This story of the rich mans and Lazarus is considered by many to be the biblical foundation of the existence of hell. However if you read closely there are several points which seem to deviate from the "equation".
First, Why is Abraham and not God who seemed to be in-charge in heaven. Second, why is the rich man being tormented in hell in the physical sense, if we leave our physical body when we die then we shouldn't be feeling physical pain and thirst for such are proper to physical body. Thirdly, the rich man in hell did a very Christian request by asking Abraham to warm his brothers, i.e. he was no longer after for what is good for him but rather what is good for others. He didn't care suffering as long as his brothers would be spared from similar fate. Such attitude has no place in hell.
For me the main point in this reading is the 'completeness' of Divine Revelation in the Bible and in our tradition. While 'apparitions' might have importance in its own right, nonetheless, by merely depending on studying the Scriptures and 'updating' Traditions one can find his or her own salvation.
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