In Luke 16:25, a rich man cries out to Abraham for mercy from Hades, "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony'" (NASB, 1995). There is a saying that this is the short side of life, meaning that eternity will last forever, while the life experienced here and now will soon pass away. This idea may at first seem depressing. However, those who will be in Hades for eternity need to understand that the pleasures they seek in this life will only last briefly, while their torment will be long-lasting. Believers in Christ need to know that this side of life, the short side will include persecution. What kind of persecution? Everyone will experience the persecution that is personal to them. No one should judge another's persecution as being worse than theirs, for everyone suffers. Abraham made the point to the rich man that what he exper...