phoneman~Brother, here's a test to see if we have accepted the Bible:
If you've not figured it out by now, your conclusion that Luke 16 is a literal account puts that passage and you in contradiction with the teachings of the rest of Scripture. Laying aside preconceived notions will allow anyone to accept that due to the abundance of symbolism, it can only be a parable which requires interpretation.
- I believe that "the dead know not anything", but you claim the dead possess knowledge while in death based on Luke 16.
- I believe "the memory of them is forgotten" but you say they retain their memories based on Luke 16.
- I believe that "their love, envy, and hatred is perished" but you claim they are capable of emotions and feelings based on Luke 16.
- I believe it is not until "the last trump...this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality" but you claim the dead receive their bodies before the resurrection based on Luke 16.
- I believe that "the dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence" but you claim that the dead can sit in "Abraham's bosom" fully conscious in death and no doubt have the ability to lift up their voice in praise that they have not shared in the same fate based on Luke 16.
- I believe that in the flames "there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" but you claim that the dead can use some kind of Jedi mind trick to block out the immense pain in order to start a thoughtful conversation with others based on Luke 16. Something like this: "Hey, Ahab, hot enough for ya?" "Shut up, Saul, before I come over there and smite thee upside yo head with this huge chunk o' brimstone."
You are making a lot of claims but your claims are not including scriptures to show where you are getting these ideas so we can read them in context....
"the dead know not anything"
"the memory of them is forgotten"
"their love, envy, and hatred is perished"
etc.
Please list where you are finding these things because my KJV does not phrase those passages the same way as your Bible translation apparently.