The Paradise of God

LESSON 3

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on Heaven. The topic for this study is: The Paradise of God. One of the few places in Scripture which has been shrouded in so much confusion is paradise. Even among Christians, there are several interpretations of where paradise could refer to. Three popular viewpoints making rounds in Christendom today are as follows:

1. A large majority of Christians today believe paradise is a temporary holding place for the spirits of people who have died in the Lord. Here are some few quotes from some prominent Christian writers who hold on to this view: A) "We could describe Paradise and hell or hades as temporary holding places until the New Jerusalem is established and the dead are joined back with their physical bodies. For those who have died in the faith, we know that they are present with the Lord right now because if a person is absent or deceased from their body, they are in the presence of the Lord (2 Cor 5:8)." Jack Wellman / Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know. B) "There has always been a separation of believers and unbelievers after death (Luke 16:19-31). The righteous have always gone to paradise; the wicked have always gone to hell. For right now, both paradise and hell are "temporary holding places" until the day when Jesus Christ comes back to judge the world based on whether or not individuals have believed in Him." www.gotquestions.org 2. There is also another group of Christians who believe that paradise is simply a synonym for heaven. This group of Christians put forward the argument that the dead (whether good or bad) rest in their graves until the resurrection.

3. Moreover, some Christian folks also hold the view that paradise actually refer to the new earth that God is about to create. Such Christians explain that paradise originally referred to the Garden of Eden, and that the children of God should be preparing for a paradise here on earth after the second coming of Christ.

With all these viewpoints making rounds in Christendom today, it is understandable when we come across many people with the question: where exactly is the paradise of God?

Friends, even though the subject of paradise seems to be shrouded in mystery and confusion, the good news is that the Bible provides clear logical answers on this topic. In fact, the Bible's position on paradise is very clear and none of us will have to be misled.

Beloved, there are three places in the whole of Scripture where we come across the word paradise. The first place we come across the word paradise is in Luke 23. From Luke 23:39-43, we read the following story in relation to the death of our Saviour: "23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in PARADISE."

(Luke 23:39-43; Capital Emphasis Added) Beloved, from the lips of Christ Himself, we learn about a place in the universe of God called paradise. Now, two important questions that we need to ask ourselves in relation to the converse Christ had with the thief on the cross are these:

1. Did the thief on the cross go to paradise that fateful Friday?

2. Where exactly is this paradise that Christ spoke of?

Friends, many people read Christ's promise to the thief: "Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43), and then conclude that this thief actually went to paradise to be with Christ that very Friday when Christ was crucified. But beloved, when we compare this Scripture with events in other portions of Scripture; and also do a careful analysis of the text, we come to realize that the thief did not go to paradise to be with Christ that fateful Friday.

Now, here are two major reasons why I believe the thief did not go to paradise that very Friday:

1. The Bible clearly teaches that Christ Himself did not go to paradise that Friday after his death. In fact, when Christ resurrected from the dead on the first day of the week, He clearly told Mary Magdalene the following: "..., Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (John 20:17).

In other words, Christ was saying to Mary; don't restrain me. I am yet to ascend to my Father in heaven. Friends, Christ made it to heaven after His resurrection on the first day of the week to obtain the assurance from the Father as to whether His sacrifice for mankind was accepted. Thus, His words; "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father" basically mean that between the hours of that fateful Friday when He died on the cross to the Sunday morning when He was resurrected, our Saviour rested in Joseph’s new tomb. Friends, since this is what the Scripture teaches, how can we suppose then that the thief made his way to paradise on that Friday when Christ Himself was asleep in Joseph's new tomb?

2. Moreover, many Bible scholars assert the apparent confusion in Luke 23:43 to a comma that was not well placed. This problem, they believe, has actually given a whole different meaning to the text. Now, someone may ask at this point in our study: But the Scriptures are inspired, so why do some scholars dare to assert that a comma was not well placed?

You see friends, as Bible students, one thing we must know as we study and interpret Scripture is the fact that the original scrolls of the Bible did not contain punctuation marks as we have now. And hence, even though the Bible is inspired, we have such punctuation errors to grapple with.

For instance, we have this punctuation mistake in the King James Version which was corrected in the New King James Version: "11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19:11-12 / KJV). Now friends, if you consider the verse 12 critically, you will realize that there should be a comma after the word sick, otherwise the text there will mean that handkerchiefs and aprons that were sick were being healed. Of course, we have nothing like sick handkerchiefs or aprons. The point I want to make is that there is a problem with the position the comma was placed in this text. Now, if the comma is well positioned after the word sick, the meaning of the text comes out clearly.

Friends, a similar case is what we find in Luke 23:43. If the comma is placed after the word today, the meaning of the text changes radically. Let's check that out:

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise. Beloved, from the text we have now, the interpretation becomes very clear. The text now synchronizes with the biblical fact in John 20:17 that Christ Himself did not go to heaven or paradise that Friday because He rested in Joseph's new tomb after His death.

Friends, when the issue of the misplaced comma is resolved, we come to understand Christ's words to the thief as follows: Today or this day that I am dying on a cross, and the whole world seems to reject me, if you can express this faith in me as the Messiah, then I want to promise you today, that you will be with me in paradise.

Besides the fact that this interpretation is more logical when we critically assess the text with Christ's words in John 20:17, we also find that this interpretation also agrees with what we find from other portions of Scripture in relation to the state of the righteous dead. Friends, the thief on the cross, just like all the other righteous dead, do not go to paradise immediately after their death. The righteous that die in Christ rather sleep in their graves to await the resurrection morning at the second coming of Christ (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

(In case you still have questions in relation to what happens to people when they die, then you need not worry. This is because in our very next series, captioned: The Truth About Death, we will endeavour to answer all the questions that you have ever had about the subject of death.)

Now beloved, amidst all that we have discussed so far from the text in Luke 23:43, one thing that comes out clearly is the fact that the people of God will one day be with their Lord in paradise. But someone is likely to ask at this point: Where is this paradise at all in the universe of God?

Friends, the place (paradise) that Christ promised the thief on the cross is the same place that He promised the disciples before He left them to heaven. From John 14:1-3, we read the following promise that Christ made to the disciples: "14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

(John 14:1-3) Beloved, as Christ promised the thief that he was going to be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43), so did He promise the disciples that they were going to be with Him in His Father's house (John 14:3). In other words, both the thief and the disciples were all given the promise, that one day they were going to be with Christ. The disciples knew without a doubt that the place Christ had promised them was no other place than His dwelling place in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 6:19-21; 1 Peter 1:3-4). And so friends, from our comparison in relation to these two promises above, it is very clear that the place Christ promised the thief is the same place that He promised the disciples. What this means is that the place Christ referred to as paradise is the same as the third heaven; which is actually, the dwelling place of God.

Now friends, in case you don't find this logic conclusive, that's ok. This is because this comparison does not make a definite assertion that paradise is the same as the third heaven. However, you don't have to stay confused because the Bible gives us further evidence that comes to support the point we have made above that paradise is the same as the third heaven.

From the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, we read the following in relation to the paradise of God: "12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth) such an one caught up to the THIRD HEAVEN.

12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth)

12:4 How that he was caught up into PARADISE, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

(2 Corinthians 12:1-4; Capital Emphasis Added) Beloved, from the passage above, the apostle Paul calls the third heaven, paradise. This is so clear that no one can miss it. Friends, from the words of the apostle Paul above, we gather the fact that paradise is not any other place in the universe of God but the third heaven; the dwelling place of the Most High God.

Besides the above statement of fact in Scripture, there is yet another proof in the last book of the Bible which I believe will solidify our understanding on the question of paradise. From Revelation 2:7, we read the following from the apostle John: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE, which is in the midst of the PARADISE OF GOD" (Revelation 2:7; Capital Emphasis Added). Friends, in the text above, we learn clearly that the tree of life is in the midst of the paradise of God. Now, when we compare this Scripture in Revelation 2:7 with another Scripture in Revelation 22:1-2, we can make some bold claims. The passage in Revelation 22:1-2 reads: 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the THRONE OF GOD and of the LAMB. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the TREE OF LIFE, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2). Beloved, from the two passages above, we can make some quick analysis. Now, we gather from Revelation 2:7 that the TREE OF LIFE is in the PARADISE OF GOD. Moreover, from Revelation 22:1-2, we learn that the TREE OF LIFE is located where the THRONE OF GOD is found. From these clear statements of fact, we can conclude that the THRONE OF GOD is found in the PARADISE OF GOD.

Now, when John wrote the Revelation on Patmos, he did not think the throne of God was anywhere else than in heaven. In fact, Psalm 103:19 makes this point clear; "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all." Thus friends, we can confidently conclude that if the Lord has prepared His throne in the heavens (Psalm 103:19), and this throne is found in paradise (Revelation 2:7), then paradise is just a synonym for the dwelling place of God in heaven.

Friends, from what we have gone through so far in Scripture, it is clear that paradise does not refer to a temporary holding place for the spirits of the righteous dead; neither does it refer to this earth. In fact, the Bible makes it clear that paradise is basically a synonym for heaven, the dwelling place of God.

Beloved, to obtain this biblical understanding of paradise is very important, especially when in Christendom today, the popular teaching coming down from various pulpits is that paradise and hell are temporary holding places for the spirits of the righteous and wicked dead respectively. Beloved, there is no quotation in Scripture that supports this teaching. God's Word expressly declares that the dead rest in their graves awaiting one of two resurrections (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29).

In fact, from the book of Job, we read the following about the dwelling place of the dead: "If I wait, the GRAVE is mine house: I have made my bed in the DARKNESS" (Job 17:13; Capital Emphasis Added).

For us to obtain a clearer understanding of the state of the dead, the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Peter to write the following about the patriarch David: "2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens:" (Acts 2:29, 34) Friends, the text above make it very clear that when David died, he did not ascend to the heavens. You see, if it's actually true that the spirits of the righteous dead are actually alive in heaven, then of course David will also be in heaven. But we are clearly told by the apostle Peter that David did not ascend to heaven. Friends, if the spirits of saints like David are in heaven, then definitely they will be filling the whole of heaven with praise and songs of thanksgiving to the Lord. What's more? Many are consoled with the false teaching that the spirits of their dead friends and relatives have been taken up by God to join heaven's choir. But beloved, the biblical fact is very clear: "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence" (Psalm 115:17). Did you catch that, beloved? From the text above, we obtain the clear biblical insight that the righteous dead go down into silence (i.e. to the grave), not up into paradise or heaven to praise God. This is basically because the dead cannot praise the Lord.

For those of you who are still skeptical, another Psalm reads: "For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the GRAVE who will give You thanks?" (Psalm 6:5; Capital Emphasis Added) And so beloved, just like David, all the other righteous dead yet rest in their graves awaiting the resurrection unto life at the second coming of Christ (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). After the resurrection, the righteous will then be taken to heaven or paradise where they will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4, 6).

Now, someone is likely to ask at this point: What about the wicked dead? Do their spirits immediately go to hell after death? Friends, the Bible's answer to this question is a straightforward no. However, from several pulpits in Christendom today, the satanic lie goes forth that the spirits of the wicked dead go straight to hell where they burn forever and ever.

Friends, if there is any popular doctrine in Christendom which has made more atheists than genuine disciples for Christ, it is none other than the false teaching that the spirits of the wicked dead burn forever and ever in hellfire after their death.

Beloved, the Bible's clear teaching is that the wicked dead are RESERVED unto fire against the day of judgement (2 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:7). This text presupposes that the wicked dead are not burning in hell now, but rather, they are RESERVED for punishment on the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men. Moreover friends, the Bible makes it clear that the fire that will destroy the wicked will come from God out of heaven on the day of God's executive judgement (Revelation 20:9). This biblical fact challenges the popular teaching that the spirits of the wicked dead are burning in hell now. How can the wicked be burning in hell when the fire that is supposed to burn them is yet to come from God out of heaven? How can the wicked dead be burning in hell now when the original people for which hellfire is meant to punish walk around freely to carry out their evil plans? (Matthew 25:41).

Friends, the Bible teaches that when hellfire finally comes from God out of heaven, it will burn the wicked up, and actually consume them into ashes (Malachi 4:1-3).

(In case you still have questions in relation to the subject of hell, then you need not worry. This is because after our series of Bible study on The Truth About Death, we will be moving straight to another series dubbed: The Truth About Hell. We believe that through this upcoming series, all the questions that you have ever had about the subject of hell will be answered.)

As I bring this study to a close, I want to reiterate the biblical fact that paradise is only a synonym for God's dwelling place in heaven. And I hope you now see the danger in holding on to a false interpretation of this doctrine. It's my prayer that the Lord will give us the spirit of the Bereans, who received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to ascertain whether the doctrines Paul taught them were true (Acts 17:10-11).

Exhortation: "20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:20-21).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: Who will enter the pearly gates of heaven? The Bible study reference for this study is Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Peter 1:3-4 and Revelation 22:14. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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