Rich man and Lazarus, paraphrase
There was a certain nation (Israel) which was a privileged
kingdom of priests, receiving great blessings from God.
And there was a certain class around them, outside the bonds
of their covenant, who desired to share God's favor, since they were suffering
from sin and death. And their neighbors, the Jews, could give them no
relief.
And these Gentiles died, and were later raised to eternal life
with Abraham in God's kingdom.
But Israel was destroyed from being a nation, and suffered
persecutions and trials. Because they had refused to hear God, God refused to
hear their cries or ease their sufferings.
All this happened because they refused to believe the one who
was raised from the dead.
