how could the thief go back to heave that day with Jesus if Jesus didn't leave for heaven until Sunday?

Answer 1

Very good observation. In truth, he could not. And in truth, he did not. In the original Greek, there was no punctuation. The reader supplied it as he read. Therefore, some Bible translators punctuate the sentence this way: "I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." Others translate it this way: "I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise." Do you see the difference? Putting the comma after "you" makes it sound like the evildoer went to heaven that day. But as you rightly pointed out, that is impossible. Not only did Jesus not return to the heavens that day, Acts 1:3, 9 makes it clear that Jesus did not ascend to heaven for another 40 days after his death.

Moreover, the thief did not qualify for heavenly life. The standards are set out in God's word the Bible and the thief did not meet even the first one: repentance accompanied by works that befit repentance. But . . .

Because Jesus saw the potential within him, Jesus could tell the thief that he would be in paradise. Heaven? No. The term paradise is not synonymous with heaven. After all, Adam and Eve lived in paradise, did they not?

The paradise in which Adam and Eve lived will be restored to earth and that is the paradise in which the thief will be resurrected during the general resurrection. This helps us better appreciate the words of the apostle Paul in Acts: "There is going to be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous." Among these will be the thief.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

If people would just read the bible and not get into all the doctrines of others, they would be so much better off. The thief did not go to Heaven or paradise, by the way they are used interchangeably, but both went to the same place, Hell, or the grave. The thief is still in the grave waiting for Jesus to come back for His people and will go with everyone else that will be going when Jesus come for them as you will find in 1 Thess. 4:16. Again, it is just one of the lies of Satan to trip people up that do not study their bible.

Answer 3

The thief did not go to heaven the day he died. He is in the grave waiting for the return of Jesus Christ and the resurection of the righteous.

PS. Paradise is located in the 3rd heaven according to the Holy Bible. And the 3rd heaven is where God resides. Just take your concordance and look it up. Its true!

"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.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not *lawful for a man to utter."(2 Cor 12:2-4)

"7 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."(Rev 2:7)


Better to believe the Word of God than the opinions of men as found on Wikipedia!

Answer 4

I helped someone figure this out once. If you believe all this, then Jesus said he'd be with him in paradise "tomorrow". Paradise, if you look it up in Wiki, is not the same place as Heaven. It's sort of a "waiting room". They could have (again IF you believe all this) been there together. Jesus didn't say "you will be with me in Heaven", he said "paradise". Not the same thing. I found this confusing myself and had to wonder why Jesus would even be waiting around in paradise instead of going directly to Heaven, but whatever.

Answer 5

Now to the thief at the cross.

Q. Jesus promised one of the thieves crucified with him: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). What and where is "Paradise," and did the thief go there with Jesus that day?
A. The Bible says that the dead are in the grave, awaiting the resurrection; they are not in heaven.
Acts 2:34 = "For David did not ascend into the heavens."
Jn.3:13 = "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
Does this mean that the thief is in a special; place called "Paradise" that is not "heaven"? No! The Bible shows us where Paradise is located; see 2Cor.12:1-4. Paradise is located in the presence of God's throne--in heaven. Paradise means a "garden, pleasure ground: grove, park"---a grand enclosure or preserve...shady and well watered...enclosed by walls" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament).
What is Paradise like? See Revelation 2:7; 22:1-2.
These verses relate to Rev.21:2 "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God".
When does this happen? See 2Peter 3:10-13 and Rev.21:1.

Now back to your question: did the thief go there with Jesus that day of his death?
Note: Jesus didn't go to Paradise, or heaven that day he died; see 1Cor.15:3-4. Christ was sealed in the tomb for three full days and three full nights according to Matt.12:40. Notice what he says to Mary after he was risen: "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father...and your Father, and to My God and your God" according to John 20:17.

What did Christ say to the thief?
Many readers are misled by improper punctuation of the English-language translation of the inspired Greek text by wrongly placing a comma between the words "you" and "today." The Greek manuscripts didn't have punctuation of any kind til the 9th Century. So if you punctuate the verse in Luke 23:43 correctly; it should read: Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise. Jesus was saying that when Paradise comes; the thief will be there with Him!
http://family.webshots.com/photo/2916647260051497771nqTijL
http://family.webshots.com/photo/2673650090049373547iLHezT

Answer 6

Paradise is heaven and Christ Jesus was correct in telling the thief that they would both be there that day. One has to remember that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one manifestation of the God who created us and all of the universe. God is not limited by physics or human understanding.
God Bless You....Peace.

Answer 7

--Your right he didn't. Simply because Jesus meaning of expression to him of paradise, simply was an emphasis:

EXAMPLE: "I promise today, (or on this day,) that I will pay you the rest of the money, 3 days from today!"

--(Luke 23:41-43) “. . .” 42 And he went on to say: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.””

--Note in the following , version--some leave out the questionable comma!

Luke 23:43 (Contemporary English Version)--

43Jesus replied, "I promise that today you will be with me in paradise."

--You will hear arguements at the placing of the comma in grammer before or after "today"--the truth being that the Greek scriptures were written with no punctuation marks!

--SO THEN what is needed is logic like yours, especially because of this truth:

(John 3:13) “13 Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.”

--In fact, after Jesus was resurrected to life back on earth, he remained on earth for some 40-50 days, and appeared with a different body to his disciples!
--The dialogue with Mary Magdalene at John 20 and the appearance to his disciples, with Thomas the doubter showed he was to stay around--for encouragement and to fulfill prophecy!

Answer 8

Jesus didnt say they would be in Heaven but that the theif would be in Paradise that day. I think paradise and Heaven must be different places.

Answer 9

I don't know what translation your using but get rid of it. The word says "this day you shall be with Me in paradise" Luke 23:43 Paradise was a place for the righteous dead before Christ Resurrection

Answer 10

He didnt go to Heaven, he went to paradise. And Jesus probably checked in and said hi to everyone then split.