Let us go together to Luke 16. V 19 to 31 are speaking about 'the rich man and Lazarus'.
Now you can have many preaches about this, but for now this is the only important thing: The rich man and also Lazarus immediately after death had an awareness.
From the rich man this is reported wider than from Lazarus But the impression is given that Lazarus had too an awareness. - the rich man could speak - he could recognize Abraham, so he could see - he could have feelings; "I am in the flames and they torment me". - he could be thirsty, (24).
So some bibles speak about hell, other bibles speak about 'realm of the dead'.
But as you can read: Abraham and Lazarus were at the good side of the realm of the dead. That is the waiting-room for full heavenly joy . But even this waiting- room is an absolute lovely place to be.
But the bad side of the realm of the dead, where the rich man was, is a place of provisionary custody. On the great day, whereabout Matthew 25 is speaking, Lazarus goes to the full joy, but the rich man comes from provisional custody into the place of permanent imprisonment. He had a bad time, he gets a bad time , not in the realm of the dead, but now in hell.
Some people say: "Jesus said this in a simplifying way, connecting to the general thoughts in his time". I do not believe, that about such important questions Jesus should not say exact things. He always said what he meant.
There is much more to say about these things , bur for the moment I leave it by this.
