"The Fullness of the Gospel and the Eternal Punishments", by E.J.Ekman (1903) (Part 22: About Hades)
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In connection with this, we would like to dedicate a special particular attention to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31). This parable has been used and is still used today as one of the strongest proofs of endless, never-ending punishments.
For a correct understanding of the same, it is of the need to consider the reason why the Lord gave it. The Lord had pronounced (v. 13) the serious truth, that you cannot at the same time serve God and Mammon. Hence the Pharisees felt themselves hit, because they sought to practice this double service. They were greedy under their outward piety. But in instead of letting this word of truth in a healthy way to crush and humiliate themselves, they rejected the serious warning and mocked The Lord Jesus (v. 14). These superficial people considered that what the Lord said did not concern them, who through their descent from Abraham believed themselves to be self-written to come into Abraham's bosom. That they were rich, even if their wealth was added unjustly by eating up widows' houses (Matt. 23: 14), it was in their opinion a proof on God's special favor. Now the Lord lets in the present parable the rich man be a Jew, which clearly is showed by him calling Abraham father, and that Abraham calls him his son. But regardless the rich Jew is found after death not to be in paradise but in Hades' second department, the prison, the gathering place of the wicked. Thus the Lord wanted to give them the serious lesson that their carnal descent from Abraham did not give them at all some privilege on happiness and bliss in another world, bypassing a change of mind and a living faith in Christ. For the way is but one, wether one be a Jew or a Greek. For both it applies the truth that no one comes to the father but through the son (John 14: 6). This parable was thus a killing blow for the whole Pharisaic doctrine of the special privileges of the Jews and a warning to them not to despise him who is the way, the truth, and the life. This is thus the very main purpose of this parable.
