What is Abraham's bosom?

Answer 1

The expression of "Abraham's bosom" here is found in Luke 16, in the parable of "Lazarus and the Rich Man."

"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried." (Luke 16:22)

Many people use this parable to "prove" that "good people go to heaven" immediately when they die. But this parable says no such thing... and contains no "time frame" in its story line. It requires the timeline of Bible prophecy to provide the understanding of the "sequence of events."

There is a specific "time" prophesied in The Bible, when the "Righteous dead in Christ" will be "carried by angels"... anywhere -- and that will be "into the clouds, in the air" when Jesus Christ returns to earth with the Kingdom of God.

"...THEN shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven... And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a Trumpet, and THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECTfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matt.24:30-31)

THIS is the "timeframe" of Lazarus's being "carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom." Not, immediately, when Lazarus died... but at the future time of Jesus' return when He gathers His elect [the 'dead in Christ' who will rise first - among whom will be faithful Abraham, himself].

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the Day of the Lord has already come.

"Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction." (II Thess.2:1-3 NIV)

Jesus Christ has not yet returned to gather His elect to Him. The angels have not been sent by Him to gather them. And Lazarus and the rich man are [by the timeline provided for us in Bible prophecy] -- still dead!

The prophecies further reveal that the "rest of the dead" [who did not die in the hope and faith of Christ] will resurrect from the dead [not carried by angels] a thousand years AFTER the dead in Christ rise.

"(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended)..." (Rev.20:5 NIV)

The rich man in Luke's parable will be among the "rest of the dead"... and will rise from his grave to face Judgment -- a thousand years after Lazarus does.

As for "Abraham's bosom" -- Jesus tells us that Abraham will be in the Kingdom of God... the coming Righteous Ruling Government about which He preached and uttered His parables:

"...the Kingdom of Heaven is like..." (Matt.13:24; 31; 33; 44; 45; 47).

The Bible tells us that the "faithful" [regardless of physical bloodline or nationality] are all the children of "faithful Abraham."

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." (Gal.3:7)

And that: "...if ye be Christ's, THEN are ye Abraham's seed, and HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE." (verse 29)

That is... the promise that Jesus made to faithful, obedient Abraham [Gen.12:1-3]... which all of his faithful children shall inherit -- the Kingdom of God.

"For the promise, that he should be THE HEIR OF THE WORLD, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the Righteousness of Faith." (Rom.4:13)

"There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south [gathered by the angels at the time of Jesus' return from the 'four winds' - Matt.24:31], and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 13:28-29)

Lazarus will be one of those "faithful" whom the angels shall gather to "Abraham's bosom" in the Kingdom.

The Literal Bible and Strong's Definitions tells us that the inspired word for "bosom" is "kolpos" -- "a primary word; the bosom; by analogy, a bay...". Translated in the KJV as "bosom" and "creek."

A number of different English definitions apply for both "bosom" and "bay." But regarding the biblical application of inheriting the Kingdom of God and salvation, perhaps these two definitions define "Abraham's bosom [bay] best:

"bay" [definition 5]: "A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory."

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." (I Thess.2:19-20 NIV)

"...I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store [in safe keeping] for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day -- and not only me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." (II Tim.4:7-8 NIV)

"...This is the Victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (I John 5:4 NIV)

"bosom" [definition 2]: a. "The chest conceived of as the seat of emotions and intimate feelings. b. The security and intimacy of or like that of being hugged to someone's bosom."

In the end... entering into the Kingdom of God is entering, victoriously through Jesus Christ, into the Family of God as God's Sons... His Children -- of whom Abraham is called their faithful father.

The [Holy] Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: and if Children, then HEIRS; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." (Rom.8:16-17)

Lazarus "died"... and, like all who die in the faith of Abraham, will be gathered by the angels at Jesus' coming into the unimaginably joyful intimacy of God's Family... along with faithful father Abraham... and all the other faithful down through history -- and shall receive the "hug of a lifetime" in Abraham's bosom. A Crown of Righteous Victory over death. Immortality.

"...in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality... then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in Victory.'" (I Cor.15:52-54 NIV)

And a thousand years later [on the Last Great Day; Judgment Day]... the rich man and the 'rest of the dead' will ["...in hell {in their graves}]..." lift up their eyes... live again... and "...seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

A great gulf of "immortality" shall separate the 'rest of the dead' from the Immortal Jesus Christ and the Family of God sitting across the Lake of Fire from them. (and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth in torment)... as the books of the Bible are opened: "...and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Rev.20:12)

The rich man and the rest of the dead will plead their cases. And Abraham will point to "open books" of the Bible in front of them and say:

"...If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they by persuaded, though one rose from the dead [someone like Jesus Christ]." (Luke 16:31)

The faith Lazarus and all the dead in Christ refuse to yield to the flesh will be rewarded by entering into Christ's Eternal Rest. It will carry them to Abraham's bosom in the Kingdom of God... into the intimacy, joy and victory of God's Immortal Family.