I did a post on what we'll remember after the judgment at http://oneinjesus.info/2008/06/28/surprised-by-ho…

The scriptural authority is actually pretty sparse. But this much is sure: we'll be in bliss. And how could that be true if we're aware of loved ones in torment?

It could be argued that we'll see things from God's perspective, and so we'll see the justice of the punishment God gives. But here on earth, when we see a loved one justly jailed or executed, we are still far from being in bliss. It's agony to see someone we love suffer, even when we know they suffer justly.

Therefore, my own opinion is that we'll not remember the loved ones who are lost. However, I think we'll retain much of our memories, as memory defines so much of who we are.

God is surely capable of comforting us even if we are aware of the damnation of our loved ones, but we are promised —

(Rev 21:4-5) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Which brings us to Abraham. My view of Abraham in this parable is that Jesus uses him as a literary device. I mean, Jesus says nothing to suggest that Lazarus was aware of the rich man. And so why would Abraham be aware of the rich man's fate and not Lazarus?

As you suggest, you might argue that Abraham is given a special role with special powers, but nowhere else is this even hinted at in scripture. The idea of heaven being "Abraham's bosom" is from Jewish inter-testamental literature. It was a common expression for the fate of good Jews.

Jesus thus builds his parable on a common understanding of heaven without necessarily endorsing the understanding in all its details (there are several references in the NT to uninspired legendary material, without being an endorsement).

The story needs someone to respond to the rich man's pleas. Gehenna is separation from God, and so God does not answer the rich man's pleas. Rather, as a literary device, Abraham does — as the earthly father of all Jews.

But, of course, if those in the lake of fire are cast out of the presence of God, their voices won't be heard in heaven. And so, my own opinion is that Abraham won't really be having conversations with the damned after their judgment. I mean, surely he deserves bliss more than the rest of us, and how could he blissfully hear the cries of the damned?

Would like to hear your thoughts if you haven't already addressed this. If you have already commented on this, my apologies.

Going back to the rich man and lazarus story, it was pretty clear that the rich man in hell was aware of the comforting of lazarus, and abraham had a conversation with the rich man…correct? So I guess my question is was lazarus aware of what was happening to the rich man? Does he even remember the rich man? Or more simply, will the saved remember the dammed?

Obviously, Abraham could talk with the rich man. Makes me wonder if Abraham had a power lazarus did not.

It's certainly true that time in the second age will be independent of time as we experience it in this age. And it's possible that there's no time at all in eternity — that is, we'll exist not only outside earth time (pretty clearly true, I think) but away from time of any sort.

Interesting …

And I have to grant that much of the language of the second age is metaphor.

But … the scriptures still say that those outside of Jesus will die, perish, and be destroyed. These are words that indicate a change of condition, from not dead, not destroyed, to dead and destroyed. And so, I just can't give up on the simplest explanation — the damned die a second death and don't exist throughout eternity.