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Many over the years have wondered about this question. Protestants and Catholics believe that immediately upon his death his soul went to Paradise in heaven. Let’s review this.

Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 NLT   “Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him.  33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified--one on his right and one on his left. 

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself--and us, too, while you're at it!"

40 But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?

41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

43 And Jesus replied, "I assure you today, you will be with me in paradise."

There was no punctuation in the original Greek manuscripts.  In verse 43, the placement of the comma after the word “you” changes Christ’s statement to imply that the thief would be in paradise that same day.  This would contradict John 3:13, which was written by John long after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. We’ll also show that Peter preached even righteous King David did not ascend to heaven (Acts 2:34).

John 3:13     "NO ONE has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven -- the Son of Man.

Acts 2:29, 34 NKJV   "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

34- “For David did NOT ascend into the heavens…” 

Acts 13:36 NLT   “… after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed.”

Jesus said he and the thief would be together in Paradise.  So where is “paradise?”

Luke 23:43 NKJV   And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise."

2 Corinthians 12:4 NKJV   “how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. 

Revelation 2:7 NKJV    "…To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

Observations

The thief fears God (Luke 23:40).

1. The thief admits/confesses that what he did was wrong and was the reason he was going to die.
2. The thief understood (likely through previous interaction/observation) that Jesus the Christ was innocent.
3. The thief understood and believed that Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God and desired to be in His kingdom (seek first the kingdom of God?).
4. Jesus Christ reacted to the thief’s words and attitude by assuring him that he would be in “paradise.”
5. Scriptural usage of the term paradise appears to refer to the third heaven.(2 Cor. 12:2-4)

Foundation

2 Peter 3:10-13 NKJV  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The big picture objective of God’s entire plan is a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”  This means that sin will be permanently eradicated forever.      The creation of the physical by God was for the express purpose of testing physical human beings, with freedom of choice, as to whether they will reject unrighteousness and embrace righteousness from the heart.  Only those that embrace righteousness from the heart will be changed to spirit and given eternal life. 

Righteousness can only dwell forever if only those that have proven that they embrace righteousness from the heart will be there.  Notice Paul’s explanation in Romans 10 of how ones will be saved.

Romans 10: 9-10, 13 NKJV   “ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ...  13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Genesis 15:6 NKJV   “And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT   But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Conclusion

Based on the above observations and the scriptural foundation set forth, I believe that the preponderance of the evidence points to the thief on the cross being in the first resurrection. 

However, I dare not attempt to speak for God.  But He is a God of mercy, love, forgiveness, and grace.  And He is a perfect discerner of the heart.  I dare say, He would not assure the thief on the cross of his ultimate destiny if He hadn’t properly discerned his heart.

(Comments from Philip Shields: I’ve known Jeff Niccum and his wife Sarah and family for many years. He is a good friend and fellow minister of Jesus Christ. We have sermons from Jeff also posted on this website. I hope to see more blogs and sermons. Thank you Jeff.)

Most of us have not fully comprehended what a gruesome and disgraceful means of execution a Roman scourging and crucifixion was.

It is a wonder Jesus even made it to Golgotha considering the scourging he received. The Jews’ punishment of 39 cuts – or stripes - in the skin was limited for risk of killing the victim.

However the Romans - noted for their brutality and lust for blood carefully engineered scourges with a leather cord knotted with pieces of bone or metal to ensure that chunks of flesh were removed with each lash of the whip. And they were not limited by Jewish rules or traditions to only 39 lashes.

Jesus' physical appearance must have been nearly beyond recognition by the time he arrived at the place of crucifixion.

Isaiah 52:14 (NCV)

¹⁴            Many people were shocked when they saw him. His appearance was so changed he did not look like a man; his form was changed so much they could barely tell he was human.

(NLT) ¹⁴Many were amazed when they saw him - beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person.

Psalm 22:14-17 (NLT)

¹⁴         My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.

¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

¹⁶         My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

¹⁷         I can count every bone in my body. My enemies stare at me and gloat.

This is what Christ went through 1992 years ago.

Scripture says we were “bought for a price.”  There is no higher price that could be paid by both the Father and the Son. What kind of love is shown to us by this voluntary act? 

We have a duty to Christ in return. We must show our honor of what He did for us.

How do we do this? How did Paul do this?

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

(NCV) ²⁰I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.

We must show our honor and respect to our fallen Hero by crucifying ourselves along with Him as Paul did. Three points to this end:

1. Have an attitude of honor.

2 Samuel 11:6-11 (NLT)

⁶So David sent word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.”

⁷When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was progressing.

⁸Then he told Uriah, “Go on home and relax.” David even sent a gift to Uriah after he had left the palace.

⁹But Uriah wouldn’t go home. He stayed that night at the palace entrance with some of the king’s other servants.

¹⁰When David heard what Uriah had done, he summoned him and asked, “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you go home last night after being away for so long?”

¹¹Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and his officers are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I will never be guilty of acting like that.”

Uriah had an attitude of the utmost honor for his fellow comrades. For his superior officer Joab. And he includes God by reference to the Ark. He denied himself out of honor for them.

We must adopt the attitude of Uriah.

1. Be Prepared to Suffer

We ARE going to suffer. The cessation of sinning results in suffering! 

Romans 8:16-18 (NKJV)

¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

1 Peter 4:1 (NLT)

¹So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning.

Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT)

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.^£ He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven.

³Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don’t become weary and give up.

⁴After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Do we see that by comparison, our crucifixion is nothing compared to Christ’s?

Let’s show our honor by suffering through the cessation of sin. Whatever it is.

1. Have the attitude of battle

Paul exquisitely explains this in his letter to the Ephesian Church.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)

¹⁰A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power.

¹¹Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.

¹²For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

¹³Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.

¹⁴Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

¹⁵For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared.^£

¹⁶In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.^£

¹⁷Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

It is a constant war, and we must be up to the task. Let us remember

TWO IMPORTANT TRUTHS

(1). Your battle is always for a REASON.

(2). Your battle is always for a SEASON.

Let’s not ever forget this.

I coached youth basketball for 13 years.

Practices were hard. I got them into playing shape by making them suffer. The kids were taught that a floor burn received by diving for a ball was a “badge of honor.”

My job as a coach was more than just teaching the academic fundamentals of basketball.

My job was to have my players ready to play - ready to put forth the maximum effort. I had to inspire them to want to win, and to “leave it all out on the floor.”

Let’s arm ourselves with the attitude of Uriah. Let’s prepare ourselves for suffering. And let’s wage a valiant battle against sin, using the accouterments of war given to us by God as described by Paul.

Let’s get fired up to engage in our war against the Devil. Let us be prepared to suffer and get some badges of honor. Let’s leave it all out on the floor.

 Let’s make sure we crucify ourselves in honor of what Christ went through for us.

Gal 4:26 (NKJV throughout unless noted)  “but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Galatians 4:26 appears to define our spiritual mother as “the Jerusalem above.”  Almost all the various translations have translated verse 26 the same as the New King James.

What does this mean?  How can the “Jerusalem above” – which is a spiritual city in heaven - be a “mother?”

Let’s look further …

Revelation 12:1-2, 4-6, 13-17   “Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.   2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. ...   4 … And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.  5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days...

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.  14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.  

15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Who is this “woman” who is clothed with the sun?  Rev. 12:1 reveals that she has a “garland of twelve stars.”  This is a symbolic indication that she is associated with Israel.

In Revelation 12:2, 4-5 this woman gives birth to Jesus Christ. 

We know that the lineage of Christ was through Jacob (Israel).  This is a key point to remember. Obviously, a woman who gives birth is a mother.

After verse 5, Revelation 12 then becomes a prophecy.  Verse 6 describes this woman fleeing into the wilderness to a place prepared by God and fed for 1,260 days.  Verses 13 and 14 refer to the same woman as in verse 6.

We know that 1,260 days and time, times, and ½ time is a reference to the 5^th seal or the time of tribulation – which takes place at the time of the end.  Who is the protected woman that flees into the wilderness?

Revelation 3:6-7, 10, 12   "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

10 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. …

Revelation 3:7-12 is speaking to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, which is a parallel to the woman protected and fed for 1,260 days in the wilderness. 

Revelation 3:14-19 is a message to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, which is a parallel to Rev. 12:17, which speaks of Satan going after the rest of the offspring of the woman in the wilderness.  The “rest of the offspring” are identified as those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is an indication that God will rebuke and chasten some in His church by not keeping them from the hour of trial that we know is the coming tribulation – those Satan will make war against.

Putting it all together, it is a “woman” that gave birth to a male Child that was caught up to God and His throne (Jesus Christ).  That woman has a garland of 12 stars.

Any woman that gives birth is a mother. The woman that is taken into the wilderness to be nourished and protected by God for 1,260 days is the same woman that gave birth to Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:6-12 identifies the church in Philadelphia is the one that will be kept from the trial that shall come upon the whole world – in which the overcomers shall have the name of New Jerusalem written on them - which connects to Galatians 4:26 which says “but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

Revelation 21:9-10  “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife."  10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,…”

Revelation 14:1, 3  “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion (in the 3^rd heaven), and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. ... (See Rev. 3:12)  v3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth”.

Those in Rev. 14:1 and Rev. 3:12 both have the name of God written on them.  

The Church (the body of believers led by God’s spirit who keep God’s word to persevere and who overcome) -- has the name of New Jerusalem written on them and is depicted as the holy Jerusalem (Rev.3:12; 21:9-10; Gal.4:26) descending out of heaven.  The woman that gives birth [a mother] in Revelation 12 is nourished and kept from the hour of trial per Revelation 3:10 (Philadelphia era of church).

Putting all the scriptures together gives us our answer!  

The spiritual church = spiritual Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) = the Lamb’s wife = New Jerusalem = our spiritual “mother!”