So I'm on My journey to read Rays paper on the parable of the Rich man and Lazurus (it's just so long!). And I caught Something that jumped out at me with what Ray said, Scriptures says (which ray also quotes), and What Jesus said. Which ALL should be one, but here it is. Quote from Ray
{Here is irrefutable Scriptural proof that when a person dies he returns to the dust. Messengers or angels don’t take dead people anywhere when they die. If this is literal, then they would have had to carry a "dead" Lazarus into the ancient cave of a "dead" Abraham. The "resurrection" is yet future (I Thes. 4:16:18).
Remember how Paul told us of Hymeneus and Philetus who "...swerve as to truth, saying that the resurrection has ALREADY OCCURRED [as defenders of a literal interpretation also contend] subverting the faith of some." (II Tim. 2:18)? Lazarus was carried (in the parable) into Abraham’s bosom. Abraham’s bosom is not the reward of the saved. Abraham’s bosom is not Heaven. Furthermore, no more than one person could fit into Abraham’s bosom. It’s a parable.
When Jesus gave this parable was Abraham alive in heaven or dead in his grave? First notice what Gen. 25:8-9 says:
"Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died ... and his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in a cave..."
When Jesus was teaching these parables Abraham was still dead. "Abraham IS DEAD" (John 8:52)! After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection (nearly 30 years after) Abraham was still dead.
"By faith Abraham ... sojourns in the land of promise ... he waited for the city having foundations, whose Artificer and Architect is God ... In faith DIED ALL THESE [Abraham included], being not requited with the promises ... for He [God] makes ready for them a city" (Heb. 11:8,9,10,13,16)}
EndQuote
Now, I get that Abraham died (obviously), the ressurrection is not yet, and he is still dead. But what did Jesus mean when He was teaching on Resurrection saying,
Mark 12:26-27
And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
Even when I read the verses around it; he wasn't talking about Abraham before those verses yet Jesus connects that, God is the "God of Abraham..." with that God is the "God of the LIVING not the dead." Soooo was Jesus saying that Abraham was not dead but living? Now I see Genesis said, "he gave up the ghost", Hebrews says "he died in faith": so what does Jesus refer to when he's adding the principle of the resurrection? Since God was still refered to as the "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" so they can't be dead cause He is the God of the living? Would love the clarity. This scripture has always confused me. Thanks