‘Last Generation’
Luke 16:27-28 Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father,
that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he
may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
It is always
during pains and sufferings, that a wicked person wakes up from his sinful lifestyle.
Only then will he begin to understand the cause of his painful punishment,
which will enable him to see the coming judgment upon all those living in
similar abominable ways. This will cause him to break away from his own selfishness
and begin to care for others.
1 Pet 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in
the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in
the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his
time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
So brethren,
rejoice for suffering is used by God to correct us from our sinful ways so that
we will be able to bear the fruit of righteousness.
God placed Lazarus
right in front of the rich man’s house so that everyone, including his five
brothers, can see his pitiful conditions.
Luke 16:29-31 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and
the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one
goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do
not hear Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
All devout Jews
who truly keep the words of God (in Moses and the Prophets) will be saved. They
will accept our Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The priesthood, scribes,
Pharisees and religious leaders with the exceptions of Nicodemus and some
others, were proud and covetous and could not see the truth to be saved. All
those devout Jews who faithfully came back to observe the feast were all saved.
Act 2:5, 37-41 And
there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation
under heaven... Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all
who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other
words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse
generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and
that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Mat 23:13-14 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither
go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a
pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.”
The religious leaders
were blinded by their pride and covetousness. So instead of receiving
salvation, they wanted to kill our Lord Jesus and Lazarus because he was raised
from the dead by our Lord Jesus.
John 12:9-11 Now
a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’
sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the
dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on
account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
