hell. As verse 31 succinctly explains, “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets (i.e. the message of the Bible), they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

And don’t forget SOMEONE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD…JESUS HIMSELF! Seen by over 500 people [3] after His resurrection, there are ample witnesses to this event. Yet even after that display of power over life and death, people still refuse to believe. And if that is the non-believers’ response today , then really, what else can possibly be done to convince them?!

Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)
The Rich Man And Lazarus
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. [1] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and his soul went to the place of the dead. [26] 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 any time they want to.’ “

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.’ ”

[1]
Greek, into Abraham’s bosom.

[2]
Greek, to Hades.

[3]
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)
3 For what I [the apostle Paul] received I passed on to you as of first importance (Or you at the first): that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, (Simon/Peter) and then to the Twelve (apostles). 6 After that, he appeared to MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE SAME TIME, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

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