The experts would tell us that a parable is a 'fictitious story' that reveals a spiritual truth. I can agree that that’s true in some instances but not all.
In Judges, 1 Samuel , and Esther, when the words 'there was a certain'..."something,” are used, they referred to a real man, Jew, or Levite. Most Bible scholars as well as Strong's tell us they are fictitious events. I disagree.
If Jesus or other bible authors said, "There was a certain householder," OR, "There was a certain creditor," OR, "there was a certain man," OR, "There was a certain rich man," OR, "there was a certain beggar," OR, "there was a certain nobleman," OR, when the author of Acts said, "there was a certain disciple" Let me enlighten people of something.
If Jesus or the bible says, "there was," either there was or there wasn't! If Jesus say's, "There was," a certain, "something," THERE WAS A CERTAIN SOMETHING!
This is especially important with Luke 16 where there WAS a certain 'rich man' and a certain 'beggar' named Lazarus. Luke 16 did happen, and our Lord literally went to this place after He died. This passage proves a few things.
1. There is a place called Abraham's bossom where both the righteous and wicked dead go after they die. We know it as paradise.
2. There is a great unpassable gulf or chasm between the two compartments.
3. One compartment can see others in the other compartment.
4. In one compartment people are tormented. In the other, people are comforted.
5. The righteous or wicked dead cannot testify to the living about this place.
The Greek word that describe these two compartments is HADES. Scholars have broken it down to "upper and lower" Hades. This place is where all the dead await the resurrection, and the place Jesus visited during his three days "in the grave."
Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Another thing the 'experts' tell us is that the Old Testament Saints are still waiting for the resurrection. Ephesians 4:8 actually debunks that idea!
Christ went into paradise while His body was in the grave. Those who were held captive in paradise were then taken captive by Christ when He ascended. He emptied paradise and gave the resurrected their heavenly reward.
In Mathew 27:52 there was a resurrection of believers when Christ rose. Who else could they be other than the Old Testament saints? Christ emptied the paradise portion of Hades and the wicked remained in lower Hades. Since His resurrection, paradise continues to fill. It will be emptied again at the next resurrection called, "the harvest" mentioned in Revelation 14 and may or may not be the last time it's emptied. Why do I say that? Because just before the harvest of believers in Revelation 14:14-20, (and the wicked v.17-20) it says,
"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
The paradise section of Hades is no longer necessary as believers go directly to heaven from that point on.
However, the portion of Hades that contains the wicked dead continues.
Mathew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.
I don't believe that graves had to be opened. I think they were opened to prove THERE WAS a resurrection at the time Christ rose and that there will be a future resurrection at His return!
So this brings us to a problem that Protestant bible scholars have misled us with for centuries. They tell us that Christians go directly to heaven after we die. There's not ONE VERSE in the entire bible that say's any such thing. There are many words and phrases that describe the place a Christian goes after death, but not once is the word HEAVEN used to describe it. It's actually simple common sense. When we die we go to paradise to await the Lord's return and subsequent resurrection. It makes no sense for one to go to heaven, which is not paradise, and then be resurrected with Christ. WE CANNOT enter heaven without first being judged and without receiving our glorified bodies. Please read my page on "The Fifth Seal," which speaks of the "souls under the altar" or "intermediate state" of those who were beheaded.
So a parable is a fictitious OR real event that reveals an earthly spiritual truth. If Jesus said, "There was,"... then THERE WAS!"