reply to post by GBP/JPY
Even in paradise people are not aware of anything.
We are taught the resurrection by Christ and his disciples over and over in the Bible, but people will not except Christ at his own word. As for the
theif on the cross, Christ said he would be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights after his crucifixion right? If thats so, and we know it is, how could
the theif have been with Christ in Paradise that very day? Luke 23:43 Jesus said the theif would be with him in paradise. If we can prove where Jesus
went when he died, the you can know if the thief really went to paradise that day. John gives us proof of where Jesus was. "Now in the place where He
was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre,wherein was never man yet laid. There"-in the tomb, the grave-'laid they
Jesus"(John19:41-42) It was Jesus who was laid in the tomb, not just the body of Jesus. Jesus was dead! To make it plainer, read Acts 2:31 Peter
speaks of the prophet David, saying "He[David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither
his flesh did see corruption." This proves Jesus was not in Paradise, but in hell, or the grave. The greek word used by Peter is hades, meaning "the
grave" Since Jesus was not in Paradise that day, the day of the crucifixion, then neither was the thief. Christ has preeeminence in all things
Colossians 1:18 and the thief couldnt have preceded Christ to paradise. Whenever the thief enters paradise, Christ will be there too! He said so:
"With me shalt thou be in paradise" Remember, the thief asked earlier, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom"(Luke 23:42) the fact
is that Jesus has not yet come into his Kingdom (Luke 11:2, 19:11; Icorinth 11:26) Also, proper punctuation helps explain Luke 23:43. Most
translations are improperly punctuated to make it appear that Jesus would be in paradise that day. However, as we saw above, the Bible proves Jesus
was not in Paradise that day. A comma placed before the word "today" is incorrect. The comma should follow it; "Verily I say unto thee today, shat
thou be with me in Paradise." By using the word "today," Jesus was stressing the time of his promise, not the time he would be in Paradise.
Punctuation was not used in the inspired Greek that Luke wrote. It was added centuries later by men. The thief is still dead and buried. Jesus alone
is the firstborn from the dead (Romans 8:29; Acts 26:23) But the time is coming when the thief will be resurrected and eventually enter the Paradise
of God promised to come to this earth. We already know that in death there is no thoughts or awareness.Although your spirit your "personality"(not
soul) because people are souls according to the bible.So yes paradise but your still not aware of this.You are still asleep at rest but with God..not
aware of being with God.Paradise is God's kingdom on earth they are the same.The thief will wake up after death and be in "paradise" With God on
earth.