In only one parable does Jesus name his characters. Luke 16:19 –31 introduces us to Abraham and Lazarus. Lazarus means "one whom God helps." We meet this poor man outside a rich man's gate, helpless in this life and neglected by the well-clothed and well-fed rich man. But differences in this life don't carry through to the next. In fact, the afterlife brings a great reversal for both men. We learn that heaven or hell awaits every person. For Lazarus, his story lives up to his name. What are these places like? Crucially, what makes the difference for what side of the great chasm we end up on in eternity? In this passage we move from a gate to a great chasm to an ancient book.